Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“Dress Your Words with Modesty”
“…so be sensible and watch what you say....” – Proverbs 10:19b (CEV)

Knowing how to craft and draft words is truly an art—one that few possess. Some of my favorite authors are those who are incredible at creating pictures with just language. Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Max Lucado, Harold Kushner are just a few of those whose books I relish. I have read a number of books by each and as I said earlier, their ability to communicate thoughts is nothing less than masterful.
Although He never wrote a book, a newspaper article or column, our Lord was the (and still is) the Master of communicating ideas into ways we can easily comprehend and follow.
Jesus may have never written a book, but we do have one instance in which He appeared to have communicated by writing—and apparently, it got the point across.

At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
“No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” – John 8:2-11

What was Jesus writing in the sand? Was it possibly the seventh commandment that says, “You shall not commit adultery?” I have heard said from several sources that when Jesus said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her;” that He was referring to the very thing they were accusing the woman of. Jesus never debated the Law with them—He knew it and He knew that they knew it. What they did not know was that Jesus could see through their scheme and He kept His response short and to the point.
The second thing that Jesus does is not give the woman (who was guilty) the chance to justify her sin by blaming anyone or anything. In truth, her sin had exposed to everyone around—it was out in the open. There was no need to debate it or elaborate on it.
Two things Jesus did not say which are key here: First, He did not call the Pharisees, “hypocrites.” He could have…but He did not. He exposed their hypocrisy simply by crafting better words.
Second, He did not humiliate the woman any more than what she already was by calling her an adulteress. The facts spoke for themselves. What He did, was to let her know forgiveness was possible and allowed her the opportunity to restore her honor.
Watching what we say does two things: It protects us from putting ourselves in a position where our words can be used against us, and second, it will protect others from the same fate.
One last thought. Most of us will look in the mirror before we leave to make sure we look presentable. Most of us attempt to look good on the outside—to dress modestly instead of a provocative manner. Shouldn’t our words have the same impact? When we look in the mirror we see the reflection of what is there. Our words are also a reflection and can have a great impact and influence on others.
In this world of Social Media where people are posting negative and often destructive thoughts and words—it would do us well to pay attention to Solomon’s wisdom here. When you feel like chewing someone out via the internet, twitter, etc., re-think that. Speak with great modesty and be positive toward others.
Pastor J. T. Carnell.

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
2 “This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name: 3 ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." - Jeremiah 33:2-3(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
20 Yet he ( Abraham) did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to

God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. - Romans 4:20-21(New International Version).

A QUOTE
That which is striking and beautiful is not always good; but that which is good is always beautiful. - Ninon de l'Enclos -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Whatever disunites man from God disunites man from man. - Burke -
When I want to speak let me think first. Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? If not, let it be left unsaid. - Babcock -

A FACT ABOUT DOGS
Dogs and rain – the reason that dogs hesitate before going out into the rain is not because they’re afraid of getting wet, it’s because rain amplifies sounds and their ears are so sensitive it can be too intense for them. -(Copied from “jus’sayin”s photo)-

NOTES
We have had rain all day in McAlester, Oklahoma, sometimes heavy, sometimes just a misting rain. High temperature today was 44 degrees. Low temperature is the current temperature of 39 degrees. I had lunch with Charley and our nephew, Denton McNutt. I went to the post office and then came by Walgreens for a couple of items. I took a nap with Itty Bitty and Tony. At 3:15 p.m. I went to Walmart for my weekly supplies. I fed the cats their treats on the porch this evening due to the rain. Since last time I have heard from Michelle, Alice, Michele, Debra, Pastor J.T., Sandy and Geneva. I am always happy to get those e-mails. At the end of Good Things tonight I am going to leave a true cat story sent to me by Michele.
The cats are fine. They have been staying inside today due to the rain. At present Leo is asleep on the sofa, Rascal is asleep in the recliner, Emmy just came in from the front and Tony just went out the front. At 9:25 p.m. Lucy, the stray, came in the house but didn't stay long. She usually does not come in this late at night.
I hope everyone has a nice Wednesday!
May the Good Lord Bless and Keep each one until next time. Everett

Here is the cat story: (Michele is not the author of the story, she only forwarded it. The author's name was not furnished.)
Meet Mama Cat and her 11 kittens! :) She was at the Humane Society where I volunteer with her litter of 5 kittens when someone brought in 6 kittens that were freezing and near death. After we warmed them up I went looking for a heater to warm them up more and found Mama nursing her 2 week old babies in a cage. When I inquired if we could put the 6 kittens with her and her 5 kittens the workers expressed concerns about her abillity to care for 11 kittens (all the kittens by the way were about 2 weeks old). I then volunteered to take all 12 of them home and supplement feed. When I walked into the room with the 6 foster kittens Mama sat right up and started to meow at me. She immediately accepted all the kittens and nursed them all by herself without any supplement feeding. (she was hung like a cow!) :) Talk about mother of the year! All kittens found great homes through the Humane Society and Mama cat is now spayed and living in retirement at my mom's house. **A quick foot note to this story. About 6 months after Mama Cat's family were all weaned and found new homes I had someone bring me a 3 week old kitten who lost her mom. Mama cat worked her magic again and immediately adopted this new kitten even though she had no milk for it. She would bath it and nurse it like it was her own (we were bottle feeding it too!). After about a week she began producing milk and nursed one last kitten "Katy Cat" who would not have made it without Mama Cat's loving mother's touch! —

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“Truth Needs No Explanation”
“The More talk…the less truth....” – Proverbs 10:19 (MSG)

I’ve noticed that the more something needs explaining—the more likely it is the person doing the explaining is attempting to justify some wrong actions. For example, I come home to discover a lamp has been broken. I go to each of my three children and ask them this simple question: “Did you break the lamp?” If one of them says, “No, but…” and then begins this long dialogue detailing the events—I have my suspicion that this is the guilty party.
The bottom line that I believe Solomon is attempting to get across is this—truth does not need to be explained. It is clear!
One of the most famous speeches in American history was given by Abraham Lincoln and it lasted all of two and half minutes. We know it as the Gettysburg Address. What many may not know that Lincoln’s speech was not the main address—that was given by the honorable Edward Everett (who was a member of the House of Representatives) and it went for over two hours. Everett was considered to be one of the greatest orator’s of his day but no one remembers his speech—but Lincoln’s is the one that people still talk about.
When I was in college I was encouraged to keep my sermons, “short and to the point.” To bring this home, one day one of my professor’s stood up in front of us, pulled out a stop-watch, clicked it, and began “preaching” by reading Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount.” (Matthew, chapters 5 through 7). When he was finished, he stopped the watch and then said, “Jesus, in less than 10 minutes gave us the greatest sermon ever preached. Can anyone here do better?”
In His “Sermon on the Mount,” Jesus said something very similar to these words found in Proverbs: “Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” – Matthew 5:37. If you go a bit deeper, Jesus was attempting to keep us focused on one thing—truth! And He is the truth.
Consider one other example. We call it, “The Lord’s Prayer.” In reality, it is more the Disciple’s Prayer for it was they who asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. The prayer takes less than a minute but it truly says everything necessary for us to reach God’s heart and ears! Speak it for yourself—and time it. See what you think:

“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
If someone has to “explain” themselves and/or their actions in a lengthy manner—the end result is actually more self-justification (or evasion) rather than the whole truth. By the way, not everyone will believe the truth when they hear it—but in the end there is only One who truly matters. The One from whom all truth originated.
In short, believe the truth…live the truth…and He will give you the strength to speak it as well.
Pastor J. T. Carnell

Good Things

by Everett Christian, McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. - James 3:7-8(New International Version).

GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” - Acts 2:38-39(New International Version).

A QUOTE
The Christian surely means to be considerate and kind in Heaven! But why not here on earth and in these trying circumstances where perhaps his friends and neighbors need it most? - Bolton Jones -

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
Faith's highest expression is a life wholly surrendered to God. - From Reflecting God -
I would rather be a poor man in a garret with plenty of books than a king who did not love reading. - Macauley -

NOTES
Today has been mostly sunny in McAlester, Oklahoma with a high temperature of 56 degrees and a low temperature of 30 degrees. We have rain in our forecast for tomorrow. I saw Charley and Bill at noon. I also saw my good friends, Stan and Sue McMullen at Taco Bobs. I went by the post office. Later I went to Sandy Isenhower's CPA office and picked up my tax return. Sandy has several of my cat pictures on her large computer. As usual I took my nap this afternoon. At 4:30 p.m. I put cat treats and food outside for the cats. Since last time I have heard from Burlene, Alice, Michelle, Debra, Geneva, Pastor J.T., Donald and Evelyn. I am always happy to receive e-mails.
The cats are fine. Rascal is in his usual place. Beau, Emmy, Leo and Tony have also been here in the den this evening but have now gone elsewhere. I have seen all of them this evening. I receive lots of comments on my cat pictures.

Have a nice Tuesday!
Until next time may the Good Lord Bless and Keep each one. Everett

Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“Positive Re-Enforcement”
“…fools openly spread slander....” – Proverbs 10:18b (MSG)

“He who hunts for flowers will find flowers; and he who loves weeds will find weeds.” – Henry Ward Beecher
,br /> “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what which is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” – Ephesians 4:29

In summary of what has been accomplished in this, the “Daily Jewel.” Nine chapters in full have been completed with chapter ten currently on the docket. Of these nine plus chapters 254 verses have been reviewed with 337 messages written which indicates that several verses have had need of more explanation—or attention as the case may be.
Allow me to also mention that each message can require upwards to an hour to write—some longer while others less. However, time to me in this matter is meaningless simply because of my passion for not only the Word of God but especially so for the Book of Proverbs. This makes these messages far more a “labor of love” rather a task to dread.
I said all that as a precursor for my next statement and for what will be the context of this message—so here goes. The verse being highlighted is the second part, which Proverbs (as written by Solomon) is apt to do. The first part of the verse as stated from The Good News version says: “Anyone who hides hate is a liar…” from which I attempted to get to the root of how hatred gets inside of us—even if or when we may not recognize it.
Now we come to part two. And it is here that I must admit I have been at a loss for direction. I have made three attempts with this verse with each one all coming to a miserable end. Praise the Lord for modern technology and a delete button. After several failed attempts I believe I have discovered the reason for my lack of insight.
I have attempted in my adult life to dedicate myself to a couple of principles: First, as Jesus commanded to serve God with my whole heart, soul, mind and strength. And second, treat others with respect, dignity and honor. On the surface it would appear the first principle is the more difficult of the two to accomplish and/or maintain, but in truth—it is the second that many (myself included) find more difficult to uphold.
Much of that has to do with this fact that for many years I lived under a shadow of continuous negativity. The kind of negativity that invades the heart and makes it near impossible to see the good in anything or anyone. A person I was close to was bitter and treated the people in their life with contempt—even and especially the members of their own family. They were always upset with someone and trusted no one. This negativity and contempt typically came out in the form of their attitude and the way they spoke to people and what is even worse, the way they spoke ABOUT people. I would call it "slanderous" simply in the way unfounded accusations we made.
What does this have to do with the verse from Proverbs? The word (and action of) “slander” is the embodiment of negativity. There is absolutely no redeeming value to spreading misleading and false information about an individual. I liken it to that of a tsunami—it is not the initial wave that is the most damaging but the continual surge that affects everything in its path.
It dawned on me that the reason for my lack of direction for this verse could be the result of the fact that I have been on the receiving end of this form of negativity. I felt a “surge” of emotions that could have destroyed not only my relationship with this individual, but it also impacted my relationship with the Lord. To be quite honest…it hurt!
After years of living under such a cloud of negative attitudes, and then allowing those careless remarks to affect my spirituality I have resolved to live my life in such a way that regardless of my personal feelings—I desire to provide positive reinforcement whenever and however I can.
Maybe that is why I really like the quote I listed above from Henry Ward Beecher. He’s right! If you want to find the bad in something (or someone) you will. But what has been achieved?
I know there are those who do not deserve to be treated with respect and honor. However, I am not in the position to choose who receives my respect and who does not. There are those I trust more than others—and certainly those who I am much closer to emotionally—but according to the Word, I have a responsibility to spread the “Good News” and to live in a positive way.
I did not say I was perfect—n in this effort nor have my noble aspirations been carried out according equal to my desires—but it begins with attitude—a positive Christ-Like attitude filled with Grace. That, and a desire for flowers rather than weeds.
Pastor J. T. Carnell