GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: December 20, 2024

Keep At It!

Life has two rules: #1 Never quit #2 Always remember rule # 1. (Duke Ellington, late American jazz artist)

This often-quoted “rule” is an encouragement to keep going on. It’s like Winston Churchill’s famous challenges in World War II, pledging to keep fighting at every point to guarantee a win. Why never quit? Because, as a noted football coach, Vince Lombardi, observed, “Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit.” His teams often came from behind, refusing to quit, and won.

And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. (Luke 11:9)

Stop & Think: December 19, 2024

A Lasting Legacy

To set an example, and when he is dead to be an inspiration for history–that’s all a man can hope for during his lifetime. (Rephrasing of William McKinley, 25th U.S. president)

We may wish we could make some great contribution to society—a generous philanthropic gift, a Nobel prize-winning study, or a new song or poem of fame. Probably the best we can hope for, as McKinley suggests, is to be a consistent example of integrity and honesty. That in itself will be a worthy inspiration we can leave as a legacy to our family and community.

Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)

Stop & Think: December 18, 2024

One Week to Christmas

Christmas is more than just December 25th. It’s a season of happiness, love, and anticipation. If you haven’t started celebrating yet, you’re LATE. (Olivia Danchik, RN)

Parties, tree-lighting events, gift giving, Christmas Eve services –all are busy activities of this season you’ve already enjoyed or events you’re looking forward to. And, if the excitement hasn’t hit you yet, Danchik is right, “You’re LATE!” Something far more significant than the holiday’s fun things is the realization that we’re really celebrating God’s great gift to us in his Son, Jesus.

When the time had fully come, God sent his Son … to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. (Galatians 4:4-5)

Stop & Think: December 17, 2024

Violence

Football contains the two worst things about American Life. It is violence punctuated by committee meetings. (Kenneth J. Brown, author)

The Super Bowl is coming up soon in the NFL. Brown’s humorous remark about the sport is a pretty good observation about modern life. Like the gladiators of history, people seem to enjoy watching (and participating in) all kinds of violent sports. Could there be a correlation between the violence in sports and the increase in hatred and civic unrest in our nation?

[Evil people] plot violence,  and their words always stir up trouble. (Proverbs 24:2)

Stop & Think: December 16, 2024

The Challenge of Aging

You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your hope, as old as your despair. (Douglas MacArthur, noted World War II army general)

According to MacArthur, characteristics of youth include faith and hope, while older people generally replace those things with doubt and despair. Perhaps he’s challenging the older generation to remember the more positive attitudes of their younger days. Certainly, life would be much better for everyone – no matter their age – if lived with faith and hope.

The three most important things to have are faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of them is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Stop & Think: December 15, 2024

Starting

You will never win if you never begin. (Robert Schuler, late TV pastor)

It’s a simple truth that everyone would agree to. As Plato wrote, “The beginning is the most important part of the work.” So why is it so hard to start? Walt Disney put it this way, “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” Whether it’s a game or an assignment, putting it off will distress you and delay any satisfaction. So, get to it; make your plan and start now!

Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live. (Proverbs 9:6)

Stop & Think: December 14, 2024

Is God Sufficient?

He who has God and everything else has no more than he who has God only. (C. S. Lewis, British apologist)

We sometimes sing, “He (God) is all I need.” That’s a well-meant sentiment of praise and thanksgiving. However, it, appears that some of think we need possessions as well as God. So, we buy more and more “stuff,” take expensive vacations, and have costly hobbies. In reality, of course, it’s just that some of us have not yet recognized the sufficiency of God’s provision.

Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. (Matthew 6:32-33)

Stop & Think: December 13, 2024

Failure 2

Defeat is not the worst of failures. Not to have tried is the true failure. (George Woodberry, Poet)

No one really wants to fail. Whether it’s academics, sports, or the arts, participants always want to win, to succeed. And some of us don’t even venture into education, athletics, or drama because we’re actually afraid of failure. But, as we learned yesterday, it’s those failures that could be steppingstones to future success. Learn and try again—and again.

For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. (1 John 5:4)

Stop & Think: December 12, 2024

Failure 1

Everyone who succeeds has failures. Successful people make their failures work for them. (Source unknown)

Lecturer Dale Carnegie put it this way, “Discouragement and failure are two of the surest steppingstones to success. Develop success from failures“. Inventor Thomas Edison wrote about how many hundreds of failures he encountered in the creation of his most valuable works. The old adage still applies: If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. (Proverbs 24:16)

Stop & Think: December 11, 2024

A Better Gift

Time cannot be packaged and ribboned and left under trees for Christmas morning. Time can’t be given, but it can be shared. (Cecelia Ahern, Irish novelist)

Two weeks to Christmas. While you’re shopping, wrapping, baking and cooking, you’re thinking of those who’ll be on the receiving end of your generosity. But there is one gift you can give that is more important than what you’ve bought and wrapped: TIME. Spending significant time with family and friends will create memories that will last long after the gifts are forgotten.

This time I don’t want to make just a short visit and then go right on. I want to come and stay awhile. (1 Corinthians 16:7)

Stop & Think: December 10, 2024

Get Up & Get Going

People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity. (Andrew Carnegie, 19th-20th century American philanthropist)

Inertia is a danger. While we’re moving, everything’s okay, but when we’ve settled down for a while, it’s difficult to get up and get going again. Rest is important, of course, but as Carnegie notes, the failure to be purposely active is to settle for less than the best. Maybe we can’t achieve fame and fortune, but we can do our best to accomplish something worthwhile.

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. (James 3:13)

Stop & Think: December 9, 2024

Riches

The key to being rich is knowing what counts. (Edward Jones Co., financial advisors)

Financial advisors can give us great counsel when it comes to stocks, bonds, investments, and all that goes with fiscal responsibility. They’ll be helpful as you try to make the most of your resources. But “knowing what counts” goes far beyond finances. Even more important is our investment of time, service, and loving care for others; that’s the way to true riches.

The trustworthy person will get a rich reward, but a person who wants quick riches will get into trouble. … Give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. (Proverbs 28:20; 30:8)