GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: February 14, 2025

Valentine’s Day

Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get — only with what you are expecting to give—which is everything. (Katharine Hepburn, 20th century actress)

This is hardly what you expect to hear from a Hollywood personality. At least, the reputation of many performers suggests that there is more lust than love involved.  But Hepburn said more than she understood, perhaps, about the meaning of genuine, shall we say, biblical love? That’s a love that always seeks what is best for the loved one. May we all strive to emulate that!

Love each other deeply with all your heart . . . Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 1:22; 4:8)

Stop & Think: February 13, 2025

Encouragement

Every time we encourage someone, we give them a transfusion of courage. (Chuck Swindoll, pastor and author)

Courage is a part of our subject word. Giving courage to someone is a great way to boost their confidence and give them the strength to move ahead. This should be one of our strong motivations as we interact with both friends and strangers. All those whom we encourage will, in turn, give courage to others, and, as the saying goes, “what goes around comes around.”

Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up. (Proverbs 12:25)

Stop & Think: February 12, 2025

Democracy

Lincoln famously said, “Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, for the people.”

Winston Churchill’s observation is equally enlightening: “Democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” We are grateful to live under a Republic form of government that grants such great liberty to its citizens. Yet, it is not without its problems and abuses. So, a higher citizenship is to be gained by faith.

Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 3:20)

Stop & Think: February 11, 2025

Three C’s of Leadership

A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen. (quoted by Kary Oberbrunner, motivational speaker and author)

The first two of these factors don’t surprise us. It’s obvious that to be successful you must have confidence in your ability and plan; at times you will need the courage to make hard decisions; that’s to be expected. But compassion? Who would have thought of that? The great leaders listen well to their team with understanding and are helpful in providing what they need to succeed.

Without wise leadership, a nation falls. (Proverbs 11:14)
If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. (Romans 12:8)

Stop & Think: February 10, 2025

Ignorance

Education costs money. But then so does ignorance. (Sir Claus Moser, late British statistician)

Suppose a traffic office stops you for talking on your cell phone while driving. What’s your excuse? “I didn’t know it was against the law”? You might get a warning ticket the first time but watch out the next time. “Ignorance is no excuse,” they say. That is especially true of God’s law. Be sure to seek the truth about sin’s penalty and God’s provision to set you free.

Jesus: “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

Stop & Think: February 9, 2025

Advice

It doesn’t matter how many people say no to you as long as the right people say yes. (Unknown)

Where do you go to get good advice? Whose approval do you want or need? You really want to find “the right people” to affirm you.  Rejections from many people shouldn’t discourage you if you can secure approval from key individuals who are not only trustworthy but understand you and your purposes. In order to achieve your goals, you must be selective about your counselors.

[Wisdom]: “My advice is wholesome. . . Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.” (Proverbs 8:8; 19:20)

Stop & Think: February 8, 2025

Relationships

The most important thing in any relationship is not what you get but what you give. (Eleanor Roosevelt, late US First Lady)

Americans enjoy being with others, whether in an intimate dinner setting or in a crowd at a sporting event or concert. The interaction is likely to include humor and laughter or loud, excited cheering. And sometimes the discussion will be more serious and thoughtful. In any case. Roosevelt’s observation helps us think purposefully about our relationships with friends.

The godly give good advice to their friends. (Proverbs 12:26)

Stop & Think: February 7, 2025

Brrr!

February is the perfect time to plant the seeds of gratitude and watch them bloom throughout the year. (Sarah Ban Breathnach, author and public speaker)

Some say that February is “the breath between winter and spring,” but for most of us it just seems like a short month in a long winter. Breathnach gives us good advice, however, that will make the month more pleasurable for us and others. It’s always good to share an attitude of gratitude that will warm up the chilliest of days.

As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night. (Genesis 8:22)

Stop & Think: February 6, 2025

Improvement

When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better, too. (Paulo Coelho, Brazilian lyricist and novelist)

Sounds like the popular aphorism: “A rising tide lifts all boats” that is usually associated with a discussion of economics. Coelho’s comment is a challenge to all of us to strive to become and do better not only for our own benefit but for the benefit of others. It’s always worthwhile to seek self- improvement, but how much more valuable it is to see widespread social improvement.

We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. (Romans 15:1-2)

Stop & Think: February 5, 2025

Doing It Well

It’s absolutely true that anything worth doing is worth doing poorly… (Zig Ziglar, late motivational speaker)

That seems counter intuitive, doesn’t it? We expect the comment to end with “doing well.” In fact, Ziglar completes the sentence: “—until you can learn to do it well.” In other words, do what you should do even if you can’t do it well to begin with. You can learn through trial and error so long as you work hard at it, knowing it will be worthwhile in the end.

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. (Romans 12:6)

Stop & Think: February 4, 2025

Hurting and Crying

Crying is all right in its own way while it lasts. But you have to stop sooner or later, and then you still have to decide what to do. (C. S. Lewis, British professor)

We all have had our crying times. When we were kids, it was when we fell off the bike and skinned our knee. Later, it might have been when our sweetheart jilted us. Many life experiences have brought us to tears. As Lewis suggested, however, we have to get up and move on with life until the day when all tears and sorrow are removed.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever. (Revelation 21:4)

Stop & Think: February 3, 2025

Potential

Others might not see the potential. But the real question is, Can you? (Kenneth J. Brown, author)

Do you recall the story of David and Goliath? This young shepherd was confronted with a giant who threatened to annihilate Israel’s armies. In spite of the taunts of others who thought the giant was invincible, David knew what he was capable of and bravely followed his intent to face the giant. And with one skillfully placed stone, he won the battle—in the name of the LORD.

I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies . . . Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. (1 Samuel 17:45-46)