Daily Stop & Thinks

Love #2

Love is when the other person’s happiness is more important than your own. (H. Jackson Brown, American inspirational author)

Human love is so often self-centered. We want to be “in love” because of how good it feels or for all the joy we experience when we are loved. But serving another in his or her best interest is really the demonstration of genuine, biblical love. When lovers discover and practice this truth, their relationship will bring great joy to both and to those who observe them, as well.

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them . . . Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other (Romans 12:9-10).

Love

The heart that has truly loved never forgets. (Thomas Moore, 19th-century Irish writer)

It’s safe to say that the word love is often misused today. When viewing a newly remodeled home (see the TV renovation shows), you’ll regularly hear someone say, “Oh, I just love that.” But, in just a few years, the viewer will likely want to change the décor that she “loved” so much. It’s people (not things) that we are to love and be loved, and that should be long-lasting.

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance (1 Corinthians 13:7).

Face It

If you don’t conquer it today, it will control you tomorrow. (Chris Suitt, pastor)

We sometimes can’t seem to move on because of some obstacle that has overtaken us as we plan for the future. Putting off dealing with the problem almost guarantees that you will face it again soon. As writer Dale Carnegie put it, “Remember, today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.” Better to face the difficulty now to avoid facing it repeatedly in the future.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done (Philippians 4:6).

Friendship

Friends have all things in common. (Plato)

Close friends share everything—the trials, the sad times, and the times of joy. We most often think of those good times, but author Lysa TerKeurst emphasizes another essential element of true friendship: “Tears are the truest connection we have with others.” We can be grateful for those who sorrow with us and share our deep burdens. They are among God’s great blessings.

 [God] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us (2 Corinthians 1:4).

Humor

If one has no sense of humor, one is in trouble. (Betty White, late TV actress)

White’s observation might seem a little trite, but perhaps it’s more significant than we think. People who can laugh easily—and make others laugh—do seem to have a happier life. And it’s a lot more pleasant to be around people whose appearance and demeanor aren’t sad or grouchy. You never know how much your happy attitude and smile can mean to someone else.

So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life . . . along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun (Ecclesiastes 8:15).

Age

Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter. (Mark Twain)

We do put a lot of emphasis on age, don’t we? We even classify people by their age groups—boomers, millennials, gen X, and so on. There are obvious differences, of course, but there are many similarities, also. Because we are created in the image of God, as the Bible says, we all are of inestimable value. So, whatever our age, it’s most important to live as God intended.

Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say [and] in the way you live (1 Timothy 4:12).

Romance

Whatever commands the love of your heart also shapes the direction of your life. (Paul David Tripp, author and conference speaker)

Popular ballads of an earlier generation spoke of “love till the end of time” and similar sentiments that are romantic but a bit unrealistic. As Tripp writes, however, such starry-eyed feelings often take over reason and control one’s life and actions. There’s nothing wrong with romance, of course, but one must never separate heart and feelings from mind and reason.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. (Romans 12:2)

At the Start

It is always the simple that produces the marvelous. (Amelia E. Barr, 19^th-20^th century British teacher)

We marvel at the arrangement and beauty of a work of art–in literature, painting, or music. We rarely think about how it began—an idea, a word, a brush stroke, or a note on the piano. But, as Barr suggests, the beautiful things we enjoy didn’t come full blown; they were developed slowly from a simple beginning. Start with the simple and work toward the marvelous.

Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live; learn to use good judgment (Proverbs 9:6).

Action

Vision without action is a dream. Action without a vision is aimless. (Nelson Mandela, late So. African president)

Mandela continues: “But a vision with action can change the world, one person at a time. It’s easy to become distracted doing things that are related to, but not core to our vision. The whirlwind of being busy can deceptively leads us to believe we are achieving something.” Good words for busy Americans. Take time to plan; then actively pursue your dreams.

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1). So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control (1 Peter 1:13).

Words

I would have written a shorter letter, but I did not have the time. (Blaise Pascal, French philosopher)

That may not sound like good logic, but we’ve seen how true the idea is. Have you ever listened to a speaker or teacher who went on and on when he could have said it all in fewer words and have been even clearer? If we spend more time thinking about how to phrase our ideas, we will probably say it better in fewer words.

The more words you speak, the less they mean. So what good are they? . . . The Teacher sought to find just the right words to express truths clearly (Ecclesiastes 6:11; 12:10).

Identity

Sameness is a disease that dims our light and hides our identity. (SEEDnet.org)

Parents sometimes say, “Why can’t you be like (fill in the blank)? Often, it’s a challenge to behave or do better in school like someone else you know. However, we really don’t want our children to be like every other child. Each has his or her own identity and the differences are what make life interesting and allow everyone to make a unique contribution to the community.

Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people (1 Peter 2:10).

Friends

Maybe he has to make us feel his absence in order for us to really appreciate his presence. (Viki Rife, women’s leader)

Rife is writing about God, but that truth can also allude to human relationships. We often don’t realize how much we appreciate a friend until after a prolonged absence. It isn’t that we had forgotten them, but we just weren’t as conscious of their absence until they returned. Let’s keep our friends (and God!) constantly in our presence of mind.

You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence (Acts 2:28).