GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: May 18, 2022

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).

Stop & Think: May 17, 2022

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)

Stop & Think: May 16, 2022

At the Start

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

Stop & Think: May 15, 2022

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).

Stop & Think: May 14, 2022

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).

Stop & Think: May 13, 2022

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).

Stop & Think: May 12, 2022

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).

Stop & Think: May 11, 2022

Growth

Growth is more important than comfort. (Cassie Rayl, women’s writer)

We do like comfort, don’t we? First class is better than business class which is better than tourist. We’re really happy when we’re upgraded to a more comfortable seat. But while we’re resting in our recliner, wouldn’t it be good for us read a book or watch an enlightening TV program to learn something new? It would be good to want to learn rather than merely to be comfortable.

The wise are mightier than the strong, and those with knowledge grow stronger and stronger (Proverbs 24:5).

Stop & Think: May 10, 2022

Hard Work

Worthwhile things always happen on the other side of hard. (Monty Williams, basketball coach)

Williams’ comment is just about the opposite of “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence” which usually proves false. He suggests that any accomplishment of value lies beyond the stretch of hard work. If we’re not willing to put in the work, we’ll not achieve what we hope for. As in basketball, winning is the result of lots of practice and hard work. Just do it!

Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty (Proverbs 21:5).

Stop & Think: May 9, 2022

Kindness

Kindness is thrown away upon the evil. (Aesop’s Fables)

Really? That’s certainly a human sentiment. We never just want to get even; we always want to get back in a much stronger way. The Old Testament principle of “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth” isn’t enough for us. But Jesus taught something far different, didn’t he? “Turn the other cheek”; “go the second mile.” We must show kindness to others (Romans 12:8).

If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink. You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads, and the Lord will reward you (Proverbs 5:21-22).

Stop & Think: May 8, 2022

Mother’s Day

Motherhood: all love begins and ends there. (Robert Browning, 19th century English poet)

Across the ages, millions of sons and daughters have found Browning’s observation to be true. Mother’s love has often helped us make right choices and kept us from going astray. People who have not had a loving mother have suffered a great loss, to be sure. But there is an even greater love—the love of God for his created people. It’s that love that really prompts greater love.

No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39).

Stop & Think: May 7, 2022

Get going!

Every journey begins with a single step. (Maya Angelou, late American poet)

This adage has been expressed in a variety of ways over many years. Why is it that we so easily overlook this simple principle? We find it so easy to delay starting a project—especially if it appears to be difficult or time-consuming. Most of us have discovered, however, that after beginning to move forward, there is a great sense of relief, and we can continue more easily.

The Lord said to Moses, “Get going, you and the people you brought up from the land of Egypt. Go up to the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 33:1).