GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: October 16, 2020

Friendship II

I no doubt deserved my enemies, but I don’t believe I deserved my friends. (Walt Whitman, 19th century poet and essayist)

Among the great blessings of life are those undeserved gifts of grace, benefits we don’t work for or earn. Like the gifts that God offers in response to faith, not achieved by our efforts but out of his heart of love. Earthly friendships are like that, too. When God gives us a friend, it is a gift to be appreciated, cared for, and cherished.

A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. (Proverbs 17:17)

Stop & Think: October 15, 2020

Friendship I

The happiest moments my heart knows are those in which it is pouring forth its affections to a few esteemed characters. (Thomas Jefferson, early U.S. statesman)

Jefferson’s comment sees friendship as an opportunity to share—to give something rather than only to receive from others. To create lasting, productive friendships, we probably should think more about what we can do for our friends rather than we they might do for us.  Giving often results in receiving; but the greatest joy is in seeing others benefit from what we can give them.

You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35).

Stop & Think: October 14, 2020

Purpose

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. (C. S. Lewis, 20th century British author)

Life without purpose, goals, or dreams can be drudgery. It is certainly very unproductive. When you’re employed, there always seems to be something to work toward, something worthwhile to accomplish. Retirees who continue to work toward achieving something of value do much better than those who don’t. Set goals, dream, and work toward them diligently.

Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands. (1 Thessalonians 4:11).

Stop & Think: October 13, 2020

Confidence

A good leader inspires men to have confidence in him, a great leader inspires them to have confidence in themselves. (Eleanor Roosevelt, late U.S. president’s wife)

You cannot lead far or well if your followers don’t have confidence in you. In fact, you probably won’t even have any followers. Self-confidence breeds confidence, it seems. So, as Roosevelt says, really good leaders develop confidence in their followers, most likely not only by their example, but by giving the team opportunities to develop their skills in action.

I have the highest confidence in you, and I take great pride in you. . . I am very happy now because I have complete confidence in you. (2 Corinthians 7:4, 16)

Stop & Think: October 12, 2020

Influence

There are scores of people waiting for someone just like us to come along. (Leo Buscaglia, late college professor)

Buscaglia describes the waiting people as those “who will appreciate our compassion, our unique talents. Someone who will live a happier life merely because we took the time to share what we had to give.” Never “underestimate,” he says, “the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word a listening ear. . . or the smallest act of caring.” We might just help turn a life around.

Those who fear the Lord. . . share freely and give generously to those in need. . . They will have influence and honor. (Psalm 112: 1, 9)

Stop & Think: October 11, 2020

Life

You can’t pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself first. (Source unknown)

The significant question, however, is “What’s in your cup?” If someone bumps into you while you’re holding a cup of coffee, what spills out? Coffee, of course. When life comes along and shakes you (and it will), whatever is inside you will come out. Life provides the cup; how will you fill it? Live so that when life gets tough, joy, gratitude, and peace will spill out.

[God] produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Stop & Think: October 10, 2020

Words

When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering (Don Miguel Ruiz, Mexican author)

Remember the childhood adage: “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me”? It wasn’t true, was it? Words can really hurt, but Ruiz is suggesting that we need to develop an immunity to such hurt. After all, the words and actions of other people are a reflection of them, not of us. Heed good advice but ignore hurtful insults.

Wisdom will save you from evil people, from those whose words are twisted. (Proverbs 16:25)

Stop & Think: October 9, 2020

Shortcuts

There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going. (Beverly Sills, late opera singer)

We’ve all had some misadventures with shortcuts, no doubt. Following a recommended shortcut with your computer sometimes takes you someplace you really don’t want to go. And many wives have been distressed when their driver insists on a shortcut he “knows” will get them there more quickly. We have learned it’s better to follow good directions carefully.

Now, my son, may the Lord be with you and give you success as you follow his directions. . . (1 Chronicles 22:11)

Stop & Think: October 8, 2020

Wants vs. Needs

[It’s] so easy for our wants to become needs, but when we live like that, we spend money we don’t even have yet. (Mike Lee, minister)

The marketing industry has discovered the way to increase sales of just about any product we can imagine. All they have to do is persuade us that we really do need the product they’re selling. Maybe we have convinced ourselves that we need a new car, when in reality, it’s just something we want. The advertisers have done their best to convince us that we really do need it. Often the problem is that paying for it is another matter. Beware!

Give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. (Proverbs 30:8)

Stop & Think: October 7, 2020

Friends

I think the best friendships are those that can stand the test of time. . . (Steve Pavlina, motivational speaker)

Pavlina continues: “. . . where the friendship is based more on who you are than on what you do or what you have.” When we were kids, friendships came easily, and we didn’t stop to think much about the kind of people they were or if they were rich or not. As we matured, we found that Pavlina is right. It’s people with strong character qualities that make the best friends.

A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. . .  As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. (Proverbs 17:17; 27:17)

Stop & Think: October 6, 2020

The Future

Stop acting as if life is a rehearsal. Live this day as if it were your last. (Wayne Dyer, self-help, author)

Dyer continues, “The past is over and gone. The future is not guaranteed.” That’s good advice, but there is a sense in which life is like a rehearsal. What we do now may have profound effects both in our future and in other people’s. Not only that, the Bible teaches that there is a life to come.  Our faith in God—or lack of it—and following Him will have an effect eternally.

Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them. . . Store your treasures in heaven. . . Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. (Matthew 6:19-21)

Stop & Think: October 5, 2020

Significance

Success is not the same as significance. (Chris Suitt, blog writer)

Winning a checkers game or completing a crossword puzzle might be considered a success by some. Winning a gold medal in the Olympics would get a lot more attention. But isn’t it just as important to work hard in accomplishing good whether or not you receive any attention? It’s important to make good choices and do good works whether anyone notices or not!

And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? (Luke 9:25)