Daily Stop & Thinks

Just Do It!

You may not do something big, but by doing something, you may make a big difference. (Chris Suitt, pastor)

Helen Keller put it this way, “I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble.” When we look around the world—or just our own country—we may be overwhelmed with the great need and think there’s not much we can do about it. The challenge: find something you can do and just do it.

Right now, you have plenty and can help those who are in need . . . When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them . . . You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. (2 Corinthians 8:14; Romans 12:13; Mark 14:7)

Courage

It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to your enemies, but even more to stand up to your friends. (J. K. Rowling, British author)

Courage is not the absence of fear. Rather, it’s the strength and willingness to face danger in spite of the fear. Many of us have never had to face a physical enemy, but sometimes we’ve had to confront a friend whether because of our failure or theirs. In any case, that can be a really tough situation. But good friends will try to resolve conflicts courageously.

The words of the wise are like cattle prods—painful but helpful. (Ecclesiastes 12:11)

If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise. (Proverbs 15:31)

Inheritance

No legacy is so rich as honesty. (William Shakespeare)

Financial advisors tell us that we need to plan not only for our future, but for the future of our children and heirs. What kind of legacy will we leave them? They’re usually thinking of wills, trusts, and estate-planning—all of which are important, of course. Shakespeare recognized what is even more important. What will our heirs inherit from us that will last longer than riches?

Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. (1 Peter 1:3-4)

Being Nice

The world is filled with nice people. If you can’t find one, be one. (Nishan Panwar, writer)

When times are tough, some people find it hard to be nice. But, when things improve, and we interact with others, it can bring out the best in others. People usually respond to other people in the same way they are being treated. If you want a friend, be friendly. Be nice even to the unkind; you might be surprised how they will react.

Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. (Colossians 4:6)

Love

Love is more easily demonstrated than defined. (Church sign board)

The word love is bandied around so much that it has lost much of its meaning to most people. “I love my car,” someone might say. Or, “I love ice cream!” Well, we understand what people mean by those expressions, but as my mother used to say, “You can’t love something that can’t love you back.” Love has to do with people and it’s an action word, not a mere feeling.

Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. (Philippians 2:2)

Work Hard

Getting the most with the least amount of effort has become the American motto of choice. (William E. Brown, college executive and author)

If Brown is right, what an indictment of modern America! The United States of America has been known for its fighting spirit, win at any cost, from the Revolutionary War to present-day recessions and conflicts. What has happened to that spirit of adventure and the work ethic that has achieved so much good for so many people? Anything worth achieving requires hard work.

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed. (2 Timothy 2:15)

Gentleness

Be ruthless with ideas and gentle with people. (Robert Sirico, founder of Acton Institute)

Sirico’s counsel is really needed today. Conflicting ideas ought to be studied, proclaimed, and debated with energy and confidence. But when that zealous ardor turns to angry name-calling and accusations, all possibility of mutual understanding and gain is lost. Ideas are important, of course, but sharing them in a civil manner is critical to mutual understanding.

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. (James 3:17)

Faith

Faith is not logical. But it isn’t illogical either. (Mark Batterson, author)

Batterson adds, “[Faith] does not ignore reality; it just adds God into the equation . . . it simply refuses to limit God to the logical constraints of the left brain.” We all exercise faith regularly. Even the atheist or secularist has faith in certain factors like gravity and electricity; they can’t be seen, but their effects can be, verifying their existence. Thank God for faith!

Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see (Hebrews 11:1).

Ignorance

How great must be the guilt and how awful must be the punishment of voluntary ignorance. (William Wilberforce, 18^th-19^th century British member of Parliament)

Being illiterate or ignorant is no sin if one has not had an opportunity to learn. But, to “ignore” (pardon the pun) chances for schooling and learning is inexcusable. While education and knowledge are worthy achievements, there really is no end to learning. How tragic when some knowledgeable people refuse to accept truth or willingly ignore the facts.

In the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth . . . They deliberately forget that God made the heavens long ago by the word of his command . . . (2 Peter 3:3-5)

Success

Try not to become a person of success but rather try to become a person of value. (Albert Einstein, renowned scientist)

What is success? To some, it probably would be winning a gold medal. For someone else, it might be winning an Oscar or an Emmy. Having a college building named after you would surely indicate achievement, wouldn’t it? But business consultant Lolly Daskal suggests, “If we have character, our reputation will take care of itself.”

Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold. (Proverbs 22:1)

Masks

Sometimes it’s not the people who change, it’s the mask falls off. (Jeevan Darshanam, meditation leader)

Our recent experience with masks was for health reasons. We wanted to be protected and to protect others from communicable disease. Too often in life, we’ve experienced the unhealthy wearing of masks, and we’re all guilty, sometimes pretending to be something we’re not; hoping to show one face to people, while we’re really hiding our real selves. That’s called hypocrisy!

God: “I hate all your show and pretense— the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies.” (Amos 5:21)

Simplify

Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful. (William Morris, 19^th century British activist)

Morris could well be a modern voice promoting down-sizing. As we walk through our homes, how much stuff do we see that, in Morris’ terms, is neither useful or beautiful? Even of the useful things, how often are we using them? Of the beautiful, how much are we enjoying them? Henry David Thoreau wrote, “Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify.”

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