GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: December 17, 2021

Books and Reading

If we encounter a man of rare intellect, we should ask him what books he reads. (Ralph Waldo Emerson, 19th-century American essayist)

Many bookstores are closing because of declining sales. Information of all kinds is available online, so why buy a book? Yet, authors still write, and publishers continue to make their material available in hard copy. Emerson didn’t know about the Internet, but he would no doubt still encourage us to follow the works of intelligent authors, whatever the venue.

(The Apostle Paul in prison nearing death): “. . . Also bring my books, and especially my papers (2 Timothy 4:13)

Stop & Think: December 16, 2021

Home

A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it. (George Moore, 19th-20th century Irish novelist)

We admire explorers who have discovered new continents and countries. Many world travelers today enjoy exploring the world and discovering new places, cultures, and sights. For most of them, it usually feels really good when they return home. There’s no place like home, they say. In reality, of course, life is like a journey, and it’s important to have a home to look forward to.

Christ suffered for our sins once for all time . . . He died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. (1 Peter 3:18)

Stop & Think: December 15, 2021

Difficulties

Do not equate difficult with impossible. You can do the difficult. (Tom Kight)

He says, “Higher levels of difficulty simply require deeper levels of commitment.” Some of us give up pretty quickly when we’re faced with a difficulty, whether it’s an obstacle in our path, a mental problem we can’t resolve, or just a decision we’re struggling with. To overcome those issues, as Kight suggests, we may only have to make a firm commitment and keep working at it.

Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. (Proverbs 16:3)

Stop & Think: December 14, 2021

Hope

When the unthinkable happens, the lighthouse is hope. (Christopher Reeve, late “Superman” actor)

Reeve’s comment is an antidote to what essayist William Styron wrote, “It is hopelessness even more than pain that crushes the soul.” Reeve continued, “Once we choose hope, everything is possible.” His counsel can be a great encouragement in today’s society where, in the confusion about identity and purpose, not much gives hope. To look above is to find lasting hope.

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13) 

Stop & Think: December 13, 2021

Healthy Fear

Fear that does not take you to God, will take you away from God. (Author Unknown)

We live in a fearful world. Many fear Covid-19; others fear the vaccine. Blue voters fear that red candidates will win elections and vice versa. Aristotle said, “He who has overcome his fears will truly be free.” But a lot of people find it difficult to handle fear, and many never defeat it. So, the observation of our unknown writer is very helpful for the fearful.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7) 

Stop & Think: December 12, 2021

Scars

Maybe life isn’t about avoiding the bruises. Maybe it’s about collecting the scars to prove that we showed up for it. (Hannah Brencher, mental health advocate)

We’d all like to live life without “bruises.” Whether it’s a physical injury or a verbal insult, we’d prefer not to experience them. But that’s not reality, is it? Brencher’s comment may be hard to digest, but the truth is, we can learn a lot from those difficult times, and the accumulated store of what we’ve learned and grown from can be a great reservoir of wisdom for ourselves and others.

 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10)

Stop & Think: December 11, 2021

“All I Want for Christmas”

The first step to getting what you want is knowing what you want. (Arthur D. Hlavaty, writer)

What do you want for Christmas? These days, a child’s answer will most certainly include something electronic, maybe a new computer game. Adults’ desires may range from new socks to a new car. The old song referred to “my two front teeth.” That’s really practical, isn’t it? Maybe we should think less of toys and trinkets and more of things that add value to life.

Keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls (1 Peter 2:11). Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires (Psalm 37:4).

 

Stop & Think: December 10, 2021

Meditation

The lost art of the twenty-first century is meditation. (Paraphrased from many writers)

To find time to pause for a quiet moment is nearly impossible for most of us in our 21st century “Instagram” lives. It’s so much easier to move from one thought to another without considering the implications or applications of those thoughts. Perhaps society’s ills today are the fruit of this lost art. This month, plan time to sit quietly and think deeply about the wonders of life.

Study (God’s Word) continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. (Joshua 1:8)

Stop & Think: December 9, 2021

Integrity

True integrity implies you do what is right when no one is looking or when everyone [else] is compromising. (C. S. Lewis, British writer)

The Bible says, “[God’s] light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19). Hasn’t that been the experience of all of us at one time or another? Didn’t we hide our behavior from public view when we knew it was wrong? No matter what others may be doing, we must be honest in public and private; that’s integrity!

People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed . . . [God] is a shield to those who walk with integrity. (Proverbs 10:9; 2:7)

Stop & Think: December 8, 2021

Good Intentions

Foolish behavior wrecks good intentions. (Andy Simkins, blog writer)

Have you meant well in doing something but really goofed in spite of your good intentions? We can all understand that. Most of us don’t really want to do something harmful, but because of haste or poor planning or maybe simple incompetence, we mess it up. Writer Peter Drucker put it this way: “Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work.”

The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. (Proverbs 21:5)

Stop & Think: December 7, 2021

It’s Pearl Harbor Day

We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain. (Abraham Lincoln)

Lincoln’s words from his Gettysburg Address were repeated after the disaster at Paarl Harbor in 1941. Unfortunately, since that day 80 years ago, many more men and women have given their lives in defense of our country. We should express our gratitude to veterans who have served to protect our liberty. Perhaps, equally important, we should use our freedom to serve others well.

For you have been called to live in freedom . . .  But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. (Galatians 5:18)

Stop & Think: December 6, 2021

Decision-making

We are a culture trapped in the moment, unwilling and unable to delay gratification. (John Stonestreet, author, speaker)

It’s important to be living in the present, of course, but many people seem to have lost any idea of how present choices affect tomorrow. The late preacher and author Robert Schuler, put it this way. “My decision today will become tomorrow’s reality.” Instant gratification fades quickly. We must think about future consequences as we make choices and decisions.

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