GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: September 11, 2019

The Measure of a Man

The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good. (Samuel Johnson, 18th century English writer)

“Quid pro Quo” is a phrase we hear sometimes when politicians are looking for reasons to discredit the testimony or activity of a rival. The Latin phrase suggests an exchange as in “you do something for me and I’ll do something for you.” Johnson lays out a higher standard for judging one’s ethical conduct. We should all strive to live up to it.

Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. (Philippians 1:27)

Stop & Think: September 10, 2019

Knowledge

The value of knowledge is in the use of it. (William Barton, late clergyman and author)

It is said that on average human knowledge is doubling every 13 months, and IBM predicts that the build out of the “internet of things” will lead to the doubling of knowledge every 12 hours. If we could begin to capture even a small portion of all that learning, what would we do with it? As Barton suggests, knowledge has value only in its use. Take care to use it well!

These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. (Proverbs 1:4)

Stop & Think: September 9, 2019

Heart

When you squeeze an orange, orange juice comes out, because that’s what’s inside. When you are squeezed, what comes out is what is inside. (Wayne Dyer, self-help author)

We all run into those times when we feel “squeezed.” Whether it is family problems, financial difficulties, or any other of a dozen scenarios, we may be pressed almost beyond bearing. As Dyer suggests, that’s the time when our response really demonstrates what we’re made of. It’s the time when our integrity and true character are revealed. What are you made of?

But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. (Matthew 15:18)

Stop & Think: September 8, 2019

Words

A bird that you set free may be caught again, but a word that escapes your lips will not return (Jewish proverb)

We need to be reminded of this truth periodically. It’s so easy to let our words fly freely either before we think or without thinking at all. The more free-speaking we are, the more the danger of a slip of the tongue. We often hurt people when we’re just trying to be funny, and maybe that’s the worst kind of hurt. Guard your tongue; set a guard on your lips. Speak gently.

Gentle words are a tree of life . . . Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble. (Proverbs 15:4; 21:23)

Stop & Think: September 7, 2019

Behavior

Whenever you do a thing, act as if all the world were watching. (Thomas Jefferson, US Founding Father)

There are probably times when we would rather not been seen by others. Some things we’d like to keep secret. But, whether in private or public, it would be a good practice to always behave in such a way that we’d not be ashamed to be seen by others. We don’t need to flaunt ourselves, but we do need to realize that our behavior speaks volumes about us.

Be careful to live properly among your . . . neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world. (1 Peter 2:12)

Stop & Think: September 6, 2019

Your Mind

No one is more influential in your life than you are, because no one talks to you more than you do. (Paul Tripp, author)

Do you ever talk to yourself? Well, maybe not out loud, but we are constantly thinking and words race through our minds.. In spite of all that is said around us on TV, radio, or in social media, Tripp is probably right. We hear (or at least listen more carefully to) the monologue going on in our own mind. So, guard your mind; it may be the greatest influence in your life.

So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. (Romans 8:6)

Stop & Think: September 5, 2019

Work Hard

If you don’t suffer the pain of hard work now, you will suffer the pain of regret later. (Abdul Khadar J, Indian actor)

It doesn’t take long for us to discover that life is not always easy. The goals we want to achieve require concentrated effort and, often, really hard work. We have to put in that extra effort or we won’t harvest the fruit of our endeavors. And that, most often, will lead to regret, and thoughts like “Oh, if only I had stuck with it; if I had just given it a little more effort.” So, keep at it!

Hard work brings rewards. . . Those who work hard will prosper. . . Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity. (Proverbs 12:14; 13:4; 21:5)

Stop & Think: September 4, 2019

Hard Work

There is nothing to writing. Just sit down at your typewriter and bleed. (Earnest Hemingway, 20th century American author)

Does everybody want to be a writer? Whether it’s blogs, e-books, or printed material, lots of people seem to think they have something worth writing about. But serious writers soon discover it is a lot of work. Successful authors may share Hemingway’s feeling. It takes blood, sweat, and tears to write a best-seller. Actually, every worthwhile project requires hard work.

Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time. (Proverbs 13:11)

Stop & Think: September 3, 2019

Work

To love what you do and feel that it matters…how could anything be more fun? (Katharine Graham, late newspaper publisher)

In spite of the headaches of publishing a big city newspaper, Graham seemed to love her work and became a popular public figure. There are a lot of people, unlike Mrs. Graham, who go to work regularly and do their job well enough, but don’t really like what they do or feel that it matters much. How sad! View your work as significant, and you may find it fulfilling, as well.

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. (Colossians 3:23)

Stop & Think: September 2, 2019

Labor Day

It is only through labor and painful effort, by grim energy and resolute courage that we move on to better things. (Theodore Roosevelt, 26th US president)

Today we celebrate labor, and as Roosevelt suggests, it is an essential element in achieving “better things.” Note the other factors he mentions: “painful effort, grim energy, resolute courage.” Nothing of value is accomplished without hard, intentional work. As we honor all the laborers who have contributed to our well being, we should put our hands to work as well.

I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. . . People should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God. (Ecclesiastes 2:10; 3:13)

Stop & Think: September 1, 2019

Learn and Grow

By their mid-thirties, most people have stopped acquiring new skills and new attitudes in any aspect of their lives. (John Gardner, author)

Pastor-author Charles Swindoll describes such people, “You’re fast becoming addicted to the narcotic of predictability . . . and the longer you persist, the greater will be the pain of withdrawal.” Life can continue to be exciting and adventuresome if we continue to read, study, travel, and talk—continually learning and growing.

Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge. (Proverbs 18:15)

Stop & Think: August 31, 2019

Take Action

A life of reaction is a life of slavery, intellectually and spiritually. One must fight for a life of action, not reaction. (Rita Mae Brown, writer)

While we may admire people who are initiators—always starting something new, many of us are reactors. We respond to someone else’s initiative. In Brown’s view, such reactors are limiting their abilities and stifling their growth.  It may be difficult to start, but, no doubt, it could be life-changing if we were to learn how to be pro-active.

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