Daily Stop & Thinks

Music

When you’re happy, you enjoy the music, but when you’re sad, you understand the lyrics. (Frank Ocean, singer, songwriter)

Whether you like classical, popular, or rock and roll, when the music starts, life may seem to take on a lighter, happier feeling. But, when we’re not feeling so upbeat, we tend to think of the message of the music, and it may not be so encouraging, either because it doesn’t represent our feelings at that moment or it speaks too clearly to our sad state.

David and all Israel were celebrating. . .  singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments. (1 Chronicles 13:8)

My harp plays sad music, and my flute accompanies those who weep. (Job 30:31)

Rejection

Every time I thought I was being rejected from something good, I was actually being re-directed to something better. (Steve Maraboli, behavioral scientist, speaker, and author)

Have you ever been turned down for a job or a promotion that you felt should rightly be yours? How did you feel about that? Being rejected is difficult for everyone, but some have discovered that what followed was just as good—or even better—than what they missed out on. You don’t have to welcome rejection, but, with patience and hard work you can learn and gain from it.

All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us [and them]. (Hebrews 10:39-40)

Get back up!

Success consists of getting up once oftener than you fall down. (Oliver Goldsmith, 18th century Irish novelist and poet)

Everyone falls once in a while. It might be fun to watch a toddler fall as he or she is learning to walk. It’s encouraging to see how they struggle to get up and try again. It’s tragic to watch an older person fall, who may not be able to get up at all. Even then, when helped up, the senior citizen will continue to move on. Failure doesn’t mean the end. Get up and keep going!

The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. (Proverbs 24:16)

Banners

That flag is a symbol we attach our emotions to, but it isn’t the emotion itself and it isn’t the thing we really care about. (Tom Wolfe, late author and journalist)

Wolfe continues, “Sometimes we don’t even realize what we really care about, because we get so distracted by the symbols.” Today is Flag Day in the U.S., and you’ll probably find flags flying all over town. Wolfe is right; it isn’t the flag itself we honor; it is only a symbol. For us, it represents the ideals of a united country (50 stars) and the cost of our freedom (red stripes).

May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God. (Psalm 20:5)

Thinking

A persistent train of thought, persisted in, be it good or bad, cannot fail to produce its results on the character and circumstances. (James Allen, 19th-20th century British writer)

Older translations of the Bible include “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). Allen’s explanation of that idea makes it clear. The more you think about something, the more likely it will become an ingrained reality. He says further, “A man cannot directly choose his circumstances, but he can choose his thoughts, and so indirectly . . ., shape his circumstances.”

Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8)

True Religion

Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction. (Blaise Pascal, 17th century French theologian)

Religious zealots can be dangerous. It isn’t that worship is hazardous; it’s when false doctrines are knowingly taught as truth. Today there seems to be a renewed interest in the “spiritual,” but we must be extremely careful to be sure that our spiritual interests are centered in “true religion.” In part that will be demonstrated by lifestyle, free from evil.

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. (James 1:27)

Happiness

The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved. (Victor Hugo, 19th century French novelist)

The young couple spooning under the moon by the lagoon in June might be a good picture of happiness. After all, they’ve found their “true love.” What is more lasting, of course, is that affection and caring that can last a lifetime in marriage. Unmarried individuals are happiest, too, when they know someone cares for them. Knowing God is to know love and happiness.

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)

Aging

It’s faith in something and enthusiasm for something that makes life worth living. (Oliver Wendell Holmes, 19th century physician and poet)

He also wrote, “Men do not quit playing because they grow old; they grow old because they quit playing.” Continuing to be active certainly will slow the aging process. Being active with enthusiasm, no doubt, is even more helpful. And, don’t overlook Holmes’ reference to “faith in something.” Not just a blind hope, but a firm trust in something (someone) beyond yourself.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Be Yourself

Memo to Self: Don’t measure your progress using someone else’s ruler. (Binyamin Mughal, writer)

Life can be really hard when we spend our time and talent trying to live up to someone else’s expectations of us. Worrying about what others will think can really stifle our originality and creativity. We should not be unduly concerned about what others think about our work and effort so long as we are honest, truthful, and doing our very best.

Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. (Romans 12:3)

Trust

Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. (George Washington)

Civility is lacking in many circles today, so Washington’s advice should be well taken. The last suggestion is really good advice, but it’s sad that it’s even necessary today. It’s a shame that we can’t simply trust those we consider to be friends. Not everyone has our best interests at heart, so we do need to be careful; but let’s be sure to demonstrate our own trustworthiness.

Those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence. . . . Trustworthy messengers refresh like snow in summer. (Proverbs 11:13; 25:13)

Truth vs. Lies

The fact is, truth is your truest friend, no matter what the circumstances are. (Abraham Lincoln)

How many people have stumbled over this simple principle? We try to make lies more acceptable by calling them “fibs” or “white lies,” but that doesn’t change the fact that they are, at least in part, untrue. If you always stick with the truth, you don’t have to follow up with more deceit to cover your dishonesty. As Lincoln says, “Truth is your truest friend.”

Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed. . .The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth. (Proverbs 12:19, 22)

Choices

Big changes don’t have to be hard, but they do have to start with a choice. (Nathalie Thompson, author and motivational speaker)

Thompson continues, “This is where real change begins; this is where you start taking control of your life and how you choose to live it; this is where it all starts.” There are a lot of things in life we might want to change, but there are many things we can’t control. Choice, however, is still our privilege. If we want to see change, we will have to choose to do something about it.

A wise person chooses the right road. (Ecclesiastes 10:2)

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