GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: July 22, 2020

Simplify

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

Stop & Think: July 20, 2020

Joy

There are [people] in this world [who] have the gift of finding joy everywhere and of leaving it behind them when they go. (Frederick William Faber, noted 19th century English hymn writer)

One of life’s great pleasures is to be around the kind of people Faber speaks of. Too often we see people whose heads always seem to be down. They count the cracks in the sidewalk and miss the beauty all around them.  It’s a delight to enjoy the company of people who sense the good around them; it’s even better to be such an encourager—always sharing the joy in life.

Your love has given me much joy and comfort . . . May you be filled with joy . . . you are our pride and joy. (Philemon 1:7; Colossians 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 2:20)

Stop & Think: July 19, 2020

Waiting and Moving On

Good things come to people who wait, but better things come to those who go out and get them. (Anonymous)

Walt Disney put it this way, “All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.” So, it’s probably a combination of both. Being impatient and moving ahead too quickly can be disastrous, but waiting too long for “opportunity to knock,” can be just as bad. “He who hesitates is lost,” says another proverb. So, think and plan patiently, and then move ahead.

Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord (Psalm 27:14). [until] It is time to break camp and move on. (Deuteronomy 1:7)

Stop & Think: July 18, 2020

Open-Minded

People generally see what they look for and hear what they listen for. (from To Kill a Mockingbird)

It’s difficult, isn’t it, to keep an open mind? Often we feel that we know enough about a certain situation that we don’t really hear someone else’s explanation. Our mind is made up, so we don’t see the evidence clearly. The first rule in conversation must be to listen attentively. Reserve judgment until you understand the facts clearly. Wouldn’t that make getting along easier?

And the people of Berea were more open-minded . . . and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message . . . to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. (Acts 17:11)

Stop & Think: July 17, 2020

Perspective

Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change. (Wayne Dyer, self-help, author)

It’s the old story of seeing the cup as half full or half empty or noticing the mud rather than the daisy. It’s a matter of perspective, isn’t it? The difference between an optimist and a pessimist is often just the way they’ve become accustomed to seeing things. It might take a little effort but developing a more positive attitude will certainly make things look different to you.

The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7)

Stop & Think: July 16, 2020

Falling

The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. (Nelson Mandela, late South African president)

We think nothing of it when a toddler falls and immediately jumps up again. Nearly everyone has fallen short of the expected standard but bounced back to move forward once again. Spectators might be aware of such failures, but most observers will applaud the runner who gets up and moves on.

When people fall down, don’t they get up again? (Jeremiah 8:4)

Stop & Think: July 15, 2020

Troubles

Adversity reveals genius. (Horace, 1st century B.C. Roman poet)

The Greek philosopher Plato put it this way, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” When the need for something becomes imperative, we are forced to find ways to meet that need. According to Horace, the greater the need, the more it takes to meet it. We’re not all geniuses, of course, but who knows what we can achieve when we put our minds into finding solutions.

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. (Isaiah 43:2)

Stop & Think: July 14, 2020

Act Now

Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. (The Talmud, Jewish religious law)

In a world saturated with troubles within and without, it’s easy to give up in face of the daunting task of achieving peace. Because the problem is too big to solve easily or quickly, we’re inclined not to try at all. But the Talmud continues, “You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.” We can respond now with love, mercy, and humility.

Blessed are those who act justly, who always do what is right. (Psalm 106:3)

Stop & Think: July 13, 2020

Honesty

If being a team player requires doing what is wrong, you’re on the wrong team. (Chuck Swindoll, author)

An American teacher overseas was offered an administrative position in his school. In the culture of that nation, it was not uncommon to be less than honest and forthright in relationships between levels of authority. The teacher agreed to serve with the stipulation that he would not do anything unethical. You can imagine how brief his new job was. Author Swindoll is right.

May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you. (Psalm 25:21)

Stop & Think: July 12, 2020

Knowing More

Don’t focus on what you don’t know. It’s too heavy for you and will crush your peace of mind. (Chris Suitt, pastor)

For many of us what we don’t know sometimes stymies us to the point where we just can’t move forward. We think we must have that certain piece of information that will help us in our project. But, Suitt is right. There’s far too much of the unknown for us to hope to “know it all” about any single subject. We would all do better to confidently move forward, using what we do know.

To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness. (Ecclesiastes 2:26)

Stop & Think: July 11, 2020

Be Still

Lord, help me to relax about insignificant details beginning tomorrow at 7:42:23, PST.

We’re more familiar with the similar prayer, “Lord, give me patience, and I want it right now!” “That’s ridiculous, we say.” Sure, both statements are absurd, but isn’t that really the way we act too often? It may take a supernatural act of God to bring about that kind of change, but surely, he wants us to use the common sense and abilities he’s given us to live wisely and thoughtfully.

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God . . . Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. (Psalm 46:10; 37:7)

Stop & Think: July 10, 2020

Priorities

Let’s do our best to order our lives wisely and keep first things first. (Blaise Pascal, 17th century French writer)

Pascal also wrote, “Man’s sensitivity to little things and insensitivity to the greatest things are marks of a strange disorder.” Isn’t it that we are inclined sometimes to major on the minor irritations of life, at least temporarily overlooking what are far greater concerns? It does take some discipline to keep first things first, doesn’t it? But it’s so important!

Jesus said, “Seek first [God’s] kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33)