Daily Stop & Thinks

Understanding

People fear that which they do not understand. (Robert Soto, cross-cultural worker)

As a Native American leader, Soto has encountered a lot of misunderstanding—on all sides—and a lot of the resulting fears. The history of the government’s relationships with American Indians is a prime example of such confusion and the mistakes that come from not appreciating cultural and ethnic differences. Acceptance and tolerance can go a long way to dispel fear.

Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. (Proverbs 2:2-3)

Hard Work No. 2

If we fall, we don’t need self-recrimination or blame or anger — we need a reawakening of our intention… (Sharon Salzberg, best-selling author)

Salzberg continues, “…and a willingness to recommit, to be wholehearted once again.” Each decision we make, each action we take, is born out of an intention. The idea of being intentional in our work is often described as “proactive.” Good things don’t regularly happen as a result of chance. To recover after a failure, you have to work hard at achieving your goals. Be proactive!

Hard workers get rich…  Work hard and become a leader… Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity. (Proverbs 10:4; 12:24; 21:5)

Hard Work No. 1

Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing. (Theodore Roosevelt, 26th U.S. President)

Do you sometimes wonder if this is understood by the younger generation? It seems increasingly difficult to find employees who regard work in this way. Even many who have good jobs are more focused on retirement than giving their best efforts right now. Effective workers are not only gainfully employed but they find satisfaction in a job well done.

I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. (Ecclesiastes 2:10)

Hard work brings rewards. (Proverbs 12:14)

Yes or No

[Stop] saying yes when you mean no. (Gene Chizik, football coach)

This was one of five things Coach Chizik said, “You need to stop NOW.” Have you ever agreed to something you really didn’t want to do? You wanted to say no, but you said yes—and regretted it. Did you follow through to do what you committed to, or did you forget about it (intentionally or otherwise)? It’s always better to be up front, responding truthfully.

Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one. (Matthew 5:37)

Others

Any value system worth having is focused on others, not self. (Michael Lockstampfor, minister)

The desire for success seems almost to be inherent. Most of us want to do our best, to climb up in our profession or activity, and to win. Sometimes that ambition may overtake our value system so that we think only of ourselves and our passion to succeed. Real success, however, operates on a different value system, a biblical one.

Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. (Philippians 2:3-4)

Comparisons

As long as we measure ourselves according to the guy down the street, we can come off pretty good. (Randy Smith, professor)

Have you ever compared yourself and your accomplishments with someone else? We feel bad—even jealous—when they’re doing better than we are, but we feel pretty good if the comparison favors us. But, comparing ourselves with others is often not healthy. We should be competing only with ourselves and our goals. Are we moving forward? If not, what can we do to improve?

Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. (Galatians 6:4)

Judging Others

We tend to be very good lawyers when it comes to our own mistakes, but very good judges when it comes to the mistakes of others. (Tullian Tchividjian, author, speaker)

It’s easy to defend your mistakes, to rationalize your own failures, isn’t it? We always have good reasons for our errors and missteps, and we’re quick to explain them. But, do we offer the same “grace” to others when they goof? Many of us are so quick to criticize someone else when they make a faux pas. Rather than acting as self-appointed judges, it would be better to offer help.

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. (Matthew 7:1-2)

Good Judgment

Knowledge is the Treasure, but Judgment the Treasurer of a Wise Man. (William Penn, Founder of Pennsylvania)

Education is an integral part of a healthy society. Modern technology has made the obtaining of knowledge much easier since information is increasing exponentially, but more than knowledge is required. Penn continues, “He that has more Knowledge than Judgment is made for another man’s use more than his own.” To be wise, exercise sound judgment along with learning.

Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment. (Proverbs 4:7)

Bloom

When you’re in a dark place, you sometimes tend to think you’ve been buried; perhaps you’ve been planted: bloom. (Gabriela Eric)

Sometimes life is so difficult that it may seem that we’ve been buried under unrelenting circumstances. Whether it’s personal, job-related, or a social difficulty, we long to be relieved. But consider this Mexican proverb: They tried to bury us; they didn’t know we were seeds.”

[Those who] delight in the Lord… are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. (Psalm 1:2-3)

Veterans Day

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. (Mahatma Gandhi, leader of India’s independence movement)

Today in America we honor the veterans who served in the military to protect our country and our freedom. Many of those men and women experienced great changes in their life’s purpose as they encountered multiple changes in their military careers. In those transforming years, they began to discover a new identity as they lost themselves in the service of their countrymen.

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28)

Success (or Disappointment)

The only real failure is the failure to try, and the measure of success is how we cope with disappointment. (Deborah Moggach, British writer)

Moggach offers two really important ideas. Some people don’t want to try something new because they’re afraid it won’t work. The fear of failure often keeps a lot of people from moving ahead. The other observation has to do with disappointment. Everyone faces it from time to time. How we overcome it and move on is a success in itself and should be celebrated.

Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the Lord. You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed. (Proverbs 23:17-19)

Relief

When things get really bad, just raise your glass and stamp your feet and do a little jig. That’s about all you can do. (Leonard Cohen, Canadian novelist and poet)

Is Cohen’s advice really helpful? Are we to deal with our concerns by ignoring them and masking them with frivolity? Surely, that’s not a happy way to live—nor will it lead to overcoming difficulties and finding success. There is a better way because we do not have to face our trials alone.

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (1 Peter 5:7)

Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)