GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: December 8, 2019

Why am I here?

Who in the world am I? Ah, that’s the great puzzle. (Lewis Carroll, 19th century English writer)

That quote from Alice in Wonderland is more than just a fictional concern. It is one of the essential questions in life. Who am I? Why am I here? Those are existential queries that have perplexed mankind since the beginning. Late Indian leader Gandhi offered a clue: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News. (Ephesians 3:7)

Stop & Think: December 7, 2019

Inertia

The first obstacle to be overcome in any undertaking is the inertia of the people who are to perform the task. (Source unknown)

Whether it’s the production of the newest widget in the market, the painting of a masterpiece in art, or the winning of an Olympic gold medal, the first step is getting up and moving toward achieving the goal. Inertia is the first reason for the lack of accomplishment. The idea may be good, the strategy perfect, the goal in clear view, but you have to get up and get going.

Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. (Romans 12:11)

Stop & Think: December 6, 2019

Achievement

God is not going to look us over for medals, degrees, or diplomas, but for scars. (James Gribble, pioneer missionary)

We tend to evaluate people’s success by the medals won, degrees or diplomas earned, or otherwise gaining public acclaim for their achievements. They are worthy of note, of course, but a better indication of achievement might be the obstacles overcome, evidenced by the marks of struggle and difficulty. Value is increased by the cost of the achievement.

For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. (1 John 2:16)

Stop & Think: December 5, 2019

Humility

With popularity comes the need for humility. With prosperity comes the need for integrity. (Chuck Swindoll, author)

Only a few people may want to be the life-of-the-party, but almost everyone wants to be popular. No one enjoys being the “wall flower” at a party or a class reunion. But, like every positive trait, even popularity has its downside. The more popular you are, the more you may have to deal with pride. That’s why Swindoll says that humility is a helpful antidote for pride.

Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. (Proverbs 11:2)

Stop & Think: December 4, 2019

Christmas is Coming

Christmas! The very word brings joy to our hearts. (Joan Winmill Brown, British actor & writer)

It’s still three weeks till Christmas, yet the anticipation has begun. Brown continues, “No matter how we may dread the rush, the long Christmas lists for gifts and cards to be bought and given, when Christmas Day comes there is still the same warm feeling we had as children, the same warmth that enfolds our hearts and our homes.” Avoid the rush; anticipate the joy of the Day.

Jesus: “It is more blessed to give than receive.” (Acts 20:35)

Stop & Think: December 3, 2019

Plan Ahead

December, being the last month of the year, cannot help but make us think of what is to come. (Fennel Hudson, rural lifestyle author)

Children (even grown-up children) welcome December and look forward excitedly to Christmas. Others are already complaining about the weather and are counting the weeks and days till spring. In reality, we all must pay attention both to today and its work and to the future, as well. Failing to plan will almost certainly make our future days more difficult.

If you plan to do good, you will receive unfailing love and faithfulness. . . Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity. (Proverbs 14:22; 21:5)

Stop & Think: December 2, 2019

The Seasons

May and October, the best-smelling months? I’ll make a case for December: evergreen, frost, wood smoke, cinnamon. (Lisa Kleypas , American novelist)

Some people like spring freshness; others wait eagerly for summer heat. Fall colors are favorites for many. But then there are some who really prefer cold and snow. So it takes all kinds, doesn’t it? Klaypas’ comment is a great encouragement to those who dread winter. Think positively, she says, about the scents of the season. There’s always something to appreciate.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Stop & Think: December 1, 2019

December

It is December, and nobody asked if I was ready. (Sarah Kay, American poet)

We say that time flies, and when we reach December, we wonder how it arrived so quickly. And yet, we knew all along that it was coming—like every other month on the calendar. Or every day and week, for that matter. We should prepare ourselves physically, mentally, and spiritually for every day, no matter the time of year, so we are ready to live and serve well.

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. (Psalm 90:12)

Stop & Think: November 30, 2019

Learning from Life

Nothing ever goes away until it teaches us what we need to know. (Pema Chodron, Buddhist nun)

Some lessons in life seem to be never-ending. We might struggle against them, try to wish them away, or ignore them, but they are aggravatingly persistent. They just won’t go away. What to do with them? We can pray for endurance and ways to learn from difficult experiences. Nothing God allows in our life can be wasted if we look to him for its purposes.

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

Stop & Think: November 29, 2019

Success

Success is built on the ability to do better than good enough. (Zig Ziglar, late motivational speaker)

Have you ever worked on a project until you were just tired of it and wanted to quit? You may have said, “It isn’t what I wanted, but it’s good enough.” Later you may very well have wished that you hadn’t stopped so soon. You may get by with good enough, but to achieve anything of real value we often have to go beyond “tired” to complete a really worthwhile task well.

I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race. (Philippians 3:13-14)

Stop & Think: November 28, 2019

Thanksgiving

As antitoxins prevent the disastrous effects of certain poisons and diseases, thanksgiving destroys the poison of fault-finding and grumbling. (Clinton C. Cox, minister)

This is a good reminder for us on this Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. Cox continues, “When trouble has smitten us, a spirit of thanksgiving is a soothing antiseptic.” When we determine to be grateful, in spite of trails and difficulties, it’s amazing how our outlook can change and how helpful we can be to others. It is really helpful to develop an attitude of gratitude.

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Stop & Think: November 27, 2019

Endurance

It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. (Confucius, ancient Chinese philosopher)

While that axiom would certainly not apply to the 100-meter dash in an Olympic contest, it surely has a broader and helpful application to life in general. Often, progress is slow, but so long as it continues to move forward, it is an encouragement to keep on working toward worthy goals. It’s not speed but faithfulness and endurance that really count in the long run.

And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. (Hebrews 12:1)