Daily Stop & Thinks

Sincerity

Those who have virtue always in their mouths, and neglect it in practice, are like a harp, which emits a sound pleasing to others, while itself is insensible of the music. (Diogenes, 4^th century B.C. Greek philosopher)

Today we night say rather crudely, “Put your money where your mouth is.” Or more politely, “What you do speaks so loud I can’t hear what you say.” No one likes a hypocrite. And yet we seem to be living in a day when we hear a lot of high-sounding speech but see too much low–living especially in election years. We should try extra hard to always speak and live the truth.

I speak with all sincerity; I speak the truth. (Job 33:3)

I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception. (Proverbs 8:7)

Choosing

When the choice is to be right or to be kind, always make the choice that brings peace. (Wayne Dyer, self-help author)

Have you ever been in an argument about who won the World Series or who was the vice presidential nominee in a specific year? In such a debate, we’re sure we’re right and we hate to lose the debate. But really, who cares? Dyer is right. It’s better to lose an inconsequential argument and maintain a peaceful relationship with your companion.

Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18)

Others

Goodness is about character—integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity, moral courage, and the like. More than anything else, it is about how we treat other people. (Dennis Prager, talk show host)

When we say that someone is a “good person,” what do we mean? How do we know? It certainly is not simply their appearance, nor their financial standing, is it? It’s really their conduct, their behavior, what they do. And how is that most clearly demonstrated? No doubt, it’s the way they treat people. A good reminder: our treatment of others best shows our character and integrity.

Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts. (Hebrews 6:11)

Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others. (Titus 3:14)

Relationships

Relationships always take precedence over our rights and rank. (Mike Lee, pastor)

We stand strong on the rights of individuals, and many people today are demanding to have what they consider to be their rights, no matter who may be in the way. Some of those so-called “rights” might really just be preferences. Wouldn’t you be willing to give up your “right” to a front-row seat in order to preserve or develop a meaningful relationship with someone else?

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another. (Romans 12:10)

Friends

If all my friends were to jump off a bridge, I wouldn’t jump with them, I’d be at the bottom to catch them. (Steve Berry, American author)

Parents have often heard the lament of their children, “All my friends are doing it; why can’t I?” Berry’s statement night be a challenging response. It’s way too often that we (even adults) are motivated more by peer influence than by reason or logic. A really true friend would want to do what Berry suggests. We should all be prepared to help our friends make better choices.

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (John 15:13)

Comfort Zone

Life will only change when you become more committed to your dreams than you are to your comfort zone. (Danielle Strickland, Canadian speaker & author)

What is the proverbial “comfort zone” we hear so much about? Presumably, it’s the places, habits, and attitudes of life where you don’t feel threatened or challenged. But we’ve all learned that to make any progress and succeed in life we have to move into areas of challenge. To get out of a rut (even a comfortable one) pursue your dreams. Start today!

Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant. (Galatians 1:10)

Encouragers

We cannot be an encouragement if we live our lives in secret caves, pushing people away from us. (Chuck Swindoll, author)

Swindoll continues, “People out of touch don’t encourage others. Encouragement is a face-to-face thing.” In an era of Facebook, smart phones, texting, and email, it’s all too common to try to communicate through these modern conveniences. Even Skype can be somewhat impersonal, in spite of the images on the screen. Nothing beats person-to-person as a means of encouragement.

I have much more to say to you, but I don’t want to do it with paper and ink. For I hope to visit you soon and talk with you face to face. Then our joy will be complete. (2 John 12)

Stardom

The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team. (John Wooden, late sports coach)

We seem to be in a star-crazed world. Whether it’s sports, theater, music, or dance—everyone wants to be a star. And the general public contributes to the craze by exaggerated mimicry in dress, conduct, language—and adulation almost to the point of idolatry. As Wooden points out, however, there would be no stars without a supporting team.

What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? (1 Corinthians 4:7)

Friendship

Friendship is a plant of slow growth and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation. (George Washington)

How many people have you “friended” on Facebook? How long have you known them—and how well? It’s easy on social media to unfriend someone, too, which suggests that such relationships are really pretty shallow. If you want a friendship to “withstand the shocks of adversity,” you’ll have to cultivate it and give it time to grow.

Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable? A real friend sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 20:6; 18:24)

Courage II

Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die. (G. K. Chesterton, 19^th-20^th century English writer)

Surely every soldier who considered a so-called “fox-hole decision” wanted to live. He or she was ready to promise God anything to have life extended beyond the current battle. Yet, even in such a dire circumstance, soldiers, wanting to live but loyal to their duty, were ready to die for their country. Are we willing to make such promises to God in our dangers and trials?

So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord! (Psalm 31:24)

Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. (1 Corinthians 16:13)

Courage I

Have the courage to act instead of react. (Oliver Wendell Holmes, 19^th poet)

A lot of us procrastinate and then end up reacting to situations rather than being ready for them. Too often, then, it’s a knee-jerk response that may be more harmful than helpful. As Holmes suggests, it might take a bit of courage to prepare for upcoming circumstances and be ready to face up to them with ideas already in mind. Get a jump on what’s coming.

So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. (1 Peter 1:13)

Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. (2 Timothy 4:2)

Choices

In every single thing you do, you are choosing a direction. Your life is a product of choices. (Kathleen Hall, author)

What will it be? Bacon and eggs? Just toast and coffee? Or a full-blown breakfast smorgasbord? That may be the first choice of the day (after deciding whether to get up or stay in bed). But it’s only one of hundreds you’ll make during the day. As you make those choices, how do they fit into your life’s goals? What are you deciding about life’s most significant issues?

Choose today whom you will serve. . . . But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15)