GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: February 3, 2020

Legacy

Legacy isn’t leaving something for people; it’s leaving something in people. (Greg Groeschel, leadership speaker)

When we begin to consider what we might leave our children, we’re usually thinking of estate issues: houses, personal property, and finances. Groeschel, however points out what is really so much more important. What kind of people will our heirs be? What have we helped develop in them that will have a beneficial impact on others?

[Those that fear the Lord] share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor. (Psalm 112:9)

Stop & Think: February 2, 2020

Plan and Act

When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps. (Confucius, early Chinese philosopher)

We’re into month two of the New Year and, perhaps, we’re disappointed in our progress in achieving the goals we had set for 2020. It would be good to follow this bit of Chinese wisdom. It may be easier to change the goals, but it will mean that we will certainly fall short of what we had hoped to accomplish. Better to reevaluate our action plan before moving on.

Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. (Proverbs 16:3)

Stop & Think: February 1, 2020

Directions

If you know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else. (Yogi Berra, late baseball star)

This is one of many Yogi malapropisms that clearly reflects the famous Murphy’s Law: “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.” In spite of our best intentions, we sometimes think we know where we’re headed, but if we don’t follow the directions carefully, we will find ourselves where we didn’t intend to be. Get good directions—and follow them!

Now, my son, may the Lord be with you and give you success as you follow his directions… (1 Chronicles 22:11)

Stop & Think: January 31, 2020

Kindness II

Kindness is more than deeds. It is an attitude, an expression, a look, a touch. It is anything that lifts another person. (C. Neil Strait, church leader and author)

We sometimes think that to help people we have to give them something tangible like clothes, food, or money. That’s all good, of course, but often all that someone may need is just a bit of conversation, an expression of concern, or a light touch. When we learn to live with an attitude of kindness, it will no doubt enable us to be a needed help to many we meet in daily life.

So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Stop & Think: January 30, 2020

Kindness I

Join the great company of those who make the barren places of life fruitful with kindness. (Helen Keller, deaf-blind author)

Keller continues, “Your success and happiness lie in you . . . The great enduring realities are love and service.” It’s too true that “barren places” abound; they’re in the crowded cities and rural areas. More serious is the barrenness of soul that cripples so many people, who live without hope. We should heed Keller’s advice, sharing love, kindness, and service to the desolate.

We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. (2 Corinthians 6:6)

Stop & Think: January 29, 2020

Purpose II

I shall live badly if I do not write, and I shall write badly if I do not live. (Francoise Sagan, 20^th century French playwright)

When you have an insatiable passion to pursue one course in life, it often becomes a search for perfection. It’s the old dilemma again. Which is the better argument? 1) Anything worth doing is worth doing well or 2) if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing even poorly.” It’s good to have a purpose and try to do it to the best of your ability, but remember, life is not one-dimensional.

So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. (1 Corinthians 9:26)

Stop & Think: January 28, 2020

Purpose I

The man who regards his own life and that of his fellow creatures as meaningless is not merely unfortunate, but also disqualified for life. (Albert Einstein, late scientist)

There is a widespread philosophy today that views life just as Einstein suggests: meaningless. We might not go as far as he does to suggest they are “disqualified for life,” but we surely recognize their forlorn plight. What is there to hope for? What purpose is there if life is without significance? How comforting to know that God has meaning and purpose for all.

“Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless. . . . [But] here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.” (Ecclesiastes 12:8, 13)

Stop & Think: January 27, 2020

Maturity

For the unlearned, old age is winter; for the learned it is the season of the harvest. (The Talmud, book of Jewish law and theology)

Growing old to some is a bleak and dreaded prospect. We all fear diminished physical ability, lessened visual and hearing acuity, and memory loss, which are prevalent among the aging. How encouraging it is, however, to note that many senior citizens are still active and involved. As the Talmud suggests, like mature crops in the field, advanced years can still be productive.

Wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to the old. (Job 12:12)

Stop & Think: January 26, 2020

Performing

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena . . . (Theodore Roosevelt, 26^th president of the United States)

It’s always easy to criticize the faults—whether real or perceived—of others in public view. We’d likely agree with Roosevelt’s statement, but we’d probably have to acknowledge that we do make such judgments sometimes. Critics are many, but it’s the performer who should be appreciated even when what he does isn’t perfect.

Better to be criticized by a wise person than to be praised by a fool. (Ecclesiastes 7:5)

Stop & Think: January 25, 2020

Inspiration

I learned that inspiration does not come like a bolt . . . it comes into us slowly and quietly and all the time. . . (Brenda Ueland, late writer)

She continues, “. . . nor is [inspiration] kinetic, energetic striving . . . we must regularly and every day give it a little chance to start flowing, prime it with a little solitude and idleness.” Ideas are floated all around us, but it often takes a lot of contemplative time to be creative, to come up with a new thought or a new twist on an idea that can be used constructively.

Do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. . . Instead, train yourself to be godly. . . Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas. (1 Timothy 4:7; Hebrews 13:9)

Stop & Think: January 24, 2020

Cooperation

If you can’t beat ’em, cooperate ’em to death. (Charlie Brown in Peanuts cartoon)

Sometimes cartoon characters can give us something worth thinking about. What would life be like if, instead of continuing to fight against someone, we decided to join them in some agreed-on project. Not only would we remove everyone from harmful conflict, we might be able to accomplish something of value, not only to us, but to a broader group.

When you make an agreement with your neighbor . . . you must not take advantage of each other. (Leviticus 25:14)

Stop & Think: January 23, 2020

Encourage

Every person you meet today is hurting deep inside from something. Go gentle into this good day. (Leonard Sweet, American theologian)

You just can’t tell what is going on in someone’s life just by seeing them briefly. They may give the appearance of health and happiness, but a few minutes’ conversation might very well reveal some deep-seated health, family, or emotional needs. Sweet’s advice is a challenge to be sensitive to others with the intention to encourage and lift them up.