GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: January 6, 2020

Foundations I

Storms reveal the quality of the work of the builder. (Bruce Barlow, pastor)

Barlow was referring to the biblical parable of Jesus. He spoke of two builders; one built a house on the sand; another on a rock foundation. When the storm came, obviously, the house with the solid foundation withstood the wind. A simple story and a simple principle. But how many of us are building our lives on unproven and unsafe philosophies?

Jesus: “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.” (Matthew 7:24)

Stop & Think: January 5, 2020

Think!

Feelings are, with a few exceptions, good servants. But they are terrible masters. (Dallas Willard, writer)

Nearly 50 years ago, the popular song You Light Up My Life assured us that “It can’t be wrong when it feels so right.” That pretty well expresses the reasoning of so many people a half-century later. TV scripts tell us to “follow your heart,” but that’s a very dangerous philosophy, as Willard wrote. We need to exercise our brains, thinking carefully before acting on feelings.

Wise people think before they act. (Proverbs 13:16)

Stop & Think: January 4, 2020

Impact

My biggest success is not something I do but someone I impact. (Greg Groeschel, leadership speaker)

When we dream of success, we’re most often thinking of winning a contest, earning an award, accomplishing a worthy business venture, and the like. Groeschel suggests a more significant value in success: impacting people. Awards and prizes are great, but how much greater it is to see the success of those whose lives we’ve influenced in some way.

[The purpose of] the Proverbs: to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. (Proverbs 1:1-2)

Stop & Think: January 3, 2020

New Beginnings

New beginnings are in order, and you are bound to feel some level of excitement as new chances come your way. (Oscar Auliq Ice, author)

It’s only the third day of the New Year, and you are about to return home from vacation, or to go back to school or to your job. Is it still exciting to contemplate the newness of the year—even the new opportunities in the old routines? Forget the disappointments of last year and anticipate the progress you’ll make as you renew old tasks and encounter some new ones.

Make the most of every opportunity . . . (Ephesians 5:16)

Stop & Think: January 2, 2020

Big Plans

There is nothing like a dream to create the future. (Victor Hugo, 19th century French novelist)

You’ve been waiting for this New Year to pursue some of your most significant dreams. What have you planned to do that you will now begin working toward? Plan carefully, seek good counsel, gather your resources, and enlist the help of trusted co-workers. But don’t forget there may be a plan that God has for you that may be somewhat different from your dreams.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Stop & Think: January 1, 2020

Happy New Year!

Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, “It will be happier.” (Alfred Lord Tennyson, 19th century British poet laureate)

We’ve been waiting for 2020, and now, here it is. As Tennyson wrote, many of us are glad that 2019 is over, and we’re hoping for a better 12 months ahead. Like everything else in life, things happen one minute at a time, then one hour, then one day—on and on it goes 366 times (Leap Year). Be patient; give each day your best effort to make it a good day.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. (Psalm 23:6)

Stop & Think: December 31, 2019

New Year’s Eve

Someone asked me when is my birthday? The poet inside me replied, “My birthday is on the last day of the year, It’s 31st December my dear!” (Anamika Mishra, author from India)

That’s an interesting way to look at New Year’s Eve. Every year is the beginning of entirely new experiences, full of surprises and unexpected challenges. As we leave this night, we are starting afresh—almost like we did on our actual day of birth. But this time, we can begin with knowledge, wisdom, and experience so we’re much better prepared. Happy Birthday!

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. (Ephesians 3:15-16)

Stop & Think: December 30, 2019

Looking Back

What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals. (Zig Ziglar, late motivational speaker)

We’re approaching the end of the year, and some of us are beginning to think of our resolutions for the New Year. But, before we formulate our hopes for 2020, perhaps we should use this year-end time to reflect on 2019. As Ziglar suggests, it’s not so much what we have accomplished but what we have become. Let’s evaluate our progress: what have we become?

The Apostle Paul: “I have not achieved [perfection], but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead . . . (Philippians 3:13)

Stop & Think: December 29, 2019

Friendship

A friend is a person with whom I may be sincere. Before him, I may think aloud. (Ralph Waldo Emerson, 19th century American essayist)

How many “friends” do you have on Social Media? Are they really friends? Would you feel free to share your most intimate thoughts with them (even in private)? Many of us have lots of acquaintances, but we wouldn’t consider many of them as really close friends. But we do need one or two that we can be completely open and sincere with. They can be strong anchors for us.

A friend is always loyal. . .  The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense. (Proverbs 17:17; 27:9)

Stop & Think: December 28, 2019

Priceless Gifts

Life, love, and laughter—what priceless gifts to give our children. (Phyllis Campbell)

The gifts we gave our kids a few days ago may be broken or forgotten by now, but as Campbell points out there are those “priceless gifts” that we can continue to give day by day throughout the year. When they’re grown, will they remember the trinkets we gave them as children, or will their lives demonstrate those gifts which formed their character?

So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him. (Matthew 7:11)

Stop & Think: December 27, 2019

Christmas Joy

Dear God, Though Christmas Day passed, the reason we celebrate Christmas continues every day. (Source unknown)

The prayer continues: “Your gift of love, grace, and mercy to us is never ending. Thank you that we count on that every day of our lives.” We may still be cleaning up after the holiday celebration, and the excitement of the holiday may be passed, but our gratitude should continue, and it should be evident in the joy we express continually.

All who seek the Lord will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy. (Psalm 22:26)

Stop & Think: December 26, 2019

The Day After

Three phrases that sum up Christmas: Peace on Earth, Good will to Men, and Batteries Not Included. (English proverb, from a Norman Rockwell calendar)

We may laugh at it, but if you don’t have the right batteries on Christmas morning, there may be a lot of disappointed children who can’t play with the toys they’ve waited so long for. And for others, who maybe are feeling a little down, it’s good to be reminded of those other common phrases. After all, the coming of Jesus at Christmas time is the reason for real joy.

The humble will be filled with fresh joy from the Lord. The poor will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 29:19)