Daily Stop & Thinks

Anybody who thinks talk is cheap should get some legal advice. (Franklin P. Jones, author)

That may be a tongue-in-cheek statement, but we really can’t overemphasize the importance of our verbal expressions. With our words we can uplift someone with encouragement or we can devastate another person with our criticism. Once the words are spoken, they can’t be retracted. Guard your mouth today and think carefully before you speak.

For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. . . . Blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely . . . this is not right!  (James 3:2, 10)

You and I are essentially infinite choice-makers. (Deepak Chopra, author and public speaker)

Chopra continues, “In every moment of our existence, we are in that field of all possibilities where we have access to an infinity of choices.” From choosing what to wear or where to have lunch to making/accepting a proposal of marriage or changing your career path—all are choices that determine minor or major course direction. Do you have a source to help with your choices?

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. (James 1:5)

Be thankful for what you have. Your life, no matter how bad you think it is, is someone else’s fairytale. (Wale Ayeni, investment advisor)

When you’ve lost an investment or had a difficult day on the job or at school, do you sometimes think you don’t have it very good? Are you having a “pity party” and think you’re just unlucky? Look around! You’ll see many others who aren’t nearly as well off as you are. Be grateful for what you have; it will change your attitude toward life.

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

Success is falling nine times and getting up ten. (Jon Bon Jovi, singer, songwriter)

Perhaps you feel as if you have experienced more failures than successes. You’re discouraged to the point where you don’t even want to try anything again. Bon Jovi’s advice is good; don’t give up; keep trying. Maybe it will be helpful to lean on some close friends for advice and encouragement. In any case, keep getting up and trying. Success may lie just ahead.

Though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again. (Proverbs 24:16) Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

Focus on changing yourself, not on changing the world. In the end you’ll do both. (Kary Oberbrunner, author and motivational coach)

We don’t have to look far to see things that need to be changed. Poverty, crime, political unrest, world-wide turmoil—the list is endless. And a lot of us want to do something to bring about significant change. But Oberbrunner suggests a starting point: each of us as individuals. Progress begins with you and me. Is there something you should change today?

And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching (Titus 2:7). If you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? (Romans 2:21)

Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment. (Will Rogers, 20^th century American humorist)

“Live and learn,” we’ve been told. And haven’t we all learned a lot from living? While we like to think we are making good decisions, we often fail because we didn’t plan carefully enough. That’s unfortunate, but it’s even worse if we don’t learn from those mistakes and keep moving forward with increased learning and motivation.

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. (Psalm 143:10)

Nothing ever comes to one that is worth having, except as a result of hard work. (Booker T. Washington, 19^th-20^th century American educator)

When you know something of the struggles that Washington had to overcome to become an admired teacher and an advisor to presidents, you can appreciate this important lesson. When things come easily to us, they are often appreciated little and do not enhance our learning. As inventor Thomas Edison said, “There is no substitute for hard work.”

Wise words bring many benefits, and hard work brings rewards. … Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave. (Proverbs 12:14, 24)

It is better to be divided by truth than to be united by error. (Adrian Rogers, church leader)

Much has been said about the importance of unity. So much more progress can be made when we work together in community. However, as Rogers points out, there are times when unity must be sacrificed for the sake of truth. Persistence in agreement on what is untrue and wrong will bring only disaster. Success is to be gained by unity in truth.

We cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth. (2 Corinthians 13:8) Carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you. (2 Timothy 1:14)

Those who never retract their opinions love themselves more than they love the truth. (Joseph Joubert, 18^th-19^th century French essayist)

People who are stubborn about their opinions and never seem willing to consider other options are sometimes described as bull-headed. It’s not only difficult to carry on a meaningful conversation with them, but it’s virtually impossible to come to agreement on any issue. Progress is stymied by such an attitude. Seeking the truth requires open-mindedness.

Get the truth and never sell it; also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment. (Proverbs 23:23)

The richest people in the world are not those who have the most but those who need the least. (Craig Groeschel, pastor)

Groeschel’s statement is contrary to almost everything the world, especially social media, would have us believe. We’re overwhelmed with voices telling us what we really need in order to be successful and happy. In reality, having less of material things is more when it comes to having peace of mind and contentment.

I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. (Philippians 4:11-13)

Progress always involves risks. You can’t steal second base and keep your foot on first. (Frederick Wilcox, late British athlete)

Muhammad Ali said, “He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.” Well, it is true, isn’t it, that life involves risks, whether it’s crossing the street at a busy intersection or failing to get your flu shot? On the other hand, surely we want to reduce the risk factor as much as possible. Think ahead, take precautions, prepare, and move ahead with faith.

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

The secret of getting ahead is getting started. (Sally Berger, author and curator)

Inertia is a law of physics that says an item at rest tends to stay at rest until moved by an external force. A person suffering from inertia might be said just to be lazy. (Think of Garfield, the cartoon cat.) If Berger is right, maybe all it will take to get us “off our duff” is to just get up and get started on a worthy project, maybe even self-improvement.

Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave. (Proverbs 12:24)