Daily Stop & Thinks

Cost

There’s no changing the future without disturbing the present. (Danielle Strickland, justice advocate)

Sometimes when we think of the future, we may want to see significant changes, but we’re unwilling to do what it takes to make those changes possible. For example, my goal may be to lose 20 pounds, but, ouch, that means I’ll have to start dieting and exercising. Considering the cost is a prerequisite for reaching goals.

But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? (Luke 14:28)

Different

Your difference is your destiny. (DeVon Franklin, film producer, author)

It could be a physical defect, lack of athletic skill, skin color, or even intellectual prowess that makes you different. And you may wish you were more like other people. Franklin points out, however, that it is that very feature that makes you distinct, providing a platform from which you can contribute something that the “others” can’t. Value it.

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. (Romans 12:6)

Failure

Failures forge you. Failures are doorways to success. (Bear Grylls, TV personality)

Grylls appears to be fearless in his adventures on the popular TV shows Man vs. Wild and Running Wild with Bear Grylls. But he publicly acknowledges that his tests are not only fearful, but they often fail. In spite of the dangers of life, he says, we need to realize that what we learn from those failures often provides other opportunities for successful achievement.

The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. (Proverbs 24:16)

Effectiveness

Just because you are comfortable with doing something a particular way and competent at it, doesn’t mean you are being effective with it. (James Emery White, pastor, author)

“Always strive for effectiveness,” White counsels. It’s difficult to break habits, especially, if we’ve found them to be comfortable and usable, giving us the results we’ve wanted. But, to improve our effectiveness, we may have to examine our methods, evaluate how well they’ve worked, and change some things if we want to be most effective.

Therefore, change your hearts and stop being stubborn. (Deuteronomy 10:16)

Progress

We should always strive for excellence, but going for perfection may hinder real progress. (quoted by Craig Groeschel, leadership speaker)

Others have put it this way, “Perfection is the roadblock to progress.” While exactness may be essential in rocket science or brain surgery, in most other areas of endeavor, the goal of perfectionism will likely cause delays and redundant efforts in achieving a desired end. We should always strive for excellence, but striving for perfection may hinder real progress.

The Apostle Paul: “I don’t mean to say that I have already . . . reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.” (Philippians 3:12)

Willpower

Can comes after will. Ability comes after availability. (Gabriella Farro, overseas social worker)

These comments were made recently at a global leadership summit. The two brief sentences help us understand the order of successful activity. Until you have the desire (will) to accomplish something, you won’t be able (can) to do it. Likewise, you have to make yourself available to pursue worthy ends before you will be able to exercise the skill to reach your goals.

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. (Colossians 3:23)

Law

Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws. (Plato, 5^th century BC philosopher)

Things haven’t changed much since Plato’s day, have they? Rules aren’t needed to keep good people in line. It’s the bad guys that need regulation; too often, they just ignore the rules. We don’t need more laws; we need people to admit their wrong-doing and begin to change the way they live. Imagine what that might do! Peace and safety might well be the result.

Young people who obey the law are wise . . .  whoever obeys the law is joyful. (Proverbs 28:7; 29:18)

Others

Boredom doesn’t come from nothing to do; boredom comes from nothing to live for. (Dennis Prager, radio talk host)

Remember the childhood cry, “I don’t have anything to do” while sitting amid a roomful of toys? Even adults sometimes seem to feel the same way. Prager’s observation is well worth thinking about. It isn’t really that there’s nothing to do; life is filled with all kinds of activity to be involved in. The real question is, “What do I want to live for?”

Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:25).

Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. (1 Peter 4:11)

The Future

“I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.”

These words have been attributed (probably incorrectly) to a former chairman of IBM. They are often cited as among the “dunderheaded tech predictions.” Looking back on the unbelievable proliferation of computers, it’s easy to make such a judgment now. It is a good warning, however, to be less skeptical of strategic thinking. Who knows what the future holds?

Fools base their thoughts on foolish assumptions… No one really knows what is going to happen; no one can predict the future. (Ecclesiastes 10:13-14)

Live!

Life is to be lived…And you don’t do that by sitting around. (Katherine Hepburn, late actress)

“Couch potato” is a term often applied to someone who just sits around, usually watching TV. But it could well be used to describe any number of people who just seem to be waiting for something to happen to motivate them into action of some kind. They are not involved in life, so they get very little out of it. It’s time to experience its benefits. Jump into life.

Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! (Proverbs 6:6)

Character

Doing is usually connected with a vocation or career . . . Being is much deeper. (Charles Swindoll, pastor, author)

One has to do with how we make a living. The other relates to character, who we are, and how we make a life. When we meet new people, we often ask what they do, expecting an answer relating to where they work or what their job is. That may be easy to answer. The question of who they are may take a while to discover. True character is revealed only through time.

Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold. (Proverbs 22:1)

Life Worth Living

The unexamined life is not worth living. (Socrates, 4^th century BC Greek philosopher)

Why do you do what you do? Do you ever stop to think about your reasons for choosing to do, say, and act, as you do? If you’re just “going through unexamined motions,” as writer Chuck Swindoll says, “you’ve really stopped living and started [just] exiting.” Certainly, there’s more to life than that. It’s time to give careful thought to your life and what you hope to do with it.

 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. (James 3:13)