Daily Stop & Thinks

Thinking

The quality of your thinking determines the quality of your life. (A. R. Barnard, minister)

The old King James Version of the Bible put it this way: “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” No doubt, Barnard has that thought in mind. So, the critical issue is more basic than our actions; it’s really the state of our mind that’s of paramount importance. What we put into our mind and heart is what will determine how we act.

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23)

Vision

Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world. (Joel A. Barker, business author)

Barker’s formula of vision with action certain sounds like a recipe for success, not only in business but in almost any enterprise you might pursue. Ideas and dreams provide motivation, but without putting hands and feet into the plan, not much of value will be accomplished. Dream visionary dreams, then do your best work to achieve the goal.

Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless. (Ecclesiastes 6:9)

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

Work

Realize that if you have time to whine and complain about something then you have the time to do something about it. (Anthony J. D’Angelo, educator and author)

It’s hard to be around a whiner, isn’t? People who are constantly complaining do not make good company, and we might want to offer them D’Angelo’s suggestion. Simply, quit complaining and “do something about it.” Whining comes easy; finding solutions is hard work. Perhaps, we need to set the example for our grumpy friends.

Do everything without complaining and arguing. (Philippians 2:14)

Reality

People will always follow a leader who is real, not one who is always right. (Craig Groeschel, leadership speaker)

We want our leaders to be right, of course. But sometimes the guy who thinks he is always right may be a bit conceited; “It’s his way or the highway,” as they say. You might wonder if such people are “real.” Do they know what life is really like or are they always in their ivory tower, proud of their rightness. Yes, following people who understand real life is much more pleasant.

Therefore let the one who thinks he stands firm take care that he does not fall. (1 Corinthians 10:12)

Positivity

Everything you are against weakens you. Everything you are for empowers you. (Wayne Dyer, best-selling self-help author)

Dyer’s comment seems particularly appropriate during the never-ending political campaigns and debates prior to major elections. Aren’t you tired of all the negativity? I wonder how the tone of the rhetoric might change if the candidates for office would heed Dyer’s advice. We’d all be better off to concentrate on what we are positive and enthusiastic about.

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8)

Punctuality

Punctuality is showing high esteem for other people and their time. (Bill Gothard, speaker and writer)

Different cultures view punctuality in different ways. It seems to be nonexistent in some societies. If the meeting is to be at 1:00, and people don’t show up until 1:30, they might argue that it’s still 1:00 because it isn’t 2:00 yet. Some people are careless about arriving at an appointed time. That’s unacceptable in our culture, because it shows disrespect for others.

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Relationships

Treasure your relationships, not your possessions. (Anthony J. D’Angelo, author)

It would be foolish not to protect your assets: stocks, real estate, material goods, etc. But, as D’Angelo suggests, there are other assets that are even more valuable and need to be guarded carefully. Family comes to mind first and friends whether newly made or longtime. Especially shield your spiritual relationships; they are eternal.

A person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God. (Luke 12:21)

Anger

Don’t do something permanently stupid because you are temporarily upset. (Toby Mac, recording artist)

Have you ever done anything like that? Maybe you hit your thumb with the hammer, threw the hammer away, and it sailed through a glass window. At other times, we just get upset at some personal affront, and we strike out with angry, hurtful words. How do we prevent such harmful acts? Perhaps it’s not just an emotional or anger problem; maybe it’s deeper than that.

Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back. (Proverbs 29:11)

The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Investments

Those who put their trust in wealth or material possessions will be disappointed. (Jesse Deloe, editor and writer)

TV ads tell us that investing in certain companies will guarantee growing assets and a well-funded retirement. Others tout the value of buying gold and silver as a better investment. The accumulation of material things that fill our attics, garages, and storage bins, however, testifies to our misplaced faith in temporal assets. Better invest in eternal, spiritual values.

Don’t store up treasures [or invest] here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. (Matthew 6:19)

Friends

It is hard to find a friend whose presence helps you steadily become the person you want to be, but it’s worth the effort to find [him or her]. (Paraphrase of Anna Strong, 18^th &19^th century American patriot)

Strong says, “To fall in love is easy, even to remain in it is not difficult; our human loneliness is cause enough.” As she noted above, however, finding that steady “comrade” (her term), isn’t so easy. In our day with so much freedom of expression and opinionated discourse, it may take awhile to discover a trustworthy friend who will be the helpful companion you want and need.

A friend is always loyal. . . . a real friend sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 17:17; 18:24)

Health

The groundwork of all happiness is health. (Leigh Hunt, 19^th century English poet)

Healthy people are more likely to be happy than those who suffer physically. Yet, there are many who’ve maintained a happy spirit in spite of their ills. Think of blind and deaf Helen Keller, whose life was a testimony of overcoming enormous handicaps with a positive attitude. In the all-important realm of the spirit, real joy is the result of a healthy relationship with God.

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. (Psalm 73:26)

Creativity

The absence of limitation is the death of creativity. (Todd Henry, leadership consultant)

We’re often challenged to “think outside the box.” Henry argues that such brainstorming often wastes time considering options that aren’t even within the realm of reason. Having certain boundaries (“the box”) requires new thinking about what we’re already doing. That means we’ll have to be creative in seeking solutions to troublesome problems or revising routine practices.

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

I have tried to stimulate your wholesome thinking and refresh your memory. (2 Peter 3:1)