Daily Stop & Thinks

Giving offense is the price of diversity, not an impediment to diversity. (Irshad Manji, author)

It may be difficult to accept Manjii’s statement at first. After all, we don’t want to offend anyone, do we? At least, not intentionally. But if we are to live with diverse populations, offenses can provide great opportunities for learning. She also says, “Schools … need to be teaching a new generation how not to be offended.” We must learn to live with diversity.

Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses (Proverbs 10:12).

My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure. (Abraham Lincoln)

We all have experienced failure of some kind—a lost ballgame, a low test score, a poor interview, perhaps; but we did not let that stop us from moving on. It’s only when we accept failure as the final outcome that we truly fail. No one has ever accomplished anything worthwhile if he or she didn’t rise up from the fall and take another step toward success.

The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked (Proverbs 24:16).

Don’t cry because it’s over; smile because it happened. (Dr. Seuss, children’s writer)

The party’s over, the candles are burned down, and the gifts have all been opened. It’s a big letdown, maybe. The joy of the high has dropped to the low with tears. Dr. Seuss’ advice is very helpful, and it may turn some sad times into glad times. Don’t mourn that the party’s over. Rejoice that the party was such fun.

For everything there is a season . . . A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4).

Although the monkey might dress in silk, monkey it still is. (Puerto Rican proverb)

You’ve probably met someone who has put on a front, pretending to be something he or she really isn’t. That’s okay for an actor on stage or in a film. In fact, when we see some of those actors offstage, we’re sometimes disappointed that they aren’t what they appeared to be onstage. We must develop our inward character to live out what we really are.

May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:11).

Plan with the end in mind. (Stephen Covey, late businessman and author)

Someone else wrote, “It’s not how you start, but how you finish.” But, Covey would say that to achieve a successful end—to finish well—you have to start with a plan. Develop a strategy to follow to reach the hoped-for end. When you get there, according to a tee shirt reading, “The finish line is just the beginning.” So, you develop another plan to reach another goal.

Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success. . . . Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. (Proverbs 15:22; 16:3)

Success is important only to the extent that it puts one in a position to do more things one likes to do. (Sarah Caldwell, opera conductor)

Many people are working hard to achieve success with the idea, apparently, that once they have achieved it, that’s the end. But Caldwell makes it clear, that success is just another step in the process of moving forward. When you succeed at one project or another, it makes it possible to build on that success and work toward another new and worthwhile goal.

I don’t mean to say . . . that I have already reached perfection. . . . No . . . I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing . . . looking forward to what lies ahead . . . I press on (Philippians 3:12-14).

Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do. (Bruce Lee, actor)

Knowledge is important; you can hardly have too much of it. But if we don’t apply to life what we know, the information we have is of little value. Likewise, the intention to use our knowledge and put it into our experience is useless if we don’t act on it. Know, act, do—all are necessary to achieve anything worthwhile.

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds (James 2:18).

People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day. (Winnie-the-Pooh, cartoon character)

Winnie sounds a lot like Garfield the cartoon cat. Both seem to be content at being lazy, doing nothing of importance. Maybe some of us are like that, too. Life may be comfortable for us, so why move out of our comfort zone to take on a task that would require energy and take us away from our rest? Maybe that’s okay if all you want to be is a character in the funnies

Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God (1 John 3:19). So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control (1 Peter 1:13).

It is easier to act your way into feelings than to feel your way into actions. (Philip Yancey, author)

Yancey might well have said, “If you wait until you feel like it, you may never do it.” Many of us have learned that if we do what we should, we soon develop a feeling of satisfaction and maybe even fulfillment. Yancey’s comment provides a good incentive to move ahead. So, don’t hesitate, just do it.

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works (Hebrews 10:24).

The vow of marriage is not one of unending happiness, but a vow of determined decision- making. (Jeff Bogue, pastor)

When we say “I do” at the altar, what are we committing ourselves to? Living with our companion in never-ending bliss and happiness? Like any other promise, our agreement with another party should always be to keep our commitment even when it’s difficult to do so. Happiness is not the goal but the byproduct of faithfulness.

When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through . . .  It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it. (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5).

Blowing out someone’s candle doesn’t make yours shine any brighter. (Amber Teamann, elementary school principal)

That sounds like a very good principle to teach elementary school children, who often display a “Me first” attitude. Unfortunately, it’s a lesson many adults need to relearn. How many times have you heard people put down someone else in an apparent attempt to make themselves look better? Let’s relearn that primary school lesson to make life more pleasant for everyone.

Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves. (Romans 12:2).

The older you get the better you get, unless you’re a banana. (Actress Betty White)

Well, we’d like to think that is true, wouldn’t we? We work with our children, send them to school, and give them every opportunity we can so they can become mature adults, contributing to the welfare of family and community. Unlike bananas that are plucked from the tree, delivered to the market, and have a very short lifespan, children can anticipate years of useful service.

I pray that . . . you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding (Philippians 1:9).