Daily Stop & Thinks

Starting Over

You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending. (C. S. Lewis, late British writer)

How often have we wished we could go back and start all over again? Because we can’t, we may decide to give up and move on to something else. If the project is worthwhile, however, start over again. Past disappointments don’t determine future failure. A restart with new plans and renewed determination may produce the desired result and a great sense of accomplishment.

But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over. (Jeremiah 18:4)

Right & Wrong

The time is always right to do what is right. (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)

In fact, the Bible says, “It is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it” (James 4:17). But it isn’t always easy to know what is right and what is wrong, especially in a society where many believe there isn’t any such thing as absolute truth. Each person decides for himself what is right or wrong. When it’s tough to decide, ask God, the author of truth.

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. (James 1:5)

Compassion

Both compassion and wisdom are virtues. But compassion without wisdom can be careless, even reckless. Wisdom without compassion is useless, even pharisaical. (Christopher Yuan, author, seminary professor)

Yuan continues, “True compassion flows from wisdom, and true wisdom results in compassion—there should be no dichotomy.” It is difficult at times to know how to respond to life’s difficult circumstances. We want to help, but will our help simply enable someone to continue in a wrong path? Always try to properly balance wisdom and compassion.

You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate (Luke 6:36)

Books

I never feel lonely if I’ve got a book—they’re like old friends. (Emilia Fox, English actress)

Fox continues, “Even if you’re not reading them over and over again, you know they are there. And they’re part of your history. They sort of tell a story about your journey through life.” It’s good to have friends you can rely on, isn’t it? There are some books that we keep going back to for help and encouragement. The Bible ought to be chief among them and first on your list.

Every word of God proves true. (Proverbs 30:5)

For the word of God will never fail (Luke 1:37)

Blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice (Luke 11:28)

The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit. (Nelson Henderson, 19^th century athlete)

If we’re interested in landscaping in an age of impatience, such as today, we’d want to plant fast-growing trees, so we can enjoy them in a few short years. Henderson suggests that we can make a more significant contribution for a meaningful life if we plant slow-growing but long-lasting trees. That would be thinking of the future of others rather than our own personal enjoyment.

Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too (Philippians 2:4).

When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive—to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love. (Marcus Aurelius, 1^st century Roman emperor)

What’s the first thing that comes into your mind when you awake in the morning? The day’s tasks? Having to face the rush hour traffic? The looming deadline for the assignments that haven’t been finished? Or, do you think ahead to the day’s opportunities and the ways you can be an encouragement to someone? Aurelius makes a good suggestion; try to follow it tomorrow.

This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)

Worrying doesn’t take away tomorrow’s troubles. It takes away today’s peace. (Randy Armstrong, musician)

So many people seem to worry about the future. Will rain spoil our picnic? Will my boss squash my proposal? Will I have enough money to pay my taxes this year? Such questions can make life very uncomfortable. Uncertainty about tomorrow not only makes the future difficult, it certainly spoils today. We all need to learn how to face tomorrow with confidence.

But all who listen to me [God’s wisdom] will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm (Proverbs 1:33).

The off-ramp that leads to Unityville is neither doctrine nor agreement. It’s humility. (Neil Cole, church-planter)

Whether it’s a business organization, an athletic team, or a church—teamwork (unity) is necessary for success. We can’t succeed without a high degree of agreement; but, as Cole points out, agreement alone won’t win the game. Cooperation requires overcoming self-importance and pride for the benefit of the group to achieve the goal.

Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. . . . Humility precedes honor (Proverbs 11:2; 18:12).

Luck is a dividend of sweat. The more you sweat, the luckier you get. (Ray Kroc, late business man)

That’s a really down-to-earth idea, isn’t it? People refer to sweat-equity when they talk about the investment of their time and effort into a personal project. Certainly, we take a great deal of pride and ownership in the results of our hard labor. But, no one would regard the result of that work as just lucky. Don’t trust dumb luck; give your best effort to gain the best results.

People should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God (Ecclesiastes 3:13).

The quickest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it back in your pocket. (Will Rogers, 19^th-20^th century humorist)

Some people fall prey to the get-rich schemes that con men offer and lose their savings. Others are careful investors in the stock market with varying degrees of success. And there are some who hide their money under the mattress, so to speak, to avoid losing what they have. Rogers’ humorous advice is a simple warning to be careful with what God has enabled us to accumulate.

Those who love money will never have enough (Ecclesiastes 5:10). Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. (1 Timothy 6:17).

Passion, like attitude, is contagious and is essential for a project to succeed. (Ken Duncan Australian professional photographer)

Enthusiasm is an important element in the make-up of a successful entrepreneur. Not only does it spur him or her on to achieve their established goal, but, as Duncan, suggests, it is contagious, If you want others to join you on your journey, you will need to be able to share your passion, so it becomes theirs, also. That will go a long way toward accomplishing your project.

Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people (Ephesians 6:7).

It is what we make out of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from another. (Nelson Mandela, late South African leader)

There is a Bible story about Moses, the leader of Israel in the Exodus. God had told him to approach the Egyptian ruler to seek the nation’s freedom. Moses began to make excuses about his inability, and God asks, “What is that in your hand?” It wasn’t much, just a stick, but God was making Mandela’s point: use what you have. That’s the place to begin.

Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” (Hebrews 13:5)