Daily Stop & Thinks

I’ve learned that the smallest amount of light completely breaks the darkness. (Mekayla Deffenbaugh. social worker)

Have you noticed that you can take a small candle into a dark room, and suddenly, the room is no longer in total blackness? On the other hand, can you take a burned out candle (darkness) into a lighted room and put out the light? An absurd idea, isn’t it? That’s the beauty of light; wherever you take it, darkness is dispelled. And we can be that light in dark places.

Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. (Philippians 2:15)

Ideas have consequences and bad ideas have victims. (John Stonestreet, Biblical worldview author)

We’ve all seen the bulb light up in a cartoon character’s head, indicating that he or she has just had an inspiration. Those ideas can often become the basis for creativity and productivity. Where would we be without new ideas? Unfortunately, not all ideas are good ones. When a new thought surfaces, we would do well to evaluate carefully its source, purpose, and value.

Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. (1 Timothy 4:7)

Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings. (William Arthur Ward, American author of inspirational maxims)

It’s Thanksgiving Day in the United States, and many families are expressing their thanks for God’s blessing in their homes and upon our country. In spite of difficulties and unrest, there is still much to be grateful for. But, as Ward suggests, thanksgiving doesn’t have to be only an annual celebration. What would life be like if we lived every day with an attitude of gratitude?

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

Jump and build your wings on the way down. (Ray Bradbury, late author and screenwriter)

A paratrooper’s first jump must be frightful. Yet, we’re told that it soon becomes exhilarating, a pleasure the jumper would never have if he hadn’t jumped out that first time. That takes a lot of courage, but as inspirational teacher, Audrey Moralez, says, “Courage is fear with wings.” Let’s not let fear stop us from attempting the difficult, even when the result may be unknown.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)

A master in the art of living always appears to be both working and playing. (L. P. Jacks, English educator)

Remember the proverb, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”? It teaches that without time off from work, a person becomes both bored and boring. Jacks updates the saying, agreeing that work and play are required to have a well-rounded life. In our 21^st century world we see excesses on both ends—too much work or too much play. Balance is what’s needed.

So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. (Ecclesiastes 2:24)

Nothing is true, but that which is simple. (Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe, 18^th-19^th century German writer and statesman)

We need to think carefully about that statement. If you look at Einstein’s theory of special relativity (E = mc²), the equation appears simple and can be interpreted as energy equals mass times the speed of light squared. Many of us think that’s not as simple as it sounds. Maybe Goethe wasn’t right after all. However, truth can be simple if its source is undisputed.

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)

Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but backwards and in high heels. (Faith Whittlesey, former White House staff assistant)

Old-timers will remember the extravagant movie musicals of yesteryear. Astaire was an amazing dancer who was able to make unbelievably intricate dance steps look easy. But Rogers, his frequent dancing partner, was equally adept. “It takes two to Tango,” they say. (Pardon the pun!) Quite often we must have someone to help us accomplish a difficult task well.

Two are better than one . . . If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

A smile is a curve that can set a lot of things straight. (Victor Borge, America-Danish comedian)

When we read the news or watch TV news coverage, we often don’t find much to smile about. Whether it’s a personal, national, or world news story, it is often discouraging—sometimes even frightening. So, people, like the humorist Borge, help to lift our spirits if only briefly. In turn, when we find joy from a heavenly source, we can encourage others with a simple smile.

May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. (Numbers 6:25) When they were discouraged, I smiled at them. My look of approval was precious to them. (Job 29:24)

Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value. (Albert Einstein, noted scientist)

Ours is a success-oriented society. It’s more than just wanting not to fail. From early childhood we want to be first in everything, and from there to adulthood, we are pushed to be winners in whatever we pursue. Sometimes winners, however, don’t always exhibit the best conduct. The person of integrity is always a winner in the most important sense.

Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value the one who speaks what is right. (Proverbs 16:13)

Pretty much all the honest truth-telling there is in the world is done by children. (Oliver Wendell Holmes, 20^th century justice of the United States Supreme Court)

Before they learn to be deceitful, children are often very blunt, stating the facts as they see them. (Remember the story of “The Emperor’s New Clothes”?) They soon learn, unfortunately, how to lie, but their early innocence is a delight to behold, although at times it can be embarrassing. How sad that adults are often not more forthright.

Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment. (Proverbs 12:19) Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor. Ephesians 4:25)

Never put the key to happiness in someone else’s pocket. (Author unknown)

What is it that makes you happy? Maybe it’s winning at sports? Or, acing an exam. More often, it’s a person—someone you like to be with. Are you, perhaps, the person who someone else is depending upon for their happiness? Be warned: true, lasting happiness is rarely to be found in another imperfect human being, because God alone is its true source.

To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness. (Ecclesiastes 2:16)

Perfectionism can turn us into an unwitting accomplice for the status quo. (Bobby Gruenewald, pastor and innovator)

More: “Improvement is admirable. Perfection is impossible. . . . Our pursuit of an unattainable standard can keep us from getting anywhere near our goal. We end up tolerating more imperfection for far longer than if we accepted an almost-perfect solution.” In other words, it’s better to put up with less than perfect than waiting for the perfect that we may never achieve.

To all perfection I see a limit, but your commands are boundless. Psalm 119:96