GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: June 3, 2026

Integrity

We become leaders of integrity when we learn to serve without concern for recognition. (Scott Morton, fundraiser)

Entrepreneurs who want to be leaders can be energized by a number of incentives. Some may create a profit-making enterprise by introducing a new means of production or a unique strategy. Others are motivated by ambition and self-promotion. Respected leaders, as Morton suggests, however, are more concerned about their contribution to society’s benefit.

Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself (Philippians 2:3).

Stop & Think: June 2, 2026

Integrity

The world is changed by your example, not by your opinion. (Paulo Coehlo, Brazilian author)

It’s probably not true of nations where there’s little media, but in the US, you may hear more rhetoric than you’d like from highly opinionated people whose lives belie their words. It’s then we might think, “Please stop talking so much and show me how you live and act honorably.” Words are important, but only when they are backed up by integrity in one’s behavior.

A person who has a pure and loving heart and speaks kindly will be a friend of the king. . . . Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak (Proverbs 22:11;  James 1:19).

Stop & Think: June 1, 2026

Integrity

Integrity is choosing your thoughts and actions based on values rather than personal gain. (Chris Karcher, author)

June’s theme is integrity, the quality of steadfastly holding to high moral principles. A person of integrity is honest, truthful, reliable, and honorable. Americans consider individuality and personal freedom important, but they may sometimes make us think and act without regarding the hopes and dreams of others. Make choices on the essential values of family and community.

When you do things, do not let selfishness or pride be your guide. Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others (Philippians 2:3-4).

Stop & Think: May 31, 2026

Faith

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. (From a quotations blog)

It’s a simple and encouraging statement, but the promise has a prerequisite. Unless we have a faith relationship with God, we can’t claim that promise. So, we begin by reading God’s Word and committing ourselves to His guidance. True, the journey may not be smooth, but it’s through those tough times we can learn to persevere and depend upon God’s care.

 . . . when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing (James 1:3, 4).

Stop & Think: May 30, 2026

Faith

It’s better for a society to hold strong truths weakly rather than weak truths strongly. (R.R. Reno, theologian and editor)

In a day when many reject the idea of absolute truth, people think almost anything is acceptable if you believe it strongly enough. Of course, putting one’s faith in something that is false will result in disaster. The true test of truth is discovering its source. A little faith in a genuine truth is better than strong trust in something that is untrue.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me (John 14:6).

Stop & Think: May 29, 2026

Faith

Having faith, beliefs, and convictions is a great thing, but your life is measured by the actions you take based upon them. (Nick Vujicic, motivational speaker)

We’ve often heard people proclaim what they believe and then see them acting in a contradictory manner, giving credence to the old adage, “Actions speak louder than words.” People of integrity, however, let their honest behavior substantiate their claims of faith. Vujicic, born without arms or legs, is an inspiration to us all as he speaks and lives out his firm convictions of faith.

What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? (James 2:14)

Stop & Think: May 28, 2026

Faith

Trust men and they will be true to you; treat them greatly and they will show themselves great. (Ralph Waldo Emerson, 19th century essayist and poet)

Who can you trust? We’re living in a time when it seems difficult to find anyone who’s truly trustworthy. But it’s very reassuring when you find a person in whom you can place your faith.  And, it’s reassuring to discover that those you treat with respect and loyalty will most often demonstrate that your faith is well-placed.

The Lord . . .delights in people who are trustworthy. . . . Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful (Proverbs 12:22; 1 Corinthians 4:2).

Stop & Think: May 27, 2026

Faith

The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety. (George Mueller, 19th century British orphanage director)

Sometimes it appears as if we are living in an age of anxiety. People seem to be worried, anxious about both the little and the big things of life. For many, their fears lead to a great sense of hopelessness. Mueller says the answer to anxiety is faith. And faith cannot be in the transient, undependable features of modern-day life. It must be placed in the faithful One.

For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does (Psalm 33:4).

Stop & Think: May 26, 2026

Faith

For every mountain, there is a miracle. (Robert Schuller, late TV preacher)

We all face mountains at one time or another—things that appear to be insurmountable obstacles in our lives. Just like the early explorers who had to find their way over literal mountains, we come to realize that our lives are like that, too. For every obstacle you face, there is most often a way around or through with persistence and faith

Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move (Matthew 17:20).

Stop & Think: May 25, 2026

Faith

Without the sacrifice of US military personnel, there would be no Memorial to honor them.

On Memorial Day, we mourn the loss of the soldiers who gave their lives for our freedoms. On this day we are challenged to protect the freedoms they died for and to live by the virtues they upheld. Our faith helps us understand the deep spiritual significance of this day, reinforcing our duties to honor, to remember, and to live by their example.

So you see, it isn’t enough just to have faith. You must also do good to prove that you have it (James 2:17).

Stop & Think: May 24, 2026

Faith

Worry is the antithesis of trust. You simply cannot do both. They are mutually exclusive. (Elisabeth Elliot, late missionary and author)

Are the uncertainties of this world today causing anxiety and constant worry in your life? Do you wonder how things will work out, or if this stress will ever go away? Elliot implies that trust may be the way out. With God’s help, putting your faith in something beyond yourself instead of trusting in your own abilities can relieve stress and worry.

Those who trust in themselves are fools. . . . Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you (Proverbs 28:26; 1 Peter 5:7).

Stop & Think: May 23, 2026

Faith

I need a faith that nothing can shake.  Emphasis on NOTHING. Even when I do not know why, I can endure with a faith like that—even if I never find out why! (Charles Swindoll, pastor, author)

For many, faith is a difficult word. Some think that if they just had enough faith, they could achieve greater success in their life pursuits. Others discount faith as if it were just a wishful, “hope-so” longing. The kind of faith Swindoll is talking about, however, is based on the knowledge of the faithful one. It’s the object of faith (God) that enables you to endure.

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings (Hebrews 10:22).