GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: April 10, 2024

Words 2

If we understood the power of our thoughts, we would guard them more closely. (Betty Eadie, American author)

Eadie continues: “If we understood the awesome power of our words, we would prefer silence to almost anything negative.” In the Bible. James reminds us that “. . . no one can tame the tongue.” It’s compared to a ship’s rudder or a horse’s bridle that is used to control a large ship or horse. To avoid verbal damage, we must ask God to help us control our tongues (words).

Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. (Ephesians 4:29)

Stop & Think: April 9, 2024

Words

Speech has power. Words do not fade. What starts out as a sound, ends in a deed. (Abraham Joshua Herschel, 20th-century Jewish theologian)

Words often come so easily and quickly that we don’t have our brain engaged soon enough to speak carefully and thoughtfully. Even when we do speak deliberately, we may not realize the influence our words can have now and even much later. Could we be responsible for what others do as a result of what they hear from us?

The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words. (Proverbs 15:28)

Stop & Think: April 8, 2024

Getting Even

Revenge is a two-edged sword. (from Aesop’s Fables)

When we’ve been offended, we rarely try to just “get even.” We want to hurt the offender even more than he or she hurt us. Many have learned, however, as Aesop infers, that we never get by without hurting ourselves at the same time. The Bible tells us to leave revenge to God; He will be just when he corrects the wrong. In turn, we must learn to forgive and be grateful to God.

Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:19)

Stop & Think: April 7, 2024

It’s Worthwhile

Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. (Zig Zigler, late inspirational speaker)

In All In we read the story of an 18-hour trip from the mountains of Papua New Guinea to the Pacific Ocean over a narrow, dangerous road. After the arduous journey, the travelers gazed at the beautiful, breathtaking seascape. That and the ensuing snorkeling made the trip worthwhile. Think of a time in your life when, after a difficult trial, you experienced a life-altering change.

There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. (1 Peter 1:6)

Stop & Think: April 6, 2024

Hatred

Hate is too great a burden to bear. It injures the hater more than it injures the hated. (Coretta Scott King, American author)

Many would argue that Mrs. King had every right to be moved by hatred. It was the hatred of racial and political opponents that took the life of her husband, Martin Luther King, Jr. She learned, as have others, that holding onto contempt never resolves the conflict. To avoid the pain of hatred, show the power of God’s love and forgive the offender.

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

Stop & Think: April 5, 2024

Storms

Not all storms come to disrupt your life; some come to clear your path. (Chris Suitt, pastor)

It’s always helpful to try to find the positive side of things that are often negative—even hurtful. A thunderstorm may blow down tree branches and blow over your trash cans, but it also might blow the leaves off your lawn and the dirt from your sidewalk. The same internal struggle you may have had with a personal problem might result in your careful move to solution and peace.

When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation. (Proverbs 10:25)

Stop & Think: April 4, 2024

Friendship

Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art…. It has no survival value . . . (C. S. Lewis, late British philosopher)

Lewis continues, “. . .  rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.” Obviously, you can exist without friends, philosophy, and art, but what would life be like without them? A proper world view, which includes the enjoyment of music, drama, and art, can give perspective, breadth, and depth to our lives. And friends—well, their value is incalculable.

Jesus: “Now you are my friends . . .” (John 15:15)
“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. (Revelation 3:20)

Stop & Think: April 3, 2024

Equipment

A $500 bat doesn’t fix a $1.00 swing. (Tom Roy, sports coach and counselor)

Someone else echoed the same principle: “A $500 Jordon shoe doesn’t guarantee a layup or a 3-point goal.” You don’t want to go to the plate with just a wooden stick or to play competitive basketball in worn out shoes. Being prepared physically with well-honed skills is essential to competing well, as is having the right equipment.

Now may the God of peace . . .  equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him. (Hebrews 13:20-21)

Stop & Think: April 2, 2024

Change

Change will never be easy, but it is an unchangeable fact of life. (Kenneth J. Brown, author)

Some people actually enjoy change and eagerly look forward to it. One might wonder how big or significant those changes are because many people do have difficulty when they have to face the differences that changes often bring. Rather than dread them, face changes with the anticipation of the good they may bring, and continue to trust in the unchanging God.

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father [who] . . . never changes or casts a shifting shadow. (James 1:17)

Stop & Think: April 1, 2024

April Fool’s Day

It is the peculiar quality of a fool to perceive the faults of others and to forget his own. (Cicero)

People probably don’t want to act like a fool, but sometimes they act foolishly or make foolish decisions. Cicero’s comment is a reminder that we all can act like fools when we judge others and criticize what we see as their faults. How foolish we  are to ignore our own failures, while pointing out someone else’s.

And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? (Matthew 7:3)

Stop & Think: March 31, 2024

Dream On

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. (Malala Yousafzai, human rights activist)

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” you were asked as a child. Do you remember those dreams? As a teenager, you may have set goals for your education and your career. Since then, you likely have set numerous goals and pursued a lot of dreams. They may be limited now by health and economics, but you can still continue to dream of spiritual and intellectual growth.

Let love be your highest goal! (1 Corinthians 14:1)
Our goal is to please him. (2 Corinthians 5:9)

Stop & Think: March 30, 2024

The Inner You

What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you. (Ralph Waldo Emerson, 19th century American essayist)

Our personal history certainly had an immense influence in our development. What we are and  know now are the results of learning and experience. And the future may be very promising in light of our training, associations, and opportunities. But both the experienced past and the anticipated future mean little without recognizing who we are and what potential we have.

Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:2)