Daily Stop & Thinks

Christmas Is Coming

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. (Norman Vincent Peale, late Positive-thinking author)

Though Christmas is still three weeks away, we’ve seen yard displays and houses decorated with lights since before Thanksgiving. It’s like someone turned on the switch and everything has changed. But Peale probably had a different “softer and more beautiful” idea in mind. Knowing what the true Christmas story is, we all should be treating others with good will and joy.

For God … made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)

Help share the true Christmas story with others by donating to God of Hope. Click here to learn more.

The True Gift

Having the opportunity to give is never a burden, but always a blessing. (Christine Trier, recent college graduate)

Our mailboxes (emails too) are filled with requests for money. The needs are everywhere: the poor, the disadvantaged, the non-profits; so it takes a great deal of thought and planning to know how best to give of our resources. As Trier says, it should not be a burden. Receiving a gift is a joy, but as she also says, “Being on the giving end is a true gift.”

But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. (2 Corinthians 8:7)

You can donate to God of Hope today and help us spread the word of God to others by clicking here.

Kindness

Always show more kindness than seems necessary because the person receiving it needs it more than you will ever know. (quoted by Colin Powell, retired General and Secretary of State)

Can you love too much or be too kind? If love means more than mere affection, indicating a desire to act in the best interest of the loved one, there surely can’t be any limit to it. Perhaps genuine love might begin with kindness. Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said, “Kindness in giving creates love.” Look for ways to be generous in kindness to someone today.

Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. (Proverbs 16:24)

You can learn more about the kindness and the hope of God in the book God of Hope. Click here to check it out.

Failure

Failure is not a reason to give up. Failure is a reason to try harder and seek new solutions. (Jim Hocking, NGO entrepreneur)

No one starts out on a project or in an athletic contest with the intent to fail. But, in the regular activities of living, working and playing, everyone experiences some kind of failure—whether big or small. As Hocking points out, let downs should motivate us to work a little harder and, more importantly, find new ways to achieve the desired goals. Keep at it!

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me. (Philippians 3:14)

You can click here to read more from God of Hope in Dave Illingworth’s book.

Attitude

Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life…  (John Homer Miller, author)

Miller continues: “…not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens. Circumstances and situations do color life but you have been given the mind to choose what the color should be.” It always boils down to attitude and choice. With a positive attitude toward life and solid integrity, you can make the choices that will help you live well.

Let [God’s] Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. (Ephesians 4:23)

Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. (1 Peter 3:8)

Contentment

Contentment flourishes not in having great possessions, but in having few wants. (Jim Brown, pastor)

More is never enough. Once we have gained a good job, a nice house filled with the furnishings we want, and good friends—you would think that would be enough to be happy. But, we always seem to want more—an even better position, more “toys,” a measure of community recognition. Most of us soon discover that the desire for more is never ending and never satisfying.

True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. (1 Timothy 6:7-8)

Living Carefully

An optimist is a person who starts a new diet on Thanksgiving Day. (Irv Kupcinet, late American columnist)

Thanksgiving celebrations were nearly a week ago. After that scrumptious turkey dinner, did anyone decide it was time to go on a diet, hoping to lose some of the anticipated holiday weight gain? As Kupcinet suggests, only an optimist would likely do so. But, in light of the abundance many of us enjoy, isn’t it a good time to consider ways to live more carefully?

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. (Ephesians 5:15)

Words No. 2

Wise words are like seeds. The more you scatter them, the more they will grow into infinite gardens of knowledge. (Suzy Kassem, writer and poet)

Words are of several kinds: foolish, hurtful, comforting, to name a few. But, once spoken, they cannot be taken back. They are like seeds that will reproduce their own kind. Will they result in discouragement or anger, or will they bring relief and encouragement to a hurting person? Kassem challenges us to guard our words, so they are wise, and will produce much good fruit.

Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. (Ephesians 4:29)

Words No. 1

It’s no good having the same vocabulary if we’re using different dictionaries. (Quoted by John Stonestreet, commentator)

It’s difficult to have a meaningful discussion with someone if you’re using the same words but with different meanings. If they are simply same-sounding words with different spellings and meanings (e.g. site, cite, sight), they can be simply explained. But, when you use words like freedom, fairness, or rights, you really have to define your terms for clear understanding.

My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge. (Proverbs 3:9)

Thanksgiving No. 2

If a fellow isn’t thankful for what he’s got, he isn’t likely to be thankful for what he’s going to get. (Frank A. Clark, 19th-20th century congressman)

For many people emotions are a constant up-and-down experience. Their feelings are most often based on what happens to them or how other people treat them. That makes life pretty hard to balance. Others, who recognize that everything they are and have are gifts from God, enjoy a more stable emotional life, accepting both the good and not-so-good as opportunities to grow.

What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift? (1 Corinthians 4:7)

Thanksgiving No. 1

I am grateful for what I am and have. (Henry David Thoreau, 19th century essayist)

Lawrence Welk, the late orchestra director said, “Over and over I marvel at the blessings of my life: Each year has grown better than the last.” Life is not always easy; it has its really difficult days, but if we can adopt Thoreau’s attitude of gratitude, we’ll no doubt discover that thanksgiving cannot be limited to one day every November.

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

Self-control

Discipline yourself and others won’t need to. If you lose self-control everything will fail. (John Wooden, Hall-of-Fame coach)

Wooden was known, not only for his skills as a basketball player and coach, but for his practical, down-to-earth lessons. He added to the comment above, “You cannot function physically or mentally or in any other way unless your emotions are under control.” Wouldn’t we like to see that kind of control among some popular athletes today? It’s a good lesson for all of us.

If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding. (Proverbs 15:31)