GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: September 21, 2018

Attitude

It’s the internal attitude of the heart that is essential. (Jesse Deloe, writer, editor)

Did you ever hear someone say, “Don’t do what I do; do what I say”? You knew right away, didn’t you, that the person wasn’t living up to his own standards? What we do is important, of course, because our actions reflect what we really are, what we believe and value. But, it’s the inward attitude of heart—character and integrity—that determine what we do.

A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. (Matthew 12:35)

Stop & Think: September 20, 2018

Winning

It is very important who is going to win and of little importance who has won. (Attributed to a Rugby captain; quoted by Stuart Weir, British journalist)

Weir continues, “I think he was saying go into the competition and give it 100%, but when it is over, move on.” How we compete by doing our very best to win is important. We should not be satisfied with any less. But, when the games are over, the names of the winners are soon forgotten. (Who won last year’s Super Bowl?) Be known as one who always gives his best effort.

So . . . whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Stop & Think: September 19, 2018

Counsel

Good decisions are seldom made in isolation. (Heather Dozier Riggs)

Many of us probably think we are perfectly capable of making our own decisions. We’re independent and self-assured. We’ve managed to come this far by ourselves, so why should we look for advice from someone else? Well, if experience hasn’t taught us the value of good counsel, it’s time we learned that the perspective of good friends can be a great help.

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. (Proverbs 15:22)

Stop & Think: August 18, 2018

Gratitude

Let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings! (Inspiration Line)

On the other hand, as the author stated, “The unthankful heart… discovers no mercies.” Instead of celebrating Thanksgiving on just one day a year, if we were to maintain an attitude of gratitude throughout the year, we would no doubt find more and more to be thankful for. And our grateful attitude would surely be an encouragement to everyone around us.

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks (1 Timothy 4:4).

Stop & Think: September 17, 2018

Unity

The last 5 letters of the word community — it won’t be authentic without it. (Author unknown)

What is community? Webster: a unified body of individuals with common interests. Unless there is agreement on the things we hold in common, there really is no community; it would just be a group of people. The “i” in unity is central and important. Unless I work for unity within the group, the so-called community will be dysfunctional and unsuccessful.

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! (Psalm 133:1). And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity (Colossians 3:14).

Stop & Think: September 16, 2018

Becoming

Who you are becoming is more important than what you are doing. (Jeff Bogue, pastor)

Most of us like to look at achievements and accomplishments to judge someone’s success. But Bogue suggests a more important issue: what you really are as a person. Another way of putting it: what you are is more important than what you do. Why? Because what you do reflects what you are, and what you are determines what you do.

Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold. (Proverbs 22:1)

Stop & Think: September 15, 2018

Mistakes

Just because you mess up does not mean you give up. (Clayton King, minister)

We all make mistakes; the important question is what do we do with them. Ignoring them doesn’t help; the consequences still have to be dealt with. Forgetting them likely means we will repeat them. King’s answer is “When [you] mess up, fess up.” Acknowledging our errors is the first step to recovery. Correct the mistake if you can and make amends with any you’ve hurt.

Indeed, we all make many mistakes. . . . Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other. (James 3:2; 5:16)

Stop & Think: September 14, 2018

Time

“I don’t have time” is the adult version of “The dog ate my homework.” No excuses today! (Quoted by Dustin Speaks, fitness trainer)

Don’t we all feel rushed for time in today’s frenetic society? There doesn’t seem to be time to do all the things we want to do or what is expected of us. But, is time really the issue? We do seem to find time to do the things we are really passionate about. The fitness trainer will not accept excuses if we don’t exercise. We all should prioritize our time to its best use.

Those who are wise will find a time and a way to do what is right. (Ecclesiastes 8:5)

Stop & Think: September 13, 2018

Encouragement

We rise by lifting others. (Robert Ingersoll, 19th century Civil War veteran, orator)

Imagine trying to help someone up a ladder. You’re one step above him, and when you pull him up, you need to go up another step to help him rise higher. Maybe that’s a helpful illustration of Ingersoll’s point. It’s pretty difficult to help someone go higher than you are. You have to keep advancing if you’re to help someone else do so. So, keep lifting others up!

So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Stop & Think: September 12, 2018

Humility, Part Two

If each of us hires people that are smaller than we are, we shall become a company of dwarfs. (David Ogilvy, Advertising Genius)

Imagine what a company would be like in terms of initiative, creativity, and growth if there were no superior or advanced thinkers. Ogilvy expresses the better scenario, “But if each of us hires people that are bigger than we are, we shall become a company of giants.” To do so, of course, requires the humility of the leaders and their willingness to give freedom to their staff.

Without wise leadership, a nation falls. . . . When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability. (Proverbs 11:14; 28:2)

Stop & Think: September 11, 2018

Humility, Part One

Admitting the limits of your knowledge and the possibility of error makes you a better scholar (and into a better person). (Eddie Clark, law professor)

The further you go in your education or career, the more tempting it is to take a certain amount of pride in your achievement. Clark says, however, “By far the most useful thing I learned doing a PhD was intellectual humility.” It’s a positive sign of maturity when a person recognizes his own shortcomings and mistakes.

Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. . . . Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor. (Proverbs 11:2; 29:23)

Stop & Think: September 10, 2018

A Debt to Pay

Never was so much owed by so many to so few. (Winston Churchill, World War II statesman)

Churchill spoke these words at the conclusion of the war to pay tribute to the many who sacrificed to bring peace to a war-torn world. We must never forget the price that was paid for us to enjoy our freedoms today. In another realm of worthiness, we should be grateful to those who contribute today to our protection, well-being, and personal growth.

Pray . . . for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. (1 Timothy 2:2)