Daily Stop & Thinks

“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less.” (from Alice in Wonderland)

Humpty Dumpty sounds like a 21^st century person. Dictionary definitions don’t seem to mean much anymore. We use words in about any way we want, giving them the meaning that best suits our views. But, relativism aside, facts are facts and truth is truth. We all have the same facts, and we must work to express them in accurate and truthful terms.

I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. (1 John 2:21) We cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. (2 Corinthians 13:8)

If I have any worth, it is to live my life for God so as to teach these peoples; even though some of them still look down on me. (St. Patrick, 5^th century missionary)

Today is St. Patrick’s Day, and the Irish will celebrate the “Apostle of Ireland.” Some have said that “St. Patrick’s Day is an enchanted time—a day to begin transforming winter’s dreams into summer’s magic.” But, its significance is much deeper than that. He brought Christianity to the Emerald Isle, and his positive influence lasted for generations.

For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21)

We are defined by our choices, not our circumstances. By the choices we make and the choices we don’t make. By our action or our inaction. (King Abdullah of Jordan)

Many of us try to explain away some of our troubles by blaming them on the circumstances. If people only understood what we are going through, they would be less critical of our decisions and actions. King Abdullah makes it clear, however, that regardless of our current circumstances, we are responsible for actions that result from our choices.

Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15)

You don’t earn loyalty in a day. You earn loyalty day-by-day. (Jeffrey H. Gitomer, author and business trainer)

Gitomer was commenting on the “Ides of March,” the day in which Caesar was assassinated in Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar. He had been warned of that day, but the deed was done, perpetrated by his own people and led by his friend Brutus. Loyalty is too often a lost virtue in today’s “me first” society. Yet, it is a primary feature of character and integrity.

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. (Matthew 6:24)

The value of an object is based on how much is paid for it. (Barry C. Black, chaplain of the U.S. Senate)

Antiques Roadshow is a popular TV program where experts place a value on people’s prized possessions. Many are surprised at the high prices some of their heirlooms might bring at an antique auction. Of course, the reality is that it will bring only what someone is willing to pay. Consider what the Bible says about value.

Physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. (1 Timothy 4:8)

Nothing is more difficult to counterfeit than ethics. (John Calvin, prominent leader of the Protestant Reformation)

In an age of relativity, everyone seems to establish his own set of morals and beliefs. In the Old Testament ((Judges 21:25), we’re told that “everyone did as he saw fit” because they had no king.” In such a society it soon becomes obvious that there must be some kind of standard, some set of rules or laws, or chaos will ensue.

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. (James 2:8)

When something needs to be done – don’t wait for someone else to do it for you—donate your time and pitch in. (Charles Wickers)

When we see an obvious need in our community or around the world, we sometimes say, “Somebody ought to do something about it.” Wickers encourages us to be that “somebody.” Surely, if we can, we ought to. It may involve the sacrifice of time and effort, but if it really needs to be done, perhaps we are the ones who should step up and do it.

Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives. (Titus 3:14)

If you don’t value your time, neither will others. Stop giving away your time and talents–start charging for it. (Kim Garst, business consultant and author)

Sounds like good advice for someone who is working hard to share his or her ideas. Garst suggests that you should establish a fair fee for your time and effort. Time is valuable, as we note when most of us set our clocks forward tonight for Daylight Savings Time. It’s a good time to reconsider the value of time, even just a single hour.

Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12)

Only those who do nothing make no mistakes. (Church sign board)

Because we dislike making mistakes, we might fail to pursue one venture or another just to avoid an embarrassing slip-up or the possibility of failure. Yet, deep down we know that errors happen to all of us, and the fear of failure will likely lead to failing to achieve. Work hard to avoid mistakes, but give your best effort at work.

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might. (Ecclesiastes 9:10)

Dreams are lovely, but they’re just dreams. … It’s hard work that makes things happen. (Shonda Rhimes, TV producer and author)

Dreaming, hopeful imagining, is a good practice. But, as Rhimes suggests, “[Dreams are] fleeting, ephemeral, pretty.” She says, “Dreams do not become true just because you dream them. It’s hard work that creates change.” So, don’t criticize dreamers or hesitate to do some dreaming yourself, but remember it’s hard work that makes dreams come true.

All hard work brings a profit. (Proverbs 14:23) Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart. (Colossians 3:23)

What you learn from pain you don’t forget. (Dick Dahlquist, retired college professor)

All of life provides multiple opportunities to learn, and we are always learning or else we will become stagnant. Learning can be fun, of course, and when we learn from happy experiences, it’s all the more fun. But, as Dahlquist suggests, we may remember longer those lessons we learned from painful events. They may hurt but also help.

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:11)