GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: October 20, 2024

Control

But the human tongue is a beast that few can master. (Robert Greene, American author)

Green continues: “It strains constantly to break out of its cage, and if it is not tamed, it will run wild and cause you grief.” We all have heard an “uncaged tongue” in conversation or public discourse. And today we often hear vulgar new words and language that should be censored. Controlling the tongue is a habit we all need to develop.

The tongue is a flame of fire.  . . .  but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. (James 3:6, 8) Those who control their tongue will have a long life (Proverbs 13:3).

Stop & Think: October 19, 2024

Only One Life

We have but one life here…It pays, no matter what comes after it, to try and do things, and not merely to have a soft and pleasant time. (Theodore Roosevelt, 26th U.S. president)

“Teddy” was right. We have only one life to live. And his counsel is good: “try and do things” . . . not merely to have an easy and fun life. He achieved a great deal in the military and in politics, but there is an even higher calling for us to pursue. God has placed each of us where we are with the talents and opportunities he’s given us to honor him by sharing his love and serving others.

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people (Colossians 3:24).

Stop & Think: October 18, 2024

Mental, Physical, or Spiritual?

Baseball is 90% mental. The other half is physical. (Yogi Berra. Late professional athlete)

Berra was a hall-of-fame baseball player as a Yankee catcher and hitter for 18 seasons and later a manager of the NY Mets. He is often remembered as well for his frequent malapropisms, well-known words used improperly. His comment about baseball is humorous, and he may have been right about the importance of the mental aspect of life. But we must not overlook the other essential element in life, the spiritual.

Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. (John 3:6) For only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. (1 Corinthians 2:14)

Stop & Think: October 17, 2024

An Atheist?

Nobody talks so constantly about God as those who insist that there is no God. (Heywood Broun, late American journalist)

To deny there is a God requires that you speak of him often as in a generic term, e.g. “OMG” or most often in profanity. God has made himself known in a variety of ways with a number of significant names describing his character and works. Look at creation; look around you, and even look inside yourself. Your heart will respond to God.

Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” . . . The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. (Psalms 14:2; 19:1).

Stop & Think: October 16, 2024

Change

Learning is a lifelong process of keeping abreast of change. And the most pressing task is to teach people how to learn. (Peter Drucker, management consultant)

Do you like change? A lot of people don’t, but change is inevitable, isn’t it? We’d be bored if everything remained the same all the time. We like the change of seasons. We like new music, new TV shows and movies. But what’s most important is that we learn from change. If we don’t know how to adapt to it, we’ll lose out on the possibilities of growth and learning.

Let us learn together what is good.  . . . All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. (Job 34:4; Colossians 1:10)

Stop & Think: October 15, 2024

The Next Stroke

When you miss a shot, never think of what you did wrong. Come up to the next shot thinking of what you must do right. (Tommy Armour, late professional golfer)

When we make a mistake, it’s wise, of course, to consider what happened, and what we could have done better. When referring to an errant golf shot that ends up in the bunker, you really don’t have time to do that; you can waste precious time that needs to be used to plan the recovery stroke. It’s always best to be thinking ahead with a positive attitude, not dwelling on the past.

Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you (Proverbs 4:25).

Stop & Think: October 14, 2024

Public Words

Words have energy and power with the ability to help, to heal, to hinder, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate, and to humble. (Yehuda Berg, author)

In an election year, we will hear and read volumes from politicians and their supporters. Words most often have simple, common meanings understood by most people. Words, however, can be used with hidden meanings. We should listen carefully and prayerfully to determine if what we’re hearing reflects the true self, character, and intentions of the person seeking office.

The more words you speak, the less they mean . . . The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions. (Ecclesiastes 6:11; Proverbs 10:11).

Stop & Think: October 13, 2024

Believing – 2

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. (C. S. Lewis, late British author)

Lewis’ statement is helpful in understanding and explaining faith. We all interpret life by what is called a worldview. If your view of life is grounded in a purely secular perspective, you will naturally come to conclusions without consideration of the spiritual viewpoint. A biblical worldview opens our eyes to a clearer understanding of life itself.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. (Romans 12:2).  

Stop & Think: October 12, 2024

Believing

I could not say I believe. I know! I have had the experience of being gripped by something that is stronger than myself, something that people call God. (Carl Gustav Jung, Swiss psychiatrist)

If you say you believe in someone like the tooth fairy or Santa Claus, everyone understands exactly what you mean. But belief in God is something far different. It is more than a mere hope or wished-for expectation. As Jung put it, “I know!” Biblical faith is an assurance of what may not be seen but is testified to by creation itself and the revealed Word of God.

Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. . .And it is impossible to please God without faith. (Hebrews 11:1, 6)  

Stop & Think: October 11, 2024

Recognition

Don’t worry when you are not recognized but strive to be worthy of recognition (A. Lincoln, 16th USA president)

Are you someone who likes attention?  Or are you a “name-dropper,” because of the status you may gain? Is your phone full of “selfies?” How much better, as “Honest Abe” put it, to be the kind of person people want to know because you live with honesty and integrity, and you are someone who encourages others.

Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father (Matthew 5:16).

Stop & Think: October 10, 2024

Finding God

Men should strive to learn before they die what they are running from, and to who, and why. (James Thurber, 20th century American humorist)

Thurber may be making a humorous statement, but there is an underlying truth that everyone should think about. In a rat race world like ours, it looks like many people are running around looking for something, but they’re not sure what. The “running to” question is most important. There is peace and safety to be found if you look in the right place.

Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near . . . The LORD says, “I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me. (Isaiah 55:6; 65:1) 

Stop & Think: October 9, 2024

Good Citizens

The humblest citizen of all the land, when clad in the armor of a righteous cause, is stronger than all the hosts of error. (William Jennings Bryan, 19th-20th century American attorney)

Living in a democracy is a privilege envied by many in the world, and often not fully appreciated by its citizens. In some places in the world, any protest—private or public—can be punished by a fine, imprisonment, or worse. Bryan’s observation is an encouragement to citizens to stand up for what is right and just, struggle against injustice, and uphold law and order.

The foundations of law and order have collapsed. What can the righteous do? (Psalm 2:3).  . . . The authorities are God’s servants . . .  . So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. (Romans 13:4-5)