Daily Stop & Thinks

How old do you have to be to know what’s going on? (Calvin and Hobbs cartoon)

Children live in their own little world, knowing little—and caring less—about what’s going on outside in the larger world. Teens live in a different world, often with immature reasoning and unrealistic expectations. But, do we adults really have a good grasp on what’s happening in our world? What is needed is a worldview that includes God’s plan for his creation and people.

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)

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. (Henry Stanley Haskins, 20^th century author)

If you’re nostalgic, the memories of yesterday may be bitter or sweet. But if you like to concentrate on the future; it may be with eager anticipation or fear. Both perspectives are important, of course, but Haskins urges us to realize that the really important elements in life are those inner virtues and values that motivate us to achieve.

Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. (Proverbs 3:3)

The world needs a little more giving and a little less taking. (Kary Oberbrunner, motivational writer and speaker)

Have you forgotten the joy of giving that you felt just a few weeks ago at Christmas? What would life be like if we practiced giving through the whole year? Not just giving a brightly wrapped package but visiting a lonely person, sending a note of encouragement, providing a ride where it’s needed or childcare for a young, single mom. That giving will bring lasting joy.

You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)

Liberty is not the power to do what we like, but the right to do what we ought. (John Dalberg-Acton, 19^th century English historian)

Most people cherish their freedom. They are pleased that they have liberty to express themselves freely and to pursue goals of their own choosing. Lord Acton reminds us, however, that liberty is not freedom to do whatever you want without consideration of others. Nor does it grant unlimited power. It does, however, give you the privilege of doing what is right.

The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. (1 Peter 3:12)

It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation. (Herman Melville, 19^th century American writer)

King Solomon lamented, “There’s nothing new under the sun.” And today, TV sitcoms and movies, with their cookie cutter plots, are so much alike that you can hardly tell them apart. What’s more, political candidates, along with seasoned politicians, all make the same empty promises. As Melville suggests, original thinking is invaluable.

There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking. (Proverbs 29:20)

Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny. (C. S. Lewis, late British scholar and writer)

When life’s journey brings us to a time of difficulty, our natural inclination is to avoid that hard road as much as possible. Lewis suggests, however, that continuing on that difficult road might lead us to more beneficial places. Zig Ziglar, late motivational speaker) put it this way: “Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.”

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. (Isaiah 43:2)

Reputation is among the most treasured and powerful assets. (Lolly Daskal, leadership coach and consultant)

Daskal continues, “It is built over many years, one word at a time, one action at a time, one deed at time. In leadership, few things matter more. . . . Our reputation is ours, very personal but also very easy to lose.” Be very careful to guard your words and actions.

Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! . . . Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation. (Proverbs 3:4-5)

The sign of a true learner is not just the knowledge he or she has accumulated, but also the ideas that have been jettisoned. (Neil Cole, author)

When the light goes on in your brain, giving you a new idea, what do you do with it? Are all ideas good ones? Should we pursue every scheme that comes to mind? The obvious answer is no, not every idea is a good one. So a wise person will evaluate the brainchild, follow the good ones with determination, but forget those that don’t hold promise for good results.

I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from every evil. (Psalm 101:4)

Friends are the most important ingredient in this recipe of life. (Author unknown)

Solomon, the wisest man of his time wrote: “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). What would life be like without friends, people who are close enough to encourage and to correct?

The godly give good advice to their friends. . . . A real friend sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 12:26; 18:24)

Gratitude is a vaccine, an antitoxin, and an antiseptic. (John Henry Jowett, 19^th-20^th century British preacher and author)

Is it true that a grateful heart will protect you or overcome something that might be hurtful? It would be wise, then, to develop a constant attitude of gratitude. Tom Stoddard goes a step further in his comment: “A healthy attitude is contagious, but don’t wait to catch it from others. Be a carrier.” Being thankful, then, not only benefits you but those you influence, as well.

Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God (Psalm 50:14). Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

I have never been hurt by what I did not say. (Calvin Coolidge, 30^th president of the United States)

Although Coolidge was known to be a skilled and effective public speaker, in private he was sometimes referred to as “Silent Cal,” a man of few words. With 24/7 TV news and their “talking heads” we can be overwhelmed with words. And we may be guilty ourselves of talking or texting incessantly without careful thought. Let’s heed the biblical admonitions.

So let your words be few. . . . The more words you speak, the less they mean. . . . Too many words make you a fool. (Ecclesiastes 5:2, 3; 6:11)

Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the commonplace simple, awesomely simple, that is creativity. (Charles Mingus, musician)

Have you ever sat in a class when you wondered what the teacher was getting at? It seemed so complicated that you didn’t benefit from the experience at all. On the other hand, do you remember a teacher who was explaining a difficult theory or formula, and you found it easy to understand. It’s a gift to be able to explain difficult ideas so learning can happen.

My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge. (Proverbs 8:9)