Daily Stop & Thinks

To be rich is to be content where you are and with what you have. (Jesse Deloe, writer, editor)

The older and wiser we grow, the more we realize that having lots of “stuff” is not what it really means to be rich. Property and possessions can be lost in an instant. Family and friendships have a longer life and continually add joy and worth to life. What’s more, a true understanding of being stewards of what God gives us adds value to life and labor.

I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation (Philippians 4:12). Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have (Hebrews 13:5).

Life is like a mirror—we get the best results when we smile at it. (Inspirational line)

It’s very likely that most people start the day with a look in the mirror. It isn’t always a pleasant view, of course—sleep wrinkles, tangled up hair, bleary eyes. Like so many other things in life, however, it’s not the first view (or words or thoughts), but the response to them that’s so important. Take the positive look, smile, and see how the day turns out.

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like (James 1:23-24).

Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don’t. (Bill Nye, science educator known as “the Science Guy”)

Thinking of people as Nye suggests would open up unlimited opportunities to learn. First, it requires a certain sense of humility to realize that we don’t know everything. Then, it recognizes that other people will almost certainly be able to increase our knowledge or understanding if we will hear them well. Look for and welcome such learning experiences.

The wise store up knowledge. … The lips of the wise spread knowledge. … The advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves those who have it. (Proverbs 10:14; 15:7; Ecclesiastes 7:12).

The world is changed by your example, not by your opinion. (Paulo Coehlo, Brazilian lyricist and novelist)

It’s probably not true of every society, but we’ve been hearing a lot lately from some highly opinionated people. (Example: election campaign rhetoric, which, thankfully, ends today). How often we might think, “Please stop talking so much and show me how you live and act honorably.” Words are important, but only if they are backed up by integrity in behavior.

One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace will have the king for a friend (Proverbs 22:11). Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak (James 1:19).

The moment humans value things, however intelligent, over people, they embark on the road to ruin. (Jonathan Sacks, British rabbi)

What are the “things” we might value more than people? Surely not the passing, temporal stuff we play with, collect, or store away for the future. Maybe we value intelligence and learning over people. But it’s the learner, not the teaching that’s important. Remember to love people and use things rather than love things and use people.

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them (Genesis 1:27).

Today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday. (Dale Carnegie, 20^th century American writer and lecturer)

Do you remember yesterday? Perhaps it was a really difficult day, and you worried a lot about what its concerns would look like the next day. Well, today is that tomorrow. How do things look now? Did worrying yesterday make today any better? Stop worrying about tomorrow today, so tomorrow you can look back at today and be content.

Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:34).

The greatest of faults, I should say, is to be conscious of none. (Thomas Carlyle, 19^th century Scottish philosopher)

Confession is really difficult for some people. They have a hard time admitting their mistakes. In their minds, they are never wrong. They’re like the Fonz in the old TV comedy, Happy Days. He simply could not say “I’m wrong.” The words just wouldn’t come out of his mouth. How much better to acknowledge our weaknesses and work to improve them.

Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy (Proverbs 28:13).

Change your thoughts and you change your world. (Seen on an office bulletin board)

Most of us are such active people—always busy doing something or rushing here and there—that we often don’t give much time to exercising our brains like we do our bodies. Yet, physical changes accomplish little without clear thought and good planning. We will be more effective in changing our world if we first make good use of our reasoning abilities.

I have written [my two letters to you] as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking (2 Peter 3:1). Stop thinking like children . . . but in your thinking be adults. (1 Corinthians 14:20).

At the moment of truth, you will not rise to the level of expectation, but will fall to the level of training. (Archilochus, 7th century B.C. Greek lyric poet)

Sometimes in our ambition to succeed, we fall prey to unrealistic expectations. We hope to accomplish some great feat. We think we can do it by brute strength or innate abilities. To ensure success, however, there is nothing more effective than adequate training—preparation that will enable us to do what we set out to do.

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly (1 Timothy 4:7).

When you’re looking for joy, you will always find it hiding in your gratitude. (Source unknown)

Someone else has said, “Find joy by walking in gratitude.” In the “old days” people use to say “Thank you” a lot more than they seem to do today. Maybe that’s why we often think of those bygone days as happier times. Try saying “Thank you” more often. See if that doesn’t lift your spirits along with the person you’re thanking.

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give . . .  for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Education is what remains after you’ve forgotten everything you learned in school. (Albert Einstein, 20^th century theoretical physicist)

Of course, Einstein himself was highly educated, so he certainly was not arguing against learning and training. He realized that there is more to it than just the three R’s. On another occasion, he said, “It is a miracle that curiosity survives education.” More formal learning sometimes suppresses initiative and creativity. Continual learning is essential.

[Admonish} and [teach] everyone with all wisdom (paraphrase of Colossians 1:28).

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power. (Abraham Lincoln, 16^th president of the United States)

When times are tough, some men and women remain calm and steadfast, continuing on in the pursuit of their goals. Danger and misfortune don’t seem to be able to defeat them. But, as Lincoln suggests, a greater danger to many ambitious people is the possession of power or authority. Such high position demands a spirit of humility and grace.

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. . . . God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble (James 4:6, 10).