Daily Stop & Thinks

Encourage

The easily embarrassed don’t learn. (Jewish Proverb)

We all know someone who likes to make jokes at the expense of others — even their friends. To them, it’s a “back-slapper,” but to the one being embarrassed, it’s not funny at all. If it was meant to help someone learn or improve, it’s not working. Better to save the offhand remarks and find a kind way to encourage your friend toward change.

Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. (Romans 12: 10)

Prayer

The greatest tragedy in life is not unanswered prayer but unoffered prayer. (F. B. Meyer, 19^th-20^th  century British pastor and author)

We all find it difficult to wait when we feel our prayers are unanswered. But knowing that God’s reply sometimes is “No” or “Wait,” is a comfort as we exercise God-given patience and understanding. As Meyer suggests, what is worse than not hearing is not asking. Prayer is that phenomenon that allows us to have an intimate relationship with a God who cares and answers.

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (1 Peter 5:7)

The Next Step

You don’t have to know all the right moves—you just need to know the next one. (Oprah Winfrey, entrepreneur)

Long-range planning is valuable as is a game plan for a sporting event. But there are times when you, your work group, or team are in the middle of a crisis, and there’s little time to deliberate. That’s the time when the successful leader, has to know what the next step is, when to take it, and, ultimately, how to work with others to reach the goal.

The prudent carefully consider their steps. . . . We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. (Proverbs 14:15; 16:9)

Acting Right

Think right and choose right to act right. (Jesse Deloe, writer)

Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “The time is always right to do right.”  But sometimes we give in too easily to the temptations that confront us. The solution to wrongdoing may seem over simplified, but it begins with choices. Choice is one of  the few things in life that we can control. Wrong choices are what lead to bad behavior. Acting right begins by choosing what is right.

[They who obey] demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts . . . tell them they are doing right. (Romans 2:15)

Dreaming

If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. (Nora Roberts, author)

Have you ever wanted that beautiful new car on the showroom floor or to take a vacation like those offered on Wheel of Fortune? Those dreams are probably not realistic. But, what about your hope for a job promotion, your intention to be more proactive in the community, or your wish for warmer friendships? You surely can work toward those dreams. Get started today!

Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin, for their hands refuse to work. . . . Work hard and become a leader (Proverbs 21:25; 12:24).

Leap Day

Happy Leap Day! A day where “this time last year” and “this time next year” do not apply. (Anonymous)

For those whose birthdays fall on February 29, they may well feel deprived of annual birthday celebrations. They can be called “leapers” or “leaplings,” and they might have to wait to celebrate only every four years. But the challenge for them today (as for all of us) is “Let this be the day you leap into the life you’re meant to live . . . ready, set, fly!”

For everything there is a season. . . . A time to be born and a time to die. . . . A time to cry and a time to laugh. . . . A time to be quiet and a time to speak. . . . Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. . . . a time for every activity under heaven (Excerpts from Ecclesiastes 3:1-11).

Life’s Difficulties

Life is a journey that must be traveled no matter how bad the roads and accommodations. (Oliver Goldsmith, 18^th century Anglo-Irish novelist )

Central African friends have often described the hazardous road conditions they face in the rainy seasons. Bridges wash out, rivers are swollen, and the mud sucks vehicles down into the ditch. But, life must go on and extra measures are taken to overcome the hazards. There are times in life itself when you simply must overcome trials that face you and persevere to the end.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance (Romans 5:3).

Cultural Changes

I fear for the future of authentic faith in our country. (William Wilberforce, 18^th-19^th century British parliamentarian)

His words from time past in England seem even more relevant today as he continues: “We live in a time when the common man in our country is thoroughly influenced by the current climate in which the cultural and educational elite propagates an anti-Christian message.” You don’t even have to be a Christian to see the cultural changes that threaten our democracy.

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).

Do it!

Every journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. (Lao Tzu, ancient Chinese philosopher)

This sentiment has been expressed by many people over many years. It still is a challenge for those of us who are procrastinators. We just don’t like to leap into the next project before we have figured it all out. Planning is important, of course, but delay can be costly. So, prepare and plan, but stop waiting any longer. “As Nike might say, “Just do it!”

Don’t put it off; do it now! Don’t rest until you do (Proverbs 6:4).

Hardships and Lessons

Remember that life’s greatest lessons are usually learned at the worst times and from the worst mistakes. (Anthony Gucciardi, entrepreneur)

Another unknown writer acknowledges the difficulty but takes a positive view of life: “Life is a journey with problems to solve and lessons to learn but most of all experiences to enjoy.” Rather than sulking about our problems, it would be more helpful to ask, “What can I learn from this difficulty?” No matter how hard the situation, the lessons learned can bring lasting joy.

You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth (Psalm 71:20).

If we endure hardship, we will reign with him (2 Timothy 2:12).

Comfort

Tears are the truest connection we have with others. (Lysa Terkeurst, author)

A variety of experiences might draw people together. Sports fans will unite around their team and go to crazy lengths to show their loyalty. Sitting around a game table can bring the players a sense of camaraderie, especially as they enjoy a good laugh together. But the sharing of grief and sorrow in times of suffering will connect people together in the strongest of bonds.

[God] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

Climbing

You don’t climb mountains to get to the top; you climb them to see what other mountains there are to climb. (TV commercial)

Some people would be content, no doubt, just to reach the top of the mountain and enjoy the amazing view. But real mountain climbers will not be content to scale a high hill only to discover that there is a higher one in view. Until the climber  has reached the summit of Mt. Everest, he is probably never going to be satisfied. With every achievement, it’s good  to seek the next one.

I have not achieved [perfection], but . . , I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God . . . is calling us (Philippians 3:12-13).