Daily Stop & Thinks

If you don’t ask, you don’t get. (Stevie Wonder, musician and songwriter)

Wonder’s statement is simple, yet profound. It raises the question, “Why don’t we ask for something we want?” Perhaps we need the answer to a question, but we think we’ll appear ignorant if we ask it. Maybe it’s because we’ve asked and been denied many times. Or, maybe we’re asking with selfish or improper motivation. Be thoughtful about what you ask for.

O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help. (Psalm 86:5)

We can’t say no to something good unless we’re saying yes to something even better. (Rachel Gilson, counselor of college students)

Years ago the Sears Roebuck catalogs included page after page of goods to choose from. Its unique format offered merchandise by quality: good, better, best. In terms of quality of product, you get what you pay for. Gilson reminds us that it is sometimes wise to reject something good in order to take what is better—even to reach for the very best.

Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city. . . . Better to have little, with fear for the Lord, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil. (Proverbs 16:32; 15:16)

A good name, like good will, is got by many actions and lost by one. (Lord Jeffery, 18^th century British army officer)

People are most often known by their actions. A person who accomplishes a lot and exhibits many good deeds and acts of kindness is thought highly of. Unfortunately, if that person stumbles—maybe only once, his reputation may be ruined. Lord Jeffery was right: just one wrong deed can spoil a good reputation. It’s a warning to be careful about how we live daily.

Don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them for . . . they keep you safe on your way, and your feet will not stumble. (Proverbs 3:21, 23) A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume. (Ecclesiastes 7:1)

Pain becomes good or bad based on what we do with it. (Source unknown)

It’s an oft-repeated idea: pain can be both good and bad. Without physical pain, we wouldn’t know we had touched a hot burner until the skin began to curl. Pain as a warning is a good thing, a blessing. If we respond to pain—whether physical or emotional—by seeking its source and responding with appropriate remedies, we can be restored to health.

The words of the wise are like cattle prods—painful but helpful. (Ecclesiastes 12:11)

I’ve learned that the smallest amount of light completely breaks the darkness. (Mekayla Deffenbaugh. social worker)

Have you noticed that you can take a small candle into a dark room, and suddenly, the room is no longer in total blackness? On the other hand, can you take a burned out candle (darkness) into a lighted room and put out the light? An absurd idea, isn’t it? That’s the beauty of light; wherever you take it, darkness is dispelled. And we can be that light in dark places.

Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. (Philippians 2:15)

Ideas have consequences and bad ideas have victims. (John Stonestreet, Biblical worldview author)

We’ve all seen the bulb light up in a cartoon character’s head, indicating that he or she has just had an inspiration. Those ideas can often become the basis for creativity and productivity. Where would we be without new ideas? Unfortunately, not all ideas are good ones. When a new thought surfaces, we would do well to evaluate carefully its source, purpose, and value.

Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. (1 Timothy 4:7)

Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings. (William Arthur Ward, American author of inspirational maxims)

It’s Thanksgiving Day in the United States, and many families are expressing their thanks for God’s blessing in their homes and upon our country. In spite of difficulties and unrest, there is still much to be grateful for. But, as Ward suggests, thanksgiving doesn’t have to be only an annual celebration. What would life be like if we lived every day with an attitude of gratitude?

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Jump and build your wings on the way down. (Ray Bradbury, late author and screenwriter)

A paratrooper’s first jump must be frightful. Yet, we’re told that it soon becomes exhilarating, a pleasure the jumper would never have if he hadn’t jumped out that first time. That takes a lot of courage, but as inspirational teacher, Audrey Moralez, says, “Courage is fear with wings.” Let’s not let fear stop us from attempting the difficult, even when the result may be unknown.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)

A master in the art of living always appears to be both working and playing. (L. P. Jacks, English educator)

Remember the proverb, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”? It teaches that without time off from work, a person becomes both bored and boring. Jacks updates the saying, agreeing that work and play are required to have a well-rounded life. In our 21^st century world we see excesses on both ends—too much work or too much play. Balance is what’s needed.

So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. (Ecclesiastes 2:24)

Nothing is true, but that which is simple. (Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe, 18^th-19^th century German writer and statesman)

We need to think carefully about that statement. If you look at Einstein’s theory of special relativity (E = mc²), the equation appears simple and can be interpreted as energy equals mass times the speed of light squared. Many of us think that’s not as simple as it sounds. Maybe Goethe wasn’t right after all. However, truth can be simple if its source is undisputed.

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)

Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but backwards and in high heels. (Faith Whittlesey, former White House staff assistant)

Old-timers will remember the extravagant movie musicals of yesteryear. Astaire was an amazing dancer who was able to make unbelievably intricate dance steps look easy. But Rogers, his frequent dancing partner, was equally adept. “It takes two to Tango,” they say. (Pardon the pun!) Quite often we must have someone to help us accomplish a difficult task well.

Two are better than one . . . If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

A smile is a curve that can set a lot of things straight. (Victor Borge, America-Danish comedian)

When we read the news or watch TV news coverage, we often don’t find much to smile about. Whether it’s a personal, national, or world news story, it is often discouraging—sometimes even frightening. So, people, like the humorist Borge, help to lift our spirits if only briefly. In turn, when we find joy from a heavenly source, we can encourage others with a simple smile.

May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. (Numbers 6:25) When they were discouraged, I smiled at them. My look of approval was precious to them. (Job 29:24)