Daily Stop & Thinks

Three things you can’t recover in life: the moment after it’s missed, the word after it’s said, and the time after it’s wasted. (Source unknown)

Someone has added: “So choose your words wisely, embrace every moment you have with those you love, and never waste time arguing over things that will not matter in the last five minutes of your life.” Good advice! It’s extremely important, then, that we monitor and control our words and our time, leaving little to regret.

Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. (James 3:2)

Where there is charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance. (Francis of Assisi, 13th century Roman Catholic friar and preacher)

Fear and ignorance are characteristics we certainly want to avoid. According to Francis, we can do so by practicing both charity and wisdom. Charity, the old English word for love, is an action word. Learning to truly love (that is, acting in the best interest of others) and doing so with understanding and good judgment will create a joyful, gracious spirit.

And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

The person who would like to make his dreams come true MUST STAY AWAKE. (Richard Wheeler, American author and newspaper editor)

Sometimes we awaken from a deep sleep and are a bit shaken by the dreams we’ve had. At other times, we can’t remember our dreams. But in our waking hours, to achieve the dreams we set for ourselves, we must remain alert and keep at the task. That way we might just be able to make our dreams come true.

So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. (1 Thessalonians 5:6)

You can accomplish anything if you’re willing to pay the price. (Vince Lombardi, late professional football coach)

Surely Lombardi’s statement is a worthy challenge to encourage someone to work harder and sacrifice in order to accomplish a desired goal. However, there are many circumstances that might make that achievement impossible. There is hope, though, for the person who earnestly seeks help to do good in the will of God.

I can do all this through him [God] who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)

By three methods we may learn wisdom: first, by reflection . . . second, by imitation . . . and third, by experience. (Confucius)

Confucius ranks them in order of value. The first, he says, is “noblest”; the second is “easiest”; and the third “the bitterest.” Experience, as someone has said, may be “the best teacher,” but it can be very hard to bear. Imitation has value, too, but true wisdom will result in noble benefit and advancement as a result of serious, purposeful thinking.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. (Psalm 139:23)

The great ones are always looking for ways to serve, not to be served. (Chad Briscoe, college athletic director)

The people we see on TV and in the movies are sometimes pictured as prima donnas, demanding that they be treated as celebrities. Often they are expecting—even demanding—that other people serve their every whim. As Briscoe says, that’s just the opposite of the truly “great ones,” as taught in the New Testament.

Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve. (Matthew 20:28) Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others. (1 Peter 4:10)

Discipline is the refining fire by which talent becomes ability. (Roy L. Smith, American animator and film director)

To a lot of people the word “discipline” brings thoughts of punishment. Yet, its basic meaning has to do with training. Though training may be difficulty (think training for the Olympics) its purpose may be to correct errors, or to strengthen and improve skills. For that reason we should welcome any discipline that will make us more effective or skillful.

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:11).

I do not think about being beautiful. What I devote most of my time to is being healthy. (Ann Bancroft, late American actress)

Her physical beauty was recognized by many, yet that, apparently, was not her most important concern. After all, as they say, “beauty is only skin deep.” Physical health is exceedingly more important than physical appearance. More important yet is your spiritual health. What is your relationship with God and how does that affect all other relationships?

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. … [and] Love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39)

Society has gotten to the point where everybody has a right, but nobody has a responsibility. (John G. Stevens, business developer)

American was born on the principles of human rights. We have fought world wars and cultural issues to guarantee those rights for every citizen. But, we sometimes seem to forget that with rights come responsibilities. To enjoy our rights to the fullest, we must exercise care to protect and guarantee those rights for others. That’s our duty.

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. … Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. (Proverbs 31:8-9)