Daily Stop & Thinks

I don’t know the key to success, but the key failure is trying to please everyone. (From a comedy story-teller)

It’s unlikely that anyone is looking for the key to failure, but the warning here is worth noting. To climb the ladder of success, it might seem a good idea to please everyone; perhaps, they’ll help you in your ascent. But the road to achievement is often strewn with people-pleasers who discovered they could not please everybody.

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? . . . If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10)

Mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life! (John Muir, Scottish-American naturalist)

Muir also said, “Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity.” We would likely agree that time off from our hectic schedules to relax in a soothing, natural environment would be refreshing. But the real fountain of life is to be found elsewhere.

For with you [God] is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. (Psalm 36:9)

Doing something positive toward another person is a practical approach to feeling good about yourself. (Barbara Johnson, author and speaker)

Somehow self-centered people can relate to other people only as the relationship seems to benefit them. They appear to feel good about themselves only at the expense of someone else. How sad that kind of life must be. To really feel good about yourself, try doing good for others. It will improve how both of you feel about yourselves.

Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:25) In humility value others above yourselves. (Philippians 2:3)

When we are young, we want to change the world. When we’re old, we want to change the young. (Anonymous)

Young people often want to be world-changers, and they are usually optimistic about their dreams. It’s that kind of ambition that has brought innovation and progress to the world. However, as we grow older, we may feel out-of-touch with change. If we’ve been good mentors, we can accept the progress the changes have brought.

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers. (1 Timothy 4:12)

Too often we judge other groups by their worst examples, while judging ourselves by our best intentions. (George W. Bush, 43rd president of the United States)

Sometimes, it seems as if we have a blind eye when it comes to evaluating ourselves. We criticize others harshly, ignoring their strengths and emphasizing their weaknesses. At the same time, we tend to exaggerate our strengths and overlook our faults. The next time you’re tempted to judge someone, remember this thought.

First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:5)

Giving, the only real joy is giving. (Charlie Brown in the Peanuts cartoon)

Christmas was barely three weeks ago, and we may have forgotten about most of our gifts. But, if we were generous and thoughtful in our giving, we experienced great pleasure. Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35), and it is truly a joy to see the benefit those loving gifts are to those who receive them.

But since you excel in everything . . . see that you also excel in this grace of giving. (2 Corinthians 8:7)

All errors are opportunities for learning rather than blaming. Learning is a continuous . . . never-ending process. (Author uncertain)

Most people hate to make mistakes. Some of us are never satisfied with anything less than an “A.” Sadly few of us achieve such high marks. But, take heart! Every test—even those we don’t do well in—can be a valuable learning opportunity. As long as we live, we must choose to continue learning. It makes life enjoyable and productive.

Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. (Proverbs 4:1-3)

It’s better to be wise than strong; intelligence outranks muscle any day.” (The Bible)

The text from Proverbs 24 also says, “It takes wisdom to build a house, and understanding to set it on a firm foundation. “ Maybe the writer is suggesting that a home is more than just a building. The building of the house requires both physical strength and knowledge. But for the family to be healthy, wisdom and understanding are needed.

A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength. (Proverbs 24:5)

“An ever-increasing craving for an ever diminishing pleasure is the formula” [for an addiction]. (Paraphrase of C. S. Lewis in Screwtape Letters)

Addictions, whether physical or psychological, rarely occur instantaneously. Usually, there is a satisfying “taste” that encourages a second, and then a third, ad infinitum. Before you know it, you can be captured by a “need” that is overwhelming and, often, almost incurable. We must discourage even the first “trial” of any addictive substance or behavior.

As no one has power over the wind to contain it . . . so wickedness will not release those who practice it. (Ecclesiastes 8:8)

Experience is that marvelous thing that enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again. (F. P. Jones, author)

Our lives demonstrate this truth all too often, don’t they? We don’t want to repeat our mistakes, of course, but from them we can learn to identify those situations that might lead to a repetition of the error. When we slip-up, we should take time to realize what has happened and how to avoid the blunder in the future.

And the God of all grace . . . will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast. (1 Peter 5:10)