Daily Stop & Thinks

Those who travel the high road of humility will not be troubled by heavy traffic. (Alan Simpson, former United States Senator)

Much has been said about having a proper self-image. We want our children to have a good understanding of who they are and their character strengths. At the same time, we try to teach them to be humble and aware of their weaknesses, too. Pride seems to be born within us, so we have to work at the rare attitude of humility.

Dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5)

I’d rather be in the mountains thinking of God, than in church thinking about the mountains. (John Muir, 19th century Scottish-American naturalist)

Certainly God has revealed Himself in nature, so Muir’s thought is helpful. The beauty of a sunrise or a sunset over the mountain peaks can evoke very deep and reverent thoughts about the Creator. But, really it’s not an either or dilemma. One surely can worship in the outdoors, but worship with others in a church setting is not to be overlooked.

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. (Psalm 19:1) Let us not neglect our meeting together . . . but encourage one another. (Hebrews 10:25)

Remember that everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves something, and has lost something. (H. Jackson Brown, inspirational author)

What do you see when you meet a person, perhaps for the first time? We may have completely wrong ideas about someone because of appearance, the way they speak, or their behavior. But, as Brown suggests, we would do well to acknowledge that this new person is human, like us, and remember that he or she experiences life just like we do.

People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7) Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly. (John 7:24)

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)