Daily Stop & Thinks

Don’t get upset by criticism. Value the fact that at least someone noticed what you did. (Chris Ware, American cartoonist)

No one likes to be criticized. Criticism is often very hard to take, especially when it is mean-spirited or offered out of a heart of jealousy. But legitimate criticism can be valuable in helping us evaluate our attitudes and actions. So, we should be aware of well thought-out critiques and try to learn from them, glad to be helped by the advice.

Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise (Proverbs 15:31).

The greatest danger to a free society is suppression of the free expression of ideas. (Chuck Colson, apologist and author)

This is an election year in the United States, and for what seems like an interminable time, there have been loud expressions of contrasting ideas and opinions broadcast widely and repeatedly all across the country. Will it ever end, we might ask? But, on the other hand, it is a freedom we value most highly: the right to state one’s ideas without fear of reprisal.

For you have been called unto liberty (Galatians 5:13). Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (2 Corinthians 3:17).

Nothing is more expensive than a missed opportunity. (H. Jackson Brown, inspirational author)

Napoleon Hill, another American author, suggests we miss some opportunities because “Opportunity often comes disguised in the form of misfortune or temporary defeat.” Is it often true that we fear misfortunes and defeats so we try to escape them? Maybe it would be better to seize the chance to make something good out of our difficult times.

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity (Ephesians 5:15-16).

As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do. (Andrew Carnegie, 19^th-20^th century Scottish-American industrialist)

With the ever-present visual and verbal media, we are inundated with words and “talking heads.” People tweet the most trivial comments that, in times past, no one would even think of saying to anyone. Since words often become almost meaningless, perhaps we should follow Carnegie’s advice and pay more attention to actions, rather than words.

The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint (Proverbs 17:27). Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth (1 John 3:18).

You get rewarded at the bottom end of the club by what you do at the top end. (Jerry Barber, late professional golfer)

Barber was talking about golf clubs and how important the grip is in determining the flight of the golf ball. It’s a great analogy, showing how important the relationship is between a tool and the craftsman who is using it. The golfer (or the machinist) has to put in the right effort at his end of the tool to be sure that the working end will do what he wants it to do.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters (Colossians 3:23).

Every morning you have two choices: continue to sleep with your dreams, or wake up and chase them. (Rebekah Radice, social media strategist)

Most people would likely want to forget their nighttime dreams. But, there are times when we might stay awake, thinking about tomorrow’s tasks or “dreaming” about the things we’d really like to do. Radice suggests our options: consign those nocturnal aspirations to the “not possible” category or set out right away to plan how to achieve those dreams.

The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out (Proverbs 20:5).

The secret of life … is to fall seven times and to get up eight times. (Paulo Coelho, Brazilian lyricist and novelist)

We all stumble from time to time; that is, we make mistakes, we fail in some way or another. But, like a toddler, learning to walk, we have to get back up and keep moving forward as best we can. Success is often the result of learning from repeated failures and advancing to the next step.

Though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again (Proverbs 24:16).

There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. (C. S. Lewis, British apologist and author)

We often view people on a personal scale of value or achievement. To us, there may be many extraordinary people—athletes, artists, scholars, etc. But, in Lewis’ view, everyone is extraordinary. Why? Because all people have been created in the image of God and have eternal souls. If that’s true, it ought to affect the way we see ourselves and everyone else.

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them (Genesis 1:27).

When you’re going through something hard and wonder where God is, remember, the teacher is always quiet during a test. (Often quoted)

Remember what it was like to take a test in school, no matter what level? You went through mental gymnastics to try to recall what the teacher had said on that particular question. Where was he/she when you needed help? Don’t forget when difficulties come in life, God has not left the room; He remains with His children at all times.

God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

We are products of our past, but we don’t have to be prisoners of it. (Rick Warren, American pastor and author)

We can learn a lot from history—whether it’s national, cultural, or personal. It’s helpful to know, for example, how progress has been made in medicine or technology that affects our lives today. On the other hand, it isn’t helpful at all—in fact, it’s harmful—to feel trapped by the events of our past lives. We need to move on with hope and determination.

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me (Philippians 3:13-14).

Rarely do we find men who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking. (Martin Luther King Jr.) Late civil rights leader

King went on to say, “There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions.” In a political season, we are often inundated with such “easy answers.” And it’s critical that the electorate think hard about the issues. King’s further comment may be an indictment of modern society: “Nothing pains some people more than having to think.”

Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults (1 Corinthians 14:20).

Finding good players is easy. Getting them to play as a team is another story. (Casey Stengel, 20^th century major league baseball Hall of Fame manager)

Stengel’s observation about players reveals an important principle about teamwork. We saw it demonstrated in the recent Olympics where athletes of great talent were assembled and organized to work together to achieve the desired goal for their country. It’s great lesson for us to apply to our working together with our colleagues in any worthy endeavor.

Striving together as one (Philippians 1:27).