GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: October 29, 2024

Practice

You must have confidence in your ability to make the shot required. This comes from practice. (Byron Nelson, late professional golfer)

No matter the sport or activity, Nelson is right. The basketball player lining up his free throw shot to tie or win the game isn’t trusting to luck or good circumstances. It’s his or her consistent practice that has brought the player to this point. No one learns to hit the bull’s eye in rifle or bow and arrow competition without practice. Good practice provides the confidence to win.

But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice. (Luke 11:28) Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me. (Philippians 4:9)

Stop & Think: October 28, 2024

Understanding

My task, which I am trying to achieve is, by the power of the written word, to make you hear, to make you feel—it is, before all, to make you see. (Joseph Conrad, late Polish-British novelist)

Writers may express what they hope their work will achieve in a variety of ways. Some use explicit, emotional language to develop strong feelings from the story line. Conrad says his overall purpose is to help his readers “see” something. Whether it’s an argument, a cause, or a simple truth, he’s hoping to bring a new understanding to the reader’s mind.

Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions; I will put them into practice with all my heart (Psalm 119:34). To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. (Matthew 13:12)

Stop & Think: October 27, 2024

Awaiting Results

When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another. (Helen Keller, late author and lecturer)

When we do our work well, we want to see the results of our efforts sooner rather than later. After serving others, we want to know right away that something good has happened. Some have received heart-warming responses from those they’d helped many years earlier. And some may never be thanked. But when you do your best, you can trust God for recognition and reward.

If we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently. (Romans 8:25)

Stop & Think: October 26, 2024

Critics

A critic is a hen that clucks when another hen lays an egg. (Giovanni Guareschi, late Italian humorist)

There are several kinds of critics: those who are always finding fault; in fact, they’re looking for it, and others who want to find the positive and comment on it. Then, there are a few who are evaluating carefully and are willing to place blame or give credit where they belong. How good life would be if we would just complement the egg- laying hens.

The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.  . . . Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly. (Matthew 7:2; John 7:24)

Stop & Think: October 25, 2024

Contentment

You can’t have everything. Where will you put it?  (Ann Landers, advice columnist)

Landers’ comment may be somewhat facetious, but her statement is true in more than one way. First of all, look at your neighbors’ garages or the multitude of storage units in your town—and they’re still building them. But what is even more important, we cram our lives and hearts with stuff, yearnings, and hopes only to find they don’t satisfy. Look for those things that will last.

Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.  . . . So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. (1 Timothy 6:6, 8)

Stop & Think: October 24, 2024

Wisdom

Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it. (Albert Einstein, renowned scientist)

Einstein’s famous formula (E=MC2) about energy and mass was a monumental find for the scientific world. But in grade school, Einstein was thought to be “dumb and unteachable.” Today he is regarded as a genius, and his observation about wisdom is insightful. No amount of formal education alone will make you wise. It’s a growing achievement that begins with God.

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking (James 1:5).

Stop & Think: October 23, 2024

Making a Difference

You don’t have to make headlines to make a difference. (Drew Scholl, businessman, author)

Much has been made about everyone having “15 minutes of fame,” but that isn’t always true. While many athletes, musicians, and politicians do gain the headlines, not everyone seeks that kind of notice. Some of those headliners do make a difference, but most of us will make a difference simply by doing good works, encouraging, and helping others as God enables us.

Be careful not to do your good deeds in public in order to attract attention. If you do, your Father in heaven will not reward you (Matthew 6:1). [But] Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father (Matthew 5:16).

Stop & Think: October 22, 2024

Prepare Well

Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well. (Kary Oberbrunner, motivational author and speaker)

Oberbrunner’s observation is true for more than just a game of cards. Sports coaches always have strategies in mind to deal with just about any situation their team faces. Event organizers always have plan B or C if plan A doesn’t work. Life is never as smooth as a glassy sea. Waves can develop quickly, so advanced preparation is always in everyone’s best interest.

If you plan to do good, you will receive unfailing love and faithfulness . . . Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity. (Proverbs 14:22; 21:5)

Stop & Think: October 21, 2024

Tough Times

Through adversity, God reminds us that He wants us to give Him control of our life.  (Author unknown)

Counselors have often used this idea, wanting to help people address the really hard things in life. Parents console their children when they face a difficulty too hard to handle emotionally. We often ask, “Why?” “Why me?” “Why now?” Answers to life’s hard questions often aren’t easy to find, but the assurance that God has a perfect plan is a comfort for his followers.

God: “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness” (1 Corinthians 12:8).

Stop & Think: October 20, 2024

Control

But the human tongue is a beast that few can master. (Robert Greene, American author)

Green continues: “It strains constantly to break out of its cage, and if it is not tamed, it will run wild and cause you grief.” We all have heard an “uncaged tongue” in conversation or public discourse. And today we often hear vulgar new words and language that should be censored. Controlling the tongue is a habit we all need to develop.

The tongue is a flame of fire.  . . .  but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. (James 3:6, 8) Those who control their tongue will have a long life (Proverbs 13:3).

Stop & Think: October 19, 2024

Only One Life

We have but one life here…It pays, no matter what comes after it, to try and do things, and not merely to have a soft and pleasant time. (Theodore Roosevelt, 26th U.S. president)

“Teddy” was right. We have only one life to live. And his counsel is good: “try and do things” . . . not merely to have an easy and fun life. He achieved a great deal in the military and in politics, but there is an even higher calling for us to pursue. God has placed each of us where we are with the talents and opportunities he’s given us to honor him by sharing his love and serving others.

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people (Colossians 3:24).

Stop & Think: October 18, 2024

Mental, Physical, or Spiritual?

Baseball is 90% mental. The other half is physical. (Yogi Berra. Late professional athlete)

Berra was a hall-of-fame baseball player as a Yankee catcher and hitter for 18 seasons and later a manager of the NY Mets. He is often remembered as well for his frequent malapropisms, well-known words used improperly. His comment about baseball is humorous, and he may have been right about the importance of the mental aspect of life. But we must not overlook the other essential element in life, the spiritual.

Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. (John 3:6) For only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. (1 Corinthians 2:14)