GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: October 21, 2025

A Worthy Inheritance

No legacy is so rich as honesty. (William Shakespeare)

Shakespeare’s literary work covers the wide spectrum of life’s experiences. Though written 300-400 years ago, they offer important lessons to be learned from their settings and themes that are so often relevant to modern times. This quote from All’s Well that Ends Well emphasizes the values of honesty, wholesome character, and integrity in the legacy we can leave.

Honesty guides good people. . . .The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them (Proverbs 11:3; 20:7)

Stop & Think: October 20, 2025

Aim High

Aim high, miss high. Aim low, miss low. (Pastor Chris Suitt)

The artist Michelangelo stated it more fully: “The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark.” We hesitate to set our goals too high lest we fail miserably. But good preparation and planning, along with the resolve to accomplish something great, may be the key to even higher achievements.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).

Stop & Think: October 19, 2025

October Days

There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on and produce so pleasant effect on the feelings, as now in October. (Nathaniel Hawthorne, 19th century American novelist and poet)

Midway through the fall season, we can appreciate Hawthorn’s comment, although not every day is necessarily as pleasant as he envisions them. For sports fans, it’s the end of baseball and time for football and anticipating basketball. For others, a stroll outdoors in the milder temperatures among the multi-colored leaves brings joy. This month, we have much to be thankful for.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

Stop & Think: October 18, 2025

Nervous?

To control your nerves, you must have a positive thought in your mind. (Byron Nelson, late professional golfer)

People get nervous about a lot of things, don’t they? We all have butterflies at some time or another, even if it’s just taking a driver’s test or making a presentation at work. It’s often the fear of failure and embarrassment that makes us uneasy. But we can relax when we’re well prepared, think positively, and expect good results.

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8).

Stop & Think: October 17, 2025

Change the World

Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself. (Rumi, 13th century Persian poet)

We have often heard the good counsel that to change anything in our society or environment, we must first change ourselves. Rumi recognized that truth and proceeded make personal change. That’s a challenge to those of us who live in a world where change is often negative. Be a force for positive change.

This same Good News . . . is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace (Colossians 1:6).

Stop & Think: October 16, 2025

Carpe Diem!

The past is a place of reference, not a residence, [a place of] learning, not living. (Roy T. Bennett, author)

Do you know people who seem to be living in the past?  They cling to their memories and may often lament, “This is not the way it used to be” or “Why all these changes?” As Bennett says, the past is where we learned, but we live in the present. It’s best to apply the lessons of the past to make the most of life today! Carpe Diem!

It is a good thing to . . . accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past (Ecclesiastes 5:19-20).

Stop & Think: October 15, 2025

The American Dream

Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle. (Napoleon Hill, American author)

What is the “American Dream?” Whatever it is for you, the bigger question is, how do you achieve it? Is it an entitlement promised by the Declaration of Independence, or as Hill suggests, does realizing that dream involve effort and struggle, strengths that come from personal discipline and dependence on the Almighty?

Common sense and success belong to me. Insight and strength are mine (Proverbs 8:14).

Stop & Think: October 14, 2025

Really?

Be at ease, do not freeze. (Jim Sheard and Wally Armstrong. Sports authors)

It’s the bottom of the ninth and your team is trailing by one run. You’re up to bat;  the count is 3 balls & 2 strikes; and the coach sent you to the plate with these words: “Be at ease, do not freeze.” Really? Can you really do that? Baseball is only a game, but if you’re a professional baseball player, it could be costly. It’s important to be in control, especially at times like this.

For the Lord your God is living among you.  . . . He will calm all your fears. (Zephaniah 3:17). 

Stop & Think: October 13, 2025

Risk-taking

There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long-range risks of comfortable inaction. (John Kennedy, 35th US president)

Is it fatigue or fear and uncertainty that keep us from getting off the couch to do anything? Or are we content with being comfortable where we are? Or maybe we just don’t like to take risks. From the purely human standpoint, there may be risks in taking action. But, as Kennedy suggests, doing nothing has risks, too. Opportunities, for example, that may never come again.

Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days (Ephesians 5:16).
Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone (Galatians 6:10).

Stop & Think: October 12, 2025

Sportsmen

Golf is the only sport where there are more teachers than players. (Conrad Rehling, golf coach)

Listening or watching football, baseball, soccer, or any other sport, you’ll hear the play-by-play announcer and the color guy second-guessing almost every play. And in our personal lives, we often do the same thing, judging our boss’s decision or the choice of a family member. It’s one thing to critique a game on TV, but quite another to second-guess your family or your boss!

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless . . . (Philippians 1:9-10)

Stop & Think: October 11, 2025

Blunders

Learning by making mistakes and not duplicating them is what life is about. (Lindsay Fox, Australian businessman)

It’s an obvious fact of life…everyone makes mistakes. What is most disturbing is that we keep repeating those same mistakes. We’re probably just too impatient to stop to consider why this is true and how we keep doing it. Take Fox’s advice; evaluate your work, make necessary changes, and minimize your errors.

Indeed, we all make many mistakes (James 3:2).
Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. . . . Pay attention and learn good judgment (Proverbs 2:2; 4:1).

Stop & Think: October 10, 2025

Change

If you want people to change, make it safe for them to try. (Source unknown)

Surely, some wise person first made this comment. He or she had undoubtedly noted times when someone encouraged a friend to give up a bad habit or begin a good new one only to see failure because the expectations were unrealistic. Allowing our friends to change without making it difficult for them to do so will help them to succeed.

Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone (1 Thessalonians 5:14).