Daily Stop & Thinks

If we love our country, we should also love our fellow countrymen. (Ronald Reagan, 40th president of the United States)

When patriots talk about their country, what is it they’re speaking of? Its geography, its resources, its political system? Nations are made up of people, and Reagan was right to encourage citizens to love one another. Sounds like a biblical instruction, doesn’t it? And its good advice for all of us to follow.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart … soul and … mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39).

Don’t get addicted to hearing only what you want to hear. (Dr. Henry Cloud, self-help author)

Have you ever met someone who doesn’t seem to hear anything negative. He or she doesn’t take criticism; it just doesn’t register with them. People who are like that may miss some very helpful constructive criticism that others could help them with. It’s their loss, of course, but we must not limit ourselves to hearing only those things that please us.

Whoever heeds correction is honored. Whoever heeds correction shows prudence. (Proverbs 13:18; 15:5)

Most of us know we won’t be the greatest, just don’t let us be the least. (Robert J Foster, college professor)

Most people don’t like to think of themselves as being proud. They aren’t trying to gain fame merely for the sake of the public’s recognition and applause. On the other hand, most people probably don’t want to be thought of as the least popular or talented, either. Or worse, to be overlooked altogether. We must think soberly and truthfully about ourselves.

Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment (Romans 16:3).

By changing yourself, you will change your circumstances. (Kary Oberbrunner, author and inspirational speaker)

Sometimes we find ourselves in situations we wish we could change. Maybe it’s the people we’re working with or for; they’re making things difficult, and we’d like to change them so our job or life itself would be easier. In reality, of course, we usually can’t give other people a makeover. To have peace and find joy, most often we need to work on changing ourselves.

Live in harmony with one another. … If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:16, 18).

Societies are changed from the bottom up, not the top down. (John Naisbitt, author and futurist)

This is an election year in the United States. The candidates for public office are making all kinds of promises, wanting us to believe that they, by themselves, can bring change and improvement to our society. As Naisbitt points out, however, lasting change must come from the citizens themselves. Their wholesome activity is the only hope for real change.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2).

The one thing you can give and still keep is your word. (Church sign board)

It use to be that “a man’s word was his bond,” that is, you could trust a person to do what he promised to do. It’s a question of integrity and character. There isn’t much in life that you can give away and keep it at the same time. As the old saying goes, “You can’t have your cake and eat it, too.” But by giving your word and then keeping it, everyone wins.

Above all . . . do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” (James 5:12 ).

Happiness is like jam. You can’t spread even a little without getting some on yourself. (Inspirational Line)

Do you remember what it was like when you were little and tried to make your own peanut butter and jelly sandwich? Not only did you get the peanut butter stuck to the roof of your mouth, you probably also had jelly all over your face. You just couldn’t help it. If we could just spread happiness like that, it would be a happier world, wouldn’t it?

A happy heart makes the face cheerful (Proverbs 15:13). Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise (James 5:13).

Charity is doing something for someone you don’t know and expecting nothing in return. (Robert Clancy, inspirational speaker and author)

We should be grateful for the many non-profit charities around the world that serve the under-resourced citizens of their communities. But charity needs to begin closer to home—in the lives of individuals who can provide help needed by someone close by. To do so without looking for recognition and reward is to act with godly love.

Love is patient, love is kind. … it does not boast, it is not proud. … it is not self-seeking. Love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him. (David Brinkley, late TV news anchor)

It’s hard to take criticism, especially when it is inaccurate or ill-intended. Responding in anger to critics only makes things worse. Brinkley suggests a better way. Evaluate the criticism and learn from it. Perhaps you can improve in the area someone else thought to be wrong. In any case, move forward with confidence from what you have learned.

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

Your greatest danger is letting the urgent things crowd out the important. (Quoted by Charles E. Hummel, author)

Hummel is noted for the expression, “The Tyranny of the Urgent.” We all have fallen prey to the demands of immediacy, sometimes neglecting the really important to take care of the nagging present crisis. Hummel correctly notes that “our dilemma goes deeper than shortage of time; it is basically a problem of priorities.” We must work harder to put first things first.

The more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23).

The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. (Amelia Earhart, American aviation pioneer)

From Earhart’s observation, we learn that success is often delayed for one of two reasons. Either we just can’t take the first step or after starting, we give up at some point. Taking action is sometimes delayed because we think we need more information. But there comes a time when we must get off the dime and move on energetically. And then, stick to it!

Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways (Proverbs 4:26).

Everyone needs to be valued. Everyone has the potential to give something back. (Princess Diana, late British Princess of Wales)

We hear a lot about self-image, but it’s really self-worth we need to understand. As the princess suggests, every person has value and is capable of making a worthy contribution to society, given the opportunity to do so. When we think of other people, especially those who may seem to be unworthy, remember their value as a person.

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).