Daily Stop & Thinks

STOP AND THINK – It is not as hard to know what is right to do as to do what you know is right. (Author unknown)

But, General Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. said, “The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it.” Human beings are born with a conscience, and with parental guidance, good teachers and role models, we can develop a sense of right and wrong that will affect life’s decisions.

If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them (James 4:17).

STOP AND THINK – It is better to be high-spirited even though one makes more mistakes, than to be narrow-minded and all too prudent. (Vincent van Gogh, 19^th century Post-Impressionist painter)

Sometimes we have a good idea but we hesitate to move forward, wanting to think through the project to avoid possible mistakes. Van Gogh advises, however, “Do not quench your inspiration and your imagination; do not become the slave of your model.” We should plan carefully, of course, and not let fear of failure block an otherwise worthy venture.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).

STOP AND THINK – Successful people engage that creative part of their minds and ask, “Well, I wonder how else I can look at this problem? (Jim Rohn, entrepreneur, author, and speaker)

He also suggests we should ask ourselves: “I wonder how else I could deal with this decision? I wonder what other possibilities I have there.” If we just do what we always do, we’ll always have the same results. O when some new or difficult situation faces us, follow Rohn’s suggestions, ask the hard questions, take a new look, and think creatively.

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. (Proverbs 15:22).

STOP AND THINK – Imagination is our ability to see inwardly and picture there that which has not yet appeared outwardly. (Donald Curtis, speaker and writer)

Curtis also says, “Imagination is God’s gift to us.” What would life be like without the ability to imagine? We have to live in real life, of course, but there is something to be said for thinking outside the box. Curtis suggests looking more carefully within ourselves. Is there some idea we have that we should work on to express our creativity openly?

[God] is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us (paraphrase of (Ephesians 3:20).

STOP AND THINK – Believe it and you can achieve it! If you can dream, you can do it. Make dust, don’t rust. (Quotes form Robert Schuller, late writer and preacher)

Schuller was a positive thinker, and he encouraged millions of his followers to believe and dream big to achieve great accomplishments. Certainly, a positive attitude is essential to success in almost any endeavor. But his challenge to “Make dust, don’t rust” may be the better counsel. Dreams and faith have to be put into action.

Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. Faith without deeds is dead (James 2:17, 26).

STOP AND THINK – Life is an adventure, not a worry, and if you want to pursue a dream, stumbling blocks must become stepping stones. (Ken Duncan quotes, Australian professional photographer)

If we see life as filled with obstacles, we may worry a lot. Duncan suggests we need to see them as stepping stone, to approach them courageously and use them to advance. He adds another helpful thought: “Passion is a powerful thing and, when directed properly, it can help bring visions to reality.” Stepping stones and passion will greatly help you succeed.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself (Matthew 6:34). Do not be anxious about anything (Philippians 4:6).

STOP AND THINK – Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down. (The Bible)

If we were to establish a table of sins, gossip would probably not be very high on the list. We think of violent crimes—murder, assault, and the like—as being much worse than the “sins” of the tongue. Yet we have probably all been witnesses to the great damage that uncontrolled gossip can cause. We’d do well to learn to control our tongues.

A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much (Proverbs 20:19).

STOP AND THINK – How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are? (Satchel Paige, late major league baseball player)

Because he was African-American, Paige came late to the major leagues, but he was an exceptional pitcher in spite of his age. So, this quote has meaning from personal experience. Not matter our actual age, it’s our attitude toward it that has the most important influence, no doubt. You are only as old as you feel, they say.

[The righteous] will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green (Psalm 92:14).

STOP AND THINK – Discernment is seeing through a surface problem to root causes. (Bill Gothard, speaker and writer)

When you face a difficult problem, ask yourself, “Am I responsible for this situation?” Rev. J. Davis Illingworth suggests, “If you could kick the person most responsible for all your problems in the behind you wouldn’t be able to sit down for a long time.” Even if you’re not the cause of the problem, some careful introspection may help you find the will to overcome.

The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).

STOP AND THINK – Originality is the fine art of remembering what you hear but forgetting where you heard it. (Laurence J. Peter, Canadian educator)

Peter’s statement can be taken in two ways. 1) You’ve forgotten the source of something you’re using in a speech or article you’re writing, and you treat it as your own. That’s not good. Better check your sources and give credit where it’s due. 2) You’ve heard something and you don’t know whether it’s true, so you intentionally don’t pass it on. That’s good.

Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down (Proverbs 26:20).

STOP AND THINK – This is the true joy in life — being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one. (George Bernard Shaw, late Irish playwright)

Everyone likes to think that he or she is accomplishing something worthwhile. To toil in a pursuit that seems to be going nowhere or producing nothing of value does not give anyone a sense of accomplishment. But there is more than mere self-satisfaction to be gained. Try to find God’s purpose for your life and pursue it diligently.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

STOP AND THINK – A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself. (Author unknown)

They say he’s man’s best friend. Maybe that’s because dogs seem so loyal and unquestioning. We really can’t say how much or how little a dog loves himself, but his response to his owner often epitomizes the very best signs of friendship and affection. Humans would do well to show such loyalty and love to their friends.

A friend loves at all times (Proverbs 17:17). [Love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres (1 Corinthians 13:7).