Daily Stop & Thinks

STOP AND THINK – New Year’s Eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted. (Hamilton Wright Mabie, 19^th and 20^th century American essayist and lecturer)

We seem to think that everything changes at midnight on December 31. But, as Mabie points out, it’s really just like the other 364 nights of the year. He continues, however, “…and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights. “ Yes, there’s something hopeful about the New Year, isn’t there?

Anyone who is among the living has hope (Ecclesiastes  9:4).

STOP AND THINK – One of the things I keep learning is that the secret of being happy is doing things for other people. (Dick Gregory, American comedian and social activist)

According to the Declaration of Independence, Americans have the right to pursue happiness. But how does one pursue it? Where do you find happiness? Gregory has certainly found an important part of the answer. If you can serve others, helping them to make progress in their own lives, you will discover your own source of happiness.

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:25)

STOP AND THINK – To love your neighbor you must know your neighbor. (Ben Stevens, Alaskan politician)

Some say that love is blind, but can that really be true? Can you love someone you haven’t seen or don’t know? It certainly would be much easier to love a person if we could get to know him or her. And, we are to love them; so if we are to do so, we must make the effort to get acquainted with our neighbor, to interact and then, to love.

To love him (God) with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices. (Mark 12:33)

STOP AND THINK – Generosity: it doesn’t cost a penny to pay it forward. (John Maxwell, motivational speaker and author)

Is Maxwell challenging us to pass on to others what we have without considering the cost? Maybe he’s not talking about money. If we have a generous spirit, we can often give the gift of help and encouragement to someone at the cost of only a little time and effort. When we consider that all we have is given us as a trust, it’s easier to share with others.

Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God . . . for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. (2 Corinthians 9:13)

STOP AND THINK – What would you attempt to do if you knew you would not fail? (Robert Schuller, televangelist and motivational speaker)

Many people are kept from stepping out into new ventures because of the fear of failure. No one likes to fail, of course, but you can’t succeed if you never try. If we just had the assurance that we would achieve our goals, we wouldn’t hesitate to begin, would we? We must plan well, find adequate resources, and launch forth confidently.

I can do all this through him (Christ) who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)

STOP AND THINK – Evans Rogers, American film star and singer-songwriter).

This is the day after Christmas. The gift-wrappings are gone; some of the toys may be broken or the batteries lost—but can the Christmas spirit last a bit longer? Rogers suggests that the same spirit should motivate acts of loving and giving throughout the year. Love should not be seasonal; it should be continual.

 [Love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:7-8)

STOP AND THINK – There is nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child. (Erma Bombeck, 20^th century American humorist)

We often think that Christmas is mainly for children. Perhaps that’s why so many Christmas stories seem to be aimed at children. As Bombeck hints, adults may not enjoy the holiday as much as children because of the child-like emphasis on gifts and toys. But, children and adults alike need to recognize the real purpose of the celebration.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

STOP AND THINK – The only blind person at Christmas is he who has not Christmas in his heart. (Helen Keller, American author and lecturer)

Tomorrow’s the big day! But, lest it’s meaning fade too quickly, consider Keller’s comment, a thought-provoking sentiment from a person who was physically blind but mentally insightful. Faith, after all, is not the result of seeing; it comes from believing what is true. Give thought to the true Christmas story because to believe is to see.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:17)

STOP AND THINK – Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it (William Arthur Ward, inspirational writer).

It’s just two days now. Are all the gifts wrapped and under the tree? What do those gifts represent? We give because we love and we’re grateful for family and friends. We would never think of wrapping a gift and then not giving it to the person we bought it for, would we? That’s the way it is with gratitude, too. Be sure to express thanks to those you love.

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. (Psalm 107:8)

STOP AND THINK – Christmas is the day that holds all time together. (Alexander Smith, 19^th century Scottish poet and essayist)

It’s still three days away, but the Christmas spirit is all around us, isn’t it? In fact, that spirit should be around us all year. As Smith suggests, in some sense, everything is held together by Christmas because it represents the birthday of Jesus, and He is the one that holds everything together.

The Son is the image of the invisible God  . . .  all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:15-17)

STOP AND THINK – Take Christ out of Christmas, and December becomes the bleakest and most colorless month of the year. (A. F. Wells)

This is Christmas week. In much of the world, you can’t miss it. It’s emblazoned in signs, lighted trees, decorated windows—everywhere. But if Jesus hadn’t come, and His birthday was not acknowledged, indeed December could be a very bleak month in the northern hemisphere. Gray skies and freezing temperatures without a holiday—that’s bleak!

For God … made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)

STOP AND THINK – When we all help one another, everybody wins. (Jim Stovall, American writer)

Stovall continues: “You need to be aware of what others are doing, applaud their efforts, acknowledge their successes, and encourage them in their pursuits.” When we help others improve and do their best, it’s a win-win situation. Not only do they succeed, but we do, too. We have participated in a worthy achievement and fulfilled a part of our life’s purpose.

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. (Hebrews 6:10)