Daily Stop & Thinks

STOP AND THINK – In prosperity, our friends know us; in adversity, we know our friends. (John Churton Collins, 19^th century British literary critic)

When you’ve done really well at something—a rare athletic feat, a noteworthy community achievement, a significant financial advance—you no doubt discovered you had a lot of friends you hadn’t known about. But, when hard times come, than you will likely discover who your real friends are—those who come to help rather than to gain something from you.

Wealth attracts many friends (Proverbs 19:4). Everyone is the friend of one who gives gifts (Proverbs 19:6). A friend loves at all times (Proverbs 17:17).

STOP AND THINK – Hope fills the afflicted soul with such inward joy and consolation, that it can laugh while tears are in the eye, sigh and sing all in a breath. (William Gurnall, 17^th century English author and clergyman )

Gurnall calls this “the rejoicing of hope.” Even when life brings difficulties into our experience, we can be comforted. We can cry while also having a sense of well-being. Sadness and joy can both be present in the difficult events of life. How? By finding our deepest joy from a strong relationship with God.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope. (Romans 15:13)

STOP AND THINK – Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful. (John Wooden, late renowned coach)

Living by those three couplets could help us achieve some measure of success. The first and third are related. When we clearly recognize that our abilities are given by God, there can be no reason for conceit. Rather, it’s a humble acceptance of the gift and the determination to use it well. If we achieve some fame, we can be grateful, but we must never give in to pride.

He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. . . For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. (Psalm 25:9; 149:4)

STOP AND THINK – Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next. (Gilda Radner, late comedian and actress)

Radner also said, “I wanted a perfect ending. Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and end.” She calls this, “Delicious Ambiguity.” Well, life does have its surprises, and things don’t always work out the way we want, so we need to latch on to the strong anchor that God offers.

We have this hope [in God] as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. (Hebrews 6:9)

STOP AND THINK – Our performance is directly related to the thoughts we deposit in our memory banks. We can only draw on what we deposit. (Charles Swindoll, pastor and author)

It is essential that we put into our minds and hearts character-building ideas and thoughts. As Jesus said, it’s what comes out of the heart that destroys (Matthew 15:18-19). Our world is filled with destructive thoughts conveyed through movies, TV, music lyrics, and visual and oral advertisements. It’s hard work, but we must control what goes into our minds.

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable . . . think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)

STOP AND THINK – You can speak with spiritual eloquence, pray in public, and maintain a holy appearance, but it is your behavior that will reveal your true character. (Steve Maraboli, author and speaker)

Maraboli’s opening phrase sounds very much like a Bible verse: “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1). The behavior that “will reveal your true character” most effectively is what the Apostle Paul called love. Loving others is speaking with “spiritual eloquence.”

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:18)

STOP AND THINK – A good conscience is a continual Christmas. (Ben Franklin, early American patriot)

Christmas is just three weeks away, and the stores have been reminding us of the coming holiday for more than a month already. As we anticipate this special day, Franklin’s comment should make us think soberly about our celebration. Instead of trying to be “good” because Santa Claus is coming, we should seek to live in good conscience all year long.

Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. (2 Corinthians 1:12)

STOP AND THINK – Excellence is to be desired, but perfection cannot be required. (Jesse Deloe, writer, editor)

Doing things well is an excellent goal. We should all do our very best at whatever task we undertake. We should strive for excellence and encourage it in others, also. But, to demand perfection is beyond our human capabilities. It is through experiencing imperfections and failures that we learn and grow. Set the standards high and work hard to achieve them.

I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. (Titus 3:8)

STOP AND THINK – For yesterday I hold no apologies; for tomorrow I hold no answers, today is a gift and I will honor it by fully living in it. (Maryanne Radmacher-Hershey, author and artist)

If we’ve done our best in the past, we have nothing to apologize for. As to the future, we can’t see beyond this moment, so we needn’t be unduly concerned about it. But, today is the only day we can be sure of. It’s a gift, and we honor the giver if we live the day to its fullest, endeavoring to help others and brighten their day.

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today.” (Hebrews 3:13)

STOP AND THINK – When people are highly motivated, it’s easy to accomplish the impossible. (Bob Collings)

Collings says further, “And when they’re not, it’s impossible to accomplish the easy.” Why do you suppose that is? Is it because we lose interest when things are too easy, and we don’t put forth the effort necessary to accomplish something worthwhile? If Collings is right, then we’d better discover what it is that motivates us to do our best.

We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance. (1 Thessalonians 1:3)

STOP AND THINK – People are usually more convinced by reasons they discovered themselves than by those found by others. (Blaise Pascal, 17^th century French scientist and writer)

Pascal’s comment expresses an important lesson for parents and teachers to learn and adapt their teaching accordingly. When we offer all the right answers as facts, no matter the work we may have put into the discovering of the truth, we shortchange the learners from the excitement and value of discovery. Give learning the excitement of search and discovery.

Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law (Psalm 119:18-20). When I applied my mind to know wisdom. . .then I saw all that God has done (Ecclesiastes 8:16-17).

STOP AND THINK – Love may make the world go round, but laughter keeps you from getting dizzy. (Barbara Johnson, American literary critic)

Although love is an often misunderstood word, it is recognized by most people as invaluable in discovering and maintaining meaningful relationships. But sometimes relationships can be strained for a variety of external reasons. It’s in times like those that a good joke, a witty remark, or a good belly laugh will ease the strain and restore a sense of mutual well being.

A cheerful heart is good medicine. (Proverbs 17:22 )