Daily Stop & Thinks

STOP AND THINK – When you carry out acts of kindness, you get a wonderful feeling inside. (Harold Kushner, popular American Rabbi and author)

Kushner continues, “It is as though something inside your body responds and says, ‘Yes, this is how I ought to feel.’” What causes that warm, fuzzy feeling when you do something good? Maybe we were created to do good, to show kindness to others, to “do unto others,” as the Bible teaches. Begin to practice doing good, and see how good it makes you feel.

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people. (Galatians 6:10)

STOP AND THINK – As we become people of character and integrity, we’re committed to being honest even when we don’t have to be honest. (Mike Lee, pastor)

We admire the stories of “Honest Abe,” 16^th president of the United States. Those anecdotes illustrate a quality that seems to have been lost in modern society. But, as Lee points out, honesty is the result of character and integrity. If we’re not honest when “we don’t have to be,” we very likely will fall into dishonesty when we really need to be truthful and candid.

Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value the one who speaks what is right. (Proverbs 16:13)

STOP AND THINK – I count myself in nothing else so happy, as in a soul rememb’ring my good friends. (William Shakespeare)

Do you find it hard to be happy when you’re alone, all by yourself in a difficult circumstance of life? It’s the camaraderie of friends that adds so much to life, giving it an extra dimension. When friends are together, it multiplies the joy that each one might have when alone. So, seek good friends and maintain a close relationship.

Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice. (Proverbs 27:9)

STOP AND THINK – Where we start from matters less than where we’re going. (Author unknown)

Whether it’s from a wilderness log cabin or the luxurious nursery in a palace, the judgment of one’s life will be determined by where he or she ends up, not by where they started. Many have found their way to success in spite of their start in poverty or obscurity. Don’t look back; plan your steps and move forward tirelessly to worthy accomplishments.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

STOP AND THINK – I need a faith that nothing can shake. Emphasis on NOTHING. Even when I do not know why, I can endure with a faith like that—even if I never find out why! (Charles Swindoll, pastor and author)

To a lot of people, faith is a difficult word. Some think that if they just had enough faith, they could achieve greater success in their life pursuits. Others discount faith as if it were just a wishful, hope-so longing. The kind of faith Swindoll is talking about, however, is based on the knowledge of the faithful one. It’s the object of faith (God) that enables you to endure.

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings. (Hebrews 10:22)

STOP AND THINK – I consider my ability to arouse enthusiasm among men the greatest asset I possess. The way to develop the best that is in a man is by appreciation and encouragement. (Charles Schwab, businessman and investment advisor)

Some business executives lead like tyrants and dictators. “Do it my way, or else.” They are often harshly critical of their employee’s mistakes. Schwab suggests a better way. Many of us have experienced both kinds of leaders, and no doubt we would agree that we do better when our bosses express appreciation and encourage us in our work.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

STOP AND THINK – I would rather be able to appreciate things I cannot have than to have things I am not able to appreciate. (Elbert Hubbard, 19^th-20^th century American writer, artist, and philosopher)

In a consumer age like ours, we seem to have created a new kind of people, hoarders. They accumulate vast stores of “stuff” they can neither use or enjoy. On the other hand, many people who don’t possess much in worldly goods have learned to appreciate not only what they do have but what they see and enjoy in life’s experiences.

God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them (Ecclesiastes 6:2). But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity (Psalm 37:11).

STOP AND THINK – In our life there is a single color, as on an artist`s palette, which provides the meaning of life and art. It is the color of love. (Marc Chagall, 20^th century Belarussian-Russian-French artist)

Life is full of physical color, and during this fall season we can appreciate the variety of hues and revel in their beauty. There is such a thing as emotional or spiritual color, too. We can be blue with sadness or red with anger, for example. But the emotion that gives us the most complete palette of sensual color, as Chagall suggests, is love.

Love never fails. … These three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 1: 8, 13)

STOP AND THINK – People . . . who believe in physics, know that the distinction between past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion. (Albert Einstein, renowned 20^th century physicist)

Time divisions are just a natural part of our understanding of life. We think in terms of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. If we asked Einstein, “How else can you talk about life?” we probably wouldn’t understand his answer. But the Bible reveals a God who is eternal; He has no time limitations. That same God is also the One who offers eternal life.

And this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17:3)

STOP AND THINK – The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things. (Henry Ward Beecher, 19^th century American clergyman and social reformer)

We often want to be lifted out of the ordinariness of life. So we sometimes look for the unusual, even the spectacular to make us happy: fireworks on the 4^th of July, summer concerts in the park, or the county fair—attractions that do bring momentary happiness. But lasting joy is usually found in how we accept and use the common experiences of life.

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17)

STOP AND THINK – Happiness consists not in having, but of being, not of possessing, but of enjoying. It is the warm glow of a heart at peace with itself. (Norman Vincent Peale, “Positive Thinking” author)

What you are is more important than what you have, but what you have can make you happy if you learn to use it with joy. The happy person is content with who he is, rather than envying someone else. And even more importantly, he will have lasting joy if he finds peace, not only with himself, but with God.

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

STOP AND THINK – [Be] a force of nature instead of . . . complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. (Paraphrased from George Bernard Shaw, 19^th & 20^th century Irish playwright)

It’s probably just a part of human nature that we are so self-centered. Some people seem to think that “the world owes them a living” or, at least, should contribute to their happiness. How much happier we could be if we’d turn our attention to others, rather than to ourselves. As Shaw suggests, then we could become “a force of nature,” perhaps making others happy.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4)