Daily Stop & Thinks

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)

STOP AND THINK – You don’t feel your way into acting, you act your way into feeling. (Quoted by James Emery White, pastor and author)

Sometimes we don’t do something we know we should do because “we don’t feel like it.” The Bible says we are to act toward others in love, but suppose we don’t feel like it. Are we hypocrites if we do? White’s quote is correct. We learn by doing, and when we do what is right, we begin to feel better about it. So, don’t hesitate; just do it!

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12)

STOP AND THINK – The hinge of history is on the door of a Bethlehem stable (Ralph W. Sockman, 20^th century radio preacher).

Christmas is just a week away, and we may not have taken time to consider the centrality of Christ’s coming in history. Our calendars are based on the His coming. 2014 A.D. counts the time since His birth. 100 B.C. would point to one hundred years before He came. Indeed, His coming is the hinge of history, so we’d be wise to discover its real meaning.

When the time had fully come, God sent his Son … to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. (Galatians 4:4-5)

STOP AND THINK – Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened. (Dr. Seuss, children’s author)

What good advice for adults as well as children! When good things we enjoy come to an end—whether it’s a relationship or an activity—we often go through times of sadness and even grief. That’s normal, but if we can recall how great the experience was and give thanks that we had it, our tears will be replaced with a smile.

I will forget my complaint; I will change my expression, and smile. (Job 9:27)

STOP AND THINK – Nobody can afford to look round and to wait for somebody else to do what he is loath to do himself. (Carl G. Jung, 20^th century Swiss psychiatrist and founder of analytical psychology)

When we see things that need to change, we often say, “Somebody ought to do something about that.” “It’s the government’s responsibility.” But Jung suggests, “As any change must begin somewhere, it is the single individual who will experience it and carry it through.” Instead of looking for someone else to do it, maybe we should ask, “What can I do about it?”

Anyone who knows to do good and doesn’t do it, sins. (James 4:17)

STOP AND THINK – When it comes to making decisions, more often than not, you cannot trust your heart. Instead, you need to trust God. (Mike Lee, American pastor)

Quite often we’re told (especially in romantic novels) to just trust our hearts. But the Bible tells us, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure” (Jeremiah 17:9). While we shouldn’t ignore our emotions, we must use our God-given reasoning skills, informed by His Word, to make our choices in ways that will enhance our lives and honor God.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)