Daily Stop & Thinks

STOP AND THINK – Thoughts, positive or negative, grow stronger when fertilized with constant repetition. (Charles Swindoll, American pastor and author)

Some say that repetition is the key to learning. Others say that practice makes perfect. In reality, of course, practice makes permanent, and poor practices develops poor habits. So, we need to be very careful both in what we practice and how we practice. For example, the repetition of making right choices produces good behavior.

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)

STOP AND THINK – My own eyes are not enough for me, I will see through those of others. (C. S. Lewis, British Christian apologist)

Lewis was referring to a person’s view of himself. We should not examine or evaluate ourselves merely from our own perspective. Obviously, we are biased in our own favor. It’s important to have a proper self image, of course, but seeing ourselves as others see us will be a great equalizer. Such a view should result in an honest and humble self-evaluation.

Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment. (Romans 12:3)

STOP AND THINK – Appreciation can make a day—even change a life; your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary. (Margaret Cousins, writer and editor)

A simple “Thank you” can be a big boost to someone who has served you in some way. The most humble person, serving out of compassion, isn’t looking for thanks, but he or she will be encouraged by it. A mention of appreciation, whether spoken or written, encourages us all and motivates continued good service. Knowing you’ve helped someone is reward enough.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

STOP AND THINK – We ought to learn from the past; we ought to look to the future, but we ought to live in the present. (Philip De Courcy, Pastor and Bible teacher)

Some of us like to “live in the past.” We’re nostalgic and long for the “good ole days.” Others are futuristic, always planning for a “golden era,” and anticipating what could be. Of course, we are all forced to live in the present. A proper perspective of life remembers the past with benefit, plans for the future, but makes the best of each moment of every day.

Godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. (1 Timothy 4:8)

STOP AND THINK – Do they still make wooden Christmas trees? (Charlie Brown, Peanuts cartoon character)

Christmas is just three weeks away and already children are excited, anticipating the holidays and gifts. But Charlie Brown’s question should challenge us to think about what is real about this holiday. With artificial trees, fake snow, and make-believe stories, how do we separate the facts from the fiction? Let’s begin by looking for the truth that Christmas is really about.

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 – Trusting God is not only scary, it’s often illogical. Trust anyway. (Mike Lee, American pastor)

Faith is a unique quality. It doesn’t require empirical evidence or laboratory testing. We all express faith in many ways every day. We acknowledge gravity and the movement of the stars and planets, even though most of don’t understand them. When it comes to spiritual things, faith is trusting that God will be true to His word.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. . .  And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:1, 6)

STOP AND THINK – You can’t experiment if you don’t have time to fail. (Kary Oberbrunner, author and motivational speaker)

The fear of failure keeps many people from trying something new, from stepping out of the normal routine to move at a difference pace. Where would we be if everyone lived that way? Work in a laboratory often produces less than desirable results, but the scientist learns from the experiment, and tries again. Don’t be foolish, but try moving out of your comfort zone.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who has no need to be ashamed. (2 Timothy 2:15)

STOP AND THINK – The energy it takes to hang onto the past [may be] holding you back from a new life. (Mary Manin Morrissey, teacher and author)

Some of us really like to live in the past, don’t we? We’re nostalgic, and we’re often longing for “the good ole days.” Maybe, those days weren’t so good for you, and you’re trapped in the fear or pain of the past. In that case, stop wasting time and energy over what can’t be changed and put that effort into worthy steps into the future.

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me. (Philippians 3:13, 14)

STOP AND THINK – Leadership is not just a matter of action, but a matter of attitude. (Beau Stanley, pastor)

When we think of leaders, we often picture a strong person, leading the troops out front, facing the obstacles, and encouraging his team to follow him into action. He or she is a person of action. That’s often true, of course, but a leader may also be a less physically active person whose ideas are powerful and whose attitude motivates his team to follow.

“Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership, and lay your hand on him.” (Numbers 27:18)

STOP AND THINK – There are three kinds of giving: grudge giving, duty giving, and thanksgiving. Grudge giving says, I have to ; duty giving says, I ought to ; thanksgiving says, I want to. (Robert Rodenmeyer, author)

It’s Thanksgiving Day, a day when Americans thank God for His blessings. If you are truly thankful, how do you express your attitude of gratitude? Do you give, whether it’s money, encouragement, or time grudgingly or out of a sense of obligation. Giving can be a joy when you give willingly, because you want to. Try it!

I will offer to [God] the sacrifice of thanksgiving. (Psalm 116:17)

STOP AND THINK – You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me. (C. S. Lewis, Christian apologist)

I wonder what Lewis had in mind. Was he merely commenting on his great love of tea and good books, and how he could enjoy drinking his tea and reading good books endlessly? What is it that you think you could enjoy doing without limits? On the other hand, is there a sense that there’s never enough of what you like, leading ultimately to dissatisfaction?

Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. (Ecclesiastes 5:10)

STOP AND THINK – All other vices are embedded in evil, but vanity expresses itself in good works. (Augustine, 4th -5th century B.C. Christian theologian)

Augustine identifies vanity, or pride, as a vice, an undesirable character flaw. We can probably all agree to that, but his statement that vanity is expressed “in good works” is a little surprising. Think about that for a moment, however. Aren’t we inclined to flaunt our good deeds sometimes? We want people to know that we’ve done some good thing. That’s vanity!

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. (Ecclesiastes 1:14)