Daily Stop & Thinks

STOP AND THINK – A single event can awaken within us a stranger totally unknown to us. To live is to be slowly born. (Antoine de Saint Exupery, 20th century French writer)

Each day is a new day, isn’t it? We can’t always know what to expect. In that sense, it’s like being “born again” to new adventures and hopes. All of life becomes a learning and growing experience if we are alert to its changes. So, let’s learn to live expectantly, anticipating each new day and its prospects.

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

STOP AND THINK – Sooner or later we must realize there is no station, no one place to arrive at once and for all. The true joy of life is the trip. (Inspiration Line)

There may be both truth and error in that statement. It is true that striving toward a never-found goal in life is a joyless pursuit. Consequently, finding joy in life’s journey, regardless of the goal, is rewarding. The danger in this philosophy, however, is ignoring the fact that physical life will come to an end and there is something beyond to prepare for.

People are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment. (Hebrews 9:27)

STOP AND THINK – If you stop to be kind, you must swerve often from your path. (Mary Webb, 20th century English romantic novelist and poet)

Many people are linear in their approach to life. They are on a straight line to whatever goal they have for the moment, and almost nothing will make them deviate from that line. But think of the biblical story of the Good Samaritan. He interrupted his journey and went out of his way to help someone who was suffering. Jesus said it was an example we should follow.

And who is [a good] neighbor? The one who has mercy. Go and do likewise. (Excerpts paraphrased from Luke 10:29-37)

STOP AND THINK – Every day above ground is a good day. (Church signboard)

It’s a bit trite, yet there’s something to be said for the simple truth it expresses. If you’re alive, at least there’s some hope for good to happen to you. More important, you can do something worthwhile, make a worthy contribution to society, or encourage someone. The opportunities are almost limitless—as long as you have life. Make it a good day.

Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. (Hebrews 13:16)

STOP AND THINK – Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. (Martin Luther King, Jr., 20th century civil rights leader)

It’s a simple observation of physics. But when it is applied as a metaphor in life, it remains a simple truth but with powerful application. Fighting evil with evil does not resolve conflict. Engaging immorality with unethical behavior merely makes the conflict more severe. Only light can dispel darkness; only right behavior and attitudes can overcome evil and wrong.

Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. (1 Corinthians 4:5)

STOP AND THINK – Who is wise in love, love most, say least. (Lord Alfred Tennyson, 19th century Poet Laureate of Great Britain)

Many are the words of love. Gifted artists have given us innumerable songs, poems, and prose tributes to the illusive qualities of love. While almost everyone appreciates hearing words of love, the best evidence of caring for someone is not in the quantity of prose, but in the thoughtful actions that encourage, benefit, and uplift the loved one.

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

STOP AND THINK – The genius of life is to carry the spirit of childhood into old age. (Inspiration Line)

Aging is an inevitable but complex phenomenon. In some ways, the elderly revert to certain childhood characteristics—most of which are not desirable. However, there is one childlike feature that would make aging an exciting and profitable experience: faith, viewing life with anticipation and hope as in the eyes of a child.

Jesus: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3)

STOP AND THINK – Dreams aren’t located on a highway, but on a toll way. If a dream doesn’t cost much then it isn’t worth much. (Kary Oberbrunner, motivational speaker and author)

We all have dreams, ambitions we’d like to fulfill, improvements we want to make, goals to achieve. But, as in any worthy project, the cost must be analyzed, and we must be willing to meet those costs, whether monetary, physical, or emotional. If the dream is of real value, then it’s worth paying the cost.

Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? (Luke 14:28)

STOP AND THINK – Perseverance is more than endurance. It is endurance combined with absolute assurance and certainty that what we are looking for is going to happen. (Oswald Chambers, 20th century Scottish evangelist and teacher)

Perseverance is a desirable virtue. Many of us give up too easily, whether it’s a diet we should follow or completing an unpleasant task. Perhaps we would stick to it better if we were just more confident that the ultimate goal would be achieved: the diet would be effective or the unpleasant task would accomplish a good end.

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:4)

STOP AND THINK – Almost all unhappiness in life comes from the tendency to blame someone else. (Brian Tracey, motivational speaker and author)

When we don’t achieve what we had hoped to, how do we respond? Do we consider our planning, our approach to the task, and our perseverance? Or, do we look for someone to blame? That may be the easy way out, but it doesn’t help to accomplish our goal. And, what’s worse, it may diminish our own sense of self-worth.

Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me. (Matthew 11:6)

STOP AND THINK – The first requisite of a truly sound swing is simplicity. (Robert Jones, champion American amateur golfer)

Jones was speaking, of course, of a golf swing, that elusive element of golf that plays a major role in how well the competitor plays the game. But the principle of simplicity may well be applied to many facets of life. We often make things more difficult by complicating the process, the rules, or the instructions. “Keep it simple” might be a good motto to follow.

Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. (John 3:21)

STOP AND THINK – The future gets better if you invest in it. (Investment company advertisement)

Think about investing not as a device for making more money but as an opportunity to give yourself. Give your time and talents to a project or cause that works for the improvement of society or to assist the under-privileged gain a foothold in life. The future will not only be brighter for others but for yourself in the satisfaction of a worthy endeavor.

Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace. (Psalm 37:37)