Daily Stop & Thinks

STOP AND THINK – The greatest killer in human life is not cancer. It’s not heart disease and it’s not war. In fact, it’s not anything you would ever suspect. It’s ingratitude. (T. M. Moore, author and conference speaker)

Are you surprised? Is Moore saying that people actually die physically from an ungrateful spirit? Or, is he merely suggesting that the joys and benefits of life are lost when an attitude of ingratitude prevails? In either case, we should all examine our attitudes and lifestyles to be sure that we show gratitude wherever we can. It may save your life!

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

STOP AND THINK – Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties. (Helen Keller, American author and lecturer)

This is the last day of the first month of a new year. Do you remember any of the New Year’s resolutions you made. Have you kept them, or are they already forgotten? Although severely handicapped, Helen Keller had great success anyway. She realized that the key was within her, not in her circumstances. Like Keller, dig deep and find true happiness.

But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful. (Psalm 68:3)

STOP AND THINK – All men die, but few men ever really live. (Jim Brown, American pastor)

Living is one thing; being alive might be another. Some people seem to get more out of life than others, don’t they? It might be because they put more into it. But, whatever the reason, Brown is right, we all will die; it’s a universal fact of life. Before that unknown time, it is important that we discover what life is all about and where it is to be found in abundance.

Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment (Hebrews 9:27). For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21)

STOP AND THINK – Everybody has to live for something. Whatever it is becomes “Lord of your life” whether you think of it that way or not. (Tim Keller, prominent pastor and author)

What are you living for? Fame, fortune, recognition? Do you aspire to be an Olympic gold-medalist? Or, a best-selling author? Whatever that ambition, Keller warns that your goal has become your little god. You expend every effort and resource to achieve that goal. Or, perhaps, you have a more noble purpose. Let it be one that honors God and serves others.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17)

STOP AND THINK – Ninety percent of the world’s woe comes from people not knowing themselves, their abilities, their frailties, and even their real virtues. (Sydney J. Harris, American journalist)

That’s a pretty strong statement. Sounds like Harris is saying that people need to know themselves better. In fact, he goes on to write, “Most of us go almost all the way through life as complete strangers to ourselves.” Well, if knowing ourselves is important to the welfare of society, we had better discover who we really are and were meant to be.

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

STOP AND THINK – The greatest and noblest pleasure which we have in this world is to discover new truths, and the next is to shake off old prejudices. (Frederick II, the Great, 18th century king of Prussia)

Discovering truth is not only the task of scientists and inventors; it’s the privilege of any true seeker after truth. Accepting newly discovered truth, however, might mean we have to give up some previously held untruths, prejudices that had kept us from seeing the reality of truth. Look for that source of truth that is available for the searching.

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth (John 16:13). Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth (John 17:17)

STOP AND THINK – If we love people even when they are unlovable, then we provide an opportunity for them to change. (Ken Blanchard, author and management expert)

Wow! How do you love someone who is unlovable? Blanchard doesn’t tell us how, but he points to the benefit there is in doing so. It’s hard to help people change. Arguing rarely helps. Getting angry only makes things worse. But if you were to act toward them in their own best interest (that’s love), you may be surprised at how they might change.

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:44). And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24)

STOP AND THINK – I’ve found that worry and irritation vanish into thin air the moment I open my mind to the many blessings I possess. (Inspiration Line)

We can really be discouraged, almost depressed, can’t we, when we are burdened with concerns and problems? Too often we overlook all the good things that we have and experience. The old gospel song puts it well, “Count your many blessings, name them one by one; count your many blessings, see what God has done.”

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. (Psalm 107:8)

STOP AND THINK – Each time a person … acts to improve the lot of others … he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and [joined by other such acts) … these ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance. (Robert F. Kennedy, late attorney general of the USA)

You might think that your little effort on behalf of others doesn’t really make much difference. But, when combined with similar good deeds of others, the aggregate effort can be significant. Nothing can stop the sincere, repeated good works of combined efforts for the benefit of others. So, keep up the good works!

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)

STOP AND THINK – If wrinkles must be written upon our brows, let them not be written upon our hearts. (James A. Garfield, 20th president of the United States)

Wrinkles seem to be an inevitable indication of age. Or, perhaps, wrinkles appear on the brow as a result of worry and concern. Whatever the cause, it would be good to heed Garfield’s advice. Don’t let extended years or excess worry age your heart. Keep it beating with youthful ambition and positive thinking.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23)

STOP AND THINK – Keep your face always toward the sunshine and the shadows will fall behind you. (Walt Whitman, 19th century American poet and essayist)

Some people seem always to be looking into the shadows, afraid of the light and wanting to hide from life’s realities. Light is a symbol of truth and right, so it would be better to look toward it rather than away from it. Then, the darker, discouraging things of life will fall behind you, and you’ll be emboldened to move forward.

(A prayer): Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. (Psalm 43:3)

STOP AND THINK – A problem well stated is a problem half solved. (Charles F. Kettering, 20th century inventor)

At times life can be pretty complicated and our problems so complex that we don’t know where to begin to find resolution. Kettering reminds us that problem-solving begins with an accurate understanding of the problem. If we can identify it clearly, we are half-way to the solution. In addition, we can seek help from the One who has the answer to life’s problems.

The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all. (Psalm 34:19)