Daily Stop & Thinks

STOP AND THINK – Doing what you said you would do is simply an issue of integrity. (Charles Swindoll, American pastor)

They used to say, “A man’s word is his bond.” That and maybe a shake of hands were all that was necessary for a verbal contract, an agreement between two honest people. Swindoll writes further, “There is no substitute for having the guts to keep your word.” Today’s culture, however, almost demands a carefully worded contract, drafted by lawyers. How sad!

All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. (Matthew 5:37)

STOP AND THINK – People and things do not upset us; rather we upset ourselves by believing that they can upset us. (Inspiration Line)

We often blame others when we are upset, don’t we? What someone does or says can cause us to become angry or depressed, or at least that’s the way we often think about it. But in reality, seldom do outside influences or events affect us that greatly. It’s just that we allow those things to bother us. We must take charge of our attitudes and control our reactions.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control. (2 Peter 1:5-6)

STOP AND THINK – The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. (Marcel Proust, 19th and 20th century French novelist and essayist)

We enjoy the stories of the great world discoverers who traveled the globe to find new places and new passageways. But many wonderful discoveries have been found in laboratories, libraries, and the normal events of life by those who examine things from new perspectives—with “new eyes.”

Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. (Psalm 119:18)

STOP AND THINK – How things look on the outside of us depends on how things are on the inside of us. (Confucius, 6th century BC Chinese philosopher)

In spite of our efforts to hide our real feelings, it often is too easy for others to recognize how things really are. Our face gives us away, or our body language and behavior do. So, instead of working hard to make ourselves look good, maybe we should spend more time working on the real person, our character and integrity; that will determine how we act—and look.

A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit (Proverbs 15:13). As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart (Proverbs 27:19)

STOP AND THINK- Do not go where the path may lead. Instead, go where there is no path and leave a trail. (Ralph Waldo Emerson, 19th century American essayist)

For many of us with a less adventurous spirit, it’s just too hard to make a new trail. We’d prefer to follow a path with a clear destination. That’s the way of ease and comfort. Blazing a trail into the unknown can be frightening. But the never-before traveled path may just lead to new discoveries that will bring joy to the trail-blazer and good to many others.

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand (Psalm 16:11)

STOP AND THINK – It is easier to encourage your students to be learners when you are a learner yourself. (Jillian Jones, 1st year teacher in an international school)

Jones may not have had much experience, but she has learned a very important lesson about teaching. After all, teaching is the best way to learn. It takes a bit of humility, perhaps, to acknowledge that you’re still learning, but it encourages the student to know that his teacher is right there with him in the process. After all, the student learns best from another learner.

Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance (Proverbs 1:5)

STOP AND THINK – There was a definite process by which one made people into friends; it involved talking to them and listening to them for hours at a time. (Rebecca West, 20th century English author)

In our busy 21st century life, who has time to talk with someone for “hours at a time”? The writer implies that one-on-one conversations—including both talking and listening (the hard part, no doubt)—is necessary to develop real friendships. Not e-mailing, blogging, or texting, but conversations. Can we restore that lot art? It would be greatly to our advantage!

Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance (Proverbs 1:5). To answer before listening— that is folly and shame (Proverbs 18:13).

STOP AND THINK – – Judgmentalism assumes that you have the right to change someone else. Well, you don’t. You only have the right to choose how you will change and behave. (Vince Poscente, motivational speaker)

Are you often inclined to judge others for their words and actions without full knowledge of them and their circumstances? That’s called prejudice. We need to leave the responsibility to change, when necessary, to others—unless the changes are ones we need to make. We are responsible for them!

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Matthew 7:1-2)

STOP AND THINK – Maintaining a complicated life is a great way to avoid changing it. (Elaine St. James, author of Simplify Your Life)

Life has become extremely complicated for many American families. Parents have their work (often more than one job), social lives, and civic commitments. Children have school, soccer, ballet, music practice, and more. Getting off the merry-go-round is difficult. Complexity itself is the enemy, and before they realize it, life has passed them by.

Yet we urge you . . . to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands . . . so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. (1 Thessalonians 4:10-12)

STOP AND THINK – Want to experience [change]? Start serving others. It’s guaranteed to break the grip of self-centeredness in your life. (Mike Lee, American pastor)

Lee actually used the word “transformation,” which speaks more directly to the nature of the change. It’s like the dramatic metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly. The analogy may suggest that within us is the possibility of significant change, undoubtedly more spiritual than physical. We should work toward such a personal transformation.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:2)

STOP AND THINK – If we fail, then fail at the right stuff—fail trying, not watching. (Bob Goff, best-selling author)

Like it or not, failure is a part of life. If you’ve never failed, it may mean you haven’t tried. We must not let failures or the fear of them keep us from moving forward. So, the next time you fail, remember the old adage, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Be sure to learn from your failures, and continue working toward something truly worthwhile.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:26)

STOP AND THINK – Only passions, great passions, can elevate the soul to great things. (Denis Piderot, 18th century French philosopher, art critic, and writer)

Some have thought that we live in a generation and culture of mediocrity. That’s probably not entirely true. But it may well be that whatever achievements our generation has accomplished are the results of extraordinary ambition—a passion that pushes a person to an extreme effort that enables him to reach higher than even he ever thought possible.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness … knowledge … self-control … perseverance … godliness … mutual affection … love. (2 Peter 1:5-7)