Daily Stop & Thinks

STOP AND THINK – The ideals which have lighted my way and time after time have given me new courage to face life cheerfully, have been kindness, beauty, and truth. (Albert Einstein, influential 20th century physicist)

One might think that a renowned scientist’s ideals would be grounded in facts, formulas, and the scientific method. But Einstein reminds us that there are principles of life that are even more important. Certainly truth has moral and ethical implications far beyond the mere facts of science. Be sure to seek the source of truth.

Your word (God’s) is truth. …The church of the living God [is] the pillar and foundation of the truth. (John 17:17; 1 Timothy 3:15)

STOP AND THINK – Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort. (Franklin Roosevelt, 32nd president of the United States)

The U.S. Declaration of Independence speaks of the “the pursuit of happiness.” In reality, however, happiness is not a goal to pursue, hoping at some point to say, “I have become happy.” Rather, as Roosevelt suggests, happiness is the result of achieving something of worth as a consequence of hard work and creativity.

For the Lord your God will bless you . . . in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete. (Deuteronomy 16:15b)

STOP AND THINK – Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate. (Albert Schweitzer, 20th century theologian and medical missionary)

“A soft answer turns away wrath,” the Bible says. Yet, as humans we tend to respond to anger with more anger. It seems that we are so self-centered that we cannot easily think of the other person and his or her views. How much better it would be to consider the other person and respond with kindness and consideration.

Honor one another above yourselves . . . Bless those who persecute you; … If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone… overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:10, 14, 18, 21)

STOP AND THINK -I believe the unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.
(Martin Luther King, Jr.)

Those are two powerful instruments: truth and love. Truth alone, unvarnished and not relativized, and love, freely given and unconditional—used together can overcome the most powerful of opponents. But where do you find them? The answer is to be found in the revelation of God.

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love. (2 John 1:3)

STOP AND THINK – We cannot change our past or the way people will act. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. (Paraphrased from Charles Swindoll, American pastor and author)

Swindoll is right. As much as we might want to, we cannot change the past or the way people act toward us. We might even hope to change certain consequences of our deeds. But we can’t. However, whatever the circumstance, we can and must control our attitudes, thinking positively and graciously toward others.

You were taugh, . . . to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires [and] to be made new in the attitude of your minds. (Ephesians 4:22-24)

STOP AND THINK – We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aid, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn. (Henry David Thoreau, 19th century American author and philosopher)

What is it that gets you going? Does the ring of the alarm clock find you ready and eager for a new day? Or do you need a cup of strong coffee in the morning to get off to a good start? Thoreau seems to offer the challenge that looking forward eagerly to new opportunities every day is the way to enjoy life and find fulfillment.

Awake, my soul! … I will awaken the dawn. (Psalm 57:8)

STOP AND THINK – A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer. (Ralph Waldo Emerson, 19th century American essayist)

Probably very few people ever plan to be a hero. It just happens when an occasion arises that demands a brave response. Men and women who have been in the heat of battle will often confess to fear and thoughts of running away. But some value within them enables them to stick it out, to face the danger, and an ordinary person becomes a hero.

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. (1 Corinthians 16:13)

STOP AND THINK – We are what we believe we are! (C. S. Lewis, British Christian apologist) A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes. (Mahatma Gandhi, advocate of non-violent disobedience in India)

What we think really determines how we live. Our moral and ethical standards are the result of how we think about God, life, and values. And the way we think about those things pretty much defines who we become. It is paramount, then, that we put into our minds those things that are worthy and proper if we are to be all that we could be.

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 – One of the secrets of life is to make stepping stones out of stumbling blocks. (Inspiration Line)

It’s a given: We all face obstacles and difficulties in life. We can’t always avoid them, so the question is, “How do we handle those problems?” Successful people use imagination and determination to turn difficult situations into some useful advantage.

I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10)

STOP AND THINK The breadth of your library will enhance the depth of your life. (Quoted by Rev. Jim Brown)

With the advent of television, e-mail, and social media, the skill of reading may be a lost art in the 21st century. Perhaps the advent of e-readers will revive the habit of reading books. Let’s hope so, because the wisdom of the world and the understanding of culture and tradition hidden in books will be lost if we don’t continue reading the great literature.

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it. (2 Timothy 3:14)

STOP AND THINK The only person you should try to do better than is the person you were yesterday. (Author unknown)

We often compare ourselves with others. We wish we were as good-looking or as talented as so-and-so. Or, though we would probably never say it aloud, we sometimes think we’re not as bad as, or we’re more talented than somebody else. In either case, we should take an honest view of ourselves and try to improve day by day over what we have been.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment. (Romans 12:3)

STOP AND THINK You are free to choose, but you are not free from the consequences of your choice. (Author unknown)

We all like the freedom of choice, don’t we? To be able to make our own decisions, to pick out what we want and not be restricted to what others might choose for us. But, we must always be aware, that choices have consequences. Think first; then choose. Be prepared to have your choices and deeds judged.

The Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done . . . and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him. (Jude 1:14-15)