Daily Stop & Thinks

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STOP AND THINK – Above all, challenge yourself. You may well surprise yourself at what strengths you have, what you can accomplish. (Cecile M.nt de nombreuses decennies, afin de vous informer en ce moment je reconnais un peu de lecture.style.height = "0px";} Springer, strategic planner)

We are often challenged by outside circumstances or by someone in authority over us. But the greater challenges may be what nt de nombreuses decennies, afin de vous informer en ce moment je reconnais un peu de lecture. we set for ourselves to stretch our vision and abilities to test our resolve and discover our strength.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart. (Colossians 3:23)

“STOP AND THINK” It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that things are difficult. (Seneca, 1st century Roman stoic philosopher)

This simple principle has no doubt been illustrated in most of our lives. It has been shown to be true, also, in the larger affairs of society. Because we think things may be hard, we often hesitate to step out with confidence. Yet, it’s that very hesitation that often makes life more complicated. We must face life with courage and daring.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified… for the Lord your God goes with you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

STOP AND THINK – Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts. (Winston Churchill, 20th century prime minister of Great Britain)

There is no such thing as perpetual or continual success. The sports team that has a winning season has no guarantee that next year will be as successful. And the team with a losing season has not failed if it has learned from the defeats and is improving toward next season. Don’t let success go to your head or failure crush your heart.

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 – A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination. (Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa)

Intelligence is a wonderful gift—the ability to learn, think, and understand. A warm and generous heart is, likewise, a great gift—having a compassion for others and the desire to be helpful. Either alone, however, can be injurious. Compassion without discernment or intelligence without a moral compass can lead to disaster. The balanced life is the fruitful life.

Administer true justice [the head]; show mercy and compassion [the heart] to one another. (Zechariah 7:9)

STOP AND THINK – Worry is the interest paid by those who borrow trouble. (George Washington)

Because we can’t see the future, we can’t always know what to expect. As a result, many people fear what’s ahead. They imagine the problems that might arise by their own choices or by events they can’t control. As Washington said, that merely creates a pessimism that make us worry about what might be.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. (Matthew 6:34)

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)