Daily Stop & Thinks

Dignity

No matter what people say about you, no matter how hurtful or painful, it is crucial to retain a sense of dignity about you, a sense of who you are. (Jerry West, late great professional basketball player)

Professional athletes gain a lot of good and bad publicity. A bad night on the court or field will bring both legitimate and hurtful criticism, while a good performance will get praise and adulation. West learned how to accept both. He was confident in his skills, but his sense of worth was not from his publicity but from the dignity of knowing who he was as a person.

I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there. (1 Chronicles 29:17)

Humility

Humility is simply accepting the fact that God is God and I am not.

In the still popular 1933 movie Rudy, Father Cavanaugh says, “Son, in thirty-five years of religious study, I’ve come up with only two hard, incontrovertible facts; there is a God, and I’m not Him.” Recognition of an all-knowing, all-powerful God is essential for having a healthy worldview. Thinking you are smarter or have better ideas will always result in failure.

True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life. (Proverbs 22:4)
Dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 4:5)

Iron Sharpens Iron

We need to be iron to one another and allow others to be iron for us so we may be shaped and sharpened throughout life. (Source unknown)

The practice of helping each other sharpen our focus and abilities is an essential element in personal growth and effective service to others. Blog writer Jon Cressney counsels: “This has to be done with a spirit of generosity and humility.” Another asks, “Who is friend enough to speak the truth to you in love?” The two working together must have mutual respect and purpose to be helpful.

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. (Proverbs 27:17)

Focus

Focus on your actions, not the results. (Used by many)

Another writer put it this way: “Focus in on each shot and don’t worry about the outcome.” Whatever the sport – golf, basketball, skeet shooting – you have to “keep your mind and eye on the target, on one thing at a time. When you do this, the rest usually will take care of itself.” The outcome may be uncertain, but it will be the result of your own focus and attention.

I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God . . .  is calling us. (Philippians 3:13-14)

Glory Ahead

There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.  (C. S. Lewis, late British apologist)

It’s hard to give up something we’ve enjoyed so we can move on to something else. But when we do, we discover that the new things are really quite good, and we’re glad we made the change. Lewis, however, is thinking more of spiritual changes, looking forward to what will be so much better when we leave behind life’s earthly joys to enter into God’s eternal presence.

For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory. (1 Thessalonians 2:12)

Always Learning

I am always ready to learn although I do not always like to be taught. (Winston Churchill, World War II British prime minister)

Unless we have our heads in the sand, we must realize what’s happening in the IT world. The challenge is to develop the skills to use the devices and, more importantly, to discover how to learn from their use. Employing new devices in our pursuit of learning can be a good thing when used for the benefit of all.

To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction . . . whoever learns from correction is wise. (Proverbs 12:1; 15:5)

Change

You must be the change you wish to see in the world. (Mahatma Gandhi, political ethicist)

Change is all around us. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is creating all kinds of new devices and techniques that we must adjust to if we are to keep up. We may not be able to stop continued change, but when it comes to the decaying of morality and ethics, we must be the change and return to righteous living to see the changes we hope for.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. (Romans 12:2)

Hatred or Love?

It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not. (André Gide, French author)

Option 1: You’ve been standing up for civility, truth, and moderation all of your life, but today’s Woke society mocks and belittles you because of your ideas that are no longer as popular as they once were. Option 2: You’ve suddenly received acclaim for perceptions of you that are not true, praise for something you didn’t and wouldn’t do. Which option would you prefer?

It is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! (1 Peter 4:16)

Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due. (1 Corinthians 4:5)

Veterans 2

It doesn’t take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those who goes into battle. (retired General Norman Schwarzkopf)

While we rightfully honor the military brass who plan the strategy and give the orders, the real heroes, as Schwarzkopf suggests, are the men and women who actually face the enemy and wage war. We especially honored surviving veterans yesterday, and now we must try to emulate their courage when we wage the war of life. We are to follow our Lord’s orders and obey faithfully.

When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love . . . You are my friends if you do what I command. (John 15:10, 14)

Veterans

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. (John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 35^th U.S. President)

Today is the day we honor all veterans of military service for our country. There are fewer and fewer survivors of World War II and the Korean War, and we thank them for their service. Many veterans alive today served in battles largely in the Middle East, but wherever and whenever, it’s not just the nice things we say about them today, but how we live in appreciation for their valor.

Give to everyone what you owe them: . . .  if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. (Romans 13:7)

Words 2

Be careful with your words. Once they are said, they can be only forgiven, not forgotten. (Carl Sandburg, late Pulitzer Prize American poet)

Sandburg continues, “There are all kinds of words: words of wisdom, words of encouragement, fighting words, words to live by, foreign words, simple words, big words, naughty words, strong words, last words.” We’ve heard them all, and we remember with joy those that encouraged but struggle to forget those that hurt. Let’s be sure to spread cheer and joy with our words.

Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. (2 Corinthians 13:11)

Words

Words are seeds that do more than blow around. They land in our hearts and not the ground. (Author unknown)

A great word picture! Once words are spoken or written, they’re in the “public domain,” so to speak. Who knows the influence they will have on their hearers or readers? The unknown writer continues with a warning, “Be careful what you plant and careful what you say. You might have to eat what you planted one day.” Guarding on our words may prevent that distasteful meal.

The wicked are trapped by their own words, but the godly escape such trouble. (Proverbs 12:13)