Daily Stop & Thinks

Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have . . .. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you. (Carl Sandburg, American poet and Lincoln biographer)

We all have 24 hours in a day, 7 days in a week, and 52 weeks in a year. No one has an advantage when it comes to time; we are all created with an equal amount while we live. Who will determine how you spend your time and for what purpose? Be your own person, looking to God for wisdom in the use of your time.

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15, 17)

The world is in greater peril from those who tolerate or encourage evil than from those who actually commit it.
(Albert Einstein, perhaps the most influential physicist of the 20th century)

What an insightful thought! We often respond strongly to those who do evil among us, applying the strongest punishment the law allows. But, is it possible that our toleration of those who promote evil, though not committing it, plays a more dangerous role?

Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? (Habakkuk 1:13)

Life is the sum of your choices.
(Albert Camus, 20^th century author, journalist, and philosopher)

There really are only two things we can control in life: our attitudes and our choices. We may not have chosen our environment, so the question is how do we respond to the circumstances that our beyond our control? Do we choose on the basis of temporal and passing fancies or on the lasting values that will determine what our life will be like?

How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver! (Proverbs 16:16)

It is not how much you do, but how much love you put into the doing that matters. (Inspiration Line)

We love activity, don’t we? We like to be busy, and when we’re doing something good for others, we feel good about ourselves. Sometimes we do our good deeds out of a sense of obligation. It’s what is expected of us. But we really need to examine our motivation.

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:3)

 What I say is important, what I do is very important, but what I am is the most important. (William Male, Ph.D., retired educator)

That sequence may be contrary to common logic. But, consider: what you do reflects what you really are, and what you are pretty much determines what you do. So, it’s important to work from the inside out, beginning with what’s in your mind and heart.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is. (Romans 12:2)

Change has long been a fearful thing for human beings … and at the same time, it is our most Divine opportunity. (Chelle Thompson, Inspiration Line)

For some people change is really difficult. The status quo is so familiar and seems so comfortable. But ignoring or refusing to change often will result in missing greater opportunities to move forward and improve.

Be very careful, then, how you live . . .making the most of every opportunity. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. (Ephesians 5:15-17)

The purpose of life is a life of purpose. (Robert Byrne, American author)

Men are still asking the age-old questions: Who am I? Why am I here? What is life all about? We might well ask author Byrne “What is a life of purpose” or “What indeed is life’s purpose?”

If a man cleanses himself from [ignoble purposes], he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. (2 Timothy 2:20-22)

Wherever a man turns, he can find someone who needs him.

(Albert Schweitzer, 20^th century German medical missionary and philosopher)

“No man is an island,” wrote John Donne. Stated another way, an African proverb says, “It takes a village.” We don’t live to ourselves; we must be aware of those around us, and very often, we’ll see someone in need. The question is, “How will we respond?”

There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land. (Deuteronomy 15:11)

There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. (Edith Wharton, Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist)

We may not be the light that casts vision or shines with enlightenment and encouragement. But we can be reflectors of that kind of light. If we’re willing to let someone else get the credit for being the light, we can be satisfied just to reflect it.

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)

Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.
(Mark Twain)

A worthy thought! After all, if we do our kind deeds just to be seen by others, the deed may be helpful to someone, but the motivation is selfish and others will judge our deeds as unworthy of recognition.

Be careful not to do your “acts of righteousness” [good deeds] before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. (Matthew 6:1)

He who gives when he is asked has waited too long.
(Seneca, 1^st century Roman philosopher)

It’s a good thing to respond to a request to give to some need or worthy cause. It would be better, though, to see a need before being asked and to give generously and spontaneously without any pressure.

Just as you excel in everything . . . see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(2 Corinthians 8:7)

The energy it takes to hang onto the past is holding you back from a new life. What is it you would let go of today? (Mary Manin Morrissey, inspirational speaker)

Morrisey says, “Release the hurt. Release the fear. Refuse to entertain your old pain.” Hanging on to the past can adversely affect your present and future.

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal. (Philippians 3:13-14)