Daily Stop & Thinks

In darkness God’s truth shines most clear.
(Corrie Ten Boom, Dutch Christian survivor of Nazi oppression in WW II, in The Hiding Place)

The darker the environment, the brighter a light shines. And it is in times of deep distress that aid from the outside seems so much more helpful and encouraging. Don’t disregard times of stress and darkness, for they often offer greater light and understanding.

You [Jehovah God] have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. (Isaiah 25:4)

Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best. (Inspiration Newsletter)

Instead of coveting the talents that others may possess, each of us should discover and exercise our own talents, gifts we were given by God. What a boring life it would be if everyone exercised the same talent! The beauty of our lives is partly because of the variety of talents we enjoy from others. Consider the analogy of the human body.

If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? (1 Corinthians 12:17)

Don’t take anything personally. Nothing others do is because of you.
(Don Miguel Ruiz, Mexican author and spiritualist)

Our natural tendency is to take everything very personally. We quickly think that what others do or say is about us. Occasionally, that is true, but, in reality, others are responsible for their own thoughts and deeds, and we should respond always with grace.

A prayer to God: Then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive, and deal with each man according to all he does, since you know his heart. (2 Chronicles 6:30)

Unqualified love means there are no prerequisites, no contingencies, no requirements for your love. It is a gift given with no strings attached.
(Inspiration Line)

When people speak of love today, it is often merely an emotional attachment, easily broken because one or the other doesn’t get out of it what he or she thought would always be there. Real love, however, is an active effort to meet another’s needs, not seeking one’s own benefit.

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
(1 John 3:18)

You always miss a shot you never take. (Wayne Gretzky, star hockey player)

That seems obvious, doesn’t it? If you don’t aim at the target, you’ll surely miss it. But, on the other hand, you can’t hit a target if you don’t take the shot. So, we should not only set some goals in life, but we should do our best to reach those goals.

Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. (1 Corinthians 9:26)

True happiness is … to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future. (Seneca, 1^st century Roman philosopher)

Worrying about tomorrow takes all the joy out of today. Since tomorrow is uncertain and will have its own concerns, concentrate on today; care for its needs and enjoy its offerings and opportunities.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34)

There is a true glory and a true honor: the glory of duty done – the honor of integrity of principle. (Robert E. Lee)

“Honor to whom honor is due” is an axiom that clearly states a simple principle. We don’t honor those who don’t earn it. Honor and glory are given to people of integrity whose contribution to society is worthy of recognition.

[God gives] glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good. (Romans 2:10)

We tend to think that being unhappy leads people to complain, but it’s truer to say that complaining leads to people becoming unhappy.
(Dennis Prager, American talk show host and columnist)

It’s so easy to complain, isn’t it? Often we complain when things don’t go right, or the weather is bad, or someone is mistreating us. Haven’t we discovered, though, that when we stop complaining, our spirits are lifted? Let’s make it our purpose to be grateful.

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
(1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Being kind is more important than being right. 
(Andy Rooney, late television social commentator)

Well, we might argue about the “being right” part. One should never intentionally be or do wrong. But in doing right or even claiming to be right, we should “speak the truth in love” (a biblical admonition), and always treat others with kindness.

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. (1 Thessalonians 5:15)

Sickness is meant to make us repent and break off our sins. If we will not hear the voice of mercies, God sometimes makes us hear through suffering.
(Paraphrased from unknown author)

Sickness is sometimes not just the result of genetics, injury, or poor diet. Often there seems to be no reason we can discover. It’s in those times that we do well to consider what might be in our conduct and thoughts that is displeasing and harmful.

Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him … If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. (James 5:14-16)

Don’t trust your own opinion, when you find it contrary to that of older men, and especially to that of your own parents.
(J. C. Ryle, 19^th century Anglican bishop, speaking to young men)

Young people tend to think they’re more mature than they really are. They often think they have the answers their elders have missed. But, they would do well to heed Bishop Ryle’s advice.

Encourage the young men to be self-controlled (Titus 2:6) … Young men . . be submissive to those who are older. (1 Peter 5:5)

Character is closing the gap between knowing & doing.
(John Maxwell, motivational speaker)

Most of us would have to confess that we know more about what we ought to do than we actually practice doing. Knowing what’s right is usually not the problem. It’s having the courage to do it when the doing is difficult. But that’s the test of character.

Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins. (James 4:17)