GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: November 22, 2022

Character #1

When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost. (Billy Graham, late evangelist)

Graham’s comment about wealth would likely be very disturbing to many people—especially the rich. The accumulation of wealth is a life-long pursuit for some people. In reality, of course, when you die, your wealth goes to someone else. One’s health is of great value, of course, but it’s gone at death, too. But your reputation remains as a witness to your value as a person.

But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value (1 Corinthians 3:13).

Stop & Think: November 21, 2022

Be Glad

We are too prone to engrave our trials in marble and write our blessings in sand. (Charles Spurgeon, 19th century English preacher)

Many people remember their difficulties and hold on to those memories for a long time. On the other hand, others of us appreciate our good experiences for a time, but they don’t linger in our minds. Life would be so much more pleasant if we could just learn from the tough times and move on. Remembering and reciting the blessings will really fill our minds with lasting joy.

Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning (Psalm 30:5).

Stop & Think: November 20, 2022

What’s Best?

Pursuing whatever we desire is not what is best for the world. (James Emory White, pastor)

White goes on; “What is best for the world is when we submit our desires to what is best for the world. We’re often pretty selfish about the things we want. For our own comfort or benefit, we wish certain things could change. But those changes might not be good for everyone else.” White is right. We can be content when what we want is what is really good for everyone, including us.

Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desire.  … You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. (1 Peter 1:14; 4:2).

Stop & Think: November 18, 2022

Moving On

Don’t carry your mistakes around with you. Instead, place them under your feet and use them as steppingstones to rise above them. (Author unknown)

What do we do with our mistakes? Deny or ignore them? Pretend they didn’t happen? Are our minds continually reminding us of past failures? It would be better just to acknowledge them. If others are involved, apologize and ask for forgiveness. It would be equally important to evaluate them carefully, take steps to correct and improve. That could lead to progress and satisfaction.

But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do (James 1:25).

Stop & Think: November 17, 2022

Heavenly Minded

The love of heaven makes one heavenly. (William Shakespeare)

Shakespeare’s comment in Hamlet, Act I, makes us aware that what we set our mind on will often determine our actions and reactions, even our feelings. Focusing on classical, jazz, or big band music may cause us to have their melodies in our mind all day. We may cheer or mourn our sports losses, but we should always focus our minds on things that are positive and beneficial.

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven. . . Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. (Colossians 3:1-2).

Stop & Think: November 16, 2022

Personality

One of the greatest gifts you can give someone is a new belief about himself or herself. (Sam Adeyemi, TV broadcaster)

Personality determines both how one sees himself and how others see him as well. Some are shy and withdrawn, perhaps indicating an inferiority complex. Others are more open and vocal. A thoughtful extrovert might be able to help with a bit of interaction and encouragement.  Such a conversation could bring them out of their “shell” making them more confident and involved.

Encourage those who are timid. (1 Thessalonians 5:14).  . . . Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them (Ephesians 4:29).

Stop & Think: November 15, 2022

The “Little” Things

The more you think about things, the bigger they become and still nothing is resolved. (www.streamingfaith.com)

There’s a traffic jam on your way to the store that seems to go on forever. It’s one of those “little” annoyances in life that we experience from time to time. We get so upset that we might even forget why we’re here. When we allow the “little” problems to take up our time and energy, we may lose the opportunity to deal with life’s important issues.

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you (Isaiah 43:2).

Stop & Think: November 14, 2022

Failure #2

Failure is the key to success; each mistake teaches us something. (Morihei Ueshiba, Japanese martial artist)

Mistakes aren’t final or fatal. For every successful event in a person’s life there have no doubt been numerous failures as we attempt something new. Musicians, athletes, actors—any number of people can testify to that fact. Practice may not make perfect, but it does demonstrate perseverance and determination. We are smarter when we learn from our mistakes and move on.

Indeed, we all make many mistakes (James 3:2). A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes (Ecclesiastes 10:4) 

Stop & Think: November 13, 2022

Failure #1

Everyone who succeeds has failures. Successful people make their failures work for them. (Kenneth J. Brown, author)

Failure doesn’t have to be final. Your response to your errors is the key to whether you remain stuck in the failure or use it to move on. Winston Churchill famously said to his people facing war, “Never Give up! Never Give up!” From the depths of severe damage and loss, Britain survived what could have been the end of the Commonwealth. Don’t accept failure; move on!

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever (Psalm 73:26).

Stop & Think: November 12, 2022

Hypocrisy

[A leader] “should be what he is calling others to be.” (John Piper, author)

“Do as I say, not as I do” is the old saw that parents are often accused of. And it is true that a mom or dad may honestly have to acknowledge that their own behavior isn’t what they want their children to emulate. What’s equally disturbing is the hypocrisy of some who preach one thing but live another. Such deceit is shameful because of naïve followers who are deceived.

So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech (1 Peter 2:1).   

Stop & Think: November 11, 2022

Plain Speech

I know that my plainness of speech makes them hate me, and what is their hatred but a proof that I am speaking the truth? (Socrates, ancient Greek philosopher)

In a highly political time (like ours), plain speech is rare. Sometimes very fancy speech hides deeper meanings to words that are confusing. Other common words may be used, but they often have hidden meanings that are easily (perhaps intentionally?) misunderstood. As with Socrates, some honest speakers will be opposed because their simple speech is accurate and convicting.

Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech.  . . . From a wise mind comes wise speech; the words of the wise are persuasive. (Proverbs 4:24; 16:23)

Stop & Think: November 10, 2022

Aging Well

Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old. (Franz Kafka, late Bohemian novelist)

This is not so much a promise of immortality as an observation about growing old with full appreciation of life. As we age, we sometimes become a bit morose, longing for the “good ole days” with memories that are probably better than what life really was like back then. Focusing on the flowers rather than the mud will prolong our sense of beauty in our declining years.

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).