GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: May 30, 2024

Choices 1

Life is a series of choices between the bad, the good, and the best. Everything depends on how we choose. (Vance Havner, 20th century American revivalist)

From choosing what outfit to wear to the formal gala to deciding whether to invest in stocks or bonds, as Havner says, “Life is a series of choices.” They are often closely related to previous choices that may influence the current decision. No one can just let life flow around him or her; each of us has to be involved, and we’d best learn well, so we can choose well.

Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. (Romans 6:16)

Stop & Think: May 29, 2024

A Helpful Remedy

The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely, or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where
they can be quiet, alone with the heavens and nature. (Inspiration Line Newsletter)

People who are “afraid, lonely, [and] unhappy” are all around us. In fact, we might feel just as they do from time to time. Being in a quiet place “alone with the heavens and nature” can help. Multitudes of people viewed the solar eclipse a few weeks ago and saw an example of God’s magnificent work in creation. Reminders of him and his work will surely lift our spirits.

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. (Psalm 19:1-2)

Stop & Think: May 28, 2024

Certainty

Whether or not you feel certain about something doesn’t make it any more certain . . . ; it only defines how you feel about it. (Scott Garber, pastor and author)

Is there anything we can be certain about today? Everyone has his or her opinions based pretty much on their personal worldview, which is usually a combination of influences from a variety of sources. Too often, one’s feelings are the final factor in determining what one might regard as truth. To discover truth, you have to go to its source as revealed by God in his Word.

Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. . . . Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! (Psalm 43:3; 86:11)

Stop & Think: May 27, 2024

Memorial Day

The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example. (Benjamin Disraeli, 19th century British prime minister)

It ought not be limited to just one day, but on this day, we give special attention to the memories of those men and women who gave their lives to preserve the nation’s freedom. At the same time, we must honor those living veterans who bear the scars of our wars. And we honor, also, the principles of liberty and freedom for which they served us.

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (John 15:13)

Stop & Think: May 26, 2024

Misplaced Zeal

If our zeal is embittered by expressions of anger, invective, or scorn, we may think we are doing service to the cause of truth, when in reality we shall only bring it into discredit. (John Newton, author of Amazing Grace)

Newton’s remarks could be addressed to today’s well-meaning bloggers or those who write letters to the editor. In an effort to convince non-believers of the truths they hold, they are highly critical of and often downright nasty to the readers whose minds they hope to change. In doing so, they not only offend the readers, but what is worse, as Newton says, they discredit the truth.

By truth spoken in love, we are to grow in every way into Him—the Anointed One, the head. (Ephesians 4:15)

Stop & Think: May 25, 2024

Real Value

You are valuable just because you exist. Not because of what you do or what you have done, but simply because you are. (Max Lucado, American minister and author)

We often think of people with admiration because of what they’ve done. They may be best-selling authors, star athletes, or world leaders. We think their achievements make them important, while we consider others to be ordinary because they’ve made no stellar accomplishments. But everyone is important simply because God created them to be like him.

God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. . .  So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:26, 27)

Stop & Think: May 24, 2024

Boredom

The secret of being boring is to say everything. (Voltaire, 17th century French writer)

We have probably all sat through a boring lecture. It may have been the subject matter, the too-warm room, or our wandering thoughts. In any case, it was difficult to enjoy a well-intentioned monologue. It’s equally hard to converse with someone who talks endlessly, embellishing the conversation with exhausting minutia. It’s a challenge for us all. Let us learn to be succinct.

A truly wise person uses few words. (Proverbs 17:27)

Stop & Think: May 23, 2024

Patience or Inertia?

Patience is also a form of action. (Auguste Rodin, Patience19th-20th century French sculptor)

Have you ever been sitting around doing nothing while there seemed to be a need for action, to do something rather than just waiting? Was that being patient or just inertia? Rodin likely spent time being quiet and in thought. He might have appeared to be inactive, but he more likely was thinking seriously about his project and planning the next step. That is worthy inactivity.

We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, . . .  and by our sincere love. (2 Corinthians 6:6)

Stop & Think: May 22, 2024

Impossible?

Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible. (Francis of Assisi, Italian mystic and poet)

Sometimes when we are stymied by a project that seems absolutely impossible, we give up and turn to something else. However, Francis seems to suggest that if we just stick to our task and do the necessary, we may find it possible to do even more. In fact, we might just discover that we’re doing what we once thought to be impossible.

Jesus . . .  said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible. (Matthew 19:26)

Stop & Think: May 21, 2024

Listening Well

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens. (Kary Oberbrunner, author and motivational speaker)

To be helpful to others, we need to know how they are doing and what their needs are. That information can be gained most clearly when we ask them to share their experience and thoughts. Then, it is most important to listen carefully, withholding answers until we understand what their questions and needs really are.

Understand this: You must all be quick to listen [and] slow to speak. (James 1:19)

Stop & Think: May 20, 2024

Work or Pray?

Work as if you were to live a hundred years; pray as if you were to die tomorrow. (Benjamin Franklin)

Franklin was probably not the first to emphasize the importance of both work and faith, but putting it into a time frame does help understand the importance of both. Having the long view in mind as you work on worthy projects helps you value the importance of keeping at the job until it’s completed. Praying, however, is how you keep up to date with the God both of time and work.

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results. (James 5:16b)

Stop & Think: May 19, 2024

Get to Work

In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt. (Margaret Atwood, Canadian poet and novelist)

Perhaps Atwood is merely urging people to take advantage of warm weather to get their garden projects underway. You can’t enjoy the flowers or the fruit of your gardens until  you’ve planted them, and that begins with turning the soil, getting your hands dirty. It’s so easy just to rest and enjoy the sunshine and warmer temperatures. But that will never bring a productive garden.

For the Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete. (Deuteronomy 16:15b)