GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: March 27, 2024

Focus

It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light. (Aristotle)

Learning to focus is an essential step in our development. As infants, we slowly learned how to focus our eyes on a specific object. That’s a kind of analogy of life itself. The more focused we are, the more we can give attention to the details of life that are essential to growth and improvement. In the dark times of life, we must focus on what we have learned in the light.

For you [God] are the . . . light by which we see. (Psalm 36:9)
 Jesus: “If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” (John 8:12)

Stop & Think: March 26, 2024

Love and Live

A single letter differentiates the words “live” and “love.” (Dianne Neal Matthews, freelance writer)

Matthews continues: “The more I take “I” out of the way I live, the more I will be able to love others as Jesus did.” Playing with words in your heart language often opens up new ideas, like that one. Many people seem to be living only for themselves and their interests. What a blessing it could be if they (we) could learn to love as well as to live.

Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)

Stop & Think: March 25, 2024

Friendship

The friendship that can cease has never been real. (Saint Jerome, 5th century Bible translator)

We occasionally refer to someone as a “fair weather friend,” meaning he or she will stick with you so long as everything is going well. It implies that when things become difficult, the “friend” disappears. Jerome says that such a friend was never a real friend. The biblical Judas Iscariot, disciple of Jesus, played just such a role. True friends stick with  you through thick and thin.

A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. . . . [A] real friend sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 17:17; 18:24)

Stop & Think: March 24, 2024

Values

When your values are clear to you, making decisions becomes easier. (Roy Disney, co-founder of Walt Disney Co.)

Difficult choices. Should we buy the more expensive automobile that we really like or the lower-priced car without all the bells and whistles? School choice: the one with the low cost but a poor record of its graduates or the more costly one with an excellent reputation for quality learning? When you have firmly established values, you should be able to choose with confidence.

My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight. (Proverbs 2:1-3)

Stop & Think: March 23, 2024

Behavior

Innocence requires no change in behavior. (Gladys Deloe, counselor)

Do you remember what it was like to try to cover up a wrongdoing? You probably began with a slight variation of the truth, which led to an exaggeration. And then, you ended by telling a complete lie. How difficult was that? At first it seemed easy, but it most often led to real difficulty. As Deloe writes, when you’re innocent, you won’t have to lie.

Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right. (Proverbs 20:11)
For we are each responsible for our own conduct. (Galatians 6:5)

Stop & Think: March 22, 2024

The Extraordinary

I believe God embedded the miraculous in the ordinary, and it is our task to discover it and celebrate it. (Kent Nerburn, author)

We are sometimes surprised by another’s creativity in art, writing, music, or invention. Often these achievers appear to be normal, everyday kinds of people. As author Jim Hocking notes, “God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary deeds.” That should challenge all of us to work hard at discovering and developing our God-given skills for the benefit of everyone.

The Lord has given them special skill . . .  They excel as craftsmen and as designers. (Exodus 35:3, 5)

Stop & Think: March 21, 2024

Words 2

Words are free. It’s how you use them that may cost you.” (Kush and Wizdom, poetry)

We sometimes joke about using 50-cent words like “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” from the musical, Mary Poppins. Why would someone use “pulchritudinous” instead of “beauty” except to show off his vocabulary? Too often, words of any size can slip off our tongues without much thought and those words, though free, may cause great harm. Be careful how you speak.

The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions. (Proverbs 10:11)

Stop & Think: March 20, 2024

Words

No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world. (John Keating, sportscaster)

How do you suppose the myriad religious orders and political philosophies began? Undoubtedly, they originated in the minds of some deep thinkers who then shared them with others over whom they had influence. Some were good and helpful, others deadly! The words of Jesus Christ, however, have changed the world for those who believe and live by his teachings.

Jesus: “The very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” Peter to Jesus: “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.” (John 6:33, 68)

Stop & Think: March 19, 2024

Friends 2

The love of my life is the love between friends. (Source unknown)

No doubt the love between longtime friends is warm and comforting. Over time, it develops into  a long-lasting relationship that continues to grow in meaning and depth. For some it may even be the “love of [their] life,” but for most of us there is the deeper love for our spouse and children. And, then the love that we share in a relationship with God is beyond comparison.

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. (1 John 4:7)

Stop & Think: March 18, 2024

Friends

Sometimes you pick your friends, sometimes they pick you. (Steve Klaka, real estate professional)

Many of our friends are people we grew up with in the neighborhood or were fellow students in school. Some of those relationships may last a lifetime; others are over very quickly. Sometimes we choose friends because we have common interests and values. But the really rewarding friendships may be those initiated by someone who wants a wholesome relationship with us.

A wise person wins friends. (Proverbs 11:30)

Stop & Think: March 17, 2024

Choice

The crown of life is the exercise of choice. (Thornton Wilder, 20th century American novelist)

What a privilege Americans have! The United States is one of those unique nations where the people can actually choose their spouse, their school, their job, and much more. They even have the right to choose their leaders. In an election year, that’s a privilege that should not be ignored. Give careful thought to your choices; you have to live with the consequences.

Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good. (Titus 3:1)

Stop & Think: March 16, 2024

Life

“Life is like an ice cream cone…you have to learn to lick it.” (Charlie Brown, cartoon character in Peanuts)

Sometimes it does seem that life is a battle, and you have to work hard to overcome its many difficulties. Developing the maturity and wisdom to use what we’ve learned through instruction, loving guidance, and from the example of worthy teachers will help us do more than “licking life.” It will enable us to actually enjoy it.

Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life. (Proverbs 19:20)