GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: February 14, 2024

Love

Love without sacrifice is mere sentimentality. (Timothy Keller, late author and pastor)

A lot of songs and poems are about love, but a quick look reveals that most of them are mere expressions of sentiment—feelings. Genuine love, however most often costs something, even sacrifice. The New Testament writer, Paul describes such sacrifice as “meaningless if made without love for others,” the kind of love that may indeed cost a great deal.

If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing (1 Corinthians 13:3).

Stop & Think: February 13, 2024

Goals or Habits?

We should stop setting goals and start making habits. (James Clear, author of Atomic Habits)

Did you make New Year’s resolutions a month ago? How are you doing? Clear continues his helpful thought: “A goal gives you no actionable steps and, ultimately, no result. For example, commit to walking 15 minutes every weekday instead of setting a goal to lose 15 pounds. The habit is the actionable step that will result in making you healthier.”

Take care you don’t stray from the straight path, the way of truth,  and you will safely reach the end of your road (Proverbs 4:26).

Stop & Think: February 12, 2024

Is It Worth It?

Anytime you say, It’s not worth it, make sure it’s worth saying. (Kenneth J. Brown, author)

Sometimes we are just exasperated when things aren’t working out for us. We may be working on a simple project, and everything we try fails. We decide it just isn’t worth the effort. Forget it! I’ll try something else. Brown cautions us to think about that carefully. Is it really true that you should just scrap the project? If it might have real value, keep working at it with renewed vigor.

But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus (Acts 20:4).

Stop & Think: February 11, 2024

A New Path

Never take a step forward that is on the same path you’ve been lost on. (Payton Christian, horse rescuer)

It’s strange, isn’t it, that such advice is needed? How many times have we all continued on the same path that has taken us nowhere, yet we kept trying? Christian’s advice is clear: “Instantly find a new path.” Good advice, but sometimes we just can’t get out of the rut of our own making. Maybe we need the help of a friend or counselor to keep us motivated to change.

Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. . . The path of the virtuous leads away from evil; whoever follows that path is safe (Proverbs 3:6; 16:17).

Stop & Think: February 10, 2024

Tolerance

Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions. (G. K. Chesterton, 18th-19th century British apologist)

Chesterton’s comment looks at tolerance from a very restricted viewpoint. Allowing commentators with views different from us for the purpose of discussion and learning is a virtue. However, G. K.’s comment is accurate when you won’t allow others to be heard because of their ethnic background, sexual orientation, or political views, as is too often the case today.

Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm. . . . (1 Corinthians 16:13). Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong (Ephesians 6:11).

Stop & Think: February 9, 2024

Improved Teaching

Variety keeps the teaching moving and aids the learning process. (Bruce Triplehorn, cross-cultural teacher)

Triplehorn’s observation fits well with teaching within one’s own culture, as well. He suggests using . “. . stories, gestures, role playing, and objects to illustrate . . . truth.”  Such techniques will overcome boredom (often a problem with lectures) and may stimulate creative thought. We can all profit from a variety of learning methods to improve understanding.

Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching (1 Timothy 4:16).

Stop & Think: February 8, 2024

Healthy Experience

Don’t live the same year 75 times and call it a life. (Robin Sharma, Canadian writer)

When the prospective employer followed up on the statement, “I’ve had 25 years’ experience at my previous job,” his former employer noted, “Really, he had just one year’s experience 25 times.” It’s possible, isn’t it, to repeatedly perform or have an experience many times without really learning anything new? Make it your goal to experience many new things every year.

Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life. … Fear of the LORD lengthens one’s life. … Godly people find life (Proverbs 9:11; 10:27; 11:19).  

Stop & Think: February 7, 2024

Discipline

Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most. (Abraham Lincoln)

We may rightly complain about the lack of discipline in schools, the workplace, and even in our homes. But self-discipline is probably the area most in need of our attention. As Lincoln suggests, we usually succumb to the desire to have what we want and to have it RIGHT NOW. What we too  often neglect to do is consider the wisdom of waiting.

We are waiting for the hope of being made right with God (Galatians 5:5a).

Stop & Think: February 6, 2024

Wasting Time

(The) Word of the day is “Spuddle,” (17th century idiom)

A lot of different words have been used over the years to describe working ineffectively or being extremely busy while accomplishing absolutely nothing. It may mean to work feebly and ineffectively, because your mind is elsewhere or you’re not quite awake yet. We ought to be careful that we aren’t just “spuddling” when we are expected to  accomplish something of value.

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people (Colossians 3:23).

Stop & Think: February 5, 2024

Perfection  #2

Perfection: admire it; aspire to it, but don’t require it. (Geno Auriemma, coach of championship college women’s basketball teams)

Coach Auriemma’s teams were often near perfection, winning national championships and losing very few games. He seemed to be pretty hard on his college teams, always urging them to do better, to play as well as they could, and they responded nearly to perfection. It’s a good lesson for us. We will not be perfect, but we should aspire to it, and do our very best.

Let [your faith] grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing (James 1:4).

Stop & Think: February 4, 2024

Perfection

Strive for continuous improvement instead of perfection. (Kim Collins, Olympic athlete)

Olympic athletes work hard and long to improve their skills. Only rarely does one receive a perfect 10. It’s really difficult to be perfect in anything—using proper grammar, word choices, hitting the right notes, remembering your cues, etc. We should all strive for excellence, improving along the way, and providing an example of perseverance for others to follow.

I don’t mean to say that . . . I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me (Philippians 3:12).

Stop & Think: February 3, 2024

Understanding

The questioning mind wants not just to know but to understand. (Jesse Deloe, writer)

With the increased use of artificial intelligence, it might seem that we don’t need to know as much as we used to. After all, so much knowledge is produced for us that we may not even have to study to learn. But, of course, knowledge by itself is not very helpful. We need to discover truth and understand how it relates to life to be worthy, contributing citizens.

Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding (Proverbs 3:13).