GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: September 4, 2023

Leaders

A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. (John Maxwell, leadership author and speaker)

Leaders are often people who have been followers of strong leaders. They have not only heard what their mentor said, but they have seen him follow closely the path that he envisioned for others. And he or she did more. They showed the way, taught by example, and involved their followers in the work along the way.

If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously (Romans 12:8)

Stop & Think: September 3, 2023

Purpose

Once you discover your purpose . . . practice makes purpose. (Tom Roy, coach and author)

People ask, “Why am I here?” “What’s my purpose in life?” Whatever you’re aiming for, it will take diligent practice to be successful. We are told that practice makes perfect, but the truth is that practice only makes permanent, and poor practice won’t help you accomplish your goal. Find God’s purpose for your life and “practice” it every day.

The Lord has made everything for his own purposes (Proverbs 16:4). Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts (1 Thessalonians 2:4). 

Stop & Think: September 2, 2023

Quiet

Truths are quiet; lies are loud. (Anthony Douglas Williams, Canadian writer)

Today it’s hard to find a quiet place, isn’t it? Finding a place to enjoy a cup of coffee in a quiet atmosphere seems to be becoming more and more difficult. And what is all the noise about? It isn’t always lies, of course, but haven’t you noticed that sometimes in the middle of cacophony, a quiet voice often is heard speaking compelling truth.

Better to hear the quiet words of a wise person than the shouts of a foolish king (Ecclesiastes 9:17).

Stop & Think: September 1, 2023

Summer Vacation

Take vacation. Wallets refill. Clocks don’t rewind. (Joshua Becker, American writer and author)

Summer is vacation time. But some think vacations are too expensive. So, they spend their money on less expensive ventures. And then there are hard workers who just don’t have the time; there’s just too much to do. The truth is that we all need time away to be restored and refreshed.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).

Stop & Think: August 31, 2023

Relax!

Your long checklists for golf and life can be replaced with this simple guideline. Relax. Be at Ease! (Jim Sheard and Wally Armstrong, golf writers)

While watching professional golfers play their game, you are constantly amazed at the apparent ease they show in making what appear to be almost impossible shots. It may be a really tense time as they near the end of a match, but they still appear not to feel the pressure. The advice for them and for us in the tough “matches” of life is simply “relax!”

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).

Stop & Think: August 30, 2023

Friends

You only meet your once-in-a-lifetime friend… once in a lifetime. (Little Rascals, animated cartoon)

We may have a lot of friends, people that are more than mere acquaintances, but not really close. Friends with whom we could share anything and can trust to keep a confidence. But we don’t have to be limited to just one. We occasionally might become close to someone and note that they are “My newest best friend.” Thank God for the really wonderful life-time friends!

Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable? . . .  a real friend sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 20:6; 18:24)

Stop & Think: August 29, 2023

Losing?

You learn more from losing than winning. You learn how to keep going. (Morgan Wooten, late highly successful high school basketball coach)

No one likes to lose. It’s not just a matter of pride. We often have really good intentions but sometimes we lose or we don’t reach our intended goal. But as many coaches could tell you, you won’t have much success if you just give up. Quite often you can learn something from the failed attempt that will be the key your future success.

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. (2 Corinthians 4:16).

Stop & Think: August 28, 2023

Worship

It’s better to sit in a bar thinking about God than in church thinking about beer. (African saying)

It may sound trite, but it is a challenging observation. Do we sometimes find ourselves sitting in a church service with our minds drafting into areas of thought and memory that are completely unrelated to the importance of the moment? It’s far better to enter into a worship service expectantly, enjoying the blessing of our active participation in the worship.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name . . . worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness (1 Chronicles 16:29).

Stop & Think: August 27, 2023

Injustice

It is better to suffer wrongdoing than to do wrong oneself. (Socrates, quoted by Bishop Robert Barton)

Crime is increasing at staggering rates. It seems that more and more people have no sense of right and wrong. They feel perfectly free to go after what they want no matter who is hurt. Socrates expresses greater concern for one’s character: “Surely, suffering injustice is terrible, but what is worse is the corrosion of soul that takes place when one commits injustice.”

The Lord Almighty: “Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another (Zechariah 7:9).

Stop & Think: August 26, 2023

Forgiving

To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you. (Lewis B. Smedes, late theology professor)

We sometimes find it difficult to forgive someone who has offended us, or we say that we can forgive but not forget. That’s not forgiving at all. Failing to forgive is like a cancer that lingers in the body but eventually breaks out into what becomes a lingering and fatal illness. To really forgive not only frees the forgiven but, more importantly, the forgiver.

Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32).

Stop & Think: August 25, 2023

Happiness or Joy?

I find joy in everyday life, not because life is good, but because God is. (Source unknown)

Life, with its ups and downs, becomes difficult for all of us at times. We seem really happy and grateful when “things” are going well, but we can quickly become sad and depressed when difficulty crosses our path. Happiness depends on happenstances—occasional circumstances that are pleasant. Joy, on the other hand, is the result of a right relationship with the giver of joy.

God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him (Ecclesiastes 2:26). Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)

Stop & Think: August 24, 2023

Habits or Rituals?

The things we do . . .  every day, often arrive without intent. Before we realize it, they have become habits. (Paraphrase of Seth Godin, author and business executive)

We often think of rituals as religious practices that we do habitually because they are part of a liturgy we’ve learned to follow. But we practice certain behaviors on such a regular basis that they appear to be rituals, also. Godin suggests that if we really give intent or purpose to our habits we can, as he says, “rewire our attitudes.” Let’s make our rituals/habits meaningful.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think (Romans 12:2).