GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: November 12, 2023

Opportunity or Obstacles?

If you believe it’ll work out, you’ll see opportunities. If you don’t believe it’ll work out, you’ll see obstacles. (Wayne Dyer, writer and motivational speaker)

Dyer seems to be suggesting that the attitude you take before beginning a project is key to your success. A positive attitude enables you to see beyond the difficulties and grasp the prospects of achieving your goals. The pessimist, on the other hand, recognizes possibilities for good but is hindered by the perceived hindrances that might stand in the way.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance (Romans 5:3).

Stop & Think: November 11, 2023

Veterans’ Day

We don’t know them all, but we owe them all. (Source unknown)

Today, we honor the men and women who have served in the military in defense of our country. Every day we ought to thank the men and women we see—sometimes with a cap from a service tour—for their service. Our freedoms have been won and are maintained by God’s gracious giving us service personnel and enabling them to do the essential tasks of protecting us.

Pay to all what is due them . . .  respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor (Romans 13:7).

Stop & Think: November 10, 2023

Outlook

Better to be an optimist who is sometimes wrong than a pessimist who is always right. (Mark Twain, 19th-20th century humorist and author)

When the pessimist’s gloom and doom about a future event does not come true, he might say, “Well, I hoped I was wrong.” The optimist, on the other hand, is likely to be right more often than wrong, because a positive attitude goes a long way in achieving a goal. When he’s wrong, he pursues the next project with equal expectation of success.

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise (Hebrews 10:23).

Stop & Think: November 9, 2023

The Pursuit of Happiness

The most important thing is to enjoy your life—to be happy—it’s all that matters. (Audrey Hepburn, late movie actress)

Hepburn certainly caught the apparent aim of today’s modern society. Whatever the cost, and no matter who else may be involved, happiness seems to be the goal of almost everyone. Wanting to be happy is not wrong, of course. but happiness is not a goal to be achieved. It is the result of pursuing a life of integrity and service. Want to be happy? Love and serve others.

For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies (1 Peter 3:10).

Stop & Think: November 8, 2023

Smile!

We cannot control the beauty of our face, but we can control the expression on it. (John Maxwell motivational speaker and author)

People are most often identified by their appearance. We recognize their face, even though we may not recall their name. But it’s the expression on the face that gives us a least a hint of how they’re feeling or what might be their current attitude. If we take Maxwell’s comment to heart, we could make a big difference in what others feel just by a smile.

As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person . . .. A glad heart makes a happy face. (Proverbs 27:19; 15:13)

Stop & Think: November 7, 2023

Wisdom

It is application that turns knowledge into wisdom. (Dr. Kipling Cone, pastor)

We might be surprised to learn how many people around us have earned master’s or doctor’s degrees. Yet, with all that gained knowledge (certified by their graduate schools), why are so many questioning the wisdom of our political, educational, and spiritual leaders? Instead of asking, “What would you do if …?” we should be asking, “What have you done when …?”

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you… [P]rove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. (James 1:5, 3:1;13)

Stop & Think: November 6, 2023

Can Do

Never let what you cannot do stop you from doing what you CAN do! (Inspiration Line)

There may be many reasons that we either don’t start a project or fail to complete it. It may be that we think there isn’t enough time to finish it. Or there are too many things that have to be done first. An even poorer excuse for postponing a project is the fear that we are incapable of completing the job. The quote concludes: “There is no failure except in not trying.”

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

Stop & Think: November 5, 2023

Prayer

When we pray, humanity cooperates with divinity. (Barry Black, U.S. Senate chaplain)

For some, prayer is pleading with an unknown god about a tough life situation, hoping he can somehow solve the problem. To others, it’s an act of desperation when faced with a situation that needs a miracle. The Bible reveals a God who responds to those who come to him in faith, trusting him to do what is best.

The Lord . . .  delights in the prayers of the upright (Proverbs 15:8). Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart (Colossians 4:2).

Stop & Think: November 4, 2023

Inner Strength

What lies behind you and what lies in front of you pales in comparison to what lies inside of you. (Ralph Waldo Emerson, 19th-century American essayist)

Is it the past that fascinates you, thinking of the “good old days”? Or are you contemplating the future, and what could be? Both perspectives offer a lot to think about. But Emerson challenges us to do some introspection that may help us improve on the past and be better prepared for the future. After all, it’s our strength and character that enable us to live and serve well.

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:10).

Stop & Think: November 3, 2023

Opportunity

I’m not going to continue knocking [on] that old door that doesn’t open for me. I’m going to create my own door and walk through that. (Ava DuVernay, American filmmaker)

Waiting for the “golden opportunity” to knock is most often an unrewarded waiting game. Not only are there many opportunities around us that we miss, DuVernay suggests that sometimes we have to create or discover our own. Where to look? What open doors might there be in your workplace, your church, your service club or neighborhood? What stirs you to action?

For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened (Matthew 7:8).

Stop & Think: November 2, 2023

Focus

You become what you focus on and what you focus on only gets bigger. (Chris Suitt, pastor)

Habits begin with small things repeated often enough until we cannot seem to break them. It can quickly become a force in our lives beyond our control, something that we focus our thoughts and efforts on to the exclusion of more worthwhile factors of life. Broadening our interests and focusing on healthful behaviors will produce a variety of fulfilling practices.

I have not achieved [perfection], but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,  I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize. (Philippians 3:13-14) 

Stop & Think: November 1, 2023

Is Good Enough?

Let us be good, but if we can’t be good, then let us be as good as we can. (Henry Holsinger, church historian)

Holsinger knew better than this, but here he expresses the general attitude of society. It’s a sentiment that may be helpful in many situations, but it certainly doesn’t meet the required standard to please God. He demands something more, and he provides what’s needed as a gift in response to faith.

He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago (Ephesians 2:10).