Daily Stop & Thinks

Home

There’s no place like home. Ask any prodigal who has come back.

It’s a familiar thought, often repeated when returning from an extended vacation. People who may be dissatisfied with their job or circumstances sometimes think it would be really good to move somewhere else. Later, they may become discontent with the changes they’ve made and wish to go back home. That is especially true of those whose decisions have cost them dearly.

A person who strays from home is like a bird that strays from its nest (1 Peter 27:8) For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come (Hebrews 13:14).

Perfection

This life was not intended to be our place of perfection, but the preparation for it. (Richard Baxter, 17th century English Puritan writer)

Although God’s creation was perfect (Genesis 1), after sin entered so did imperfection and hardship. God’s intention, however, is to one day restore his creation to perfection. Learning to live according to his plan will enable us to grow more and more into the people he intended us to be. And that will be complete when he brings us to a restored relationship with him in heaven.

I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me (Philippians 3:12).

Wanting It All

Wanting all you can get will keep you from becoming all you can be. (Brent Sandy, author)

Remember the bumper sticker that said: “He Who Dies with The Most Toys Wins!” That does seem to be a constant theme in society yet today. We often judge success by the accumulation of possessions and wealth. Yet, the prevalent anxiety and hopelessness of our society today surely puts the lie to that premise and Sandy’s statement is a challenge to seek something higher.

Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! (Ecclesiastes 5:10)

Starting Over

Though nobody can go back and make a new beginning . . . Anyone can start over and make a new ending. (Chico Xavier, Brazilian philanthropist)

How many times have you wished you could just start over? You made a big mistake that ruined a project and there was no way to correct it. Maybe you didn’t measure twice before you made that one wrong cut. In many cases, however, as Xavier suggests, you can back up and start fresh. Take a new piece of wood, measure it more carefully, and then make your cut. Move on!

But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over (Jeremiah 18:4).

Mistakes

Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new. (Albert Einstein, noted 20th century physicist)

We all make mistakes; no one is exempt. But Einstein’s observation is a challenge to keep on trying even after we’ve made a blunder. Often those mistakes help us to find a different way—maybe even a better one—to accomplish our intended goal. So, it’s the person who never tried again who foregoes the joy of discovery.

Indeed, we all make many mistakes (James 3:2). The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again (Proverbs 24:1). 

Potential

People who fail in life are people who find lots of excuses. (Ben Carson, quoted by Cal Thomas)

The quote continues: “It’s never too late for a person to recognize that they have potential in themselves.” We began making excuses very early in life and found it easy to blame others for our mistakes. The sooner we learn to deal with reality and stop making excuses, the sooner we will acknowledge our mistakes, recognize our own ability, and move on quickly to succeed.

We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it . . .  we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God (2 Corinthians 1:8-9).

Expectations

Our limitations and success will be based, most often, on our own expectations for ourselves. (Denis Waitley, American motivational speaker)

Living up to the expectations of others can be tough: the coach, who expected you to be a better player or the professor who thought you should write better papers. Even harder might be the expectations you have for yourself. You think you won’t do well, and you don’t. You think you should do better, and the pressure gets to you. Set realistic goals and do your best to reach them.

Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us (Romans 12:3).

Choices

Sometimes leadership means trusting your instincts above everything else. (From a TV script)

Making decisions is a critical element in leadership. Managers want to gain all the relevant information before choosing among several possible options. They will consult with other management personnel. But, in the end they may have to depend a bit on their own knowledge and experience.

For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe (Proverbs 2:10-11).

Beauty

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in . . . (John Muir, 19^th-20^th century Scottish-American naturalist)

Muir continues: “. . . [a place] where Nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul alike.” Some folks are workaholics; they just can’t seem to stop working long enough to enjoy the pleasures of life. Others are so involved in politics or social activity that they forget there are other things in life to enjoy. Don’t forget to “Take time to smell the roses.”

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship . . .  Their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world (Psalm 19:1, 4).

Thinking

We’ve got to stop this business of talking without thinking. (Linus, cartoon character in Peanuts)

Does it take a character in the funny papers to teach us something we should have learned long ago? When you hear interviews on TV or the radio, you’d often like to refer the “talking heads” to Linus. Whatever happened to common sense? We are receiving a lot of data, but, apparently, we haven’t learned how to evaluate or assimilate it into practical living. Listen, think, and learn.

There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking (Proverbs 19:20).

Self-worth

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. (Eleanor Roosevelt, late First Lady)

All of us have probably been intimidated by someone we consider to be a VIP or a person in authority. Whether they feel more important or not, we somehow see ourselves as a bit lower in position or value. Roosevelt challenges us to realize that our identity is not determined by what others think. It is based on who we really are, someone created in the very image of God.

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them (Genesis 1:27).

Meaning

It’s your heart, not the dictionary that gives meaning to your words. (The Bible)

Do you ever say something to cover up what you really mean? How do you respond when someone expresses an opinion that’s quite different from yours? You might say, “Oh, that’s interesting?” But in your heart you’re thinking, “Oh, I don’t agree with that at all!” You may avoid unwanted conflict, but stifle any opportunity for discussion and learning.

The Teacher sought to find just the right words to express truths clearly (Ecclesiastes 12:10)