Daily Stop & Thinks

New Year’s Eve

Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened. (Dr. Seuss, pen name for Theodor Seuss Geisel, children’s author and cartoonist)

Even the hard things of last year can be a blessing if we’ve learned from them and grown from the experience. Followers of Almighty God have this encouraging promise, “We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

The End or the Beginning

Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us. (Hal Borland, American naturalist)

We can look to New Year’s Day as the beginning of something new and exciting. But, in reality, of course, it’s only a change in the clock and the calendar, not a significant passage of time. A change of heart and mind may be necessary, but don’t think that some climactic change will occur when 2024 ends. Resolve to live each day of 2025 trusting God for the outcome.

Jesus: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” (Revelation 22:13)

Hope for Next Year

Each year’s regrets are envelopes in which messages of hope are found for the New Year. (John R. Dallas, Jr., author and public speaker)

It’s the last Sunday of the year, a really good time to reflect on what 2024 has brought, and what we’ve learned from the year’s experiences. As Dallas suggests, we can look at our regrets of the last 12 months and regard them as the seeds of hope for the future. We learn best from past disappointments as we evaluate them carefully and move forward for improvement.

Endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. (Romans 5:4-5)

More than a game

The game of golf is a game of accepting failure . . . (Author unknown)

The writer continues “. . . of accepting imperfection; of realizing that the perfect game has never been played . . .  or ever could be played. We’ve all seen that even the best players hit bad shots and make mistakes.” Like life itself, the key is to move on from setbacks and focus on the next challenge. Life may never be perfect, but we must continue to work for excellence.

Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge . . . and patient endurance with godliness. (2 Peter 1:5)

Improvement

The secret of success is to do the common thing uncommonly well. (John D. Rockefeller, Jr, American financier and philanthropist)

If you’re working hard to be successful, you would do well to consider Rockefeller’s advice. New things often bring success, but sometimes it’s the improved mousetrap or the latest version of something already in common use that will catch on and prove to be the newest success. For any of us to do the common thing better will improve our lives and others’ as well.

Common sense and success belong to me. Insight and strength are mine. (Proverbs 8:14)

The Day After

Next to a circus there ain’t nothing that packs up and tears out faster than the Christmas spirit. (Frank McKinney Hubbard, late American humorist)

When the circus moved out of town, the clowns were soon forgotten, and the excitement of the high-wire acts died away, too. But, what’s even sadder, as Hubbard notes, is how quickly the kind greetings and the warm wishes of love are somehow thrown away with the gift wrap This year, let’s continue to show the same kind of love God showed to us when he sent his Son.

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. (1 Corinthians 13:7)

Christmas

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15)

Late television writer, Andy Rooney, expresses how the world looks at this sacred day: “One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas Day.” “Glorious mess?” Gifts are wonderful expressions of love, of course, but the real glory is the coming of Jesus to offer the gift of an eternal relationship with God. That’s glorious!

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:17)

Christmas Eve

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields … Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and … the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! (Luke 2:8-12)

Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased. (Luke 2:14)

Music for Christmas

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear. (Will Ferrell, actor)

Jingle Bells, I’ll be Home for Christmas, Rudolph . . . – we’re hearing lots of this kind of music these days. They bring back happy memories, but there’s nothing like the carols of Christmas to lighten the heart and give meaning to the season. Songs like Silent Night, O, Little Town of Bethlehem, and Oh Holy Night. Sing them loud and heartily.

Go, tell it on the mountain. Over the hills and everywhere. Go, tell it on the mountain/ That Jesus Christ is born. (See Romans 10:15)

Christmas Week Begins

Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts. (Janice Maeditere, author)

It would be difficult for children to understand this idea because they’ve been waiting for Santa for weeks. But as they grow, they can learn that the giving of our affection and friendship is more lasting than presents. And then, as they begin to learn the true story of Christmas, they will recognize God’s great gift and how it will transform their own understanding of love.

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15)

Learning

The very first important lesson in how to learn isn’t memorizing facts; it’s applying truth to life. It’s called developing wisdom. (Mark Cuban, sports owner)

Most learners began in the very earliest years to memorize letters, numbers, and colors. We learned by rote, but learning was reinforced by constant practice when we were asked to recite the alphabet, count to 10, or identify colors. Later we crammed for exams, trying to memorize (often, too late) the data. We learn best by relating and adapting the facts to our life experience.

Teach us to comprehend how few our days are so that our hearts may be filled with wisdom. (Psalm 90:12)

Keep At It!

Life has two rules: #1 Never quit #2 Always remember rule # 1. (Duke Ellington, late American jazz artist)

This often-quoted “rule” is an encouragement to keep going on. It’s like Winston Churchill’s famous challenges in World War II, pledging to keep fighting at every point to guarantee a win. Why never quit? Because, as a noted football coach, Vince Lombardi, observed, “Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit.” His teams often came from behind, refusing to quit, and won.

And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. (Luke 11:9)