GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: September 3, 2025

Contented

It is best to work . . . at whatever you have a talent for . . . (Hesiod, ancient Greek poet)

Hesiod continued “. . . without turning your greedy thought toward what some other man possesses.” Some find it easy to look jealously at the lifestyle of others. But we don’t know what it cost them to achieve their status. When we stop comparing ourselves with others and do what we’re best at, we find contentment with what we have.

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

Stop & Think: September 2, 2025

Secrets

The man who can keep a secret may be wise, but he is not half as wise as the man with no secrets to keep. (Edgar Watson Howe, late novelist and editor)

Gossip is one of the curses of every generation, no doubt. What’s just as bad, or worse, perhaps, is the passing on of secrets. It seems to be so difficult not to pass on news, whether it’s good or bad, when you’ve been told, “This is confidential.” It may be rare, but it is comforting to have a friend with integrity whom you can trust to keep your confidence.

A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence. . . don’t betray another person’s secret (Proverbs 11:13; 25:9).

Stop & Think: September 1, 2025

New Beginnings

September is the other January. (Gretchen Rubin, bestselling author)

It used to be that the new school year began in September, and it almost felt like another New Year’s Day. Essayist F. Scott Fitzgerald put it this way, “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” There may be many new beginnings in your life this month. So, whether you’re back to school or back to work, start this “New Year” well.

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

Stop & Think: August 31, 2025

Ending or Beginning

Celebrate endings—for they precede new beginnings. (Jonathan Lockwood Huie, author)

It’s the end of August, not the end of the world! Your vacation may be over and it’s time to go back to work or school. That might be discouraging, but Huie suggests another perspective. When one thing ends, another begins. So be glad for the time away and celebrate what’s ahead.

We want each of you to show . . . diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized (Hebrews 6:10-11).

Stop & Think: August 30, 2025

Decisions and Choices

People only see the decisions you made, not the choices you had. (Masashi Kishimoto, Japanese author)

Kishimoto’s works were a unique style of Japanese literature, and even though it was fiction, this statement offers a meaningful principle of effective communication. Be careful not to make quick judgments about someone’s decisions without knowing the circumstances that forced him or her to choose from many options.

The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7b).

Stop & Think: August 29, 2025

Focus

You can do anything, but not everything—FOCUS! (Addy Osmani, software engineer and author)

Many people have discovered that they were trying to do too much and not doing anything well. Although some people seem to be able to keep many projects going at the same time, most of us don’t have that flexibility. We’re limited to one thing at a time. And that can be a very good thing. The more focused we are on a single project, the more likely we are to complete it well.

I focus on this one thing . . . I press on to . . . receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us (Philippians 3:13-14).

Stop & Think: August 28, 2025

Work

The magic you’re looking for is in the work you’re avoiding. (Layne Norton, bodybuilding coach)

Just as there are some people who love to work, there are others who avoid it as much as possible. The first are always eager to get on the job and pursue the day’s goals. The rest sometimes do just enough to get by. They’re looking for but have not discovered the magic that Norton suggests can be found only in the work that has to be done and is its own reward.

Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper (Proverbs 13:4).

Stop & Think: August 27, 2025

Circumstances

Even though you’re not always in control of your circumstances, you are the one in control of your attitude. Nobody else is. (J. T. Olson, founder of BothHands ministry)

It has been said that there are only two things in life we can control, and neither of them is circumstances. They are often so difficult and unyielding that we want to wish them away. Since we can’t, we need to recognize Olson’s truth. We must control our attitudes so we can respond positively to tough situations.

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:10).

Stop & Think: August 26, 2025

Words

Handle them carefully, for words have more power than atom bombs. (Pearl Strachan Hurd, British poet and writer)

Few could have imagined the destruction to be left by the atom bombs dropped on Japan in World War II. Likewise, we generally don’t understand how destructive our words can be. Hurd has said it well. Words have almost infinite power for good or evil. Lives have been ruined by harsh or unkind words, and nations have been destroyed by wars as a result of misdirected words.

The tongue is a flame of fire . . . It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself . . . No one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison (James 3:6).

Stop & Think: August 25, 2025

A Good Start

It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome. (William James, American philosopher)

It may be hard to start to work on something that we anticipate will be difficult and might not turn out well. Beginning with such a negative attitude almost guarantees that a job will not be well done or even be a complete failure. So, start with a good plan and a positive attitude; then add the right resources and expect a successful result.

I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work (Nehemiah 2:18).

Stop & Think: August 24, 2025

Your Legacy

The things you do for yourself are gone when you are gone, but the things you do for others remain as your legacy. (Kahu Ndukwe Kalu, Nigerian American political scientist)

The older we get, the more we begin to think about our legacy. What will we leave to our children? It might be property, a business, and material goods that they may or may not want. But a good name and worthy reputation that has been evidenced by the good we have done for others will be more meaningful and enduring. Leave a lasting legacy!

Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others (1 Timothy 6:18).

Stop & Think: August 23, 2025

Finding a Better Life

To live a life most people don’t, you have to be willing to do what most people don’t. (Callyn Hahn, fitness advocate)

Have you noticed that there is more to life than many people ever discover? Whether it’s simply that they don’t want to do something worthwhile or they just don’t care makes little difference. The result is the same: no improvement in their life or in the world around them. Choose to live your life above and beyond life’s everyday struggles.