Daily Stop & Thinks

Busy

It’s not how busy you are, but why you are busy. Bees are praised. Mosquitos are swatted! (Mary O’Connor, business assistant)

In modern American, the hectic pace of life creates all kinds of problems for people who try to catch or keep up. Busy, busy, busy seems to be the answer to “how’s it going?” O’Connor’s observation assumes there might be the need to evaluate our “busyness.” Are we engaged in worthy activity with beneficial results or just aimlessly being a pest?

We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. (Psalm 39:60)

The Danger of Wealth

We shape our dwellings, and afterwards our dwellings shape us. (Winston Churchill. British prime minister)

Is it possible that we could become so enamored with our houses that we begin to emulate them? If we built the bare minimum, could we somehow live that frugally? Or, if we really enlarged our dwelling and furnished it to the max, we would surely be living in an ostentatious way. But. remember what happened to the rich man in the Bible that kept expanding his property. 

“I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones.” “You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for? Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” (Luke 12:18, 20-21)

Courage

Courage is far more than just a lofty, noble concept appropriate only for fairy tales and movies. (Keith Caver, leadership consultant)

Caver says, “Courage is meant not only for the battlefield. . . Rather, it’s a skill that is essential to ensure a thriving, high-performance culture.” When things are difficult in life, whether it’s a business problem, a personal issue, or any one of many potential problems, we can give up or we can face the situation with determination—that takes courage, too!

Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged. (1 Chronicles 28:20)

Take courage as you fulfill your duties. (2 Chronicles 19:11)

Problems II

Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored. (Aldous Huxley, 20^th century English writer)

Like the proverbial ostrich with its head in the sand, we sometimes find it easier to ignore a problem and act as if it doesn’t exist than to face it head-on. We have all found that Huxley’s comment is right on. As much as we wish it weren’t there, the problem keeps surfacing, and we have to do something about it. Identify and acknowledge the issue. Face it squarely and bravely.

When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up. (Isaiah 43:2)

Problems I

Happiness is not the absence of problems; it’s the ability to deal with them. (Steve Marshall, American writer)

Did you ever have a problem-free week? Or even a day without problems? They can cause us to clam up and not move to do anything at all. But, if we move to solve the problem, resolve the conflict, or handle the unpleasant situation, we will be taking a great step forward to make the day successful. What a relief! What happiness when we don’t avoid but solve the problem!

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

Others

When we are consumed with our own thoughts, we fail to draw out the concerns or insights of others. (John Piper, author)

Author Dale Carnegie wrote that to influence others you need to put yourself in their place and try to think their thoughts. How is that possible when, as Piper suggests, our minds are focused on ourselves? It may be difficult, but if we are to be of help and encouragement to anyone else, we must learn to listen carefully and try to “walk in their shoes.” 

 [God] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. (2 Corinthians 1:4)

Procrastination

Not making a decision is actually a decision in and of itself.

This often-quoted maxim reveals a truth that sometimes is missed when we have to make some kind of choice—to do or not do, to go or stay, to pick this or that. It’s obvious though, isn’t it? When we hesitate or delay, we obviously have made a choice, and it could make a big difference in how things work out. Choosing may be hard, but it’s part of life’s growing experiences.

And if it seems evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve. (Joshua 24:15)

Influence II

The majority of us lead quiet, unheralded lives as we pass through this world. There will most likely be no ticker-tape parades for us, no monuments created in our honor. (Leo Buscaglia, late American author)

In spite of that, Buscaglia says, “But that does not lessen our possible impact. . . It’s overwhelming to consider the continuous opportunities there are to make our love felt.” We don’t have to be famous—or even recognized—to make an impression and influence others for good. Be gracious and kind and look for those you can help quietly—maybe even secretly.

[Those who fear the LORD] share freely and give generously to those in need. They will have influence and honor. (Psalm 112:9)

Influence I

You have a little bit of opportunity and a little bit of time on earth. What are you going to do with it? (Mike Lee, pastor)

We don’t like to think about it too often, but it’s undeniable that life is all too short. People seem to be living longer nowadays, but still, we all have to consider how best to use the time God has given us. Will we live those hours and days completely for our own enjoyment and pleasure, or will we contribute to society in a way that will benefit others well into the future?

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. (Hebrews 10:24)

Change 

Life gives you two choices. Regret the past or change the present. (From When We Were Young by Karen Kingsbury, fiction author)

Kingsbury continues, “You can never go back, so make the change. Start today. Life is not a dress rehearsal.” While the Christian believes that there is more than just this life, this author’s counsel is helpful for today. If we are always focused on the failures of the past, we will never be able to face today with hope and purpose. Make the changes needed to live productively.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Encouragement

A word of encouragement during a failure is worth more than an hour of praise after a success. (Source Unknown)

Do you remember what it was like to be part of a winning team or to achieve something special? The compliments and awards were really great, weren’t they? But the words of praise are soon forgotten, and the awards are soon collecting dust. So, remember those words of encouragement that contributed to your success and share them with others whenever you can!

Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. (Ephesians 4:29)

Independence Day

May we think of freedom not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right. (Peter Marshall, late chaplain of the U.S. Senate)

Americans celebrate this day in recognition of the winning of independence from a tyrannical government. Too often, however, we celebrate our personal freedoms as if we can just do anything we want to bring us satisfaction, no matter how it may affect others. Marshall’s statement, however, ought to cause us to think more deeply about how we exercise our liberties. 

Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. (Psalm 82:3)