GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: July 6, 2021

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)

Stop & Think: July 5, 2021

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)

Stop & Think: July 4, 2021

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)

Stop & Think: July 3, 2021

Fear

There are more things. . . that frighten us than injure us, and we suffer more in imagination than in reality. (Seneca, first century Roman philosopher)

There are lots of dangers in the world, of course: natural disasters, economic collapses, pandemics, and more. But, generally speaking, the possibilities of our suffering from any of them are fairly remote. It’s our imagined fears, as Seneca suggests, that are really debilitating. So, don’t put off pursuing your goals because of things you imagine could go wrong.

But all who listen to me (God’s wisdom) will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm. (Proverbs 1:33)

Stop & Think: July 2, 2021

Greatness II

A great man is always willing to be little. (Ralph Waldo Emerson, 19th century essayist)

We seem to equate public accomplishment or presence with greatness. If your picture is in the paper or on TV often, it must be because of something great you’ve accomplished. But the person who makes the greatest achievements may be the one who is behind the scenes—the man or woman who doesn’t seek fame but wants to help others be successful.

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. (James 3:13)

Stop & Think: July 1, 2021

Greatness I

Not everybody can be famous, but everybody can be great, because greatness is determined by service. (Martin Luther King, Jr, late civil rights leader)

This may not be one of Dr. King’s most famous statements, but it certainly is a great criterion to consider. People whose leadership has been most successful have been those who may have reached a noteworthy achievement but who have also accomplished something worthy in service to others. Think of Mother Teresa or Helen Keller, for example.

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. (1 Peter 4:10)

Stop & Think: June 30, 2021

Hate vs. Love

No one is born hating another person. . . People must learn to hate. (C. S. Lewis, late British author)

Lewis continues, “. . .and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love. . .” Even infants seem to respond well to others; they smile and maybe reach out. It’s only as we grow and face disappointment or hurt that we may develop an attitude of dislike and hatred. A loving environment is the best means of teaching the art of a loving spirit.

The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:5)

Stop & Think: June 29, 2021

Humility

Humility comes before honor. (The Bible)

Humility is a quality difficult to acquire and maintain. With the least little accomplishment, the human heart tends to become proud, to accept the plaudits of the crowd as deserving. The Bible also says, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment” (Romans 13:3). We must not pretend to be humble; just live humbly.

Dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5)

Stop & Think: June 28, 2021

Pride

When pride comes, then comes disgrace (The Bible).

We’ve all probably experienced this downfall from pride. Remember when you accomplished something worthy and how proud you were? That’s not altogether bad; it’s proper to take pride in your work. But when that pride hangs on, it often leads to arrogance. How many times have we seen this in the political world? Be real; accept applause but move on to do even better.

Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor. (Proverbs 11:2; 29:23)

Stop & Think: June 27, 2021

Reputation

Reputation makes you rich or makes you poor; Character makes you happy or makes you miserable. (William Hershey Davis, author)

Davis continues, “Reputation is what men say about you on your tombstone; Character is what angels say about you before the throne of God.” Public figures are often greatly concerned about what people think of them, their reputation. But what is most important is that their reputation reflects character and integrity. That will win the approval of both men and God.

Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold. (Proverbs 22:1)

Stop & Think: June 26, 2021

Significance

The desire to be special and significant is cut deep in our souls, a primal fire waiting only to be set free. (Neil Cole, author)

Is Cole right? Do you have a burning desire to be noticed, to have a significant impact around you? Perhaps it’s to be a hall-of-fame athlete or a prize-winning Olympian. Or maybe it’s something less obvious but still a longed-for achievement. No doubt, it would be far better if our desire for significance would be less self-centered and more targeted to helping others.

Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. (1 Peter 4:11)

Stop & Think: June 25, 2021

Advocacy

Those who are really in earnest [about reform] must be willing to be anything or nothing in the world’s estimation. . . (Susan B. Anthony, 19th-20th century women’s rights activist)

Anthony continues “. . . and publicly and privately, in season and out, avow their sympathy with despised and persecuted ideas and their advocates, and bear the consequences.” Many activists are adamant about their views and might be involved in significant controversy. It’s important advice to consider both the value and the consequences of your advocacy for a cause.

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more. (1 Corinthians 9:19)