Daily Stop & Thinks

The Harvest

Always do your best. What  you plant now, you will harvest later. (Og Mandino, American writer)

Or, as the saying goes, “You reap what you sow.” Using Mandino’s analogy, if you’re planting seeds to produce flowers or fruit, you use the very best seed you can along with proper feeding, weeding, and watering. If you don’t, the result will be a less beautiful or bountiful harvest. So, whatever you do, do it with the same kind of diligence and excellence.

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up (Galatians 6:9).

Excellence

Celebrate any action. Don’t wait for perfection. (Ann McGee Cooper, late business consultant)

If we’re happy with “good enough,” it’s hard to get along with someone who’s a perfectionist. But it’s not an excuse to be content with the way things are, nor to do less than our best. Our goal is to strive toward perfection by pursuing excellence in whatever we do and celebrating our positive progress.

Make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge (2 Peter 1:5).

Influence

Your influence in the lives of others depends not on whether you can impress them but on whether you can uplift them. (Chris Tiegreen, devotional writer)

Whether it’s a matter of pride in our abilities or achievements or merely a desire to make friends, most of us want to make a good impression on others. But, as Tiegreen suggests, there is more to it than just making an impression. Our purpose in building relationships should be to influence others for good and that involves encouraging them in every way possible.

Those who fear the Lord . . . share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor (Psalm 112:1, 9).

Criticism

Never take criticism from someone you wouldn’t take advice from. (Dushka Zapata, communications coach)

Whether you’re an author, a public figure, or totally unknown, criticism—especially negative or mistaken—can hurt. When that happens, Zapata’s advice is helpful. Be careful to consider the source. Is your critic someone you respect and might even go to for advice? Then you can be confident in listening to their evaluation.

In the end, people appreciate honest criticism far more than flattery (Proverbs 28:23).

Happy?

Happy people don’t always have the best of everything. But they know  how to make the best of what they have. (Source unknown)

Have you seen the bumper sticker that says, “He who dies with the most toys wins”? That may be a popular sentiment, but in reality, people with a lot of stuff are not always happy. They often just want more. Many people who have  very little of this world’s goods have learned how to be content with what they have, make good use of it, and find pleasure in doing so.

I have learned how to be content with whatever I have (Philippians 4:11).

Words and Deeds

Let love through all our actions run; words are leaves; deeds are fruits. (Julia Wood, short story author)

“Actions speak louder than words.” It’s what we do that confirms what we say or reveals our hypocrisy. As Wood implies, even nice words may sound good, but our actions will reveal their true meaning. Life could be different if we all ran our thoughts and words through a filter to be sure everything we do and say reflects an attitude of care and concern for those who hear us.

Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father (Matthew 5:16).

Another New Start

This morning, the sun endures past dawn. I realise that it is August: the summer’s last stand. (Sara Baume, Irish novelist)

Are daylight hours really beginning to seem shorter? It’s only August; summer is not over, but “back to school” ads are already running! On the other hand, a new month provides a golden opportunity for a fresh start—another 31 days to be changed and to make a change. Perhaps today is the day to start on those projects you were planning to begin in the fall.

So don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time (Matthew 6:34).

Struggles

The struggle you’re in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow. (Robert Tew, author)

When we are facing the struggles of life, we ask “Why”? Why is this happening to me? Why now? In the midst of the struggle and the questions, Tew suggests: “Don’t give up!” Why not?

Because we often cannot see how we can use our current problems to better prepare us for issues we may face in the future. Look back a bit to see if that has not been true in the past.

Is not all human life a struggle? (Job 7:10) . . . we work hard and continue to struggle for our hope is in the living God (1Timothy 4:10).

Honesty

Honor lies in honest toil. (Grover Cleveland, 22^nd U. S. president)

Too many people have been victims of dishonest workers. Signing contracts for house repairs and paying a good bit in advance, they waited patiently for the work to be completed only to have jobs half-finished and their money is “in the wind.” It’s difficult to judge one’s honesty, but good people will live lives of integrity, leaving no doubt that their word is their good bond.

Yes, what joy for those . . . whose lives are lived in complete honesty! (Psalm 32:2) Honesty guides good people (Proverbs 11:3).

Dreams 3

There are some people who live in a dream world. And there are some who face reality. (Desiderius Erasmus, 16^th century Dutch theologian)

Naomi Osaka pursued her realistic dream of being a tennis star, and with hard work achieved it. Others, however, hope to reach an unrealistic dream’s goal. But, as Erasmus suggests, “. . . then there are those who turn one into the other.” Perhaps even the unrealistic dream can be achieved through diligent effort. Think of the many things we use today because of an inventor’s dream.

And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful! (Psalm  90:17)

Dreams 2

Dreams don’t have to just be dreams. You can make [them] a reality. (Naomi Osaka, Japanese tennis player)

As a child, Osaka may have dreamed about becoming a tennis star. Imagining wasn’t enough, of course. The hard work of training, discipline, and practice was required to achieve her status as No.1.  She advises: “. . .  if you just keep pushing and keep trying, then eventually you’ll reach your goal.” Not everyone reaches No. 1 but following her advice will take you a long way.

It is pleasant to see dreams come true . . . hard work brings rewards . . . those who work hard will prosper . . . Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity (Proverbs 13:19; 12:14; 13:3; 21:5).

Dreams 1

It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting. (Paulo Coelho, Brazilian lyricist and novelist)

From childhood we all have had dreams and hopes about the future. Adult “dreams” become even more hopeful when circumstances, events, and resources are in place that might be the means to get what we’re hoping and working toward. By faith hopes become certain as God is both the source and fulfiller of our dreams.

So God has given both his promise and his oath . . . This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls (Hebrews 6:18, 19).