GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: July 15, 2022

Truth-telling

Fear comes from focusing on the costs of speaking up. Courage comes from focusing on the costs of staying silent. (Ashley Judd, American actress)

With so many “peaceful demonstrations” and activists of all kinds taking to public forums, there is certainly no lack of people “speaking up.” No doubt many honest thinkers are reluctant to speak out because of the potential hurtful rhetoric in return. However, if truth-seekers remain silent, how will others learn about the legitimate truths that need to be told? Speak up!

An honest witness tells the truth; a false witness tells lies . . . Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed (Proverbs 12:17, 19).

Stop & Think: July 14, 2022

Expectations 2

It is the nature of man to rise to greatness if greatness is expected of him. (John Steinbeck, 20th century Nobel Prize winning writer)

This says a lot about expectations, doesn’t it? If someone senses that not much is expected of him or her, very likely that person won’t achieve greatness. Why should he or she strive for something others don’t think they can obtain? It would be better for us to help someone move forward by letting them know we think they can do it and encouraging them all along the way.

Don’t use foul or abusive language. 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 13, 2022

Expectations 1

It’s hard to know what expectations you have until they’re not met. (Jeff Redland, college campus pastor)

Sometimes we really don’t know what our expectations are for a certain situation. We want a happy outcome, but what will that look like? When the time comes, however, we realize that we were expecting something quite different. We couldn’t have put our thumb on it, but now we know what we really wanted. Be realistic in your expectations to avoid disappointment.

Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly (Psalm 5:3).

Stop & Think: July 12, 2022

Time

I will live in the past, the present, and the future! (Charles Dickens, 19th century English writer)

We often hear that we can’t live in the past or future, so we must concentrate on the here and now. However, Dickens may have a point. Our past certainly has affected us in both positive and negative ways. We must learn those lessons. And, of course, as we live today, we have to be planning and preparing for the future. So, yes, we do live in a three-dimensional time frame.

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

Stop & Think: July 11, 2022

Humility 2

True greatness is accompanied by humility. (Rob Singleton, author and storyteller)

The fame of many popular artists, actors, sports figures, and politicians is often rather short-lived. The next “great” person on stage or in the record book will usually make us forget the former stars. But the humble person who takes his status with a realistic understanding of self and achievement will be long remembered.

Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor (Proverbs 29:23).

Stop & Think: July 10, 2022

Humility 1

The know-it-all has nothing to learn. (Antonin Scalia, late US supreme court justice)

He said, “[The] attitude of humility before the breadth of knowledge mankind has accumulated, and before the even greater breadth of the unknown, is the beginning of wisdom.” We’ve all known a “know-it-all.” And we quickly discovered that he or she wasn’t really as knowledgeable as they thought. A little humility would have made it easier to listen and understand.

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 9, 2022

Being and Doing

What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality. (Plutarch, ancient Greek philosopher)

To put it another way: what we are is more important than what we do, because what we are determines what we do. Conversely, what we do reflects what we really are. It’s important, of course, to perfect our skills and abilities. But when we are careful to develop our heart, mind, and attitudes, we will be most effective in the use of our physical abilities.

A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart (Luke 6:45).

Stop & Think: July 8, 2022

First Things First

When your priorities are confused, don’t be surprised if you are, too! (Kenneth J. Brown, author)

What do I do next? What should I concentrate on today? When should I schedule my next appointment? These are questions we all face from time to time, and the question is how do we make our choices? It’s usually a question of convenience or our feelings at the moment of decision, but it ought to be on the basis of what is really most important in the long run.

Jesus: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39).

Stop & Think: July 7, 2022

Focus

What we focus on makes all the difference. (Ruth Rupp, grandmotherly advice)

Rupp emphasizes: “We can’t always change our circumstances, but we can choose what we focus on.” How often do we wish we could change things around us? If we just had a different job; if my family would be more understanding; if, if, if…     Keep this simple but helpful advice in mind: be careful about the focus of your attention and life.

The Apostle Paul, “I have not achieved it (perfection), but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead” (Philippians 4:13).

Stop & Think: July 6, 2022

World Changer

It’s ridiculous to want to change the world without acknowledging that we need to change ourselves. (Eugene Cho, pastor and author)

Many years ago, a Russian author expressed the same idea: “Everybody thinks of changing humanity, and nobody thinks of changing himself” (Leo Tolstoy). As you watch or read the news today, don’t you often think of ways you would change things if you only had the position and authority to do so? Start with yourself and then your influence may affect much larger change.

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity (1 Timothy 4:12).

Stop & Think: July 5, 2022

Our Gifts

Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well. (Josh Billings, pen name of 19th century American humorist Henry Wheeler Shaw.)

We often wish we had been dealt better cards, that is, that our heritage, environment, gifting, and personality were different somehow. We think that if only we could change those things, we would be and do so much better. That’s questionable, of course, but what is more important, as Billings suggests, is that we work hard to improve and use well what we’ve been given.

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: July 4, 2022

Independence Day

There [can] be no freedom without each of us discharging our responsibilities. (Paraphrase of Clarence Thomas, supreme court justice)

On this important holiday, we most often think of the liberties and freedom that were won for us by our Founding Fathers at great personal cost. But Thomas points us to the equally important duty of all of us to preserve our freedoms. He wrote, “There [is] always . . . a connection between the things we [value] most and our personal obligations or efforts [to sustain them].

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. (Galatians 5:13)