Daily Stop & Thinks

Life                                                    

For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin — real life. But. . . (Alfred D’Souza, Catholic prelate in India)

He continues, “. . .there was always some obstacle in the way. Something to be got through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin.” He rightly concluded, “that these obstacles were my life.” Live now, don’t wait to begin living!

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)

Identity

Don’t allow someone else’s opinion of you become your reality. (Les Brown, motivational speaker, and author)

To a lot of people, the opinion of others about them is a sensitive subject. Many are easily hurt when they are criticized. Others take great pride when they are complimented or given credit for some personal achievement. Brown’s wise advice is a good guide for us. Others’ opinions are one thing, but they are not our real identity. Know yourself for who God has made you to be.

So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them. (Genesis 1:21)

Judgment                                           

Have you noticed in your past experience that your kind interpretations were almost always truer than your harsh ones? (Lawrence G. Lovasik, 20^th century clergyman)

Many of us are guilty of jumping to conclusions. We see or hear a bit of news, and we immediately think we have enough knowledge to either commend or condemn what we’ve heard without further investigation. Our judgments are premature and too often they prove to be wrong. What a tragedy to judge someone wrongly. Be careful before you make the next jump!

Get the truth and never sell it; also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment (Proverbs 23:23).

Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly (John 7:24).

Time II

There [is] always, to our way of thinking, a connection between the things we [value] most and our personal obligations or efforts. (Clarence Thomas, associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court)

Thomas seems to be suggesting that the way we use our time is largely based on what we value, what we consider to be important or essential. If we hold integrity in high regard, we spend our time in honest and upright endeavors. If we hold to a high work ethic, we will strive to do our best to pursue excellence in everything we do.

Those who obey [the king] will not be punished. Those who are wise will find a time and a way to do what is right. (Ecclesiastes 8:5)

Time I

Time is what we want most but use worst. (William Penn, 17^th-18^th century American leader)

We may have different talents and opportunities, but we all have an equal amount of time. How we spend that time, beyond required school or work hours, is mostly an individual choice. And even then, we often determine how we use our time at school or in the office. Time management may be the most important issue in determining our future success.

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. (Ephesians 5:15-16) (KJV: “redeeming the time.”)

Hardships

Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny. (C. S. Lewis, late British scholar)

What makes a soldier a hero? How does one who’s good at a sport become a superstar? What’s behind the creator of a masterpiece in art or music? There is some innate natural talent to begin with, for sure. And there has been a lot of hard work and persistence in practice and preparation. In many cases, it has also involved overcoming a great difficulty that has resulted in success.

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7)

Legacy

Create your legacy by fulfilling your potential. (Gino Norris, psychology therapist)

As we age, we begin to think about the future—not our own, perhaps, as much as of our family members and close friends. How will we be remembered? What kind of legacy will we leave them? The answer to these questions lies in the way we’re living now. Are we living up to our potential and building something worth leaving to them?

Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren. (Proverbs 13:22)

Word and Thoughts

The problem isn’t what comes out of our mouth. The problem is what’s in our heart. (Mike Lee, pastor)

The increasing lack of civility in our communities today includes words and expressions that were once considered vulgar. To avoid the worst of those terms a lot of people use euphemisms, terms that have a more acceptable sound but whose meaning is easily understood. Lee is correct in noting that it isn’t the particular word but the heart’s intent that reveals a person’s true thought.

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)

Tax Day

The only thing that hurts more than paying an income tax is not having to pay an income tax. (Thomas Dewar, 19^th-20^th centuries Scottish businessman)

For most Americans today is the last day to pay their income taxes or suffer interest and penalties for late filing. There are lots of complaints about taxes—including the difficulty in understanding the tax code. But tax revenues are essential to provide the services and protections citizens expect. Good citizens are fair and accurate in filing and paying.

So you must submit to [gov’t. authorities], not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. (Romans 13:5-6)

Perspective II

An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered. (G. K. Chesterton, 20^th century English writer)

 It’s really a question of how we look at life, isn’t it? The pessimist sees the half-empty cup while the optimist sees the cup as half full. When the unexpected happens to us, do we see it as an unwanted interruption or as an opportunity to learn, to reevaluate priorities, or, perhaps to help someone? It probably begins with our attitude toward life and our desire to be and do right.

The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right. (Psalm 34:15)

Perspective I

Your outlook determines the outcome. (paraphrase of Linda Brumbaugh, blog writer)

When you begin working on a project or seeking an answer to an important question, are you beginning with an open mind? Our worldview or perspective on life bears a significant impact on our searching. The pessimist is almost always discouraged by the end product of his research. The optimist, on the other hand, is usually pleased with what he finds. Seek with an open mind.

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:2)

Artists

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up. (Pablo Picasso, 20^th century Spanish artist)

Do you remember encouraging your crayon-wielding child to “stay in the lines”? Have we sometimes unintentionally restricted budding artists from experimenting as they learn how to develop their creative skills? Imagination may be the most important factor in creating good art. The young learner no doubt needs our encouragement more than our criticism.

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. (Romans 12:6)