GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: April 19, 2024

Integrity

Often, if there is no risk of loss or painful consequences, one will never know if one has integrity. (Sam Storms, theologian and teacher)

Storms continues, “One will never know if what motivates you is moral conviction or moral convenience until you are forced to suffer loss for standing your ground…” Suppose your employer offered a promotion or pay increase that would mean you had to compromise your values. To refuse could cost you your job. That’s when your integrity will be tested.

He is a shield to those who walk with integrity… People with integrity walk safely… The godly walk with integrity. (Proverbs 2:7; 10:9; 20:7)

Stop & Think: April 18, 2024

Using Time Well

It has been my observation that most people get ahead during the time that others waste time. (Henry Ford, early auto manufacturer)

One self-evident fact of life is that we all have the same amount of time each day and each year. How we use that time is what makes the difference. If we are healthy and of sound mind, there should surely be some evidence of the progress we’ve made. If Ford is right, we can judge our life by the way we use our time.

Those who are wise will find a time and a way to do what is right. (Ecclesiastes 8:5)

Stop & Think: April 17, 2024

Life’s Difficulties

A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner. (Franklin D. Roosevelt, late U.S. president)

The test of a sea-faring sailor is not how smoothly he or she sails over calm seas, but how they master the storm. When the high winds buffet and the waves threaten to sink them—that’s the time when sailors must use their training and skill to right the ship and bring it safely to harbor. It’s a perfect analogy of life. Our survival skills are developed through struggle and difficulty.

Is not all human life a struggle? (Job 7:1)
When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. (Isaiah 43:2)

Stop & Think: April 16, 2024

Making a Difference

If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito! (Kary Oberbrunner, author and motivational speaker)

Oberbrunner’s comment is a light but effective observation. A little mosquito or gnat can really affect our behavior as we try to ward them off. And, if the mosquito bites, the struggle is only beginning with the continual itch and discomfort. Take to heart the intended application. Each of us has the ability to affect others by our care, concern, and assistance or lack thereof.

“You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!” (Matthew 25:21)

Stop & Think: April 15, 2024

Tax Day

The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax. (Albert Einstein, renowned scientist)

If you haven’t filed your 2023 tax forms yet, you will need an extension or face penalties. Some have delayed probably because they just can’t understand the 1040 directions. If Einstein recognized the difficulty, how are the rest of us to file correctly? Fortunately, there are experts that can help. We do have a duty to pay our taxes and to support and pray for our leaders.

Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority. (Romans 13:7)

Stop & Think: April 14, 2024

Courage or Comfort

We can choose courage or we can choose comfort, but we can’t have both. Not at the same time. (Brené Brown, university professor and author)

Brown is probably not thinking about soldiers in warfare when there really isn’t any choice. It often takes courage to do what they have to do. Rather, it’s likely she’s referring to the choices between doing something we know we should do or putting it off till a more convenient time. It may take courage for us to move out of our “comfort zone” to accomplish any worthy project.

Don’t try to avoid doing your duty … Those who are wise will find a time and a way to do what is right. (Ecclesiastes 8:3, 5)

Stop & Think: April 13, 2024

Leisure or Rest?

Too often people are terrific at leisure but lousy at resting.(Paraphrase of author Allistair Begg)

Amusement parks, game arcades, and travel often fill up our leisure time to the max. Other leisure activities like video games, Netflix,  and social media occupy the little time left. We even return from vacations more tired than when we left. Begg is right. Most of us do not take time for solitude and rest, losing out on valuable physical and emotional refreshment.

Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” (Mark 6:31) 

Stop & Think: April 12, 2024

Quiet Time

We work, we play…we work, we play- but our spirits are neglected in the cycle. (William Wilberforce, 18th-19th century British philanthropist)

Get up, go to work, come home, eat supper, do some leisure activity or chores, go to bed—that’s probably the cycle of life for many people. Often the missing element is time to be quiet, to rest from the hustle-bustle of activity and open your mind and heart to something other than your schedule. Spending quiet time with God and His Word can lead to healthy changes in your life.

Be still, and know that I am God! (Psalm 46:10)

Stop & Think: April 11, 2024

Being Kind

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. (Marcel Proust, 20th-century French writer)

Life can be lonely. There are times when we are “alone in a crowd” no matter how many or few we’re with. It’s at times like those that a cheerful voice, even from a stranger, may brighten our spirit and completely change our momentary outlook. Be grateful for that kind person and try to do the same for someone else.

[Y]our comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer. (Psalm 94:19)
[A]n encouraging word cheers a person up. (Proverbs 12:25)

Stop & Think: April 10, 2024

Words 2

If we understood the power of our thoughts, we would guard them more closely. (Betty Eadie, American author)

Eadie continues: “If we understood the awesome power of our words, we would prefer silence to almost anything negative.” In the Bible. James reminds us that “. . . no one can tame the tongue.” It’s compared to a ship’s rudder or a horse’s bridle that is used to control a large ship or horse. To avoid verbal damage, we must ask God to help us control our tongues (words).

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: April 9, 2024

Words

Speech has power. Words do not fade. What starts out as a sound, ends in a deed. (Abraham Joshua Herschel, 20th-century Jewish theologian)

Words often come so easily and quickly that we don’t have our brain engaged soon enough to speak carefully and thoughtfully. Even when we do speak deliberately, we may not realize the influence our words can have now and even much later. Could we be responsible for what others do as a result of what they hear from us?

The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words. (Proverbs 15:28)

Stop & Think: April 8, 2024

Getting Even

Revenge is a two-edged sword. (from Aesop’s Fables)

When we’ve been offended, we rarely try to just “get even.” We want to hurt the offender even more than he or she hurt us. Many have learned, however, as Aesop infers, that we never get by without hurting ourselves at the same time. The Bible tells us to leave revenge to God; He will be just when he corrects the wrong. In turn, we must learn to forgive and be grateful to God.

Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:19)