The best place to find God is in a garden. You can dig for him there. – George Bernard Shaw

Spring time is a great time to be a gardener.

I’m not really into gardening myself but know enough people that are to know the truth of the quote above.

God can be found in hard work. In planting and planning for a harvest. In care and attention applied to growth and bearing of fruit.

God is a creator. He and we find joy in creation.

Even if you aren’t a gardener yourself, lean into the principles of sowing and harvesting this spring.

If you are a gardener, make sure to look for God while you are out there.

Make it a great day.

Jake

The sea hath fish for every man. – William Camden

There is enough for everyone.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of “not enough”.

We focus on what we don’t have or what others have.

We fret and worry about how there won’t be enough to go around.

We let time and opportunity slip through our fingers while we look at what isn’t.

Instead – we can focus on the opportunity and the oceans full of fish.

Make it a great day.

Jake

A good laugh is sunshine in the house. – William Makepeace Thackeray

A good amount of our day to day problems could be helped with more laughter.

Try to laugh more today!

Watch this or something else you like to get you off to a good start!

https://youtu.be/ydAyvvDQrgY?si=5Svl_YI9Q7IpWn-5

Make it a great day.

Jake

Tomorrow is only found in the calendar of fools. – Og Mandino

Monday morning reminder – today is the day!

Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.

If you have something that’s been nagging you – get it done or get started today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/MBfK4UoHsuo?si=mdvCb3wTgQ0tzkBR

My favorite line is the first one “the rainy day is temporary”.

No matter how dark it gets, night will turn to day.

No matter how cold it gets, winter will turn to spring.

No matter how bad it seems, it will get better.

If it’s raining right now in your life, never lose hope that things will turn around.

Make it a great day.

Jake

The Widow’s Offering – Mark 12:41-44

41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

An important component in life is the giving of ourselves in service to others.

It’s easy to get caught up in just the monetary aspect of the story. Maybe even feel bad because you haven’t given "enough" of the dollars you have earned.

And while I think that is an important element of the story, I believe that maybe a more important idea in today’s world is giving all of ourselves in service to others.

In service to our families.

In service to our church or favorite local charity.

In service to our clients.

In service to our teammates.

Make it a great day of service.

Jake

Everything has been figured out, except how to live. – Jean-Paul Sartre

At first read, I thought this was kind of a depressing quote.

But then I thought it represented freedom.

We have freedom in how we choose to live.

We have to live within the principles that work.

After that, a good life can be lived in many different ways.

We get to choose and create.

We get to build and adjust.

Let’s get to work!

Make it a great day.

Jake

Resending this email from a few years ago as a reminder to not be so hurried/busy – mostly to myself…

One of the greatest attacks of the enemy is to make you busy, to make you hurried, to make you noisy, to make you distracted, to fill the people of God and the Church of God with so much noise and activity that there is no room for prayer. There is no room for being alone with God. There is no room for silence. There is no room for meditation. – Paul Washer

Not sure about you, but the last year or so sure has felt “busy”.

I’ve been actively working on being less hurried (still a lot of work to do).

It’s too easy to confuse productive and busy. We are all the same amount of busy – 24 hours goes by at the same rate for all of us.

We run around trying to win the “busy contest” that everyone seems to be competing in. Cramming in less meaningful activities until we aren’t productive at all.

God, our spouses, our children, our co-workers, family members, exercise, study, etc. get crowded out in exchange for social media, TV, gossip, complaining, junk food, etc.

Fill your time up with the good stuff. 24 hours will be gone again before you know it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Over the weekend the military initiated activities in Iran.

I’ve read enough books on war and war time to know that this is causing pain (probably a little more obvious to all of you). For the soldiers involved, their families and all the people on the ground facing the devastation.

I’m also reminded that all of us have our part to play.

For most of us, I think that part is prayer.

Prayer for those affected.

Prayer for those in combat.

Prayer for those making decisions.

Prayer for those who come home forever changed.

Prayer for those families of the loved ones who never come home.

Prayer that this all ends quickly.

Prayer that good will win out over evil.

Special request for this week – will you pray with me? In your own way, in your own time. Make space to pray.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/2O3mt1gwttA?si=klsg1Ym6oNquPA4q

Spring time is almost upon us.

It’s a great time to enjoy new growth and opportunities.

It’s a great time to "get out there" and embrace the chance at change.

Try something new this spring.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Looking for some ideas – here’s a quick list to try:
Read instead of watching TV.
Walk outside.
Get up early.
Call somebody you haven’t talked to in a while.
Make a gratitude list every morning.