https://youtu.be/5YgevxRGXIU?si=zpW2AzKp1ca-eeSB

Summer time. The days have been long and hot this week.

The weather is a great reminder of (at least) two things.

First – we are not in control. We don’t get to pick warm or cold, rainy or sunny.

Second – we get to choose our attitude. Is it too hot to do anything. Too rainy to go outside. Or is it a great day to go the pool or stay inside and read a book.

Make it a great day.

Jake

In Earl Nightingale’s “Direct Line” he explains how to increase our income.

He explains that other people are in possession of all the income we want, we must simply find a way to earn it.

After listening to this for the 10th+ time, a light bulb went off for me (I’m a little slow). The same rule applies to a lot of the other areas of life where we are looking for something that others have.

Whether it be love, friendship, knowledge, companionship, respect….we must earn it.

And like money, when we don’t first earn it, it doesn’t stay around long.

We have all heard the stories of the lottery winner or professional athlete that has lost their millions and now is filing bankruptcy.

The same is true elsewhere. If we want something of value, we must earn it. Otherwise it probably won’t be around for long.

Is there something in your life you have been looking for that you haven’t earned yet?

What step can you take today to start earning that which you desire?

Make it a great day.

Jake

Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. – Thomas A. Edison

This sentiment runs throughout history. Stories of people who gave up when success was just around the corner. Times when everything seemed the darkest but the light was right around the corner.

It’s always darkest right before the dawn.

I’m guessing most of us having something like this in our lives right now.

We are starting an exercise regimen, but it just seems like too much time to keep going.

We have been saving and sticking to a budget but then a big expense comes up.

We have been working hard and making progress but then our biggest client leaves.

There are these points in life when we have to decide to bear down and make it through it. Success lies on the other side of these moments.

Take courage in this thought this morning. Success lies on the other side of whatever difficulty you are now facing.

Make it a great day.

Jake

People only see what they are prepared to see. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Our perspective matters.

Most of us have a heightened awareness when it comes to the negative.

We’re quick to notice when things don’t go our way.

To notice the areas of life where we fall short.

Thank God that we are capable of reprogramming that kind of thinking.

Try it out today.

If you’re already good at it, take it up a notch.

Notice all the good around you.

Take note of the wonder all around you.

Make it a great day.

Jake

A man is what he thinks about all day long. – Ralph Waldo Emerson    
Monday morning reminder – watch your thoughts.
Just because you think it – doesn’t mean it’s true.
We become what we think about. Fill your thoughts with good.
Make it a great day.
Jake

https://youtu.be/nJq7J2uzSlc?si=cARvO7SVKmp4u4AK

Annie has spent the last couple of week practicing and performing her flute in the local production of Guys and Dolls.

We’re often admonished on both sides for “rocking the boat”.

We’re encouraged to break from the status quo and change things up.

We’re encouraged to not change things that have always been and to stick with what works.

Life is full of choices like this. To rock the boat or not.

Andy Stanley suggests asking yourself “What would a wise man do?” in response to these situations.

Wisdom can be sought after and used to know when to change things up and when to stick with it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. – Lao Tzu

Reading this quote I imagined a meandering creek or river, lazily taking its time moving water from one place to another.

This week, work to hurry less.

Take a deep breath.

Relax your body.

Take the time to do it right the first time.

Make it a great day.

Jake

He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough. – Lao Tzu

The endless pursuit of more and better stuff is bad news bears….

It’s not good for you on the soul level.

Stop it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS – Sorry for the old man rant. This is probably mostly a message/reminder for myself.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” – Luke 15:20

This line from the story of the prodigal son stuck out to me on a podcast I listened to recently.

The prodigal son had to take the first step – to admit he was better off in his father’s house and to head that way.

But his father saw him “while he was still a long way off” and went to him. The father met him more than halfway.

Our Father in heaven wants to do the same for us.

The first step is up to us. We must admit that we are better off in His house.

I believe this principle works in other areas too. Take the first step and you’ll be met more than halfway, most of the time.

Monday is a great day for first steps.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/NADx3-qRxek?si=2wUEVM8uN30QjKyx

One of the greatest blessings in my life is that I was lucky enough to meet Meaghan at a relatively young age.

Tomorrow marks our 23rd anniversary and I still frequently think something along the lines of “God only knows where I’d be without you”.

Hard to speculate what would be different – but I know for certain it would be worse.

I have never once come up with a version where things would be better.

It’s likely we all have people in our lives who fall into this category – God only knows where we’d be without them.

Come up with somebody who made that kind of impact in your life and tell them – today.

Make it a great day.

Jake