Love can change a person the way a parent can change a baby — awkwardly, and often with a great deal of mess.

Not sure where I found this quote.

Two important ideas here.

First – people can and do change. Maybe awkwardly and with a great deal of mess, but they do. We get to choose how awkwardly and how big of a mess.

Second – love is messy. It requires vulnerability and sets us up for heartbreak.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. – 1 Timothy 6:6-10

Monday morning reminder – less stuff, more contentment.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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Resending this one from a few years ago….

https://youtu.be/WTJSt4wP2ME

This song and video remind of videos I’ve seen in the past of churches in Africa.

It’s such a wake up call to see people celebrating God in such a meaningful way while living in huts with little to no “modern amenities”.

The “stuff” that we (or maybe just me) worry and stress about losing or being judged for not having or not having enough of is not what we actually need to find joy.

Find some joy today – joy in the important and real parts of your life – your family, friends, God, your health, etc.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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“Make each day your masterpiece.” — John Wooden

Maggie’s track coach has this as his email signature.

It’s a great reminder to do our best with today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Start of a new month today. One third of 2024 is already in the books.

This quote is a reminder to be done with it.

Take what you did and where you are and build from there. Wherever there is.

You can wish there was someplace else.

You could compare there with someone else’s.

Or you could get to work.

Making it into something worthwhile. In service with love.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club. – Jack London

Jim Rohn talks about discipline being the ultimate virtue, as it unlocks so many other opportunities.

This quote is a reminder that we can’t wait around for life to come and inspire and motivate us. We can’t wait for the brilliant idea or perfect opportunity.

I think Jim Rohn was talking about this very idea when he described discipline as the most important virtue.

Only when we have the discipline to continually pursue growth and change do we get the inspiration we desired at the beginning.

We fall into the trap of thinking that when the inspiration comes along we will have the motivation to develop the discipline.

It’s just not true.

The time to start developing discipline is today.

Begin with something small.

Drink water instead of something sugary.

Skip the drive through for coffee and save the money and brew your own.

Pick up the dirty clothes on the floor instead of waiting for your spouse to do it.

Make the bed.

Eat a healthy lunch.

Get started.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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We must not allow other people’s limited perceptions to define us. – Virginia Satir

It’s easy to fall into the trap of valuing other’s opinions too much.

To allow ourselves to spend our life worrying about what others think.

To place those opinions too highly on our lists.

Make it a point to think more clearly about where your value comes from and where to look to see where you should go next.

Make it a great day.

Jake

I’ll add “unless you’re a jerk, and people who actually care about you deeply have made that very clear”. Then should probably listen and make some changes.

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https://youtu.be/cJqjlFGZxtE?si=WJii2Y_M_YpOq7P-

Part of the change from winter to spring and spring to summer are the beautiful mornings along the way.

Enjoy some of the sunrises and sunsets as the weather warms up and the sun shines a little more each day.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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"You should never be proud of doing what’s right. You should just do what’s right." – Dean Smith, former University of North Carolina basketball coach

A long time ago I read a biography of Dean Smith. What has stuck with me from that book was that he had a few simple rules and stuck with them.

It seems to me that part of his success was built by having unwavering discipline on certain things but flexibility in others.

Think about your own life and what is most important.

Maybe you make a rule limiting the amount of work hours each week so you can spend more time with your family.

Maybe you make a rule around physical activity or diet.

Maybe you make a rule to never let a month go by without doing a budget.

Whatever your rules, stick with them. Pick just a few, but don’t let them slide.

If you are having a really hard time with discipline, pick just one. Make just one simple rule and stick to it. Just for a day to start. Then for two, then for a week. Just get started.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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“The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely.” – Louisa May Alcott

Meaghan and Annie have really enjoyed Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.

I liked this quote from her because it reminded me of Meaghan.

She’s good at noticing the beauty in nature and the little things around the house and finding some joy in the work of an artist or God’s artistry.

We have all heard the phrase “stop and smell the roses”.

It’s easy to focus on the stop part. To think of slowing down our super busy, frantic pace.

Don’t forget the smells the roses part too. Find beauty in the humble things to make home happy and life lovely.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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