God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. – Reinhold Niebuhr

I came to a (probably not to you) surprising conclusion – I can’t keep up. I can’t get it all done.

There’s no tip or trick or tweak I could make that would “solve the problem”.

The sands of the hour glass won’t stop.

My to dos, goals and aspirations will outstrip the hours in the day – every day.

This prayer is a reminder that we must use discernment – that not every objective is to be chased, not every expectation is to be met.

We must discern between good and great.

We must discern between laziness and rest.

We must discern between chasing the Joneses and competing to bring out our best.

We must discern between service and selfishness.

It all requires a level of maturity I have yet to master. But still, it seems a worthwhile objective.

Merry Christmas.

Jake

https://youtu.be/PFLq33xP35g

Pastor Ted preached on this one yesterday and the congregation sang together at the end.

In moments like that I usually start looking around the room and trying to pray for others around me.

Yesterday in particular I thought of all those going through difficult times who are in need of a prayer, a hug or some help.

Someone who has lost someone close.

Someone who has gotten an unexpected and devastating diagnosis.

Someone whose heart is broken.

Someone who can’t seem to shake the thing that is killing them.

At Mavidea/Maxlider I often say “there’s a lot of life happening in these 4 walls” and I had that same feeling as I looked around the room.

Church is a great place to think and pray on these things. God is the only solution to the real problems of life. Each of the stories around us are an opportunity to lean into God and His wisdom, love, joy and peace. Each story an opportunity to display His glory and power.

The most difficult circumstances often create the most powerful stories of redemption, healing and forgiveness.

Christmas is a great time to pray for those around us. Our friends, families and coworkers to be sure, but also all the strangers we encounter along life’s journey. Each one an opportunity to put a little more prayer, love, joy and peace into the world. The world can be a dark and lonely place – which is why a little light shines all the brighter.

Merry Christmas.

Jake

PS – In case you’re worried about me – I also think and pray for the joy and love that is in the room on Sundays as well. The babies, the happy couples, the smiling kids, the hearts being melted by the love of Jesus Christ. I’m thankful for all of them and see them all and others around me every Sunday.

https://youtu.be/Bzrkyy9h4x8

This is a favorite that gets the Davis family laughing and smiling around Christmas time.

Turn up your favorite Christmas jams today.

Merry Christmas.

Jake

The most worth-while thing is to try to put happiness into the lives of others. – Robert Baden-Powell

A phrase I think of often is “in service with love”.

What if you spent your whole life in service with love?

What if you could think that all the time?

What if you went from one act of loving service right into the next one?

I can’t make you any guarantees, but it sure seems like everything would turn out all right.

Probably not perfect, but probably a lot better than average (and probably better than it is today?).

A lofty goal, to be sure.

Make it a great day.

Jake

"Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person’s ultimate good as far as it can be obtained." – CS Lewis

Love is a central theme of the Christmas season.

We are reminded of the importance of the loving relationships in our lives and are inspired to love mankind in a way that seems to elude us the rest of the year.

CS Lewis has some great thoughts on the subject of love and this quote is a great reminder.

Love isn’t a feeling – it’s an action.

Either in how we think about and consider someone or better yet in what we do and say in response to those consistent and steady wishes for a loved one’s ultimate good.

Feed the flames of these thoughts and actions that Christmas inspires.

Keep it up through the New Year and on to next year.

Make it a great day.

Jake

We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do. – Mother Teresa

Reminder for all of us (or maybe just me?) – Christmas is a time of JOY!

We should be smiling.

Sure, there’s lots of work to do.

Sure, things don’t always go as planned.

Sure, my foot hurts real bad (that was hopefully just for me).

There are a lot of reasons to smile too….

Christmas.

Baby Jesus being born all those years ago.

Friends.

Family.

Presents.

Decorations.

Food.

Let’s all make an effort to smile more this Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

Jake

A player who makes a team great is more valuable than a great player. Losing yourself in the group, for the good of the group — that’s teamwork.

The star of the team is the team. ‘We’ supersedes ‘me.

Consider the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights.

ou

We don’t have to be superstars or win championships…. All we have to do is learn to rise to every occasion, give our best effort, and make those around us better as we do it.

The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team.

John Wooden – quotes on teamwork.

Maggie and I have been watching Hoosiers as we’ve started another high school basketball season at our house.

It’s a classic story of the small town under dog team that puts it all together for a magical season.

A group of individuals learn to put the team first and to believe in each other.

For some reason – we were made to work together towards goals. We are at our best when we are giving our best to others in pursuit of something important.

What would it look like at Mavidea/Maxlider if we all leaned into this a little bit more?

What have been some of the moments when we’ve done this best?

What should we be doing to cultivate this more?

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/gtM8BRF7Bd0

I’ve probably sent this song out every Christmas season even though it probably isn’t on many Christmas playlists.

To me it tells the story of the season and the story behind Christmas as well as any traditional Christmas song.

The story of Jesus and his birth told against the backdrop of God’s plan for all of humankind is the whole point of Christmas.

It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of Christmas with all of the to dos and happenings, but it’s important to reminder the bigger story.

That God sent his one and only son to live and die for you and wants to live in you for the rest of your days here and forever with you in Heaven.

Make it a great day.

Jake

December 1st – time to admit that Christmas and the end of the year will be here soon enough.

Time to embrace the joy and giving of Christmas.

Time to put the bow on those goals for 2022.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have. – Margaret Mead

I think of this quote often at our little group of companies.

We aren’t quite doing a bazillion dollars in business or making the Forbes list, but we are making a difference.

We are influencing each other and our clients in ways we can’t imagine.

How we work together and the values we build into the culture of who we are will have a lasting impact on all of us.

It’s no small thing. What we do matters.

Make it a great day.

Jake