https://youtu.be/OuFnpmGwg5k

(Another Taylor Swift song! Seriously Jake, what is your problem!)

Sorry….apparently we listen to too much T Swizzle at our house.

This song has been stuck in my head the last couple of Sundays at church.

And isn’t it just so pretty to think

All along there was some

Invisible string

Tying you to me?

My sincere wish each Sunday is that more of us might realize there is an invisible string tying us to our Creator. That He is pulling on that string. That He wants us close to Him. Forever.

In the song Taylor tells the stories of the ups and downs of coming together with her love. She describes moments and how they now make it clear that the two are tied together. Maybe the same is true of our relationship with our Heavenly Father? All these little details and moments – meant to bring us close to Him.

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS – This may not be well thought out, but I think of the string as love itself. Love is what ties us to each other and to God.

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Love begins by taking care of the closest ones – the ones at home. – Mother Teresa

Andy Stanley has a line that goes something like “do for one what you wish you could do for all”.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with all that life has coming at us. Work obligations. Family obligations. TV. Marketing. Social Media. Bible studies. Exercise. Junk food.

When I feel overwhelmed I try to focus on doing the next right thing.

Oftentimes that means showing love to the person in front of me.

Focus on those closest to. Think about what love would require of you. And then do that. Again and again.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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It’s always too early to quit. – Norman Vincent Peale

So much of the good stuff in life depends on our ability to see things through. To stick with it even when things aren’t easy.

This is a great reminder this time of year.

Don’t give up on your goals yet.

Even if you are behind, stick with it.

Even if you’ve fallen flat on your face, stick with it.

It’s always too early to quit.

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS – If you haven’t read any of Norman Vincent Peale’s books – you should!

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To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment. – Jane Austen

Summer is almost over. School will start. The leaves will turn. And the green of summer will be gone again.

I’ve come to believe that humans were made to sit. Just sit. In nature. Quietly and peacefully. Listening and watching. Breathing deeply.

Certainly not something I do a great job of, but something I’m realizing is important.

Make some time to get into nature this summer.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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To make us feel small in the right way is a function of art; men can only make us feel small in the wrong way. – E. M. Forster

It’s easy to get confused about where our self worth comes from.

To think it relies on others and can be bought, performed for or somehow “tricked” out of others.

I believe that God is our source of worth.

He created you with a specific purpose in mind.

To be of service in some special way.

And to love others and Him in the way that only you can.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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https://youtu.be/Ua3aNDJE_Cg

Now that I’m old, songs like this seem more relevant.

I’ll be looking back, wishing it could last forever

Oh, yesterday, seems so far away

One of the tips I’ve heard from other parents about parenting is the idea of not wishing away whatever stage the kids are in at the time.

Whether it be the “terrible twos” or the dreaded “teenage years” each season is something to cherish as part of the journey.

The same goes for our own lives.

Whether right now is that time when you were fat, in debt, depressed or otherwise unhappy with your results – it’s all part of the story.

The part where you are fit, debt free and full of joy are available and to be worked on and towards, but not at the expense of wishing away today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

Prayer of St. Francis

Wow. The world sure needs this right now.

The level of maturity required to live this out is beyond me most days, but it’s still worth trying.

Even if we just got one or two of these right today the world would be a better place.

Pick a couple to work on this week. Watch what God does with your step of faith.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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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

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Of all duties, prayer certainly is the sweetest and most easy. – Laurence Sterne

Sure wish it felt easier, but prayer is definitely a positive in my life.

Any time I can force myself to quiet down long enough to think more slowly, talk to God and try to focus on someone else I feel better after.

It’s easy to run from task to task, activity to activity. Not slowing down enough for prayer.

Make some time to pray today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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Spent a lot of time on the golf course this weekend. Here’s one of my favorite movies scenes from Bagger Vance.

Rannulph Junuh: You really love this game, don’t you?

Hardy Greaves: It’s the greatest game there is.

Rannulph Junuh: You really think so?

Hardy Greaves: Ask anybody. It’s fun. It’s hard and you stand out there on that green, green grass, and it’s just you and the ball and there ain’t nobody to beat up on but yourself; just like Mister Newnan keeps hittin’ himself with the golf club every time he gets angry. He’s broken his toe three times on account of it. It’s the only game I know that you can call a penalty on yourself, if you’re honest, which most people are. There just ain’t no other game like it.

This back and forth from “The Legend of Bagger Vance” is one of my favorites.

I’ve tried to play a little more golf this summer and it’s been a great reminder of the value of doing something fun (and difficult).

Golf is a great place to practice and live out some great life lessons….

You can hit a great shot, but end up in a poor spot – life’s not fair.

Your score and your integrity matter.

Green grass, fresh air and trees blowing in the wind are good for the soul.

Life is best when done with good friends.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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