Jonathots Daily Blog
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That Should Be Included in Every Prayer
1. I am grateful
2. I don’t know what I’m doing
3 Things … May 28th, 2020
Jonathots Daily Blog
(4423)
3 Three Things That Chase Each Other Like Little Puppies
1. Kindness, smiles, generosity
2. Alert, creative, productive
3. Observing, thinking, thoughtful
1 Thing You Can Count On
It Will Never Be Safe Enough to Try
Even though counting the cost, checking over your options, planning ahead and troubleshooting are all noble pursuits, there is always some sort of shortage that leaves us wondering if any project is going to succeed.
This is the portion that’s bridged by faith.
As long as we understand that faith is not foolish, nor a replacement for study (we’re supposed to study to show ourselves approved) and faith is not a way to avoid involving ourselves in the process, then each one of us will have to prove his or her own work and at the end we can rejoice in what we’ve accomplished instead of waiting around for the Universal Tow Truck to come and pick up our mess.
Also, faith is not a way to pretend that God is “backing what we’re doing.”
God has systems He wants us to learn. He’s not an employee, learning our system.
It will never be safe enough to try.
At some point, we will have to launch our project, our dreams or even our rehabilitation—without guarantee.
It is another part of the universal system that makes things even, causing us to be equally challenged.
If you’ve done it in the sunshine, you will eventually have to do it in the rain.
Otherwise, you are a person who can only provide sunny-day solutions.
It is a positive part of the human race.
It keeps us from being puffed up with some claim that we are supernatural, or that the supernatural is at our beck and call.
It is what allows humility to stream through us—making us desirable not just for our achievements, but also for our kindness.
1 Thing You Can Do This Week To Be More Balanced
Watch Your Mouth
You see, your mouth is the problem.
Because what goes in your mouth makes you fat, and what comes out often makes you sound like a fat-head.
So here’s the key:
Purposely Talk Less
And while you’re at it, eat a little less, too.
Counteract those two by laughing more and forcing yourself to speak kindness.
Because what have you got to lose but a few pounds and the ugly nickname, “Grouchy Stiltskin?”
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Jonathots … December 18th, 2018
Jonathots Daily Blog
(3890)
She approached her shopping cart, unwilling to put her hands on it until she had removed a wet-nap from her purse, full of, I assume, anti-biotic, anti-virus and anti-people juice. She cleaned off the apparatus before she began her shopping.
I apparently was caught staring because she turned to me with a snarl on her face and said, “Nasty stuff. Got to avoid the flu bug.”
Likewise, during the wintertime, I attended a church with a minister in full ceremonial garb. It came time for the “passing of the peace.” He paused and explained to the congregation, “I must ask you not to make contact with your hands with one another. Since it is the flu season, please find another way to express other than physical contact.”
A little gleeful spirit leaped in my soul–I love awkward situations, which certainly are rife with comedy. I watched the people–who didn’t know what to do. Some tried to “fist bump,” but let’s be honest. Fist bumping is certainly not conducive to the sign of peace. Most people just gave up and nervously waved.
Needless to say, even though this was popular for a few weeks, the mass of humanity eventually realized that since we’re all in this together, then “together we will sneeze and cough.”
Even though you can pass the flu bug by touching one another, you can also pass along blessing.
Are you frowning over that statement?
Just like you can’t see the bacteria or viruses that cause the flu it is equally possible that the energy, the kindness, the mercy and the tenderness in human hands are not visible either, but are passed through touch.
And candidly, even the flu bugs that people pass to us give us a fighting chance to manufacture anti-bodies which are much more likely to protect us from the flu than acting like the whole world around us is filled with lepers.
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3 Things… August 2nd, 2018
Jonathots Daily Blog
(3752)
You Want to Teach Your Children
1. Being kind is not weak, but rather, the strongest emotion that most people will permit.
2. Work makes more sense when you finish things up.
3. Most things you want on Monday will still be there on Friday if you still want them.
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Salient…June 18th, 2018
Jonathots Daily Blog
(3707)
There are matters that are too important to ignore or leave to chance. These are salient moments.
I have never been quite certain what the purpose is for a disclaimer. If you’re going to disavow a claim, why make it in the first place? Yet since I have the tendency to pursue hypocrisy, I shall make the following disclaimer:
I am fully aware that the toys I am about to mention are archaic, old-fashioned and certainly not in the lexicon of anyone under the age of thirty-five. Yet attempting to substitute modern toys would remove much of the charm, and still make me irrelevant within five years.
So let me say that when Eddie came to my house for a play date, I was fully expecting him to show up with marbles.
(Marbles are little circular glass toys of all sorts of colors. You pinched them with your fingers, rolling them across the floor and striking your friend’s marble, and in so doing, you won control of his prize. It was very popular back when you were able to play outside because the dinosaurs had gone to their watering hole.)
But when Eddie arrived, he did not have his marble sack. Instead he was carrying four brand new cans of Play-Doh. For those unacquainted with Play-Doh, it is best explained as a molding clay in various colors with which you could use to form objects and declare yourself artistic.
Eddie’s parents had just purchased the Play-Doh and he was obsessed with the stuff. I was offended because he had not warned me, and I was prepared to play marbles.
We struck a bargain: he would work with his Play-Doh and I would pursue marbles. This lasted half an hour.
We were miserable.
I kept looking over at his Play-Doh and he kept peering at my marbles, each of us insisting that we were happy–while secretly aggravated because we weren’t playing with each other.
Finally I interrupted the process and suggested we take the Play-Doh, roll it into tiny circles resembling marbles and mingle the games, instituting a new format called “Play-Doh Marbles.”
It seemed ingenious, but the Play-Doh would not roll, so we tried throwing the little clay circles at the actual marbles, and it came off as stupid.
It was a play day from hell–so frustrating that we cut it short, growled at each other a bit and separated to our households of security.
Now, as I rose and listened to the news this morning, I realized that we have much the same situation in our world.
Everybody is showing up with their favorite toys. Because we insist that nothing matches, nothing is the same, nothing is culturally equivalent, we are playing side-by-side with our own rendition of fun, privately pissed off.
No one seems to have the sense to look for common toys, mutual ground or general excitement. We have become convinced that “marble people” are better than “Play-Doh people,” and because of that “Play-Dough people” should not be allowed near “marble people.” We even make up rumors about “Play-Doh people” and diminish their character. Sometimes we even say that “Play-Doh people” smell. Or is it the “marble people?”
Earth does not work unless we agree on the toys. I can think of three right away:
- Kindness.
- Respect
- Passion
Without this trio, the Trinity look like three bums who came into town to hold a revival and nobody showed up.
It is time for your salient moment:
If you can play with your dough, you won’t mind losing your marbles.
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