Category Archives: Devotions

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Work Week Devotion 10.02.2016

Philippians 4:7

Philippians 4:7 (NLT): Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

To have peace! To be still! It’s what we crave in the midst of our busyness. If I only had more time…If the kids were more calm or didn’t have so many activities…If my spouse were available to help more…If my job would slow down…If I could just get this one project done…We live in a world of constant motion and stimulation.

Peace isn’t the absence of activity, it is the presence of Christ in our heart and mind regardless of the whirlwind around us. We can’t make the world slow down and be peaceful for us but we can find peace in the midst of our busy world. We can access that peace no matter where we are or what we’re doing – meeting in the boardroom, teaching in the classroom, doctoring in the exam room or vacuuming in the living room.

Father God, thank you for being our peace in the midst of our whatever. Help us to remember that we can access that peace at any time and any place. Let us be an example of Your peace in a world that so desperately needs it. Amen.

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Work Week Devotion 09.25.2016

Proverbs 16:3

Proverbs 16:3 (NIV): Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.

Most of us like to have a plan. We have a goal and plan to get there. What do you do when life doesn’t go as planned? Do you throw up your hands in despair? Do you work harder to force your agenda even when it’s obvious that it’s not working? How many times have you had to look back, at best sheepishly, or at worst extremely thankful, that your plan was thwarted?

The key to God’s hand in your success is having His input from the beginning. Prayerfully set your goals. Commit your plans to the Lord. Work diligently, always seeking His leading. Be prepared to change the course even if it wasn’t in your original plan. Never forget that the One who establishes your plans has ways that are far better than ours.

All Knowing Lord, Thank you for having plans far better than we could ever imagine. Please send us reminders to seek Your will in our plans from the beginning and look for Your leading as we strive to achieve our goals. Please forgive us when we try to run ahead on our own. Amen.

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Work Week Devotion Labor Day 2016

The Importance of Rest

Mark 6:31 (NIV): Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

God made us to need rest. Rest renews, refuels and re-energizes us. It prevents us from being burned out and stressed out. It allows us to serve God and serve people with energy and passion that is not available when we stretch ourselves too thin. It gives us the physical and mental stamina we need to tackle whatever comes up at work or at home.

God ordained rest from the beginning. The all-knowing, all-capable Creator of the universe and life itself took time to rest. He established the Sabbath and feasts that made rest a law in the old testament. Imagine a culture where refusing to rest was punishable!

There are several reasons we don’t get the rest we require. We wear the title of “busy” like it’s a badge of honor. We say “yes” to too many things. We feel guilty when we slow down. We’ll rest tomorrow. We are called to emulate Christ in every way that we can. Jesus rested and so can you! The Bible gives several examples where Jesus rested, Matthew 14:23, Mark 1:35, John 6:15 and Luke 5:16 just to name a few. When was the last time you got some real rest?

Heavenly Father, You knew from the beginning that Your creation would need rest. Thank you for giving us a way to renew ourselves physically and spiritually. Please forgive us for neglecting this gift. Help us to remember how important it is to rest in You and open our eyes to those opportunities. Amen.

 

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Work Week Devotion 08.28.2016

Matthew 5:14-16

Matthew 5:14a, 16 (NIV): You are the light of the world… In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

You were put where you are for a purpose. In front of your students, co-workers, patients, fellow parents. You were meant to be a searchlight in the black night.* The love and light of Christ should shine through you for all to see. How do you accomplish this? Through good deeds.

Your good deeds will look different from your neighbor’s good deeds. Maybe it’s a kind word, a helping hand, forgiveness and grace when it’s least deserved or taking the high road (even if you get a nose bleed!) When you do more than expected or don’t repay ugly with uglier you might get a “Wow! How/why did you do that?” and that’s your chance to praise your heavenly Father. “God loves me so much and He wants me to share that love with others. I want you to know that He loves you, too.”

Loving Father, thank you for giving us the opportunity to be Your light in a dark world. Help us recognize opportunities for good deeds and give us the wisdom and courage to act on them. Let it be not be for our glory but so others will recognize and praise You. Amen.

*This catchy line is courtesy of my friend, Jon Henninger

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Work Week Devotion 08.21.2016

Ecclesiastes 7:14

Ecclesiastes 7:14 (NLT): Enjoy prosperity while you can,
but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God.  Remember that nothing is certain in this life.

Matthew 5:45b (NLT): For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.

We want to practice being faithful when things are easy and when things are tough, in times of plenty and in times of want. We can look at the life of Joseph (Genesis 37, 39-45) – favored in his father’s house, thrown away by his brothers, falsely accused, thrown in/forgotten in jail, finding favor with the king, gaining power and ultimately showing grace to his brothers. He certainly had a roller coaster of a life! We can’t always see the “big picture” or the whole of God’s “upper story.” Sometimes we get blind-sided by a health issue or the actions of others. When these things happen we must resist the “why me?” attitude and remember what it says in Matthew 5:45. We can follow the example of Joseph and do our best to remain faithful in the ups and downs of life remembering that nothing is certain – the sun shines and the rain falls on the just and unjust alike – but God is faithful and one day it will all make so much more sense.

Thank you, Father, for being faithful and good even when we are not. Help us remember that our fortunes can turn at any time and it’s not necessarily an indication of Your favor but a result of the world in which we live. Help us to be faithful during good times and bad. Please forgive us when our faith falters and we cry “Why me?” Amen.

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Work Week Devotion 08.14.2016

Colossians 3:23

Colossians 3:23 (NLT): Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

People can be tough sometimes! They’re demanding, irrational and unappreciative. They don’t always DESERVE your best, but God asks you to give them your best anyway. When you serve a difficult person in love, it says nothing about what they deserve but a lot about the Lord of your life. Rest assured that God sees each time you are mistreated and all of your effort that you think goes unnoticed.

When you get discouraged and are tempted to cut corners remember that God honors good work. When you are ready to throw your hands up in frustration, imagine Jesus standing in front of you. In serving others you are serving and representing Him.

Heavenly Father, Thank you for loving us and giving us the opportunity to love others. Help us remember that even difficult people are created and loved by you. Show us how to serve You through serving others. Amen.