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Work Week Devotion 02.19.2017

James 1:19

James 1:19b (NLT): …you must all be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry.

It’s been said that we often listen to respond rather than listen to understand. You’ve also probably heard that we have 2 ears and 1 mouth for a reason – we should listen twice as much as we speak. Imagine a world where we all listened to understand and talked about half as much as we currently do. Forget about a world; imagine an office, a home, a classroom.

A leader listens before speaking and does not let her emotions rule her actions. A leader is eager to understand another’s point of view and does not quickly get defensive or angry. A leader realizes that listening is a counter-intuitive act that takes practice and intentionality to cultivate.

Patient Father, thank you for the gift of communication. Help us to be quick to listen and slower to respond. Please forgive us when we get it backwards. Amen.

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Work Week Devotion – Valentine’s Day 2017

Song of Solomon 8:7

Song of Solomon 8:7 (NLT):
Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it.
If a man tried to buy love with all his wealth,
his offer would be utterly scorned.

It’s customary and enjoyable to show love by exchanging gifts on Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, birthdays, etc. Sometimes gifts are lavish and sometimes they are simple. It’s not the gift that makes the love – it’s the love that gives gifts their meaning. If love is there, lack of wealth cannot destroy it. If there is no love, all the money in the world is meaningless.

“Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.” By now, this phrase has become cliche, but there is so much truth there. We all want success and security and nice things and to provide for those we love but it’s the people that matter. Friendships matter. Relationships matter. Marriages and parenting and mentoring matter. Love is an action. Build love that waters can’t quench. Don’t get to the end of your life and find you are utterly scorned despite your “success.”

Loving Father, thank you for the gift of love and showing us what real love is. Help us to love like you. Please forgive us when we seek wealth before relationships. Amen.

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Work Week Devotion 01.29.2017

Ephesians 4:2

Ephesians 4:2 (NLT): Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

Humble and gentle aren’t words often associated with successful business – leader types. But they should be. We absolutely want excellence and growth and achievement but we must never forget that we are dealing with human beings. Where there are no people there is no ministry. If what we’re doing isn’t ministry, it counts for NOTHING.

When you are learning something new or having a bad day, you long for patience, understanding and love from those around you. When you encounter others in those situations, be the person you would long for. Love them like Jesus would.

Patient Father, Thank you for loving us despite our faults and shortcomings. Help us to love others in that same way. Please forgive us when we are not humble and gentle. Let us love like Jesus. Amen.

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Work Week Devotion 01.22.2017

Matthew 5:43-45a

Matthew 5:43-45a (NLT): “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.

Many of us would be hard – pressed to say we have “enemies,” but, deep down, most of us have what we might consider “Competition.” Maybe it’s the teacher who always has the most perfect bulletin boards or the other dad who’s better at sports or hunting than you. Maybe a new business has opened and they offer the same services as you – at a lower price.

Whether you’re an employee, parent, business owner or running for public office, most of us can catch ourselves seeing someone else as the competition. You can’t always control the thoughts that pop into your head but you can control what you do with those thoughts. I challenge you to take those thoughts captive and pray blessings over those you might secretly like to see fail. You might be praying through clenched teeth at first but that’s so much better than keeping a clenched fist!

Patient Father, thank you for creating us uniquely and giving us each a special place in this world. Please forgive us when we compare ourselves to others. Help us to keep our thoughts captive and pray blessings over others rather than secretly hoping to see failure. Amen.

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Work Week Devotion 01.15.2017

Proverbs 3:9-10

Proverbs 3:9-10 (NLT): Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the best part of everything you produce.
Then he will fill your barns with grain,
and your vats will overflow with good wine.

Giving your first fruits back to God is not necessarily an easy practice to get into. It’s so counter-intuitive. “So you’re telling me I’ll have MORE if I give it away? Wouldn’t it make more sense to pay all my bills and then work with what’s left over?” Yes. That would make more sense. There’s not much faith involved in doing what makes sense. God doesn’t always ask us to do the logical thing. He always asks us to do the obedient thing.

Take a step in faith. Give the Lord your first fruits. Put Him to the test. (Malachi 3:10) See what happens to your barns and vats. You’ll not find a better financial plan.

Generous Father, You give us so much more than we deserve. Help us to be generous and to keep our priorities in order. Please forgive us when we are selfish and don’t trust You with our finances. Amen.

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Work Week Devotion 11.06.2016

Election Week Edition

Daniel 2:20-21 (NLT): …Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power.
He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings.
He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars.

You should always vote when you have the opportunity. It is a great privilege and responsibility. We should pray before we vote, pray for who we vote for and, perhaps most importantly, pray for whomever is elected. After every election there are some very disappointed people. Social media makes it easier than ever to share that disappointment in some very toxic ways. This week I would like to remind you of some of the things that should NOT change, no matter who is elected to what position.

– How you treat your family. You are not a three year old child. Your personal feelings should never dictate how you treat your children, your spouse and others in your household. No elected leader has the power to change that. Don’t act as if they do.
– How you treat your clients/customers/patients/students. Policy changes can make many things more difficult. Being kind and giving good service costs zero dollars. Smile. Be patient and helpful. Make their day better in whatever way you can.
– Your work ethic. Sometimes life is unfair. That’s too bad. Do the best you can, to do that best job you can, no matter what. It honors your good name and more importantly it honors God.
– How you treat those with whom you work. If you are in a workplace of any size, there will be someone who doesn’t share your beliefs or opinions. You can remain steadfast in those beliefs and not compromise without being a jerk. Even if the other person is being a jerk. Take the high road even if you get a nosebleed. It’s a lot easier for God to use you when you don’t have your foot in your mouth.
– How you represent yourself on social media. Anything you post should have the aroma of Jesus, not the stench of the world. Hatred, sarcasm, bitterness and selfishness all stink. It doesn’t matter if what you are posting is based on truth; if it is mean-spirited or unnecessarily negative you are not advancing the Kingdom.

All Knowing Father, Thank you for giving us the freedoms and blessings that we have. Forgive us when we misuse them and misrepresent You. We pray for you to raise up Godly leaders for our communities and our nations. We humbly ask that you show us how to be more like Jesus in all areas of our lives, no matter the circumstances. Amen.

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Work Week Devotion 10.30.2016

I Peter 4:10

I Peter 4:10 (NLT): God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

God has gifted and equipped you to serve an important purpose. There are others that need your brand of leadership, teaching, encouragement, hospitality, even humor. You are not in your workplace or neighborhood by accident. He wants to use you to serve your peers, those you answer to and those you lead.

Hopefully you are in a position to use your gifts on a regular basis. If not, why don’t you pray for God to open your eyes to new and creative ways to serve others? There could be opportunities right in front of you that you’re not even aware of. Our God loves creativity and ministry opportunities are virtually limitless if you’re looking for them!

Father, Thank you for the creativity seen in how you have gifted each of us. Forgive us when we use our gifts for selfish gain. Show us how to use our gifts for Your glory and to serve others. Amen.

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Work Week Devotion 10.23.2016

Mark 10:23-25

Mark 10:43-45 (NLT): But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.

The world tells us to climb the ladder of success and step on as many people as we need on the way up. Our status is determined by how many people are “under” us; who is at our beck and call. As Christians, we are supposed to become more like Jesus as we live in this world. He was above everyone yet He had a servant’s attitude. We should expect no less from ourselves.

Who is your manager, boss or leader? Serve them.
Who do you manage, direct or lead? Serve them.
Serve them like Jesus would – whether or not you think they deserve to be served!

Father God, thank you for showing us the perfect example of servant leadership in Jesus. Please forgive us when pride, insecurity or a hardened heart prevent us from serving others. Help us to serve others the way Jesus would. Amen.

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Work Week Devotion 10.16.2016

Psalms 112: 4-5

Psalms 112:4-5 (NLT): Light shines in the darkness for the godly. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.
Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly.

There are many ways to conduct business. Shrewdly, self-serving, humbly, generously, under-handed, transparent… Sadly, as many people believe “all is fair in love and war” they also believe it’s ok to do whatever you need in order to succeed because “it’s just good business.” Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching. Even when it would be easier or more beneficial in the short term to do something else.

Business owners – you honor God when you are generous, compassionate and fair.
Employees – you honor God when you are positive, productive and a team player.
We ALL honor God when we live a life of integrity at work and at home. It is promised that good will come from it!

Heavenly Father, thank you for the promise that good things will come to those who follow You. Forgive us when we think good things only look a certain way. We know Your plans are greater than ours. Show us how to honor You and live a life of integrity no matter where we are. Amen.

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Work Week Devotion 10.09.2016

Luke 12:15

Luke 12:15 (NLT): [Jesus said] “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

Life is measured by how much you love and how you are loved by others. Life is measured by how you serve God and live for Him. Life is measured by how much you give, even when others never see it. Life is not measured by how much you own. Not even close. If life WERE measured by how much you own, those with the most stuff would be the happiest people on earth and we see time and again that they are NOT.

What does it look like to guard against greed? Maybe for you it means giving that extra dollar to the waitress or putting it in the donation bucket. Maybe it looks more like buying school supplies for a needy kid rather than going out to dinner. Maybe you’ll give your staff a bonus rather than pocketing all of last month’s profits. To guard against greed means you intentionally give it away when it would be easier and more comfortable to keep it. It’s an intentional choice that boldly says “I will be defined by what I give, not by what I own.”

Generous Father, thank you for giving us such a rich life to enjoy. Please help us recognize opportunities to “give it away” so we can practice guarding against every kind of greed. Show us how to be generous to others as You are so generous to us. Amen.