Tag Archives: ambition

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Happy New Year 2018

Looking back, planning ahead, maintaining contentment

As we move into the new year of 2018 let us remember to:

Look Back with Thanksgiving

James 1:17 (ESV): Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

We can look back at 2017 with thanksgiving for the good times and blessings we have enjoyed. We can and should also be thankful for provision during the hard times. Even if it was a difficult year for you, there is always, ALWAYS something to be thankful for. You had friendships, you were able to provide for your family and maybe even have some unanswered prayers to be thankful for. Make a list of things you were thankful for last year. Revisit it when needed.

Focus on the Future

Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV): “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

We should look back in thanksgiving but not spend precious time on regret or guilt. No matter your past or the mistakes you made last year (we all made mistakes!) God is doing a NEW thing! He can make a way even when it seems impossible. The even better news? You don’t just get January 1st for a new start! His mercies and provision are new every morning, even every hour when needed. Isn’t that awesome news?

Plan Ahead for the Coming Year

Luke 14:28-29 (ESV): For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,

Call it resolutions, goals, aspirations, visioning; God doesn’t expect us to go through life willy-nilly with no intentionality. Make some plans. Boldly go through the doors that open and wisely turn away from the doors that are closed. It’s difficult to steer a vehicle that’s not moving.

Psalm 20:4 (NIV): May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.

Prayerfully make those plans. God want us to succeed in endeavors that honor Him; both for His glory and for our pleasure. He is looking to give good gifts to His children. (Matt 7:11) Partner with Him in that!

Be Content in All Circumstances

Philippians 4:12-13 (NIV): I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Above all, be content with last year and whatever this new year will bring. When focusing too much on self or if you find yourself concentrating on your disappointments, find someone who needs help and serve them. When blessed and in a time of plenty, make sure you allow your cup to spill over to others. Build a bigger table, not a higher fence.

Great and Gracious Father, Thank You for the many blessings of 2017. Thank You, maybe even more so, for sustaining us during the difficult times of last year. We ask that You would guide us in our endeavors in 2018. Close the doors You would not have us go through and give us the courage to walk through the doors You have opened before us. Gently remind us to plan and wait for You when we are tempted to forge ahead and make our own way. Above all, please help us to serve others and think of their needs above ourselves. Help us to be content no matter what this year brings and please forgive us when we are selfish, forgetful, anxious or fearful. Amen.

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Work Week Devotion Easter 2017

Mark 10:43-45

Mark 10:43-45 (NIV): “…Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

This 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. It’s because of Him and His sacrifice that we can pray – Amen.

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Work Week Devotion 03.19.2017

2 Corinthians 9:8

Second Corinthians 9:8 (NIV): and God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Do you ever get frustrated that you don’t have everything you want? Does someone have a nicer office or building than you? Newer furniture in their home? Newer electronics? It’s so easy to fall into the trap of comparing your blessings to others. It’s easy to confuse what we NEED with what we want and think we deserve.

My guess is that most of us (I understand not necessarily all) have never truly gone hungry or been without a roof of some sort over our head. When we look at the big picture, most of us can say we are “abundantly blessed.” Why are we given what we need – all things at all times? Not so we can boast or feel successful or show off our stuff; it’s so we will abound in every good work. God equips us with what we need, when we need it, so we can do His good work. Appreciate what you have and never forget from Whom it comes and why it is given.

Generous Father, Thank you for supplying our every need. Help us to use our resources to do Your good work. Please forgive us when we are greedy and selfish. Amen.

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Work Week Devotion 03.12.2017

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 make a 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 own 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, prepared to change the course even if it wasn’t in your original plan. Never forget the One who will establish your plans has ways that are far better than ours.

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 to 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 – 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 01.22.2017

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 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.

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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.