Tag Archives: security

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Work Week Devotion 03.26.2017

Deuteronomy 31:8

Deuteronomy 31:8 (NLT): Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.

Being a leader is hard! (who am I kidding? LIFE is hard!) It’s so much easier when we remember we don’t go it alone. Nothing surprises God. Isn’t there so much comfort in that? Isn’t there so much comfort in the promises of this passage?

He goes before you to make a way.
He will be with you.
He will not abandon you.
He will not fail you.
Therefore – Don’t be afraid or discouraged.

We all have moments when we feel weak, scared, discouraged and alone. Picture Jesus entering a room, situation or conversation before you and find strength and guidance in that!

Faithful Father, We thank You that we never have to face anything alone. Help us to remember that You go before us and that nothing surprises You. Please forgive us when we let our fear be louder than our faith. 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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Does Wealth Equal Success?

How would you define success? Many of us equate wealth with success, and it IS often a barometer of success. However, lack of wealth does not necessarily mean you aren’t successful AND wealth isn’t always what you think it should be.

“People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich seldom get a good night’s sleep.” Ecclesiastes 5:12

Success can look like many different things to different people. Maybe it’s early retirement, more time with your kids while they’re young, the ability to work from home, the freedom to say “no,” being able to give to charities. If you focus only on your net worth as a measure of success you might be missing a lot of blessings or, even worse, you could completely miss how your life is intended to bless others.

Lack of wealth does not equal lack of success or favor. We often think “If only I had more money, a bigger house, a nicer car…” wealth can actually be a source of anxiety. More stuff equals more to maintain, insure, protect…and more to lose. If you are discouraged because you don’t have more money or more stuff maybe you should be thankful instead. Maybe, just maybe, God is giving you just what you need when you need it and saving you from worry you don’t need or can’t handle right now.

Maya Angelou said “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do and liking how you do it.” If I could say those three things every day I would consider my life a success. How would YOU define success?

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Be a Tour Guide

Do you ever think of yourself as a tour guide? If human beings enter your place of work you should adopt a tour guide mentality. Those who are attempting to do business with you want guidance and security. One of the worst feelings is being lost and floundering. I can think of three examples in the last few months that made me feel that way:

  1. Entering a sit-down chain restaurant. The hostess was cute with a very sweet smile, but that’s all she did. When we entered the building she just stared and smiled at us. I finally said “2” and she picked up two menus and sort of motioned for us to follow her. It was very awkward, but at least she was smiling, which brings me to the next example…
  2. Entering a dry cleaners. The woman behind the counter just stared at me and picked up a pen. No “hello,” no “how can I help you,” no “how many pieces do you have,” not even the smile I got from the aforementioned hostess. I honestly wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do, so I just put my clothes on the counter. She filled out the ticket and told me when they would be ready. Those were the only words she spoke to me.
  3. At the end of an exam at a quick clinic. I had a severe ear infection that had hit out of nowhere. The provider was pleasant, she asked me questions, she explained what was going on and what she was going to do and then walked out of the room. I was left to find my way back to the front to check out and I really wasn’t sure where I was supposed to go. I can hear my ten year-old niece saying “awkward!”

I don’t ever want my patients to feel that way. I’m sure you don’t want your customers to feel that way either. Welcome them. Guide them. Let them know what to expect and when to expect it. Let them know when they need to do something and when they can just relax. Don’t leave them guessing. It’s awkward, it’s frustrating, it can lead to misunderstandings.

You are working hard to give your customers/clients/patients a good experience. Make sure they know they’re getting a good experience! Don’t assume that they can absorb all that’s going on and appreciate it. Figuratively (or literally when it’s appropriate) take their hand and guide them through your process. Don’t make them work for it. Make it easy for them. You can perform every step perfectly to complete the interaction, but if the person you’re interacting with doesn’t know what’s going on, most of it will be lost.  Be a tour guide.