Words of Encouragement – May 10th

Devotional

We are Created and Called to Work with Excellence

In Genesis 1:28, God gives us specific work to do in the world: to take the raw material of creation and fill the earth. This includes building cities, industries, and all kinds of products and services. When it’s excellent, our work reflects God’s glory. Excellent work creates, sustains, and fixes the world around us. Any excellent work fulfills the call God issued in Genesis 1.

Joseph had a clear idea of his calling even as a young boy in Canaan. God gave Joseph dreams of the sort of work he would do one day – ruling over others. But Joseph didn’t yet know how to work with excellence, especially when it came to interpersonal communication. He had to undergo a transformative journey to learn how to rely on God for the strength and guidance to do excellent work.

Even when you get precise direction regarding your calling, the road can be lonely. Joseph’s story reveals this sobering reality. Joseph’s brothers were threatened by his dreams and jealous of the favor he found with their father. When you become clearer about the work God is calling you to do, others may respond to you with jealousy or rejection. Having the convictional clarity that your work is mandated by God can give you the strength you need to persevere, as Joseph did.

Prayer

Father, show me how my work fits within your vision for creation. Show me how my role and organization serve the creation mandate you gave us. Help me to feel the joy and significance that comes with seeing how my work aligns with yours. Help me to rest in the truth that my work is mandated by you and, therefore, is important to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Words of Encouragement – May 7th

Devotional

“In the Beginning.”

God called us to work from the very beginning. Work’s intrinsic value is not determined by whether it is set in a secular or sacred environment. It is sacred because it is ordained by God. In our modern Christian culture, we have a heretical hierarchical view of vocations. Priests, pastors, missionaries, and monks are all sacred callings, followed by the serving vocations of nurse, teacher, etc. Merchant bankers, politicians, and lawyers reside further down the scale. This is a cultural bias, not a God-given one.

God values a call to business as any other call. A sacred vocation is made sacred because it is mandated by God. He uses it to fulfill His purpose in our lives and calls us to serve in a way that is in line with His way: virtuous, ethical, and with excellence, “as if serving the Lord.”

Quick Prayer: Thank You for the validity of my calling. Thank You for work. Amen.

Passion Week – Monday & Tuesday

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-e3igp-ae4454

This is Lesson # 2 of the Passion Week Podcast Series. We covered Monday & Tuesday of the Last Seven Days of Christ. We shared our experiences with Easter and church attendance during this season. Tune in to hear more of this teaching.

Napoleon’s Pomp and Circumstance – Integrity Moments – April 16

Napoleon’s Pomp and Circumstance

Kathy and I recently viewed the Napoleon exhibit at our local art museum. One of the themes that stood out to me was Napoleon’s extreme efforts to shape the people’s perceptions of him, and of his kingdom.

At 5’4” inches, and being bullied as a child, Napoleon was believed to have had an inferiority complex. Napoleon invested tremendous amounts of money and time in having portraits painted that were staged to show him as royalty and even as deity at times.

Ephesians 5:6 says, “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.”

In business, there are many who try to convince us that they’re more important than they really may be. Be careful not to be deceived.

Passion Week – Palm Sunday

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-2k8yj-ae23dd

This is the beginning of the Passion week Podcast that we do each year around this time. We will be teaching from the events that took place during the Last 7 days of Jesus. We started off with the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, also known as Palm Sunday. Tune in for more of this series.

Words of Encouragement – Mar. 28

Treasures in Darkness

“I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.” – Isaiah 45:3

“I have never been in this place before. It is new ground for me, and I find I am way out of my comfort zone. I am scared to death to trust Him at this level. I had to confess to the Lord I have not been able to accept or believe His love for me in this area.” Those were the words I expressed to a friend when I was in a difficult place in my life. That day when I confessed those words, God led me to this passage of Scripture.

What we perceive as dark periods in our lives are designed to be treasures from God. They are actually riches stored in secret places. We cannot see those times in this light because of the often-accompanying pain or fear that prevents us from accepting these times as treasures. They have a particular purpose from God’s viewpoint: “…so that you may know that I am the Lord…who summons you by name.”

You see, unless we are cast into times in which we are completely at God’s mercy for breakthroughs in our lives, we will never experience God’s faithfulness in those areas. We will never know how personal He is, or that He can be trusted to meet the deepest needs in our lives. God wants each of us to know that we are “summoned by name.” Every hair of our head is numbered. He knows every activity we are involved in. His love for you and me knows no bounds, and He will take every opportunity to demonstrate this to us.

Has God brought you into a place of darkness? Trust Him today to reveal that hidden treasure that can be found in this darkness. Let Him summon you by name.

8 Ways To Ruin Your Relationship Pt. 3

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-6gtmg-ac1a3b

Tonight’s topic was Part 3 based on an article written by Dr. John M. Grohol from World of Psychology, titled, ‘8 Ways To Ruin A Relationship’. We completed the rest of the eight things that were mentioned. They are as follows:
1. Take your partner for granted
2. Stop Talking
3. Stop expressing your feelings
4. Stop Listening
5. Kill the fun
6. Nitpick
7. Threaten
8. Ignore your partner
If you want to read the complete article, click on the link: http://www.psychcentral.com/blog/8-ways-to-ruin-your-relationship.

8 Ways To Ruin A Relationship Pt. 2

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-xp2bb-abc0cc

Tonight’s topic was Part 2 based on an article written by Dr. John M. Grohol from World of Psychology, titled, ‘8 Ways To Ruin A Relationship’. We covered 2 more of the eight things that were mentioned. They are as follows:

1. Take your partner for granted
2. Stop Talking
3. Stop expressing your feelings
4. Stop Listening
5. Kill the fun
6. Nitpick
7. Threaten
8. Ignore your partner
If you want to read the complete article, click on the link: http://www.psychcentral.com/blog/8-ways-to-ruin-your-relationship.

Having Right Thought Patterns

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-rukvv-abc0b0

This is a lesson we did on Right Thought Patterns and how they affect the ones around us. In order to live right, you have to think right. In this teaching, we discuss ways of how to change the way you think in order to change the way you live.