Lenten Journey, Part 4 – Surprise
Today is Holy Saturday – the day between Good Friday and Easter. In my experience, today feels a bit like an intermission in a play. Lots of drama happened before; lots of drama is yet to come.
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When Faith in God is Like Riding a Roller Coaster
We hang in there on the roller coaster of faith because being in relationship with God makes it all worthwhile.
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Lenten Journey, Part 3 – Desperation
Everyone I know has felt desperate at some point in his or her leadership. Mine came when I started a company after spending years as part of a Fortune 500 company. Gone were the deep pockets of a large organization. Gone was the guaranteed salary to take care of my young family. We had built an innovative product prototype, but hadn’t yet produced a single working production model. Like many other entrepreneurs, I was betting the farm. Like many young entrepreneurs, there was little to fall back on if things failed, other than starting over. And, somehow, leaving the comforts of a large organization made things seem worse.
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The Peace of the Lord Be With You
I did not grow up in a church that passed the peace in worship. We greeted each other more casually, if at all. So, when I began worshiping in a congregation that passed the peace each week, at first I felt a bit awkward. But, as I began to pay more attention to what I was saying and doing, I began to value the passing of the peace as a time to bless my fellow worshipers with one of the greatest of all gifts: God’s peace.
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Lenten Journey, Part 2 – Congruence
In my last reflection, I focused on the importance of gratitude as we begin our Lenten journey.
This week, I want to focus on the text, “Pay your vows to the Most High.”
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Reaching Out for Mercy
There are times in our lives when we are so desperate for God’s help that we might even lift our hands to him, like a child needing her mother’s help. The physical gesture isn’t required, of course. But, like kneeling or bowing our heads, raising our hands in prayer to God might just help lead our hearts before him.
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Lenten Journey, Part 1 – Gratitude
One of the things I didn’t much appreciate – and that my community didn’t emphasize – was the season of Lent. Perhaps you are in a similar situation. … Whether you are new to the season or are an experienced observer, I want to reflect with you every other Saturday this Lenten season on the above text from Psalm 50.
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No Fear!
Most of our fears, however, are not especially helpful, even if they are understandable. We feel afraid because we can’t protect ourselves or our loved ones from forces beyond our control.
Read ArticleHow Can I Deal with Disappointment?
Genesis doesn’t tell us how Joseph dealt with his disappointment. The story leads us to believe that Joseph continued on much as he had done before, faithfully managing the prison, serving both the prisoners and the chief jailer (38:21-23). We are not told, however, how Joseph felt or how he prayed during this time.
Read ArticleKeep God’s Steadfast Love Before Your Eyes
God’s love can transform our reason for working and our relationships in the workplace.
Read ArticleO Lord, Be My Teacher!
The more we consider what it means to let God be our teacher, the more we will echo the prayer of Psalm 25:5…
Read ArticleTruth that Can Change Your Life and Leadership
Psalm 24 can change your life. It can change the way you lead. It can change how you work and how you think about your work. Psalm 24 can make all the difference in the world . . . literally.
Please allow me to explain what I mean.
Read ArticleThe Lord is Working as My Shepherd
In this devotion, I would like to point out something that is so obvious it almost seems as if it needn’t be stated. Yet, I expect it is often overlooked. I know I never saw this truth in Psalm 23 until I began reading Scripture from the perspective of work.
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A Devotion for the End of the Year
Today is the last day of the year, the end of 2015. On this occasion, I find that Psalm 90 expresses much that is in my heart. Perhaps it will speak to yours as well.
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Advent Devotion: Waiting for Forgiveness
Today is the second Sunday in Advent, a season in which we prepare for Christmas by remembering just how much we need God. In particular, we need God to save us by forgiving our sins. Psalm 130 reassures us that this is exactly what God will do for us, thus inviting us to wait upon the Lord and put our hope in him.
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