Millions of people lost their jobs during the Pandemic and the ones who kept their jobs are exhausted from burnout. However, there is another more concerning issue going on at the same time—compassion fatigue.
Rain Brings Life
On gloomy days, it’s hard to remember that rain brings life. Each year at the end of the winter and beginning of spring, I watch my backyard in awe as I see all the trees and grass and plants start to grow miniature little buds that represent new life. In the winter, everything appears dead, but nature only goes to sleep and holds life inside of it until the right time, everything wakes up. Spring is the time to bloom and grow again!
Without the rain none of that would happen. There is no life without water from the sky. Rain brings life and with it comes new hope, new beginnings, new growth. In our lives, we can experience a winter season where everything seems to go dark and gloom surrounds us. But it is during those times that God works in our hearts to prepare us for the spring. In order for rain to come, the clouds have to form in the sky which in turn cover the light from the sun. Similarly, when we allow God to work in our hearts during our darkest times, we ready ourselves to receive the growth and new beginnings that come with the sunlight and after the rain.
Below are scriptures that remind us of God’s promises about the rain:
Leviticus 26:4 I will send you the seasonal rains. The land will then yield its crops, and the trees of the field will produce their fruit.
Deuteronomy 11:14 …then he will send the rains in their proper seasons—the early and late rains—so you can bring in your harvests of grain, new wine, and olive oil.
If you are going through a tough season in your life, share it with a friend and open you heart to God’s healing. I will leave you with a friendship poem from my book The Friendship Book: Because You Matter to Me:
Friends know when you hurt.
Open up and let them in.
They will help you heal.
Your Perspective Changes When You Find Your Purpose
Your perspective changes when you see a situation through different lenses. I was looking at my beautiful backyard through the sliding door to the deck and suddenly noticed there were a conglomeration of little fingerprints. I immediately thought to go get the window cleaner and get rid of them. Then I stopped to think about it and decided to leave them there for a while longer… You see, I could either think the window was completely dirty and let it bother me or I could cherish the thought that my two-year-old grandson was at our house and left his little fingerprints on my window… Wow! What a change of perspective when I saw it through the eyes of loving grandma.
Today is my dad’s 94th birthday and I wish I could be with him to give him a special hug, but he is 3,000 miles away in Nicaragua. This morning I thought to myself, will I make it to 94? How will I feel physically? I already don’t enjoy seeing my body getting old and hate the thought of being that old. But on the other hand, what a blessing it has been to have my dad all these years. So, I can either think that aging is a bad thing or I can be thankful for each day that I’m alive and hope that I make it to my 90’s as healthy as my dad has been. My perspective on aging changed.
This week I was feeling overwhelmed with the volume of work I had to complete and found myself not wanting to work so much. On one hand, I know I need to keep my life in balance so work doesn’t overtake my life. But on the other hand, how wonderful that God has sent me so much work in a time when so many people don’t have jobs! Once again, my perspective changed.
In all these situations what helped me change perspectives is that I found my purpose in life. It is crucial for you to find your purpose in life because it is the fire that encourages you to help others. Purpose is what gives you the passion to work hard, love others sincerely, and be intentional about everything you do in your life. When you find your purpose, your perspective changes completely on how you look at every aspect of your life.
If you want to find your purpose, my book, The Fire Within: Connect Your Gifts with Your Calling can help you. Don’t give up asking God why you are here and He will reveal it to you!
Top 10 Lessons Learned in 2020
Top 10 Lessons Learned in 2020. As we entered the new decade—2020—we were looking forward to new adventures in our lives, new jobs, new places to visit around the world, celebrating big accomplishments and special birthdays with our loved ones. But all our dreams and plans for 2020 were shuttered in a matter of days. We now have a choice to make: We feel sorry for ourselves pondering on everything we lost this year. Or we choose to see the positive experiences and lessons learned throughout this year as we lived through the COVID-19 Pandemic, the riots in many of our cities, and an unforgettable presidential election process.
Let’s choose to see the positive and reflect on everything we learned this year. Below are the top 10 lessons learned in 2020:
Resiliency. One of the biggest lessons we learned is to be resilient. Businesses had to change the old way of doing things from one day to the next. Employees had to learn to work from home with the pets and children around and without having the proper equipment or office setup. As we continue to live through the Pandemic, we are now more prepared to pivot on a moment’s notice. If something doesn’t work out, that’s ok, we move to the next option. This new or polished skill of resiliency will serve us well for the rest of our lives.
Creativity. We had to become more creative at everything we do on a daily basis—from how we buy groceries to how we stock food in our houses—especially how to creatively buy more toilet paper! Event planners created new ways to do their conferences using various systems. Speakers had to adapt to whatever system the event planners had to offer and attendees had to learn to “unmute.”
Compassion. As we observed how the world changed around us and how much suffering people were facing, most of us felt compassion for strangers. This global Pandemic opened our eyes to the see the entire world as one humanity. This virus attacked everyone and is not respecter of persons regardless of background, age, political views, religion, or culture. Yes, there are specific groups of people who are more vulnerable to dying but the virus doesn’t know that. It attacked wherever there was an open door to move into.
Empathy. We became more empathetic for people who are more vulnerable to the virus or if they live with a person who is at higher risk. We empathized with parents of young children who had to work while trying to help their children with schoolwork.
Resourceful. Companies took their retired computers from the closets and put them to work again. These systems may not be the fastest, but they worked okay for employees to be able to continue serving customers from home. At the personal level, many people made masks not only for their own families but gave them away to others in need.
Technology. Everyone had to up their game using technology. People who refused to use technology now were forced to do their banking on their phones, call their grandchildren on FaceTime, Google Duo, WhatsApp, or Zoom. Businesses that were waiting on the edges to upgrade systems or use new technologies were forced to invest in technology now or be out of business completely. Digital payments are now the new way of paying each other or purchasing goods. Also, because of technology, several vaccines are coming out in a record time to help humanity fight and end this Pandemic.
Generosity. Even though nonprofit organizations that help people were not able to meet in person to raise funds, they used creativity, technology, and resourcefulness to attract donors to their causes. People became more generous in the effort to help other human beings in need.
Efficiency. Businesses became more efficient in their processes. What before took twenty steps to complete, now may only take ten steps. Unnecessary steps and approvals had to be removed from the process in order to expedite service to customers and simply to survive as a business. Business leaders had to trust their employees and empower them with more authority to complete tasks while still complying with regulations that apply to their industries.
Prioritize. We learned to prioritize our activities based on importance and risk exposure. We chose to continue some commitments and drop the less important ones. What’s most important in our lives surfaced to the top of the list. All the other superficial activities went by the wayside.
Faith. Most importantly, this year was a time to seek God—for some people for the first time in their lives. Despite the terrible circumstances we all went through this year, God has always been there waiting for us to ask for help and to invite Him into our lives. Faith is what sustains us through tribulations.
So, you see, in the midst of a global Pandemic we can come out ahead. Yes, we lost a lot and some of us lost loved ones to the disease which is the highest price to pay. Yet we can still move forward and learn lessons that will carry us through the rest of our lives. From all the lessons we learned listed above, the most important to remember is faith. I will leave you with this Scripture that sums it all up:
John 16:33 (KJV)
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Do You Know the Truth?
Do You Know the Truth? Thanksgiving is a day to give thanks. It’s also a day when we eat a LOT of food, right? Well, today I decided to spend extra time in prayer thanking God. I also decided to eat a LOT of spiritual food—the Word of God. Here is the formula God revealed to me during my study:
Jesus = Truth = Freedom
You want to know the foundation for this incredible formula? Let me take you through the promises I read today from the Bible (NLT):
John 8:12 Jesus told the people, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
John 8:31-32, 34 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free… What do you mean ‘set free’? Jesus replied, I assure you that everyone who sins is a slave of sin.”
John 14:1-6 “Don’t be troubled. You trust God, now trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s home, and I am going to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you plainly. When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know where I am going and how to get there.” “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We haven’t any idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one can come to the Father except through me.”
John 9:4 All of us must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent me, because there is little time left before the night falls and all work comes to an end.
So here is my personal prayer today:
Jesus, I know you. Therefore, I know the Father who is my God, the one who sent you. Therefore, I know the truth and the truth sets me free from sin. And when everything is ready where you are in your Father’s house, you will come and get me and I will always be where you are, in heaven, with you for eternity. In the meantime, I must quickly carry out the tasks assigned to me by the Father, because there is little time left before the night falls and all work comes to an end. You are the light of the world. You light my world and show me the way until you return.
Amen
I encourage you to spend extra time today feasting in the Word of God! The Word is the true food that will satisfy your spirit. When everything looks dark and hopeless… Jesus is alive! He will restore your spirit and fill you with His love.
Thanksgiving Amid Uncertainty and a Global Pandemic
Thanksgiving Amid Uncertainty and a Global Pandemic. 2020 will go in the history books as “the year to pause and reflect” among other descriptors. Many of us who are used to run on the treadmill of life with no rest were forced to abruptly stop. Some of us were literally thrown off the treadmill and we were not ready for the impact. Others found themselves slowing down to a complete stop. Yet others experienced the treadmill speeding up to the point of unsustainable speeds.
Who are you in this picture? How has the COVID-19 Pandemic affected your personal and professional life? Most importantly, how has the Pandemic affected your spiritual life? Depending on your circumstances described above, if you found yourself suddenly on the floor, hurt, and disoriented because you either lost your job or someone you love died from the virus, did you ask others for help? Did you go to God for help and comfort?
If you found yourself “slowly slowing down,” your business deals consistently going away and not booking new business while, at the same time, your kids’ school closed and now you have to play teacher. Did you pivot your business? Have you found new ways to bring income to your home? How are you coping mentally? How are your children doing with the “distance learning” or “in-person learning” during this time?
Lastly, if you are in the third category and your treadmill of life sped up to an unsustainable pace (like doctors and nurses treating COVID-19 patients or bankers doing Paycheck Protection Program loans), were you able to slow down eventually? Or did your body give in, you let go of the handles and flew off the treadmill? Were you able to establish boundaries to say, “No more, I cannot handle any more.”?
My personal experience was a mixture of slowing down to zero traveling and, on the other hand, increased work to stay on top of the community banking industry. All my in-person speaking engagements were rescheduled from the spring and summer to now the fall. But God provided more consulting work when speaking was non-existent back in May. Overall, I have had some balanced days and some completely crazy days. But the best blessing throughout these past months is that my husband and I spend quality time at least once a week with our grandson. This is priceless and I thank God for this privilege daily.
Your responses to the questions above will vary based on your unique circumstances and your personal relationship with God. However, regardless of your situation, the entire world experienced the effects of the 2020 Pandemic in more than one way. Another way this year will go into history is as “the year that everything happened” and will never be forgotten. But you can prevail and continue life with God’s help.
The big question I ask myself and I ask you is: In the midst of uncertainty and during this Pandemic, have you used the additional time you’ve had to reflect on your relationship with God? Have you stopped to thank God despite the circumstances?
Thanking God during tribulation seems absolutely absurd and goes against our human nature. However, that’s exactly what we must do to obtain the grace, equipping, wisdom, and strength to get through adversity. When we thank God regardless of the circumstances we’re living through, He listens to us and He provides everything we need to get us through.
I encourage you to push through, believe in God, ask Him to help you through this tribulation and He will. Ask Him for wisdom and discernment as to what to do next, how to handle your children’s education, and to give you strength for each day. My hope is that this Pandemic has brought you closer to God and that your spiritual life will flourish because of this tribulation… I will leave you with these promises from the Scriptures:
John 16:33 (KJV)
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Psalm 116:1 (NLT)
I love the Lord, because He has heard My voice and my supplications.
Psalm 116:17 (NLT)
I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of the Lord.
Philippians 4:11 (NLT)
Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Give God Your First Minutes… Instead of Your Leftovers
Give God Your First Minutes… Instead of Your Leftovers. My “new normal” now consists of one day a week with my grandson, spending daily devotions morning time with God and extended time on Saturdays, and reading my Bible more often than ever. I want to read the Bible even more and I’ll continue to increase my time in the Word and in God’s presence, learning about God and getting to know Him personally. I’m also learning to experience God on a daily basis and in a more intimate way. Spending quality time with God and having the extra bonus time with my husband and grandson (21-months as of the time of this writing) is the biggest blessing that resulted from this Pandemic. I LOVE my new normal!
I typically read two books at the same time: one on leadership development and one on spiritual development. One of the books I’m currently reading, Soul Care in African American Practice, by Barbara Peacock, mentions a prayer practice called ACTS which stands for Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. You start by worshiping God, then you confess your sins and ask Him for forgiveness, you then move to thank Him for everything He’s done in your life, and you conclude with asking all your prayer requests.
I am starting to use this practice to stay focused on God and not allow my mind to wonder during my sacred time with my creator. Barbara also encourages us to “give God your attention, He will give you direction.” Right now, we need His divine direction and wisdom more than ever. In a time of such uncertainty, He knows the way. We don’t.
There are many ways to connect with God and we each need to find the best way that works for us. God will connect with us in any way we prefer because He’s adaptable and omniscient. Prayer, Scripture, Worship are all avenues to connecting with God. How do you connect with God?
Before the Pandemic started, I had decided to spend more time with God, alone. Even if I give him a few minutes—sometimes I only have ONE minute. But I always kneel before Him each morning before I start my day, consistently. Simply to love Him, worship Him, thank Him for one more day of good health, and to ask Him for my list of people who need prayer.
Every time, without exception, when I give of my time to God—even if it’s only one minute—He multiplies my time and I get everything done. You see, our number one excuse to not pray is our lack of time. But if we give God our “first minutes” of each day, He will ensure we get the rest done. Whenever I decide to “pray later” and wait until I get to bed, I’m too tired and it simply doesn’t happen. I cannot allow myself to give God my leftovers anymore…
I encourage you to give God your first minutes and not the leftovers. He will reward you beyond what you can imagine! I will leave you with these powerful Scriptures:
Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-17
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
People in America Need God Too
People in America Need God Too. We may often think that because we live in America, considered by many the strongest country in the world, that we, as individuals, cannot show a sign of weakness. We somehow believe that we should be strong enough to withstand the trials from life that come our way, alone. But we’re wrong. Hardship comes to all of us—the weak and the strong—at some point in our lives. Why? Simply because we live in this world where evil is real and bad things do happen to good and bad people alike, no exceptions.
For decades, Americans have supported the mission fields in distant lands like Africa, Asia, and Latin America forgetting that we, in the United States of America, need God too. In 1999, I left my banking career to work for a church for five years. I thought I would remain in ministry for the rest of my working life. But God had other plans. He called me back to the business world, this time to start a bank. When I left the church, I told the senior pastor, my boss, “Just as God calls people to distant lands to be the light and that is their mission field, God has called me to the business world in America—that is my mission field where God needs me so I can minister to the business people.” And that’s the reason why I left my executive banking job, almost five years ago, to pursue my calling: to help working people be successful in every area of their lives, and that includes their spiritual life. So, in a way, I’m back in ministry. This time in the right mission field and with all of you, the working people in America.
But my assignment is not only to share the Good News of the Gospel with all of you but also to pray for you. I currently have business colleagues and friends who are hurting. Some have asked me to pray for a job, others are fighting cancer, while others are going through a painful divorce. Some are suffering because their kids have gone the wrong way and yet others have broken relationships. And I’m not exempt from pain either, I have lived with migraines for over 30 years and lately I’ve been very worried about my parents living in Nicaragua during these times of political instability. I have also survived an earthquake in Nicaragua when I was six years old, lived through the revolution for two years before fleeing Nicaragua, arrived to the Dominican Republic as a refugee and two months later, Hurricane David devastated the island. I was only thirteen! I then moved to the United States when I was nineteen years old and came here alone. But God was with me through each life experience and I owe it all to Him.
Business people, working people, ALL people in America need God too! If you need prayer in any area of your life, send me a private message and I will be happy to pray for you. But I’m just a messenger to the business world and God deserves all the credit, not me at all! So, I want to leave you with a Scripture from Paul to the church of Corinth:
1 Corinthians 3:6 (NLT) “My job was to plant the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God, not we, who made it grow.”
How to Deal With Anxiety
How to Deal With Anxiety. There are so many things that can make us fearful to a point of becoming paralyzed. I have been dealing with a situation at work where I have to remember the scripture God gave us to not be fearful on 2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV) “For God hath not give us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” My fear is to not be able to get everything done on time with end of year deadlines and the increased workload. We must trust God that He will tell us how to deal with anxiety and provide for us both at work and at home. In the workplace He will equip us with the employees who will support us and will help us do everything that has to be done regardless of the market or if we are short staff. At home He will equip us with our family to help us get through whatever situation we are facing. Today, I want to share a devotional from my book Devotions for Working Women that encourages us to not be fearful.
God Has Not Given Us the Spirit of Fear
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2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
What Paul is telling Timothy in his second letter applies to us today. The enemy will attack us with fearful thoughts every day. Every time we encounter fear, we must fight it back and rebuke it standing on this passage. This is a great promise we must not forget. The power we have been entrusted with is the same one that raised Jesus from the dead, no less. Ephesians 1:19-20 (KJV) says, “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.”
The love we have been given is the very love of God—the love that can do all things. The self-discipline (a sound mind) is what we need to follow Jesus every day, to say no to our flesh and yes to our spirit. Our spirit responds to God’s Spirit, our flesh doesn’t until we make it. Remember this truth the next time you are in fear.
Jesus Did It All
Jesus Did It All. This past week I was talking with a friend about salvation and when I asked the question: do you know if you were to die tonight if you will see Jesus? The answer was “no, I don’t know.” This conversation prompted me to share more and to encourage my friend to seek God to have that answer settled. This discussion also rekindled the urgency in my heart to bring the Gospel to those around us. We get too busy living our lives and forget our ultimate calling which is to bring people to the Kingdom of God! Today, I would like to share this devotional that encourages us to take the step. Enjoy and share!
Jesus Did It All
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Isaiah 53:3 (NLT)
He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we did not care.
Do you know the man the prophet Isaiah is talking about? His name is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Since we humans messed up and gave Satan control over this earth, God came up with a plan to bring us back to Him. It is the plan of salvation God gave to Jesus to fulfill when He was on this earth. It is a simple plan that humans complicated. God sent His only begotten Son to save us and for all who believe to have everlasting life. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we accept salvation. We restore our fellowship with God the Father.
The following verses complete the story. “Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins! But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we may have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the guilt and sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. From prison and trial they lead him away to his death…But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and fill him with grief… He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of what he has experienced, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins” (vv. 4-11). If you haven’t given your life to Jesus yet, it is never too late. Today is your day!
God's Grace is Sufficient
God's Grace is Sufficient. Sometimes during the course of our lives we will experience unexpected crisis. This could be anything from an illness the doctors cannot figure out the cause of up to the death of a loved one in your family or at work. In those times, we need to tap into God’s grace. I have been praying for a friend who is ill and the doctors can’t figure out what exactly is going on and I have been praying for God to give the spouse grace to go through whatever is next in their lives. When our friends and family receive some bad news sometimes the only thing we can do is pray. In today’s devotional, I want to encourage you to tap into God’s grace and to pray for others to receive God’s grace.
Tap into God’s Grace
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2 Timothy 2:1 (KJV)
Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV)
And he said to me, my grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
During the course of our working lives, we will experience crisis—either at home or at work. How do we manage to get through it? By God’s grace that is available through Jesus Christ. If we find we can’t go on anymore, it means we are not tapping into God’s grace. He will never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8 NLT). He gives us the grace we need on a daily basis to live through every one of the situations we experience. When we are weak He gives us strength to go on because He is our source of strength.
Therefore, ask God for His grace on a daily basis. When crisis comes, ask Him for a double dosage. He will give it to you, and you will have the strength to go through it. His grace is sufficient unto you.
Find Rest in Jesus
Find Rest in Jesus. Today I just want to encourage you to give all your worries and burdens to Jesus. He is always ready to receive them. We were not meant to carry the load of life alone. Jesus is our companion and the One who guides every one of our steps. This devotional will help you continue your journey knowing you have Jesus along the way.
Give Your Burdens to Jesus and He Will Give You Rest
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Matthew 11:28 (NLT)
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
As working women, we may often feel weary. Sometimes our burdens are so heavy we can hardly make the next step. This is a scripture we need to get a hold of and personalize. Let’s give our burdens to Jesus. He is there for us. He wants to take them. God is pleased when we give our burdens to Jesus because that act tells Him we trust Him and believe in Him fully.
Our rest starts in our spirit and soul. Jesus promises us that rest. When we have rest spiritually, we have peace, and that peace eliminates the stress of our burdens.
Praise God for your job and thank Him for the grace and strength He gives you to do all that He has called you to do on a daily basis. For those of you who are single working moms, don’t despair. You are not alone, and Jesus wants to help you carry your burden. Jesus tells us in verses 29 and 30, “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.”
Scripture is Inspired
Scripture is Inspired. Today I want to encourage you to read the Bible—the Word of God. The Bible contains advice we can use in our everyday lives. Sometimes we wonder how we can get wisdom and answers to ethical situations we do not know how to resolve both at work and at home. The Word of God does have the guidance and instruction we are all looking for. We just have to read it! This devotional reminds us of how God prepares us and equips us in life. Enjoy!
God’s Word Prepares and Equips Us
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2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.
God wants each one of us to do something. He has a plan and a purpose for every person. But He doesn’t expect us to go figure it out on our own. He provided us with a manual full of instructions, wisdom, and revelation to prepare us and equip us. He gave us the Word to use on a daily basis as our guide.
The Bible provides us direction for every area of our lives, including business. It teaches us what’s right and wrong and how God expects us to behave and perform in the business world. Let’s use it, spend time in it, and meditate on it day and night. We need it, and God knew it.
Live Your Life for Christ
Live Your Life for Christ. This weekend is special in the lives of Christians because it’s the weekend we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and what He did for all of us. Today I want to encourage you to live your life for Christ. Love Him, believe in Him, and trust Him—every day of your life! I want to share this devotional with you because it reminds us of what the Father did through Jesus—all for us to be able to be with Him in eternity. Happy Easter!
With God All Things Are Possible—Including Salvation
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Matthew 19:26 (KJV)
But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible
In the verses prior to this one Jesus confronted a rich young man who always kept all of the commandments and followed the law. But when Jesus asked him to sell everything he had and give the proceeds to the poor, he couldn’t do it “for he had great possessions.” Then, when Jesus told His disciples that it was very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of heaven, His disciples were astounded and asked him, “Who then can be saved?” (v. 25).
We in our own ability cannot be saved. We cannot purchase salvation because Jesus already did that when He died on the cross for our sins. Jesus is not saying rich people won’t go to heaven. It is a matter of the heart. People, rich or poor, who put their trust in riches, will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Those who put their trust in God, and love Him above all, will.
No matter how many good deeds we do in this world, if we don’t accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we will simply not go to heaven. Jesus is the only way to the Father. That is His only plan of salvation for humanity. There is no other. For us it is impossible to go to heaven on our own but with God all things are possible—including our salvation.
Seek Jesus. He is the truth, the light and the way. John 3:16-17 (NLT) say, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.” Romans 10:9-10 (NLT) says, “For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.”
God's Benefits
God's Benefits. Today I want to encourage you to learn about the benefits that God has provided for you. Read today’s devotional and thank God for the wonderful benefits that you can enjoy when you walk with Him every day of your life.
Know Your Benefits
#126
Psalm 103:1-5 (NKJV)
Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Nowadays, companies strive to offer great benefits to their employees. Yet nothing compares to the benefits we have for being children of God. Psalm 103 gives us examples of those benefits. But how do we obtain them?
We seek God first—above all things (Matthew 6:33 NLT)
We accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior (John 3:16, Romans 10:10 NLT)
We believe and accept all of His promises. We appropriate them by faith and we live by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7 NLT).
Knowing who we are in Christ and that we are God’s precious children is a revelation that we must obtain. Once we have that revelation in our hearts we can be successful in every area of our lives—both at work and at home. Therefore, know your benefits and thank God for them.
Generosity in the Bible
Generosity in the Bible. Today I want to encourage you to give of yourself to others. Sometimes we think if we don’t have a lot of money then we are not able to give to others. But giving is not only about monetary help it is giving of yourself from your heart. Today’s devotional encourages us to give in many other ways so we can obtain heavenly rewards right here on earth.
Give of Yourself Generously
# 99
Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 (NLT)
Give generously, for your gifts will return to you later. Divide your gifts among many, for you do not know what risks might lie ahead.
We usually interpret passages like this one to mean we should give money, generously but I believe it’s referring to giving of ourselves. God gave gifts to all of us we can share with others. The Bible tells us to give and we will receive. How we treat others, we will be treated. Basically, we reap what we sow in every area of our lives.
In the workplace we have daily opportunities to give of ourselves to others. We can help our co-workers, our boss, or customers with our time, ideas, experience, knowledge, and our love. Sometimes we show people we care for them just by listening to them and treating them with respect and dignity.
This passage also tells us to divide our gifts among many. Our gifts are for us to share with everyone that crosses our path. I believe God puts people in our lives for a purpose. Some people are in our lives one time, and we have a one-time divine appointment. Other people, He puts in our paths for a long time or forever. He connects us with the people He knows we can help and we can receive help from them.
Therefore, treat the people He has given you with His love, and you will receive your reward right here in this life as well as in heaven.
Do Not Stop Running Your Race
Do Not Stop Running Your Race. Today I ran a 5K and I feel great! My first goal was not to finish first – just to finish. My second goal was to finish in 30 minutes and I finished at 28:50 so I am satisfied. While I was running I kept asking God to help me to not stop and to give me the grace, strength, and endurance to finish my race. Even though there were other people running alongside me in the race, I felt this was my own personal race. It was me against the clock. I didn’t care if I passed others or if they passed me. I ran at my own pace, where I felt I could make it. It was a place where I felt I was pushing myself beyond the normal but it was not so hard that I could not make it. In the end, I felt God’s help throughout the time I was running and I was encouraged to do it again.
Today I want to share with you a short devotional that reminds us that the source of our strength and peace is the Lord. I encourage you to keep running your own race in life. Enjoy!
The Lord Is Our Source of Strength and Peace
#139
Psalm 29:11 (NLT)
The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace.
God is so powerful! He used His power to raise Jesus from the dead. The Holy Spirit gives us that same power, which is the source of our strength. This is one of the many benefits we have as children of God. We are weak but made strong in the Lord. He gives us the strength we need on a daily basis to fulfill the calling He has given us. He also blessed us with His peace that surpasses all understanding. The peace of God cannot be found in this world because it can only come from Him. Peace is another great benefit He gives us because He loves us.
When the stress of life with work and home responsibilities is getting to you, stand on His promise and go to the source of strength and peace—God.
Jesus is Your Rock
Jesus is Your Rock. When bad things happen to good people we don’t know what to do or how to respond. What do we tell our friends who are going through the hardship at the time? Through the years, I have learned that there are things we may never know the answers to during our lifetime. Today I want to encourage you to hang on to Jesus as your Rock. He is the only One that can help you get through the storms of life. I hope this devotional will help you in your journey.
I Will Not Be Shaken!
# 124
Psalm 16:8 (NLT)
I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
When you know in our heart that the Lord is with you, you have a peace that surpasses all understanding. It is the peace of God working in you so you are not shaken.
There are certain life events that can shake you, such as the death of a loved one, the loss of your job, divorce, or living through a natural disaster. If you find yourself living through any of the above situations, know that God is with you. He is right beside you, walking through it with you. He is holding your hand and lighting the way when it’s dark all around you. He is your comforter, your helper, your hope, and the one who loves you more than anyone on this earth.
The Lord Jesus is your Rock. Building your house on the Rock means you build your life based only on the truth of God’s Word. It is doing always what’s right and knowing the foundation is the love of God. Everything He does in your life is founded on His amazing love. In fact, the whole plan of salvation is based on His eternal love for you and desire to be with you forever.
When you build your life, your house, on Him, you will not be shaken when the storms of life come. Your house will stand. When the storm is over, you will still be standing on Him and His Word. It doesn’t matter what it looks like on the outside or around you. You will know where you stand because of what you believe.
Remember these words when you go through a storm in your life. Hang on to the Lord, and you will not be shaken.
Be Strong
Be Strong. Sometimes during our race of life we may feel like we can’t go on anymore. Usually we feel that way toward the end of the race, when we are tired and almost ready to give up. But it is precisely in those moments that God asks us to look up and ask Him for help. He is there for us to give us the extra grace, one last ounce of strength, just enough for us to finish our race. Today, I want to share with you a devotional from my book that gives us encouragement. Enjoy and be strong!
We Are to Be Strong
# 145
Psalm 18:32 (NLT)
God arms me with strength; he has made my way safe.
Most of us think of strength as being physical only. But we need to have emotional and spiritual strength as well to be successful in life. It doesn’t matter how physically strong a person is. If they are not strong in the other areas, they are not going to make it through the storms of life.
We draw our strength in all areas from God. All we have to do is seek Him above all things and ask Him for strength. The more time we spend alone with the Lord, the stronger our relationship with Him is and the stronger we become.
The most important area to be strong is our spirit because it drives the other two areas of physical and emotional strength. When we are spiritually strong, we know our purpose in life, we have a strong faith, and we don’t give up the daily fight as easily.
In the workplace, now more than ever, we must be strong working women. We must be strong to stand our ground and fight for what we believe. We must be strong to be able to meet all the demands of our jobs. We must be strong to make the right decisions on a daily basis, and then stand by the decisions we make.
Knowing and appropriating the Word of God and His promises gives us strength. The Bible gives us several scriptures that encourage us to be strong such as: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13 KJV); “If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” (Romans 8:31 NLT); “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Romans 8:37 KJV).
Our Source of Strength and Peace
Our Source of Strength and Peace. As I sit here today and reflect over the past week, I can only thank God for all He’s done for all of us. Last Sunday was Easter and He gave us the gift of life—to each one of us. Last week was also my birthday and I received the news that one of my friends who was pregnant had lost her baby. I had just finished saying thank you to someone who had wished me happy birthday and I was sharing how much I like birthdays because it gives me the opportunity to celebrate another year of life. Today, another friend had her baby and everything went fine. Sometimes we do not know why things happen but we do know that God is there for us to celebrate our happy moments and to embrace us during our times of sorrow. Today, I want to share with you one of the devotionals from my book to give you hope and encouragement in your life.
The Lord Is Our Source of Strength and Peace
# 139
Psalm 29:11 (NLT)
The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace.
God is so powerful! He used His power to raise Jesus from the dead. The Holy Spirit gives us that same power, which is the source of our strength. This is one of the many benefits we have as children of God. We are weak but made strong in the Lord. He gives us the strength we need on a daily basis to fulfill the calling He has given us. He also blessed us with His peace that surpasses all understanding. The peace of God cannot be found in this world because it can only come from Him. Peace is another great benefit He gives us because He loves us.
When the stress of life with work and home responsibilities is getting to you, stand on His promise and go to the source of strength and peace—God.