Excellence in Work as a Testimony of Faith
Devotional week 45
Lately, I’ve been hearing a lot about doing our work with excellence. This is a topic that can cause some confusion if not properly understood. I believe that working with excellence can — and should — be done by keeping a few important points in mind.
Communicating Across Cultures
Devotional week 44
Right from the start the message of the gospel has been communicated to people from different cultures. On the day of Pentecost many jews and proselytes from the diaspora where gathered in Jerusalem and heard the disciples speak about the wonderful works of God in there own language! Thus they could understand what was said to them. Language is the most important tool of communication, but it's not the only thing we need to consider when sharing the good news to someone from a different culture; we also need to take into consideration their worldview and cultural customs.
My Voice and His Word — Communicating Like Jesus in a Digital Age
Devotional week 43
As long as I can remember, I always felt misunderstood. This has not changed much in the last couple of years, but my relationship with God did. I am much more secure in who I am, the way God made me, and I am not longing for everyone to understand me, but my people, the ones I love and the ones that work with me or serve in our community, that's a different story.
Christ Made the First Move: Choosing Peace in Conflict
Devotional week 40
Conflict in the workplace is almost unavoidable. Performance reviews, deadlines, personality clashes, or misunderstandings can easily stir up tension. A friend of mine once came home bitter and discouraged. She had just received a surprisingly low score on her performance review. Shocked, she asked her supervisor why, but the answer was not clear. Feeling treated unfairly, she rejected the review and requested an inquiry that involved higher management.
The Price of Peace
Devotional week 38
A friend once said during our house church gathering, “For any place where there is peace, someone has paid the price for it.” That statement jolted me awake. At the time, I was having a hard time with a fellow postgraduate student in the campus “family house” where I lived. We both followed Jesus, yet we did not get along well.
Conflict Resolution – Applying Christian Principles to Resolve Workplace Conflicts
Devotional week 37
I tried to live a life conflict-free, but then realized that issues never get solved and someone always feels like their opinion did not matter. We all view scenarios from our perspective, our culture, and our personality type.
But as followers of Christ, we are called to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9), reflecting His heart in how we handle disagreements.
The Power of Relationships
Devotional week 36
During my first training on tentmaking, I heard something that really surprised me: the number one reason people come to Christ is through relationships, friendships between those who know Jesus and those who do not yet know Him.
When Culture Clashes with the Cross
Devotional week 34
The world is a fantastic place, displaying the wonders and riches of so many different cultures. This is how God intended it to be. John describes in the book of Revelation how, in the New Jerusalem, the nations will bring their glory and honor—their splendor and riches—into the city (Revelation 21:24–26.). Can you imagine the colors, sounds, smells, and noises we will take in on that day? But until then, we live in a world where culture has been infested by sin, and traditions can be harmful—yes, even outright evil like the burying of children alive to appease the gods.
Planted, Not Misplaced
Devotional week 32
I had never left my home state in the South before. So when I moved to the North for the first time, it felt like stepping into a different world. The journey was long and dusty. The roads stretched endlessly. The weather was dry and hot, unlike the green, humid South I was used to. Then came the food — different textures, different tastes. Everything felt unfamiliar. I missed home almost immediately.
The Gift We Often Resist
Devotional week 31
Sometimes, receiving feedback feels like a slap, sudden, uncomfortable, and difficult to accept. Our first instinct might be to defend ourselves or walk away. But in Psalm 141:5, David invites us to see correction differently. He describes it as a kindness, as something valuable and healing, like fine oil. That is a very different way of thinking.
Feedback as a Reflection of God’s Grace in the Workplace
Devotional week 30
In the workplace, feedback can often feel like a necessary but uncomfortable part of professional life. Yet, when seen through the lens of our faith, feedback becomes more than just a performance tool — it becomes a way to reflect God’s grace.
Giving Feedback with Grace and Wisdom
Devotional week 29
Words are like eggs, once they are broken, you cannot put them back together. That is why it matters how we speak, especially in tense situations.
When emotions are raw, it is tempting to speak quickly, harshly, or defensively. We may feel the urge to correct someone immediately or prove our point without thinking. But feedback given in anger often leaves behind damage that can’t be undone.
Shaped by Feedback: Slowing Down to Listen
Devotional week 28
Receiving feedback is rarely easy. Our natural instinct is often to defend ourselves, justify our choices, or quietly dismiss what’s been said. Yet God, in His wisdom, has designed community partly so that we might grow through one another’s observations—even when they sting.
Trust Again – A Path to Collaboration and Growth
Devotional week 27
Let’s be honest: trusting people at work is not easy. Maybe you have been burned before. Someone promised to help and didn’t show up, or a team project fell apart because someone dropped the ball. It is natural to want to do everything yourself so you don’t get hurt again.
Every Part Matters
Devotional week 26
Have you ever caught yourself wishing you were more like someone else- maybe with their confidence, their gifts, or the way people seem to notice them? On the flip side, perhaps you have tried to carry everything yourself, thinking no else can or will step up.
A Life that Pleases God: Humility in the Team
Devotional week 25
Working with others can be a blessing, but it is often also a test of character. Most of us have experienced difficult colleagues, unresolved tensions, team conflicts, or working partners who seem to pull in a completely different direction.
Empowered by the Spirit: Finding Strength and Purpose in Unity This Pentecost
Devotional week 24
Have you ever felt like you're standing alone in your faith at work? Like your values are odd or even offensive in today’s world? I have felt that too. As an employer, I am expected to accommodate different religious needs, special food, prayer breaks, holidays, and I do so respectfully. But sometimes, simply mentioning a Christian belief is seen as pushing my views. That tension is real.
When Going Alone Is not Working
Devotional week 23
Some of my earliest memories of community were shaped by the people around me growing up. Back then, it felt like life moved a little slower, and people leaned on each other more naturally. One memory that has stayed with me is of a family of three brothers in our neighborhood. Their bond wasn’t just something they spoke about, it was something you could see in action. The older brothers teamed up to help the youngest build his house. When that was done, they helped the next.
Lead with a Guarded Heart
Devotional week 22
Leadership is a high calling, but it is also a battlefield, especially for those seeking to lead in a way that honors God. It is not just about making decisions, guiding people, or getting results; it’s about doing all of that with the right heart, the right values, and in alignment with God’s ways. In Romans 7, Paul reveals a truth that’s both sobering and deeply personal: even with the desire to do good, there is a war within. This battle is not limited to moral failure—it also shows up in the subtle compromises we face every day.
How to lead like Jesus in different cultures
Devotional week 21
I still recall the shocked expressions on my colleagues' faces as we gathered around the conference table in our office in Central Asia. The microfinance bank we had started a few months earlier was running smoothly. However, some customers were already failing to repay their loans as agreed.