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.
Growing Through Difference
Devotional week 35
“I know what it is to feel out of place,” says Michael, a Christian businessman who recently moved to another country to open a company. “I have walked into meetings where my accent marked me immediately as a foreigner. I have seen polite smiles fade when my way of doing things didn’t match the local culture. Some days I wonder if I will ever belong here.”
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.
United We Stand, Divided We Fall
The phrase "divide and conquer" appears early in the Bible. In Genesis 11, at the Tower of Babel, humanity was united in purpose but driven by pride. Together, they sought to make a name for themselves, reaching the heavens without God. The outcome? The creation of languages—not as a blessing, but as a barrier. A divider that scattered people and disrupted their shared ambitions. Fast-forward to today: misunderstanding, suspicion, and division still afflict us…
Sent but Not Strangers
Devotional week 33
I was sitting in a coffee shop enjoying my coffee when a lady approached and said, "Do you know that you are called for the nations?" I answered with an annoyed, “Yes,” hoping the lady would go away and not start another conversation about my so-called "calling". Fortunately, she did not get the hint, and the conversation we had convinced me that I had to pray and think more seriously about how I understood the Great Commission.
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.
Receiving and Offering Feedback: A Humble and Wise Approach
We constantly receive and give feedback. But how effectively can we handle such input, especially when it comes in the form of correction? And how well do we give feedback when we notice something wrong and want to assist those around us?
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.
Where Leadership Serves and Faith Works
Devotional week 20
I have spent the past 20 years working as a freelancer. As a designer, my profession has allowed that. I have never had direct supervisors or bosses chasing me for goals. In truth, my leaders are, in a way, my clients. Let me explain: my clients lead by bringing a project's vision, values, and goals. I lead by transforming that vision into effective visual solutions, offering guidance based on my experience.
Servant Leadership and how it reflects the character of Jesus
Devotional week 19
When I think back over my 30+ years as a working professional, I have seen many styles of leadership. My first boss was not a nice or a good person, so my expectations through the years were measured against a low benchmark. It felt that it was a cultural rite for leaders to be mean, self-centric and dominating leadership through fear. As a young professional, you don’t know better, you assume that the road to success means you need to be tough as nails, and softness is a sign of weakness.