The Christian Working Woman

When I think of a very self-confident person, I think of the Apostle Peter. He was confident in himself. He was the only disciple who was confident he could walk on water. He was confident in his fishing abilities and knowledge. He was confident Jesus was wrong to say he was going to die and rebuked him for it. He was totally confident that he, Peter, would never deny Jesus, even if everyone else did. Even when Jesus predicted otherwise, Peter was super-confident he would never disown Jesus even if he had to die with him. Peter did not lack self-confidence. However, all that self-confidence failed him at the critical moments of his life. He began to walk on water but very soon started sinking. Self-confidence didn't keep him up. Self-confidence didn't fill his empty nets with fish after a long night of fishing and catching nothing. Only when he followed Jesus' instructions was he able to catch fish. Though he was very confident in rebuking Jesus, Jesus not only did not take his counsel, but he also considered it to be satanically inspired. And within hours of his most confident assertion, he would never deny Jesus, he did so three times with cursing. Peter's example tends to give self-confidence a black eye. We've been led to believe self-confidence is the key to success, the one essential you must have to get ahead, to be assertive, to be a leader. But Peter's experiences could cause one to lose confidence in self-confidence. It didn't seem to help Peter much when he needed it. But thank God, that's not the end of Peter's story. We see a transformed Peter in the book of Acts. He was still extremely confident, still assertive, still a leader, but the results were very different. You remember the story of Peter and John encountering a lame beggar at the temple. Peter looked at the lame man and said in his most confident manner, " In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk” (Acts 3:6). And guess what—the man went into the temple walking, leaping, and praising God. When questioned by the religious leaders as to how he had done this, Peter gave a most confident response: …then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed (Acts 4:10). Peter, who had failed miserably at every turn when he relied on self-confidence and who had cowardly denied Jesus three times, now stood tall among people who were seeking to harm him and proclaimed to them the gospel of Jesus Christ. When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say (Acts 4:13-14). Peter's confidence amazed them but notice it was not self-confidence. They knew Peter was not able to heal this man or speak as he did because of his own education or training. Peter was no longer operating on self-confidence. That had been totally shattered. But his confidence and trust in Jesus Christ the Nazarene gave him a boldness and power he had never known before. The lame man was healed, he was able to persuade thousands of converts, and he led the early church as they changed the course of history. What happened to the Apostle Peter in the few intervening days between the sad scene at Jesus' trial and this victorious display of confidence and success? In the first instance, though totally self-confident, he had failed miserably. In the second, he displayed a confident approach, yet the results were quite different. What happened was Peter lost all his self-confidence and gained in its place God-confidence. After he healed the lame man, he said to the amazed people who were watching, Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus…And on the basis of faith in his name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know (Acts 3:12-13, 16). When Peter spoke now, he was filled with the Holy Spirit. No more shooting off his mouth as before when he operated out of self-confidence. With the Holy Spirit controlling him, Peter spoke with great power and was successful in his service for Jesus. Notice, however, the loss of self-confidence didn't turn Peter into a sniveling, cowardly wimp. He didn't walk around with his head hanging down, quite the opposite. He was bolder than ever before because God controlled him, and his confidence was in someone much more capable and powerful than he was. My dear friends, self-confidence is a deceptive allurement fostered by this world. Like Peter, many Christians go from one sad experience to another, as their self-confidence fails them. And even when self-confidence brings some temporary achievements, it is so fragile and so easily intimidated it falls apart at the first adverse wind that comes along. I know because I've been there. I spent ten years building my life on self-confidence and my own achievements. I could list the successes I had in the business world during those ten years, and you might think I had done pretty well. I had self-confidence, but it kept falling apart on me all the time. I could put on a good face, but underneath, in those quiet moments of aloneness, I was anything but confident, and I knew I wasn't doing very well on my own. I thank God my self-confidence was shattered many years ago because then I finally turned to my Savior and said, "I just can't do it anymore. I'm a failure. I can't cope. I'm an emotional yo-yo. I'm just a mess.” Despite the success I had stacked up in the business world, I was at the end of my self-confident rope. Once that self-confidence was shattered, I turned back to God. And that’s when the God-confidence began, and each day is another opportunity to grow in my trust of God and to operate now in his power instead of my own. But it began when my own self-confidence was destroyed. Paul wrote to the Philippians: We are, remember, truly circumcised when we worship God by the Spirit, when we find our joy in Jesus Christ and put no confidence in what we are in the flesh (Philippians 3:3). He was reminding his Jewish brothers and sisters that outward rituals and signs are not the evidence of our relationship to God, but we are truly rightly related to God when we are Spirit-controlled, when we find our joy in Jesus Christ, and when we have no confidence in our flesh, in ourselves. Have you been on a misguided search for self-confidence? It could be even though you know God through Jesus Christ, you’ve been running your life by the world's principles, as I did for so long. Paul wrote to the Galatians: Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again (Galatians 4:8-9)? Why would we want to run on self-confidence when God-confidence is available to us? Can we doubt God-confidence has much more to offer? Can we deny self-confidence fails us frequently? Then why do we run back to the world's weak and miserable principles? May I suggest it is because the philosophy of self-confidence looks good, and it appears to work for some people. We swallow the bait and are deceived again by the master-liar, the father of lies—Satan. What's the answer? There's only one: The shattering of our self-confidence and a decision on our part to replace it with God-confidence. If you're still running on self-confidence, you can either make a choice to abandon it, or you can keep on until it runs out of gas on its own, which it will do eventually. It is self-destructive and will, sooner or later, collapse. Maybe that's happened to you already, and you're now wallowing in the shambles of that failed self-confidence. Either way, if you choose God-confidence, it can be yours. To have God-confidence, you must first have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, which requires repentance and a turning away from your sins. If you don't have that assurance, it is the essential first step. Then, you must pursue knowing God as your highest priority. You must be willing to allow the Holy Spirit to control your life, and that is your choice. Remember Peter gained God-confidence as he was filled with God's Holy Spirit. That is available to every Christian. When you are born from above, you receive the Holy Spirit, but it is your choice whether you will allow the Spirit to control your life or not. If you do, changes will take place in your everyday routine. Priorities will undoubtedly shift. Some good things you've been doing may have to go to make room for the time you need with God. That will not happen by accident; it will happen as you purpose in your heart to know God. I can assure you of this, the more you know him, the more confidence you have in him. The more his Word is the central focus of your existence, the more confident you will be. God-confidence may look the same as self-confidence in some respects, but the big difference is it is humble confidence. Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom (James 3:13). Humility that comes from wisdom—in other words, it is wise to be humble because you recognize your own weaknesses. And this wise humility will give you a confidence much stronger, much less dependent on you and your performance, and totally confident on God in you—the Holy Spirit. God-confidence is there even when you fail; even when you are fearful of failing.

Presented by Lauren Stibgen When I think of a servant leader, I think of someone who always places others before themselves—giving to others perhaps when they may not even seem like they can give anything more. Giving without any expectation of something in return. This self-sacrificing giving was embodied by our Lord and Savior Jesus. I think all of us have likely been on the other end of this—someone has done something for us and now they are seeking a favor in return. It’s what you would call a quid pro quo or a tit for tat style of giving. I give, and then I want something in return. It feels like a transaction, because it is. This is not servant leadership. This is a transaction. Jesus gave his life for us! For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit (1 Peter 3:18). He sacrificed himself for our sins once and for all! It is a one-way selfless gift that gives us the joy of eternity with our Lord in heaven! What are ways you can give to others? How are you a good steward of your time, treasure, and talent to the benefit of others? Time. More than anything, women at all stages of their career need mentorship. Statistically, women are less likely to receive mentoring, and it is also a fact that those who receive mentoring are five times more likely to progress in their career in the form of a promotion! Perhaps someone needs encouragement. Can you take time to pray with them or have a cup of coffee? Perhaps even taking time to send an encouraging text or a Bible verse would be just what they need. Treasure. This isn’t just money; it is the spiritual and eternal riches you have from your salvation. The greatest gift. Giving of your tangible treasure could look like taking a colleague to lunch or buying them a small token of appreciation for a job well done. Perhaps it is preparing a meal for someone in need, which is a combination of using your time, treasure, and hopefully talent! What about your spiritual treasure? How are you giving of this selflessly? Are you telling people about Jesus? Maybe praying for people? Simply being hopeful and being able to give an answer for what your hope is in can be one way to share your spiritual treasure with a colleague. Talent. Are you amazing at something? Maybe you are super organized or love planning a meeting. Offer to help someone else when they need it most!

Presented by Lauren Stibgen The worldview of a servant leader is someone who empowers others. Basically, giving someone the power to do something. Jesus empowered his disciples, and he empowers us today! Jesus was all powerful. We see it time and time again in the miracles he performed in the gospels—water to wine, healing the sick and raising the dead! Jesus rebuked demonic spirits. In Matthew 10, Jesus sends out the twelve disciples. These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give” (Matthew 10:5-8). Can you imagine how these twelve men felt? The things they had seen Jesus do, they were being empowered to do! Personally, I would be invigorated and terrified all at the same time! How can you empower others? Sometimes this can be as simple as being a good encourager when you see someone trying something new or struggling when they are stuck. Your words give them power to do something! Your words of encouragement may be the extra fuel they need to not feel scared of the next step they need to take. Think about someone who has been looking for work. They apply and apply, maybe even interview and are discouraged and tired. Your encouragement can empower them to keep applying and not lose hope! Perhaps the empowerment is more literal. You are empowering a subordinate or colleague to try something new—something they have seen you do time and time again, just like Jesus did with his disciples! Is it preparing and presenting materials to a board of directors? Perhaps it is taking ownership of opening or closing during a shift. Either way, you are serving them by releasing your power and allowing them to do something they would not otherwise have an opportunity to do! Think of when this has happened for you. Is there a specific time you can recount? This isn’t only for those just starting out in a career. It is a lifelong journey! I think of how Mary Lowman and Julie Busteed have empowered me through both giving me the power to do something new at The Christian Working Woman and their ongoing encouragement to me! I have been working for a long time. Don’t lose sight. There are opportunities for you to be a servant leader through empowering someone around you today!

Presented by Lauren Stibgen Even though he was Lord of all, Jesus was serving the disciples in a very humble way! He did this for a very specific reason—to be a model of the behavior he was calling his disciples to. He knew they would ultimately argue about who was greatest. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him (John 13:12-16). Clearly Jesus modeled how he served, even as their teacher and Lord. They were to serve one another just as Jesus had just served them. Jesus was also a servant and messenger of God. He was not greater than the one who sent him. Yesterday, I asked you consider if you are displaying lordship in your leadership or service. Obviously, you aren’t going to work washing people’s feet, unless you are a nail technician by profession! But what are ways you can model servant leadership to people around you at work? Again, it doesn’t matter if you hold a leadership title or not. You are a servant leader! Some of descriptors of servant leadership we discussed include empowering others, letting others shine, acting with humility and authenticity, being held accountable, practicing stewardship and accepting the perspectives of others. Jesus clearly saw the perspectives of others! He served them and didn’t care what other people said when he dined with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus was a model of seeing people where they were. How are you seeing others around you who may feel outcast? Are there people at work battling a hidden illness or disability? How can you help? Are you humble? Colossians 3:12 tells us as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, we are to clothe ourselves in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Humility is a modest or low view of your own importance. If you are a leader, do you feel more important than people around you? Extending kindness in good measure, along with patience to others is one way to show you know they are important! How do you steward your time? Are you wasting it in gossip or viewing memes online when you should be coaching someone along? Ask yourself how you are modeling servant leadership!

Presented by Lauren Stibgen Even though the phrase servant leadership isn’t a biblical term, the Bible does tell us as leaders to serve! I am so thankful for God’s Word and how it truly can inform how we work! Jesus tells us to serve in this passage. Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves (Luke 22:25-26). This verse follows a dispute among the disciples about who would be regarded as the greatest. Although we don’t read as much detail about the last supper in Luke’s account, we need to consider how Jesus modeled servant leadership to the disciples that night. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him (John 13:3-5). Jesus knew he was all powerful. God had put all things under his power yet he took the posture of a lowly servant and washed his disciples’ feet, going as far as to use the towel on his body to dry them. He did not exercise lordship over them and demand they wash his feet, rather as the leader, he was the one who served. Do you exercise lordship, or, as a leader, do you serve? Maybe you are not yet thinking of yourself as a leader. Let’s remove the notions of worldly appointments and titles. Jesus was not considered a leader by the people of his time, at least not in the sense of the synagogue or even in politics. It was through his service of speaking the Word of God, healing the sick, and performing miracles that Jesus came to be seen as a leader. And for some, his leadership blessed them, and others, it threatened. He didn’t demand lordship as the Son of God, demanding to be followed. He was followed because he served! If you find yourself in a position where you do hold a title, are you using this for the betterment of those who see you in this position? What do they see? Are you demanding respect or giving it? Are you watching your team struggle to complete work or are you seeking to help?

Presented by Lauren Stibgen Did you know the widely-used workplace term servant leader doesn’t have roots in the Bible? Sometimes, when something seems to fit what we believe as followers of Jesus, we easily ascribe it to what we know from the Bible. You and I know there is no better wisdom for living than God’s Word! Whether in our personal or business life, we find truth and goodness for any situation we face in His Word. And, although the author and scholar who coined this term didn’t find this truth from the Bible, we clearly see the Word calls us to lead lives as servant leaders. What is it mean to be a servant leader? Coined by Robert Greenleaf in 1970 in an essay “The Servant as a Leader”, Greenleaf seeks to understand a character from a fictional story—not the Bible. This story talks about a band of men on a mythical journey who have a servant who cares for their every need. “Once he disappears, their band falls apart, and everything is in disarray.” One of the members finds the servant later, and discovers he is a “guiding spirit, and noble leader.”[1] To my listeners today, this is why abiding in the Word and in community with other believers is critical! We might say Greenleaf was reading biblical allegory, but he was not! Greenleaf goes on to describe who a servant leader is. Some of a servant’s characteristics include someone who desires to serve and then become a leader rather than having a leader-first attitude seeking unusual power or material possessions. A servant leader makes sure the needs of other people are his highest priority, and they are receiving benefits from the servant leader. Further descriptors of servant leadership include empowering others, standing back to let others shine, humility, authenticity, courage, accountability, acceptance of other perspectives, and stewardship. Let’s replace this fictional character and the worldly descriptors and think of Jesus in God’s word, which is where we need to seek our wisdom about being a servant leader! --- [1] Greenleaf, R. K. (1970). The servant as leader. The Greenleaf Center For Servant Leadership, Cop.

Presented by Lauren Stibgen As Christians, we often consider ourselves servant leaders, but how was this phrase born into our business vocabulary as something to aspire to whether you are a follower of Jesus or not? And why do we consider servant leadership biblical at all? First, for those of you who missed the conversation about the roots of servant leadership in secular business, it all began in 1970 when Robert Greenleaf mused over an allegory about a servant who ended up being a leader of a great band of men. This story was not biblical, but it sparked the thought that those who serve with an others-first focus can become some of the greatest leaders; more than leaders who are bestowed with a title who desire power, authority, and self-focused gratification. The phrase servant leader is not specifically found in the Bible. How many times is the word leader even used in the Bible? Just a quick look in my Bible’s concordance—you know the list of words in the back with references to verses—the word leader is not listed. Only, lead, leads and led. People who lead are listed. Rulers along with kings, but both rulers and kings would better describe appointed positions of authority. In the New Testament, the word diakonia—meaning servant or service—is the most used word to describe people in leadership. Not surprising the words servant, servants, serve, and service take up much more space in the concordance than any of the other “official” terms for the appointed offices. Perhaps this is why we are drawn to the term servant leader as followers of Jesus. It is deeply connected to the Word of God in describing those in the early church. In Romans 16:1 speaks of Phoebe, a servant and patron of the church. 1 Corinthians 3:5 exhorts, What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. We know each of these servants were in fact leaders of the early church. All early church leaders had one thing in common—submission and obedience to the will of God in their lives. They looked to their relationship with God in Jesus before even considering the work before them. In his book, Forgotten God, Francis Chan sums up our need for seeking and submission well in his introduction when he writes, “…as believers we can never be done with God. He is infinite and we are finite; there will always be more of his character to discover, more of his love to experience and more of his power to use for his purposes.”[1] More of his power—not my power—to lead. His power made perfect through me for his purposes. True servant leadership begins in submission to God through Christ Jesus. We see this throughout Scripture. We see the success of those who submit themselves to the Lord’s will and the failure and despair of those who choose to lead by selfish ambition and pride. True servant leadership as a follower of Jesus Christ starts with a posture of submission. Is this on a leadership description for your next job—must be willing to submit. We can all say probably not. But are you willing to submit in order to become a better servant leader? God rarely uses the shiny, well-educated people to make the biggest impact for his kingdom. Remember, the disciples were mostly fishermen and a tax collector! So, if you are submitted, be prepared for God to use you as a servant leader right where you are! I have thought a lot about the Old Testament prophet Elijah. Submission to the will of God was most of his story, and God used him to glorify himself during a deeply sinful time filled with idol worship. Found in 1 Kings, God used Elijah to give word to Ahab of a drought in the land. During this time, the Lord sent Elijah away where ravens and a non-Israelite widow provided for him! We learn he stayed by a river for a while, and when it dried up, Elijah moved on. He was completely reliant on God and obedient to his call. Finally, we see Elijah return and challenge those worshiping Baal to call upon their God to consume a sacrifice on an altar. Elijah also prepares a sacrifice, which he completely douses in water. God moves in a mighty way to consume every lick of the water and sacrifice from Elijah leaving the Baal worshipers proclaiming the Lord, he is God! (1 Kings 18:39). Being a servant leader can call us into uncomfortable places. But, like Elijah, will God use these moments to help us exalt his name to allow others to see him—perhaps proclaiming the Lord, he is God! Jesus showed us the ultimate submission to God and provided plenty of examples both in word and deed as a servant leader. Sometimes we feel like it would be nice to have the easy way out! I would caution, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is! This can even happen as you are trying to grow in position and title in your career. Your submission to the Lord in all things serves as a protection from these things, and we see this in Jesus’ example. In Matthew 4, we read about the temptation of Jesus. The devil tempts him in three ways. One was with power. Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him (Matthew 4:8-11). Have you heard the proverb, Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall? Proverbs 16:18 warns of what will happen when we choose not to follow the submission modeled to us by Jesus. It is easy to get wrapped in the appeal of seeing the world in all its glory, but when we forget who owns it all—God’s—we can count on a fall. Throughout Jesus’ ministry, we see his call to serve and submit to God. In the story of the rich young man in Matthew 19, we see a man ask how he can inherit eternal life. He talks to Jesus about how he has followed the commandments, but Jesus tells him to sell all he has, give it to the poor and follow him. The man was “disheartened” and went away. Jesus was calling him to a servant’s submission. Jesus knew we would struggle with submission and be tempted to worldly greatness. One of the most profound examples of his servant leadership was washing the disciples’ feet. When the twelve were gathered for the last supper, they were conversing about who would be the greatest among them in the kingdom with Jesus. The humble example of washing their feet called them to serve one another as he was serving them. Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves (Luke 22:25-26). Jesus, their leader, served them. Jesus modeled submission to God in his ultimate sacrifice for our sins on the cross. And we know he was in submission to God in this matter. Luke 22:42 shows Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane praying and weeping before the Lord saying, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). In Matthew 23: 1-12, Jesus teaches his disciples using the scribes and Pharisees as an example, stating they do their deeds to be seen by others. Jesus tells them to not be called rabbi or instructor because they have one instructor, Christ himself. He further teaches, “The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:11-12). As servant leaders we need to remember we are part of the body of Christ—the church. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer (Acts 2:42). They were together, serving one another. Being a member of the Body of Christ, we need to consider how we are lifting up one another in community to be the best servant leaders we can be, first to one another and to those in our family, community, and workplace! In fact, we can’t be good servant leaders if we are not abiding in this way! Being in community with other believers reminds us of our submission to the Lord in Christ Jesus because apart from him, we can do nothing! Servant leadership sees people on an equal playing field; everyone has their part. Servant leaders see people as the Lord sees people: uniquely made, gifted specifically, and loved by him. Let’s remind ourselves today of the greatest commandment, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind, and to love our neighbors as ourself. Servant leadership is this love in action to others! You may be feeling like being in a leadership position at work isn’t important to the kingdom—on the contrary! God has likely “gifted” you in your talents for this role specifically! But he also calls you to remember that just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function…We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully (Romans 12:4, 6-8). These verses remind us leadership is a gift of grace from God! But, more importantly, it is not the only gifting! All of us have an opportunity to be a servant leader in the unique ways God has gifted you as a beloved part of his body! I want to impress upon you today our greatest success will come in beautiful submission to God our Father in Christ Jesus first!

Here’s the word of wisdom for today: The quality of your work reveals your character. Did you realize your work tells what kind of person you are? The Bible tells us the works of God reveal to us what kind of God he is. The beauty of his creation, the majesty and grandeur of his universe give us a clear view of his character and his personality. That's true of us as well. Just suppose someone who doesn't know you at all was asked to write a description of you based upon an audit and inspection of your work. What would that audit reveal? Are you careful to do your work with thoroughness, or would your work reveal a careless attitude? Does your work show you are considerate of the person at the receiving end or at the next stage of your work? Or would the inspector conclude you're in a hurry to get through and get going, because your work is sloppy? When your work involves dealing with other people, would it reveal an attitude of respect and concern for others? Do you think the inspector would conclude you care about other people, and you treat everyone with respect? Or would it reveal a callousness toward others, treating them like numbers and not bothering to be kind and considerate toward them? Could anyone tell by the quality of your work you do it as unto the Lord? Would it look different from those who aren't Christians? As I look at the work of God's hands, I know so much about his loving, caring nature. His work reveals his character to me. Your work reveals your character as well. Would you be pleased to have someone describe you based on the work you’ve done this week? It's a good word of wisdom we need to think about frequently. Remember, you'll find a copy of this devotional along with a set of Wisdom for the Workplace cards for your use here.

Do you need a word of wisdom for the workplace today? I’m offering nuggets of wisdom for the workplace. In fact, you can have a set of cards here, very nicely designed, with these words of wisdom, for your own edification, or to pass along to a friend who may be in need. Here’s my word of wisdom for today: Don’t let anxiety or fear rob you of God’s peace. Are you feeling anxious about something today? Are you very disturbed by a situation in your life? Does it seem impossible to find any rest and peace right now? All of us have gone through and are still going through difficult times, which creates anxiety and fear. A passage in Isaiah 48 is very helpful when you are not at peace. This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord your God who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea (Isaiah 48:17-18). Anxiety and unrest are often a result of our failure to pay attention to what we know about God. Rarely do we need some new truth or principle; we just need to practice what we know already. I find I rarely make a deliberate decision to wander from God's principles. It's simply a failure to pay attention to what I know already. My focus gets fractured. I move slightly off-center, simply because I haven't paid attention like I should. And when this happens, I lose my peace, and I’m anxious and frustrated. When you start to dig underneath those outward effects, you often discover the cause is failure to pay attention to God's commands. It may be something that seems very small, but if we walk away from doing it God's way, we can expect to lose the peace and rest we so need. The Lord told his people, if only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river. If you’re missing peace in your life today, see if there’s some area where you’re not paying attention to God. Once you get that straightened out, that wonderful, marvelous, indescribable peace will return, like a river, flooding your heart and calming your nerves.

I'm wondering, have you read the verse which says, "Be kind to everyone who is kind to you. Be kind to the people you like. Be kind when you want to impress someone, or when there's something in it for you"? No, you haven't seen this verse in Scripture, but Paul wrote to Timothy, And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful (2 Timothy 2:24). That’s my word of wisdom for the workplace today: Be kind to everyone. In fact, we’ve put these words on a set of cards, designed to help you remember them or to pass them along to someone else who may need a word of wisdom for the day. You’ll find them ready for your use here. Today it’s “Be kind to everyone.” I once witnessed a situation in which a Christian sister was obviously unkind to a person simply because she didn’t like that kind of person. Based on her prejudices and some bad experiences she had, she had classified a group of people as undesirable. And so, she was obviously unkind to this person. My heart was hurt to see a Christian treat someone unkindly. Then I realized I probably do similar things all too often. I mean, it's easy to be kind to people who seem to deserve our kindness. But the Bible says we are to be kind to everyone. That includes strangers, people who irritate us, people who are not kind to us—everyone includes everyone! Once I was unkind to a clerk at a hotel who was not very efficient at her job. Her lack of efficiency inconvenienced me just a bit, and though I didn't say anything, I'm sure the look on my face and my body language was most unkind. How easy it would have been for me to say something kind to her, to make her feel a little more comfortable, to forget my minor inconvenience and try to help her a bit. The Holy Spirit hit me between the eyes as I walked away. I heard him say, “You had one chance to show her what Jesus is like, and you showed her what you are like.” Ouch! The Lord's servant must be kind to everyone, even people who don't do their jobs as well as they should. Where do you often fail to be kind? Shore up this area with prayer and ask God to help you to be kind, as the servant of the Lord should be, to everyone.

Are you tired today? I have a word of wisdom for you. You can have these nuggets of wisdom on some cards we’ve prepared. Then you can use the cards to remind yourself of these important principles, or you may want to give some to others who are struggling with workplace issues. Today’s wisdom for the workplace is: Remember being tired is inevitable, but if you’re tired for the wrong reasons, then you need to take some action. First, let me assure you it's okay to be tired. Jesus was often tired while he was here on earth. You remember when he fell asleep on the boat, and a terrible storm didn't awaken him. He was tired. We read in John 4 he was tired from a long journey. We know Jesus understands our tired bodies and minds because he experienced it while he took the form of man on earth. He sympathizes with our weaknesses and the limitations we face. Just knowing that helps me a lot. But we need to determine if we're tired for the wrong reasons. Have you been trying to be all things to all people lately? It’s exhausting—and you can never succeed. Perhaps you've taken on jobs God never intended you to do, and you're tired from trying to do too much. Maybe you're trying to do everything to total perfection. Perfectionists are usually very tired people, trying to prove something to themselves and to the world by being perfect all the time. You may be tired because you've got your priorities confused. Someone has said, "There's always time to do God's will," and I think it's true God would never ask of us more than our bodies and minds can do without going into overload and burn-out. But when we confuse our priorities, it causes weariness and exhaustion. Remember this important message from Isaiah: Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:30-32). You may have a copy of this devotional as well as these cards giving these words of wisdom for the Workplace. You can use these cards to encourage yourself each day or pass them on to others who may need a word of wisdom. This is available here.

I want to give you some specific wisdom for the workplace. In fact, I want you to have a set of cards with these nuggets of wisdom which you can take to your job, use them for yourself, or even give to others as an encouraging word. You’ll find those here. Here’s today’s wisdom for the workplace from Luke 12:15: Jesus said, Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed (Luke 12:15). This greed problem is nothing new. And we certainly must watch out for the many kinds of greed. There's greed for power, the drive to have authority and influence over other people. And greed for prestige and fame. Of course, greed for material possessions is very commonplace. Almost daily we hear of another scandal where greed for money has driven people to destroy their whole lives. When you think about it, greed is pride. It is that desire within us to show the world who we are by our status in life, our possessions, or our fame. Greed is a direct result of the pride of life. Greed is contagious. If you're around people who have lots of things and who focus their life on getting more and more things, you'll discover it's very difficult not to be swept right along into their greedy mindset. Greed is cancerous. It grows fast, and it consumes and destroys everything it touches. No wonder Jesus said we must be on our guard against all kinds of greed. Jesus went on to say a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. Greed can overtake us quickly and completely distort our priorities and our commitment to the Lord. Jesus said life is more than food or clothes; life is peace and contentment. Those can't be bought; they are found only in Jesus. Our wisdom for the workplace today is: Be on your guard today against the greed that surrounds you, especially in the working world. It wants to drag you right into its currents, but by God's grace, you can be victorious.

We have seen how Jesus was such a great leader because he knew who he reported to, and he made sure he fulfilled his boss's expectations. Also, he knew what his mission was, he stayed focused, and he didn't try to jump through the expectation hoops of others. Jesus was always ready to celebrate, and that made him a great leader. Then one thing I really love about Jesus is he always had time for little people—every individual was important to him no matter his/her age, status, or position. Now, let's look at some additional examples of what made Jesus such a great leader. Jesus was a great leader because he was willing to look foolish to others. Do you realize great leaders throughout history have been willing to take risks with their public image, and they didn't spend their time worrying about what people would think of them? Anytime a person is primarily focused on what others think, they are handicapped because they lose the freedom to do what they think is the right and best thing to do. How do you think Noah looked when he started building the ark? Pretty foolish and stupid, don't you imagine? And when Moses told Pharoah to let his people go, he had to look like an insane person, approaching Pharoah with his threats. The great prophet Elijah had to ask a poor widow for food, which some would have considered very demeaning. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was willing not only to look foolish, but also to lose her good reputation in order to bear the Son of God. Had any of these people been primarily concerned with what the neighbors would say, none would have accomplished their God-given purpose. Jesus was not concerned about what people would think. For example, he cried over a city that was not repentant—a grown man crying. But he didn't care what people thought. His heart broke for those people. He rode a donkey in a parade, a lowly beast. Most leaders would have demanded more appropriate transportation, but he sought out a simple donkey to ride on. And, of course, the ultimate example was he was willing to go through a shameful trial and die on a cursed cross, enduring the scorn and abuse of his enemies, to accomplish God's plan. We need to consider this as we approach our jobs and duties. Are you overly concerned with what people will say or think? If so, you may miss the opportunities and blessings God has for you. It's impossible to please everyone anyway, but when we focus on pleasing God, we will please more people as well. Jesus was a great leader because he was willing to do the difficult work. Do you remember the time Jesus determined to go to Jerusalem for Passover? His disciples did not want him to go there because they knew there were people plotting to kill him, just waiting for him to arrive. They wanted to spare him that difficulty, but he knew he was supposed to be there, and he went. Also, he was willing to say no to people when necessary, though I'm sure he didn't enjoy disappointing people. Often the disciples wanted him to do one thing when he knew he should do another, and he would tell them "no.” He even said "no" to his mother and brothers who wanted to interrupt his teaching to speak to him. Jesus also said "no" to himself. Satan tried to tempt him with very enticing promises, and he had the wisdom to say "no" to the easy way out. He knew he had to discipline himself to do what God wanted him to do. Then there was Gethsemane, where Jesus came face to face with the most difficult thing he would ever do: Drink the cup of death and sin that was necessary to pay the price of redemption. None of us can even imagine how hard that was to do—to become sin for us even though he had never sinned. But he did the difficult thing because it was the right thing to do. If you and I are ever going to be effective leaders, we must be willing to do the hardest and most difficult work. Often people see those in leadership as having it easy but from my experience, a true leader is one who is willing to do what no one else wants to do. Someone has defined a professional as a person who does things even when she or he does not feel like doing them. That's another way to define discipline. And believe me, effective leadership demands a disciplined life. Jesus was a great leader because he respected and empowered women and allowed them to use their gifts and abilities. In a culture which truly devalued women and their contributions, which saw them as servants of men or worse, possessions of men, Jesus went out of his way to show his respect for women. Let me give you just a few examples. After his resurrection, Jesus first appeared to a woman and entrusted to her the important and prestigious responsibility of telling the disciples he was risen. The men were very skeptical about this word; one even demanded he put his fingers in Jesus' wounds before he believed. But Mary Magdalene believed and gladly told everyone, "He's alive!" Before Jesus was born as a man, his Father entrusted to a young maiden the greatest responsibility and highest honor ever given to any woman—to bear in her body the Son of God, and she kept it to herself until the appropriate time. We read in Luke 8, women followed Jesus and the disciples as they proclaimed the good news, right along with the twelve disciples. In fact, these women were helping to support Jesus and his group out of their own pockets. Then we see how he treated the Samaritan woman at the well, the woman caught in adultery, the woman who touched his garment for healing, the Syrophoenician woman who begged for his healing touch on her daughter. With great tenderness and respect, he responded to women with equality and care. And he accepted and enlisted their help in telling others about him. Women are uniquely gifted by God in many areas, and to ignore or fail to enlist their help and energy is to make a big mistake. Pilot ignored his wife's intuition about Jesus to his great harm. Jesus was a great leader because he used the gifts and enlisted the help of women without discrimination. He had created them equal, and he treated them as equals. Another reason Jesus was a great leader was he trained his replacements. How many organizations, companies, and churches can you think of who faltered and/or failed after a great leader left, died, or retired? The reason was the leader did not train his or her replacement, so when that person left the scene, the organization was at an extreme disadvantage. Jesus was eager to and intent on training those who would carry on after he was gone. He was constantly teaching, telling, explaining, and preparing his disciples to do the job after him. In fact, he told them they would do even greater things than he had done. Jesus didn't have any problem with his ego. He wasn't threatened by others nor fearful of putting someone on his team who had leadership skills. Just the opposite—he wanted those best qualified and capable of fulfilling his mission for the group, so he trained them well. And that small group went on to change the course of history by spreading the gospel. If you're a leader, have you thought about training your replacement? It's another sign of a good and secure leader—like Jesus. In closing this message on what made Jesus such a great leader, I want to remind you of how awesome Jesus was in dealing with people. He had the best people skills ever. Let me briefly point out just a few examples. He was able to communicate a vision of what people could become. "Follow me," he said to some poor fishermen, "and I will make you fishers of men.” He told his disciples they would do even greater things than he had done. He beautifully communicated the vision and importance of what he was asking people to do. He made the benefits and rewards very clear. "I came to give you abundant life," he promised. "Great will be your reward in heaven," he told them. "I'm going to prepare a place for you," he said. He understood the importance of work-related benefits and rewards. He was willing to forgive them and give them second and third chances. He didn't give up on someone just because they had failed. Think of Peter; he denied Jesus three times, but Jesus restored him to fellowship, and Peter became the rock of the early church. He had a servant attitude. He came to serve, not to be served, and he demonstrated this over and over again. Just imagine: The God-man coming to earth to serve mankind. Incredible but true. He was a servant. But mostly, Jesus was successful as a leader because he truly loved and cared for each individual and put their interest above his own. He loved so much he died. No wonder he changed the course of all history. Was there ever anyone like him? No never! But the incredible news is as believers, we have his Spirit in us and are being transformed into his image. Ask yourself, how are your people skills? Do you communicate a vision to people? Are you willing to reward those who earn it? Do you give people a second chance? Are you a servant leader? And do you truly care for others? Those are some of the attributes that made Jesus so special. As believers, that should be true of us because we should have the same heart for people that Jesus did. Do you need better people skills? I know I do. Let's make it a matter of daily prayer and ask God to make us more like Jesus in relating to the people in our lives.

Presented by Julie Busteed I’ve been looking at what it takes to build healthy relationships. And I’ve saved the best for last: forgiveness. This verse in Matthew always catches me short. For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins (Matthew 6:14-15). I need to take to heart this command! Relationships are living, growing things because they involve people who are growing and changing. And because you are human, there will be times when words are spoken or actions are taken that hurt someone in the relationship. You and I need to forgive others and also ask for forgiveness—things that are not easy to do, except through the power of the Holy Spirit. But wait—there’s more! Jesus said we should love our enemies. I look at Jesus’ example of laying down his life for you and me. When he was on the cross, suffering, he forgave those who crucified him. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34). That’s the ultimate in forgiving your enemies. It really seems quite impossible, doesn’t it? Jesus was fully God and fully man. But I don’t think that excuses you or me to forgive even our enemies. Corrie Ten Boom and her family helped many Jewish people escape the Nazi’s in WW2. As a result, she was arrested and sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp. She survived and wrote books and spoke about her experience. Corrie recounts the following as she was speaking about forgiveness at a church in Munich in 1947: Afterward, I saw him—a man moving toward me through the crowd. I recognized him instantly: a former guard from Ravensbrück, the concentration camp where my sister Betsie and I had been imprisoned for hiding Jews. He approached me, now dressed in civilian clothes, and said, “A fine message, Fräulein. How good it is to know that all our sins are at the bottom of the sea.” Then he extended his hand. “I was a guard at Ravensbrück. I’ve become a Christian, and I know God has forgiven me, but I would like to hear it from you. Will you forgive me?” I stood frozen, remembering Betsie’s suffering and death. Forgive him? I could not. Yet I knew Jesus’ words: “If you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive yours.” Forgiveness is not a feeling—it’s an act of the will. So, I prayed silently, “Jesus, help me. I can lift my hand; You supply the feeling.” Mechanically, I reached out—and as I did, a current seemed to pass from my shoulder to our joined hands. A warmth filled my heart. “I forgive you, brother,” I said, “with all my heart.” In that moment, I felt God’s love more deeply than ever before.[1] May you and I be obedient and lift our hands and trust God to fill us with his love. --- [1] Corrie Ten Boom, Sherrill, E., & Sherrill, J. L. (2008). The hiding place. Chosen Books.

Presented by Julie Busteed Humility may not be the first trait that comes to your mind as an essential element in healthy relationships. That’s what I will look at today as we continue to seek to grow healthy relationships. The first thing that comes to mind when I hear the word humility is I need to have a low opinion of myself. But that’s not correct. It’s about being interested in others. Serving others. Yes, modesty is part of humility, but it’s not being down on yourself. It’s putting others first. Paul exhorts the Philippians and us to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others (Philippians 2:3-4). Becky Harling, author of Cultivating Deeper Connections in a Lonely World, writes humble people come in curious to the conversation, and this curiosity is the superpower of connections! They listen and ask questions. They don’t come in like the expert. I love that! We can have this superpower if we are simply interested and curious. And that’s what I think the Apostle Paul is talking about—to look not to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Humility also is shown by just being kind, lending a hand, helping a coworker. My friend Heather recently showed a beautiful example of humility. She had her day carefully planned with a full to-do list, but when a friend reached out to spend time together, she chose to set her plans aside. It wasn’t what she had intended for the day, and honestly, it wasn’t what she felt like doing at the moment—but she recognized her friend needed someone to listen. What makes this even more meaningful is this friendship isn’t always easy or comfortable. Yet that very morning, Heather “happened” to read Proverbs 3:27–28. Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you’—when you already have it with you (Proverbs 3:27–28). Those verses were a timely reminder that God sometimes calls us to act in the moment—to give of ourselves, our time, or our attention—when it’s within our power to do so. Heather reflected the heart of Christ that day by choosing relationship over routine, allowing herself to be “interrupted” in order to show love and kindness right when it was needed most. I pray you and I will be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love (Ephesians 4:2).

Presented by Julie Busteed I’m looking at some strategies to help grow and build relationships—principles that apply at work, home, church—with everyone. The first two strategies I looked at were loving others and communication skills. I think integrity is also an important component in healthy relationships. Integrity really covers several qualities. It’s being honest, having strong moral principles, and being trustworthy and reliable. A great example of integrity in the Old Testament is Daniel. He was taken into captivity from Israel to Babylon, and he became an adviser to the Babylonian kings because of his integrity and trust in God. For many, it’s a familiar story but to recap: Daniel refuses to bow down and worship a man-made idol. He worships and prays to God. As a result, he is thrown into a literal lion’s den. The next morning, he testifies that my God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight (Daniel 6:22a). Not only did God protect and preserve Daniel, but King Darius also decrees everyone in his kingdom must fear and revere the God of Daniel. Daniel’s integrity and courage not only effected his own life, but the entire kingdom was now to fear God. He trusted and honored God in his actions, and his integrity was evident to his employer, resulting in a testimony to the entire kingdom. Integrity can also be something significant done privately, not for public recognition. A friend of mine recently showed a great example of integrity. She just published a book through a traditional publisher. Normally, when you work with a publisher, you receive an advance against future royalties—meaning you don’t earn additional royalties until the book’s sales cover that advance. And if the book doesn’t sell enough to cover it, the author doesn’t have to pay it back. That’s completely normal. But my friend told me she wants to make sure her book’s sales do reach that advance amount. She’s putting in extra effort to promote and market her book because she doesn’t want to be a burden to the publisher. She isn’t required to do this—it’s not part of her contract—but she feels it’s the right thing to do. Quiet integrity. In both of these examples, integrity was a vital characteristic in dealing with others. Integrity directed how they should act in certain situations—be it life or death—or something that’s not really seen by others. With faith in God and belief he is faithful, they lived out their lives in honor to him. Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out (Proverbs 10:9). When we live our lives with integrity, we can walk securely—quietly resting upon God’s favor and gracious providence.

Presented by Julie Busteed Are there people in your life you find difficult to get along with or really understand? I am examining biblical strategies to help grow and build healthy relationships, and communication is a key tool. A verse you might be familiar with is everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry (James 1:19b). Honestly if we all practiced that, I think there would be much less miscommunication. Let’s break this down. What does it mean to be quick to listen? Studies show good communication is essential for organizations. Marjorie North—a communications expert—says we only hear half of what is being said in any given conversation. It’s true, isn’t it? I can be distracted by something outside the conversation, or I can begin to form a response to something the person said. No matter what distracts me, I struggle to listen. You and I need to practice active listening. And I mean practice; it will take a lot of practice. Put the distractions away—and by this, I mean your phone! Give the person your full attention. I know someone who is so good at this. I can tell when I am speaking to him I have his full attention. It’s a great thing to be heard—really heard. Some other ways to be quick to listen is to repeat back what you believe you heard the person saying. And if you don’t understand something, ask clarifying questions. Try not to interrupt them. What does it mean to be slow to speak? I think we need to be careful and thoughtful. Examine your words before you say them. Depending on what the conversation is, you might even need some time to think before responding. Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them (Proverbs 29:20). Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin (Proverbs 13:3). James also goes on to talk about our tongues—what we say and how our words can bless or curse others. He compares our tongue to the bit that steers a horse or the rudder that guides a ship. What comes out of your mouth can not only corrupt your whole body but others as well. The Psalmist prays to set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips (Psalm 141:3). And the Apostle Paul encourages the Ephesians to not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (Ephesians 4:29). Good communication in relationships is necessary. It’s a skill you and I can practice and improve, but we need to be mindful and intentional.

Presented by Julie Busteed Have you ever said or thought this? “I’d love this job if it just wasn’t for the people!” I know this is a sarcastic saying—it’s more tongue in cheek—but it’s how we feel sometimes isn’t it? Yet as Christ-followers, the greatest command Jesus gave us is to love God and love others. This week, we’ll look at some strategies to help us as we relate to others around us—our family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors. Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:37-39). The first priority in dealing with our relationships is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind! Our relationship with God is essential. It affects everything, including our relationships with others. Take a minute to ask yourself these questions: Are you spending daily time with God? Reading his Word? Praying? This is the first place to start. It’s vital for you and me to make our relationship with God the foundation of our lives. Sometimes it can be easy to think, “I have a relationship with God, and that’s enough. I don’t need others. I don’t need to go to church.” But that’s not true either. God is a triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There is community between them, and as image-bearers, we need community not only with God but also with each other. God made you for community and connection. Since you and I are made to be in community, how do we do this well? Jesus goes on to say we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. What does it mean to love your neighbor? Love is an action—not just a feeling—a romantic feeling. It’s not the same as like. Love is giving of yourself and putting others first. It could look like delivering a meal to someone in need. Or helping a coworker with a project. Or praying with or for someone. It can take many forms; the main thing is that you see others—notice when they are in need—and reach out to help and care for them.

It seems like many people don’t think of themselves as a leader because they don’t hold a position that identifies them as a leader. So, when they hear messages on how to be a better leader, they figure it doesn’t apply to them. But you know, the truth is we are all leaders in some way or another. Some of us are the up-front obvious types who lead groups of people. Others are quiet leaders, who influence and persuade others behind the scenes. And believe me, there is someone in your life right now who looks at you as a leader. So, whatever form of leadership you may have, this message on the leadership qualities of our Lord will apply to you. Why was Jesus such a great leader? Here are some reasons: Jesus was a great leader because he fulfilled his boss's expectations. Jesus kept in close contact with his Father. He said again and again that he always did what pleased his Father and spoke what the Father taught him. In John 7:18, Jesus said, Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. When is the last time you checked with your boss to see if you're working to his or her satisfaction? Do you spend enough time with your boss to understand his or her priorities, so you are doing things that please your boss? It really is your job to make sure you've got the marching orders right. And besides, it is simply smart to take initiative of letting your boss know you need and appreciate his or her feedback. Maybe you're thinking: You don't know my boss, Mary. It's impossible to communicate with him or her. Well, that may or may not be true, but you should do everything you can to improve that communication. Many times, we excuse our own lack of effort by saying "He never listens to me" or "I can't get any feedback from her," or "This company doesn't care what I think!” Pray about it and ask God to give you some creative ways to improve communication with your boss. That's the mark of a good worker and a good leader; certainly, Jesus was careful to stay in close contact with the One who had sent him. In any business or organization, the ultimate boss is the customer. Ed Koch was a mayor of New York famous for walking the streets of his city, stopping people, and asking them, "How am I doing?" He recognized he reported to the people who had elected him, and he wanted to please them if possible. Who is your customer? You may think I don't have customers; my company does. Or I don't have customers; I work at home. But I would ask you to re-think that response. Everybody has customers! Here's why: Your customer is the person who creates the need for your job. If they didn't exist or didn't have certain needs, your job would be unnecessary. Think about it and clearly identify your own personal customers. Those are the people you need to please. Your customer probably falls into several categories—internal and external, above and below you, business and personal. People outside and inside your organization who depend on you for help, information, service, etc. Even those who are not employed have customers. For moms your customers are your family members; they certainly create the need for your job. So, in a real sense, we all work for our customers. Therefore, we should be very attentive to their needs and requests, since they are critical people in our lives and livelihood. But more importantly, we should want to please them out of a desire to do things right, just as Jesus wanted to please his Father. So, Jesus was a great leader because he gave careful attention to his boss, the Father, and did what the Father wanted him to do. Another reason Jesus was such an outstanding leader is he knew what his mission was, he stayed focused, and he didn't try to jump through the expectation hoops of others. Do you remember when the disciples told Jesus the whole town was waiting to hear him speak, and Jesus said he had other plans for the day. His mission was to go to other towns. He didn't let anyone take him off his mission. One man asked him to settle an argument between him and his brother, and Jesus answered, "Who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" (Luke 12:14). That wasn't what he had come to do, and he didn't get sidetracked. We can apply this in many ways in our everyday lives. Do you find you can easily get sidetracked on your job, and you never seem to accomplish things like you planned? One great time-management technique is to refuse to be sidetracked and stay with the job until it's done. Do you have difficulty staying on task? That might be something you need to pray about and change. Then, Jesus knew what his mission was. Are you clear about your own mission—in your job, in your home, in your church, in your own life? I would encourage you to write your own life's mission in just a sentence or two and then make sure everything you do contributes to that mission. Ask yourself, "What is it I need to do on my job above all else?" and then make certain what you're doing on a day-to-day basis contributes to that mission. You may be very busy doing things that really don't matter! Do you find yourself frequently trying to please everyone? Certainly, we shouldn't try to displease everyone, but when you need to have everyone's approval, you will be easily distracted and manipulated. Jesus knew sometimes you must disappoint people to stay on track and do what you should do. Have you learned this lesson? You know, the best way to please most people is to focus on pleasing the Lord. In Proverbs 16:7 we read: When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him. When we please the Lord, we'll have our best shot at pleasing other people. However, we'll never be able to please everyone, and to try to do this is to invite disaster. Remember one great leadership quality which our Lord demonstrated was knowing what the goal was and staying focused on it. Here's another evidence of Jesus' great leadership skills—and this may surprise you a bit. Jesus was always ready to celebrate. I think it is one reason people loved to be with him. His first miracle was to turn water into wine at a wedding celebration, thereby putting his stamp of approval on what some might call a frivolous waste of time and money—a big wedding party. We see he often went to people's homes for dinner. He wasn't too busy to take time for these personal times of celebrations. He didn't want the crowds who came to hear him speak to leave with an empty stomach, so he turned a boy's lunch into food for thousands—a regular party. Two of his most famous parables are about a king who arranged a banquet and got angry when nobody came, and a father throwing a lavish party when his wayward son returned home. How much and how often do you celebrate in your life—on your job, in your home? We should look for reasons to celebrate. We can get so serious and focused we forget to say, "Hey, you've done a great job; let's bring in pizza this afternoon and celebrate.” Or "You've been working so hard, you deserve a treat; the ice cream is on me; let's go celebrate.” From small to big events, we can add so much vitality and joy to our lives and to others by taking time to celebrate. Look for excuses to celebrate for yourself and for your coworkers or staff, as well as your family and friends. Now you may think this doesn't sound terribly important or spiritual but celebrating should be a part of our daily routines. It encourages and motivates people, it lightens their loads, it focuses on positive rather than negative things—there are lots of good, spiritual reasons to be a celebrating type of person. Jesus was. As you go through your day, look for a reason to celebrate. Maybe your child gets a good grade at school; celebrate it. Perhaps your coworker gets a promotion; celebrate it. Did a staff member complete a difficult assignment with excellence? Celebrate it. Maybe it's a friend's birthday; celebrate it. Celebrations don't have to cost a great deal of money or any money at all. A celebration can be something as simple as complimentary words spoken, or a card or a note in the mail, or cake and cookies, or a full-blown party. There are so many creative ways to celebrate, and Jesus was always ready to do so because he knew the value of celebrations. That's another reason he was such a great leader. Also, Jesus was a great leader because he always had time for little people. On one occasion, his disciples wanted him to speak to a great crowd, but he said he had planned to preach in the nearby villages. He took time from a hectic schedule to walk a long way and heal Jairus's little daughter. He stopped in a crowd to find one woman who had touched him and heal her blood disease. He saw a short little man in a tree and asked to have dinner with him. Jesus focused on individuals, and it didn't matter who they were. They were all important to him. Sometimes we get caught up in the "star" mentality. Or we only want to be involved in something with lots of people and big numbers. I have often said of all the wonderful opportunities God has given me to minister, my favorite was Sunday mornings with my small class of women, Sisters in Christ, who became such a wonderful support group for me. It can become an ego trip to focus only on the numbers in the crowd; often the greatest blessing comes in the small groups. The same principle holds true in our jobs. A successful salesperson is one who spends time with the small clients as well as the large ones. Those small sales can grow into big ones later, and they'll stay with you if you pay attention to them when they're small. But many salespeople only want to deal with the large ticket customers. Think about your own work habits and attitudes.

How would you like to work with someone who resents you, is jealous of you, and treats you rudely? That’s what our friend Fran is facing on her job. Jenny, a new coworker, has been asked to work under Fran’s supervision, but her jealousy and resentment have become obvious to the boss, Marilyn. While Marilyn is having a private talk with Jenny, Fran is in her office praying for guidance. She told God if he wants her to relinquish this new account to Jenny, she will do so. In a few minutes Marilyn walks into her office. “Fran, I explained to Jenny that I make the business decisions here, and I reminded her she was fully informed of what her status would be when she requested the transfer here. So, she’s agreed to work with you on this account. If you have any problem, you let me know.” “Marilyn,” Fran says, “I’m willing to give her the account if you want me to. But I’m not sure how easy it’s going to be for us to work together.” “There’s no way I’m going to let you give up that account. You won it, and it’s yours. And if anybody can work with Jenny, you can, Fran.” And with that Marilyn goes back to her office. Since it’s almost quitting time, Fran heads for the door just as Jenny is leaving. “Jenny,” Fran says, “I know you’re not happy with this latest arrangement. I can understand how you feel…” “Oh, give me a break, Fran. You don’t understand or care how I feel,” Jenny comes back with great anger. “Just don’t think I’m going to do all the dirty work.” “Jenny, please,” Fran begins, “I even offered to give you the account, but Marilyn insists we can work together. I certainly want to try.” “You offered to give me the account?” Jenny is incredulous. “I don’t believe it. You’re just trying to make points with Marilyn. Just don’t expect me to do your work for you, Fran.” Fran recognizes there is no way she can have a rational conversation with Jenny, so she goes to her car and heads home. The tears start to come. “Lord, what am I going to do?” What is Fran going to do? There’s no happy ending to this story. Fran cannot turn Jenny around, and as they work together, Jenny increases her attacks on Fran. Many times, Fran is tempted to go to Marilyn and tell her what’s happening, but each time she has a check in her spirit. She spends many miserable days trying to work with Jenny. Finally, Jenny resigns her position and leaves the company, full of bitterness and anger. “It’s so sad,” Fran says to the Lord, “and I feel bad for her. But Lord, what more could I do?” Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy (Proverbs 27:4). Not every story has a happy ending, even when we obey the Lord and do what he tells us to do. But we can trust the results to him.