Servant Leadership in the Marketplace

Reading a devotional this morning, I was prompted to write this post about being a servant to others, especially in the marketplace. The scripture quoted was Mark 9:35, “And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, ‘If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all’

As we build businesses or work for an employer, let us have a servant mindset. Let us always strive to do our best work and to do it unto God and in service to others.

I have always loved the Zig Ziglar quote that says, “You can have everything in life that you want if you just give enough other people what they want.

Another comment worth considering from Zig Ziglar as it relates to business is this: “I suggest the greatest challenge to Christians in the business world is within – making the heart determination (simply put, the choice) to live by God’s principles and sticking with it; making the commitment to serving Christ and mankind with our efforts, our gifts and our knowledge.”

Think about it…Are you using ALL your gifts and talents in the service of others? Whether you are an entrepreneur running a business or an employee working a job, are you totally applying yourself to it in a way that serves those who benefit from what you do? Even performing a role of service in your church is an important way of serving others and honoring God in the process. I myself am a Realtor and I strive to always put my clients first. Earning commission is secondary to helping them achieve their dreams and goals.

How about you? Leave a comment about the ways you use your talents in service to others in the business or ministry you participate in.

Proverbs 3:3-6 instructs us this way:

Do not let kindness and truth leave you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will find favor and a good [b]reputation
In the sight of God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.

Stewarding Your Business for God’s Glory

It has been my desire to write and teach on ways to honor God in business, whether it be as an entrepreneur building a business of your own, or as an employee of someone else’s business. I believe the principles are very similar, if not the same. So go with me on a journey as I have done much study on this topic and am embarking on blog posts to share what I have learned. I hope many will benefit…

God designed me for a purpose in the marketplace. — Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

As Summer comes to a close…

Fall will soon be here and summer will be gone. I always find this time of year full of mixed emotions. While I do enjoy the cooler temperatures and being able to enjoy welcoming the outdoor air into our home and turning off the A/C, I always also hate to say goodbye to summer. Flip flops, shorts, short-sleeve or sleeveless tops, and NO COATS! Those are the things I will miss as the cooler weather comes in, eventually leading to winter where coats, hats, scarves, boots and gloves are almost a necessity when going outdoors.

As seasons change, we find ourselves with seasons of change in our lives in other ways as well. Maybe you’ve been through a season of difficult changes, or maybe you’ve been experiencing immense prosperity and pleasures in your life. Life is full of ups and downs, mountaintops and valleys, and many times we can find ourselves in places of waiting. Waiting for the next…you fill in the blank…

I want to encourage anyone reading this that whether you find yourself in a wonderful season that you wish would never end, or in a season of pain, disappointment, or discouragement that seems to be lasting way too long…there is hope in Jesus!

Jesus promises to be with us no matter what we go through in life. Life is never all fun and pleasure. Often there are sad times, hard times, difficult circumstances to live through, but please know that Jesus will guide and direct you through them all!

Hebrews 13:5 says that Jesus will never leave us or forsake us, and that is good news!

What’s It Like Being a Single Mom?

What’s it like to be a single mom?  It’s hard.  Its grueling.  But it’s rewarding.

God is there for you. 

I was a single mom for 15 years, raising three children ages 8, 6 and 5, when their dad went home to be with the Lord.  Oh, it was challenging for sure!!

When I first was told that he was gone I just thought, Lord, what am I going to do without him; how are we going to survive?  I told my children, “Daddy went to be with Jesus today.”  And we cried.

But we remembered him; we remembered all the wonderful things about him.  And I tried to keep him alive in their hearts by bringing him up in conversation, by abiding by rules that he had set for them – like always wearing shoes when they rode their bikes. 

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