Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 310 – Take the Towel  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...

Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 309 – Using the leavings Recently, I have been watching my wife Terri at work with what most people would consider scraps. Pieces of fabric. Buttons without a home. Zippers, ribbons, and bits of texture that would normally be set aside or thrown away. Notions, as they are called in sewing. Leavings. With care and creativity, she gathers them and begins to assemble something entirely new. A...

Devotions for a Busy Business Person, No. 308 – Curiosity A couple of weekends ago at St. Philip’s in Houston, I had the privilege of speaking to two remarkable groups, one over dinner and one in the Sunday School class. What struck me most was not just their evident commitment to creation care, but their curiosity. They asked thoughtful, searching questions, the kind that lean in, that want to understand, that are willing to be...

Devotions for a Busy Business Person, No. 307 – Be Still There are moments in business when everything in you urges you to act. You want to fix what is broken, respond quickly, push harder, and take control of the situation before it slips any further. Action feels responsible, even necessary. And yet, into that urgency comes a most counterintuitive instruction: “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be...

Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 306 – The Work of Bees We had (Western Rite) Easter last week, and as the Easter Candle was lit at the Easter Vigil, we heard these words: “On this, your night of grace, O holy Father,accept this candle, a solemn offering,the work of bees and of your servants’ hands,an evening sacrifice of praise,this gift from your most holy Church.” The Exulset[MP1]  “The work of bees.” It is a...

Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 305 – Joy, Take 2 There are some lessons I need to learn more than once, so I would like to return to Joy.  I once wrote that joy comes from knowing God is with you. I am now learning that joy grows when you begin to work with Him. Holy Week is the clearest example of this. Out of the deepest suffering comes the greatest joy. While nothing compares to the suffering of Jesus, your...

Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 304 – God of the small things View this in your browser I’ve always admired my colleagues who give careful attention to detail. So does God. “For who has despised the day of small things?” — Zechariah 4:10 In my work, I am often tasked with maintaining the vision and building the superstructure of an organisation. But all my grand visions would be mere vapour without the specific,...

Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 303 – A great cloud of witnesses A recurring theme in these devotions is this simple assurance: you are not alone.  Each week, these reflections are meant as a small reminder that I see you. Think of them as a love letter, a pat on the back, a note of encouragement for those of you faithfully running businesses and organisations. Last week we spoke about the presence of God in your...

Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 302 – The God-Botherer As the Holy Spirit would have it, I have been reading Martin Shaw and spoke with two of the three Jeffs who subscribe to this post over the past couple of weeks. They all reminded me how important it is to bother God, good and often. “I let myself off the hook most of my life, I am ashamed to say, but I have to keep a shorter account now, being a God-Botherer and all.” —...

Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 301 – The long obedience Many people think about finishing well near the end of a career (Business Devotion 26). But finishing well is often determined much earlier than we imagine. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” — 2 Timothy 4:7 Finishing well grows out of the small decisions made day after day, long before anyone is thinking about legacy....