Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 241 – Gather the fragments Knowing one’s core revenue streams and the margin you gain from them is critical. “When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” John 6:12 As we enter the new year, it’s a fitting time to evaluate how your existing streams of income are performing and explore how they might be...

Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 240 – Roped together on the rock of Christ There are times when being an entrepreneur can be lonely. “The buck stops here” popularized by U.S. President Harry S. Truman. As a business owner, the final decision often rests with you. But while responsibility may end there, that’s not how wise decisions are made. “We are roped together on rock on Christ,” Marilea Marilea, one of...

Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 239 – Soft hearted It doesn’t make sense. “This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:12 In business and world affairs, we are accustomed to power prevailing. Yet, God, The Almighty, came in the form of a helpless baby, completely dependent on His mother and father for care. It’s another example of God turning human paradigms on their...

Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 238 – Challenge the Tradition I am in Tajikistan where we are attending a wedding of a dear friend. At the religious ceremony, our friend, the bride, was veiled, had to look in a mirror, and put her finger in honey. When we asked her what the traditions represented, she said she didn’t know.  “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the...

Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 237 – Progress not Perfection I finish my three-year term this month as a corporate secretary of our Central Asian firm. I like leaving things better than I found them. And so as I transfer files, protocols, and procedures, I want them to perfect.  “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:48 Working toward the perfect can degrade to perfectionism, an...

Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 236 – Sight Unseen Last week we received a lovely bouquet of flowers from our friend Louise in the memory of Terri’s mom, Jill, who recently passed away. “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”Matthew 6:3-4 The flowers sit...

In my work around the world, I have noticed that the people I love and serve that are not flourishing spiritually are also not flourishing physically. They often suffer from poor air quality, water stress (both quantity and quality) and the impact of degraded soils. I cannot stand idly by watching them suffer. So my colleagues and I have introduced two initiatives, one of them being the Environmental Technology Initiative (ETI). ETI...

Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 235 – The Terrifying Walk with Jesus This is a devotion you have probably already preached to yourself experientially. This devotion is a polemic of rage against all those who think Walking with Jesus is all sweetness and light. Ha! “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10 Firstly, we do not know where we are going. We also will not know who we are going to meet, and...

Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 234 – Just Move My brother-in-law Jim and I had a long talk the other night about faith and family. He asked me of my journey with Christ, especially how Terri and I landed up in challenging countries spreading the Good News. As I reflected on our journey, I realised God works best with a stone (me) that is already moving. “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be...

Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 233 – Remembrance Day I am in England, and here like Canada we celebrate Remembrance Day, paying tribute to the fallen and those who served in war.   “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes...