The Prayer of a Humble Leader, Part 1
In Genesis, Jacob, son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, became a wealthy man with a large family. He accomplished what men in his day yearned for: progeny, possessions, and honor.
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How Recognizing God’s Presence Can Change Your Experience of Work
For the last few days, I’ve used a passage from Genesis 28 to reflect on God’s presence in our workplace. Even as Jacob was impressed by God’s presence in a place he did not expect to find it, so it can be with us in our offices, shops, classrooms, and boardrooms.
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Is Your Workplace a “Thin Place”?
Today, I want to continue reflecting with you on Genesis 28:16, “Surely the LORD is in this place – and I did not know it!” In the previous edition of Life for Leaders, I suggested that the language of God “showing up” in special ways runs the risk of implying that God is not present in ordinary times and places. We who think this way may need to recognize, along with Jacob, “Surely the LORD is in this place — and I did not know it!”
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Does God “Show Up” in Your Workplace?
In yesterday’s Life for Leaders devotion, we examined the story in Genesis 28, in which Jacob has an encounter with the Lord in an unexpected place. After this experience of God, Jacob says, “Surely the LORD is in this place – and I did not know it!” (28:16). As I reflected on this verse, I suggested that one place God surprises us with his presence is our workplace.
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Encountering the Surprising Presence of God
Have you ever been surprised by God’s presence? Has God ever “shown up” when you didn’t expect him?
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Leadership Gone Wrong… Redeemed
As I step back from the particular story of Isaac and Rebekah’s incompetent leadership and its sorry results, I’m struck by the fact that God used this family, warts and all, in his plan and purpose. God acted in and through their mistakes and misdeeds to accomplish his will. How amazing! How gracious!
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Leadership Gone Wrong
Genesis 27 painfully reveals a case of leadership gone wrong. One might say it’s an example of a lack of leadership. Leadership happens in this passage, but it isn’t good.
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The Challenge of Truth-Telling for a Leader
As leaders, we are to be people who speak the truth. Of course, there are times when we have to hold things in confidence. We know things that should not be broadcast to the world or even, at times, whispered to our spouse. Yet, when we speak, we ought to say what is true.
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When Your Leadership Seems to Be Fruitless
If you’ve been in a position of leadership for a while, whether in your business, school, church, or family, I expect you’ve been able to enjoy the fruits of your labors. You can see how you’ve made a difference and you can take delight in your success, even if you know that it comes not just from your hard work but also from God’s grace.
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Blessed to be a Blessing: The Leadership Edition, Part 9
Today is the last installment in this mini-series, “Blessed to be a Blessing: The Leadership Edition.” In the last couple of weeks we have considered ways in which the example of God’s blessing of Abram to bless others can instruct and inspire us in our leadership. Today, I want to add a final thought that, though not clearly stated there, is implied in Genesis 12:2-3.
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Blessed to be a Blessing: The Leadership Edition, Part 8
Last week, we began focusing on the leadership implications of Genesis 12:2-3. Even as God blessed Abram so that he might be a blessing to others, so God has blessed us in our leadership so that we might bless others. In last week’s Life for Leaders devotions, we considered various implications of this truth for our work.
Today, I want to share a personal example with you of how a greatly blessed leader can richly bless others. I happen to be the recipient of this chain of blessing. The leader who blessed me was Lloyd Ogilvie.
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Blessed to be a Blessing: The Leadership Edition, Part 7
In the last few days, we’ve been looking at God’s covenant with Abram, focusing on how Abram was “blessed to be a blessing.” In yesterday’s edition of Life for Leaders, we considered how leaders might be a source of blessing for their customers. Today, I’d like to consider how our leadership might bless an even larger constituency.
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Blessed to be a Blessing: The Leadership Edition, Part 6
God blessed Abram so that he might be a blessing to others. Similarly, we who serve in positions of leadership have also been blessed so that we might bless others through our work. In yesterday’s Life for Leaders edition, I began to consider those whom we might bless, focusing on the people who directly follow our leadership. If you’re leading a company, for example, you have the opportunity to bless those who work for you.
Are there others whom leaders have the chance or even the moral obligation to bless?
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Blessed to be a Blessing: The Leadership Edition, Part 5
In the past couple of days, we have been considering ways that God has blessed us as leaders so that we might bless others. Today, I want to think with you about these “others.”
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Blessed to be a Blessing: The Leadership Edition, Part 4
I realize you might be uncomfortable saying, “I have been blessed with power.” But, I believe that until we can acknowledge this particular blessing, we’ll have a difficult time stewarding it well. Moreover, when I assert, “I have been blessed with power,” I am implicitly admitting that it is not really mine. I don’t own my power. It isn’t really mine. Rather, it has been given to me by the all-powerful God so that I might use it well for his purposes, and his purposes include blessing others and, ultimately, the whole earth, as we see in Genesis 12.
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