Today's One Thing

[Judy Harder]

Life isn't fair, especially in the workplace. 

Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. —Psalm 4:4 (ESV) 

Credit Thief   
Outside her office was blackness—the sun having set long ago. In some distant hallway, a vacuum cleaner whined. Krystal sat alone in her cubicle under a florescent light, finishing the report her boss had demanded. Meanwhile, at home, her husband and two children had resigned themselves to a frozen pizza. The dinner out plans were cancelled. 

The next morning her boss sent the report out to the executive staff. He had taken all the credit. "As my spreadsheet shows ..." he had written. As far as anyone would ever know, Krystal had nothing to do with it. There wasn't even a private word of thanks. She thought about the long hours, the family time surrendered ... and she promptly composed a vitriolic message that would set things straight. It felt good  typing the missive, but she paused, thankfully, before hitting "send." 

The next day, after taking the evening to pray, contemplate, and discuss a strategy with her husband, Krystal met with her boss and spoke, in measured tones, about her workload and concerns.

Life isn't fair, and that's especially true in the workplace. But a reflexive reaction or angry outburst will  always do more harm than good. Sometimes you should be silent and sleep on it—that's biblical!

Today's One Thing
Before you respond in haste, make time to be silent and wait on God.
 
Going Deeper
I Peter 3:8-12; Matthew 26:47-53
 
Suggested Intentional Living Broadcast
Being Salt and Light at Work 

 

[Judy Harder]

Is there more to God than meets the eye?
 
By faith we understand...that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. —Hebrews 11:3 (ESV) 
   
Cure For Faltering Faith 
It was called "the black death of the childbed," and no one could understand why it was happening. It was 1846, and women giving birth at the Viennese General Hospital in Austria were placed in one of two divisions. In one division were the medical students. In the other,midwives. Mothers under the care of the medical students were mysteriously dying at triple the rate of what was then called "puerperal fever."

A physician named Ignaz Semmelweis discovered the cause: medical students who proceeded directly from conducting autopsies to deliveries ... without washing their hands. But at that time, the notion of invisible germs—bacteria too small to see with the naked eye—was considered crazy. Semmelweis was fired, ostracized by the medical community, and eventually committed to an insane asylum, where he died after a severe beating.

Almost everyone understands now that there is much more to our world than what is visible. Germs can't be seen, but the devastation they cause is evident. And our knowledge of how God has constructed his miraculous creation brings new discoveries every day. We now know an entire library of sophisticated information exists in a single DNA molecule.

There are those who say there is no evidence for God, but just look around you...His handiwork is everywhere! If your faith is faltering today, remember that God is working in your life—behind the scenes and beyond what you can see and understand—to make you into a new creation.

Today's One Thing
Find an open window or park bench, and take some time to enjoy, think upon and thank God for His incredible creation.
 
Going Deeper
Psalm 77:11-19; Genesis 1:1-27
 
Suggested Intentional Living Broadcast
Cold Case Christianity 

 

[Judy Harder]

God promises to forgive us and throw away our guilt and shame. 

As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. —Psalm 103:12 (ESV)   


Don't Be Silly 
Little Maggie didn't know what to do, she was so upset. She'd just done something that broke her heart as much as it had the object she knocked off the curio shelf.

"Oh mama, I'm so sorry!" She was sobbing as she walked up to her mother. "I broke your beautiful cup."

The mother replied, "I know you're sorry, and I forgive you." She placed her hand on Maggie's shoulder. "Don't cry." She then swept up the pieces of the broken cup and placed them in the trash can.

The little girl, though, couldn't let go of her mistake. Seeing what her mother did, she went over to the trash can, carefully picked out the pieces, and brought them again to her mother. "Your pretty cup, I can't fix it. I'm so sorry."

With that, her mother straightened her back and spoke firmly. "Take those pieces back to the trash can right now and throw them away. I told you I forgave you. Now don't cry, and don't be silly enough to pick up the broken pieces anymore."

This story was originally told by Nazi prison camp survivor Corrie ten Boom to demonstrate the reality—and finality—of God's forgiveness. When we make a mistake (and we will), 1 John 1:9 promises, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (ESV) Call out to Him first, accept His forgiveness, and throw away your shame. 

Today's One Thing
Tell God you're sorry for falling short of His best, and then seek to do what pleases Him. 
 
Going Deeper
Psalm 51:1-12; Ephesians 1:3-14; Colossians 2:6-15
 
Suggested Intentional Living Broadcast
The Impact of an Intentional Life