iWork4Him PowerThought

Hebrews 11 says Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation , The prophet Jeremiah reminds his listeners to "Stand by the road, and look, and ask for the ancient paths" Moses, in speaking to the Israelites in Deuteronomy says, "But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart." Paul quotes this to the new Christians in Rome to then go on to say, "If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord. . .you are saved." This is equally true in business. What you have done in the past, becomes your scorecard and your reputation. If you have a reputation of always doing what you promise to do, you will find a way through the challenges to the success that the Lord plans for you.

Hebrews 11 says Faith. . . is the evidence of things not seen …Faith is holding on even when you can't see the answer. That's how Daniel and his friends must have felt when the King decreed that all of his senior advisors would die if no one could answer the riddle posed by the King's terrifying dream. but The King wouldn't tell anyone what he had seen in his dream. They had to tell him the dream and its interpretation. Faith is the evidence of things not seen. Daniel urged his three friends to ask God to show them the secret because God knew the answer. How does this apply in our work? No matter our job, we have strategic planning sessions to help chart the course forward. The planning is our "evidence" that we are believing for what is "not yet seen." But in the end God knows the answer you need.

Hebrews 11 says Faith is the substance of things hoped for…Hope is not the absence of doubt. We all have doubts. Faith has substance when we hold on to it despite our doubts. When Job said in his book that "Though He slay me I will hope in Him" Job is essentially saying what any of us have said when we declare, "Even if God doesn't come through in the way that I expect and am praying for, I still trust He is in charge." The essence of entrepreneurship is "things hoped for." The challenge of business is "hoping" until you succeed, not giving up when the challenges and setbacks come. Hope is collected over time through experience and study. You are surrounded by many at work who have no hope. Will you share some today?

People want to be heard and recognized, which makes listening so important. I have a tendency to listen to the first few words of someone expressing a thought or idea or feeling to me, and then I am busy contemplating a response. I often miss my chance to listen because I want so badly to be heard. I never realized that behavior was so hurtful until I got married. Martha is a great communicator and says so many incredible things. I have had to learn to just listen to her when she speaks without responding. Then she knows I love her. We work together every day, so this is a really important skill. When we listen, we communicate care and love and acceptance. And you know that Jesus is the best listener ever. As Jesus-followers, we can be just like Him. Practice listening today.

People want to be heard and recognized, which makes listening so important. We spend a lot of time with our co-workers—lots of time. We grow to like our co-workers, and some we even grow to love and cherish. But do the people you love know that you listen to them? Do people at work and frankly at home, know that you love them by how you demonstrate your listening skills? Listening is the most powerful communicator of love. Jesus is the best listener ever, and everybody who met him knew He loved them. As Jesus-followers, we can be just like Him. Practice listening to those you love in your work and your home today – listening will show them that you care.

People want to be heard and recognized, which makes listening so important. When I get in my car, I put on the radio. I love to listen to talk radio. It passes the time in traffic, and I get entertained. About 15 years ago, I realized I had an addiction to noise in my car. I needed to learn to be quiet and listen to God. I committed my morning commutes to work to be my listening/praying time. No matter how long or short, my morning time in the car was committed to learning to be a listener…and to be quiet. It changed my life. Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still and know that I am God." If I learned to be still, you can too. Listening is a Jesus quality. Practice listening to God in your car on your way to work today.

People want to be heard and recognized, which makes listening so important. When you are in trouble or need advice, who do you listen to first? Do you rush right to your bible and get on your knees in prayer? Or do you tend to call a friend or post your trouble on Facebook? I get it. It is easier to connect with humans than to seek the Lord. But if our tendency is to go to people for answers and not our Heavenly Father, how will we attract others to Jesus. Jeremiah 29:11 says "He knows the plans for us" It's good to have sounding boards for advice, but who do you listen to first? Jesus is the best listener ever. Practice listening to your Lord today.

People want to be heard and recognized, which makes listening so important. Are you a good listener? I am a much better talker than a listener. When we listen to others, we are like Jesus. He listened so well. Today you may be on multiple zoom calls or in-person meetings, be the best listener in the crowd, not just listening for your job but listening for what isn't said, things spoken without words. Listening is the best way to open doors to conversations about your faith in Jesus. When we hear people's words, they feel valued. Psalm 34:15 says, "The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry." Jesus is the best listener ever. As Jesus-followers, we can be like Him. Practice listening in your work today.

It's the week of Thanksgiving and we all have so much to be thankful for. Whether you are working today or off, are you thankful for your work? So often we find ourselves complaining about our work. I am guilty of it often. Our work is given to us by God on purpose for a purpose. We work with people who need to meet Jesus and you may be the one who gets to do that. However, if we are walking around grumbling about our work, we won't attract too many people to Jesus. Let's be thankful. Thankful for the work that uses our minds and bodies and pays our bills. Thankful for the work that nourishes our soul. Spend today focusing on being thankful for your work.

It's the week of Thanksgiving and we all have so much to be thankful for. It's hard to fathom but some people in our country will wake up today with NO FOOD. None. IT may even be someone you work with that is struggling financially and they don't have enough food either. There may be people in your church or neighborhood that will not have enough food today to celebrate thanksgiving. People all over this country have had to learn to live with not enough. We can share from our enough but start with being thankful for the food set before you today. Also, be aware of those around you who are in need of food, clothing and financial help. It's what Jesus-followers do. Be thankful and share. It's the difference that Jesus makes in our lives that can make the difference in someone else's life. Be thankful.

It's the week of Thanksgiving, and we all have so much to be thankful for. I spent a week in the Dominican Republic a few years back. I saw a level of contentment and thankfulness in every person I met. Most had only a tin roof over their head and a couple pairs of clothing, but they were thankful. Thankful for a meal to eat and a place to sleep. What about you? Are you thankful for your clothes, your car, your home, and your bed? The people we work with are looking to you to demonstrate the advantage of being a Jesus-follower. Showing them, you are content and thankful will attract them to Jesus. So, this week spend your time focusing on being thankful and see how it impacts the attitudes of those around you.

It's the week of Thanksgiving, and we all have so much to be thankful for. Yet when many of us think about our time with family later this week, we struggle to be thankful. Many of you have indeed suffered at the hands of family. I am sorry for that. However, for most of you, you have been blessed with a family that loves you, but still get under your skin and irritate you. How do we shift our attitude to be thankful for our family? We remember that God is our Father, and you are surrounded by Brothers and Sisters in Christ who love you. Those at work may not be so blessed, so show them some love this week and invite them to be part of your family Thanksgiving celebration. When you focus on being thankful, it impacts the attitudes of all those around you.

It's the week of Thanksgiving, and we all have so much to be thankful for. Yet, some days, I struggle to be thankful. Work can be overwhelming, and deadlines are looming. Some days I am just outright un-thankful. When we lack a thankful attitude, it impacts our spirit and the spirits of others around us. We don't realize the impact we have on others. 1st Thessalonians 5 18 says, "Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." Without Jesus, I know this would be impossible for me, but we know that all things are possible with Jesus. So, this week spend your time focusing on being thankful, see how it affects your attitude, and see how it impacts the attitudes of those around you.

Let's start today with some biblical encouragement about work. Ephesians 2 10 says, "For we are His masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them." Imagine with me for a moment that your focus as a Jesus-follower is to deeply integrate your faith into the work you deliver. Continue imagining. You're not contributing…you cannot contribute anything to God's plan that He hasn't prepared ahead of time for you. But you're participating in full, in the plan by WALKING through His plan. So, ask yourself these questions: What does maximum involvement in God's plan look like for me at work? How do I see God using me at work? How can I express myself as His masterpiece? When you start every day with these three questions as your focus, God will do amazing things through you.

When I began working, I fell into a trap. I searched for meaning in the kind of work I was doing. Jeremiah 9 23 tells us …the world defines greatness by wealth, wisdom, and power. That's where I thought my focus should be…to find significance at work. And you know what? I was continually let down and discouraged until I realized Jeremiah 9:24 said this: "…the one who boasts should boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, showing faithful love, justice, and righteousness on the earth for I delight in these things." Is your personal value and significance linked to the kind of work you do? NO. You have value because He declares you valuable…valuable enough for Christ to die for you. How can you show your value in your work today?

Do you think your work and your faith are separate considerations? There's always a divine reason God has us at work. When we understand that, we have the right focus. In John 4, the disciples challenged Jesus for talking to the woman at the well after they got back from town buying food. Jesus says: "Don't you say, "There are still four months, then comes the harvest: I say open your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ready for harvest." The disciples dutifully went to town but overlooked sharing their faith. This woman was saved with one kind encounter, and she wanted to share it with everyone! There's nothing wrong with having your head down at your job, doing great work. But, our faith does not end on Sunday. It continues every day, sometimes with the slightest kind gestures and conversations with those around us. Now that's faith and work.

What's God want from us at work? Some think WHAT we produce at work is PRIORITY ONE. No matter your job, consider this from 2nd peter 3 10 "But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief, on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be totally destroyed." So, if our work-product will one day burn up, where should my focus be at work? Ask the Lord this each day: "Why do you have me here?" Does someone at work need me to listen without judgment? Does a co-worker having a hard day need a lending hand? If you focus on the people in your workplace and not just your work, both your work-product and workplace will improve.

Have you ever said, "I go to work just to earn a living."? Most of us will work more than 100,000 hours in a lifetime. That's more than a third of your life! Sadly, stats show that at least 7 in 10 people don't like their job. And, three in seven HATES it. If our Christianity is going to be relevant, it must address how our work week will be used for the glory of God. We also need to understand God's truth about Work. If you believe you go to work just to earn a living, consider this verse about your job: Philippians 4:19 says, "And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." This is just one of God's truths about why we go to work. I pray it re-shapes your thinking and appreciation for the work God has given you. Watch God provide for your needs today.

Have you ever wanted to change the world? Join us to hear about a couple in Rogers, Arkansas, who started a family business: drive-through coffee… and are changing their part of the world, one coffee and one smile at a time. www.iWork4Him.com

Is life balance still a goal? If it is, and it's not really working, listen to this podcast interview with Mike Cook of "Strategic Doers", who shares a better alternative than chasing after "life balance". www.iWork4Him.com

Are you stuck in a rut? Be challenged in this podcast on how your thinking about ministry may be stuck inside the box. Hear the testimony of New Zealander Bryce Taylor, who's God-journey went from pastoral to…agricultural machinery with a mission.

What do hair and Haiti have in common? A lot, apparently, if you're a woman of God who loves both. Find out about the journey of Salem Hicks, now a Hair Salon entrepreneur that God put in Haiti so she could birth the vision He created!

Imagine having 700 children. And someone asks "who's your favorite?" That's a tough question for the Product Marketing Business Leader of Dayspring – it's like picking a favorite child! Hear how they go about choosing products and what prayer has to do with it. www.iWork4Him.com

You know what happens when you say "never", right? Find out what happened to Dawn Stanford, Dayspring's Business Development Manager when she said it…and how God used it! We talk career changes, being a control freak, and why one should never say "never" – especially to the Almighty.

How can you turn YOUR workplace into a mission field? Find out in this convo with Mike Henry, who started Follower-Of-One. Discover this unique way to go on a no-cost mission trip! Give your thinking a Jesus-sized shift today. www.iWork4Him.com

Who makes the most impact in the workplace? Is it the management? Or someone else? Find out the answer...and what YOU can do to impact others from Dr. Paul White, author and psychologist, so you can flourish in your workplace. www.iWork4Him.com

What will people say about you when you're gone? Join us to hear from Dayspring executive Stephen Bos, about how your personal brand can impact your ability to live out your faith at work. Straight from the company's headquarters in Arkansas. www.iWork4Him.com

WHO's leading YOUR leadership? We hear how two leaders have had their leadership transformed and now share that with others. www.iWork4Him.com

Curious to know how to build a Kingdom business? This is it. This podcast has the answer and template for how to build and lead a business for God's glory. Hear about how with Kingdom Leadership workshops and their template to build a business God's way.

Are you trying to be everything to everybody? There's another way to live. Meet the anti-wonder woman TJ Tison and her powerful "Working Women of Faith" community. And find out how you can get a WWOF started in your neck of the woods www.iWork4Him.com

What if you LOOKED FORWARD to Monday? You can. Meet Doug Spada, author of Monday Morning Atheist. Hear the what, why and how of switching from "TGIF" to "TGIM" – Thank God It's Monday! And learn how to thrive at work on Monday.

Why have a bible study at your workplace? Tony Dale, founder of Sedera Health details his "Wisdom Journey Bible Study", which offers an opportunity for employees and managers to have God-conversations for the greater good of his company and their families. www.iwork4him.com

What happens when you ask God to stretch you? Find out as we interview two ministry leaders in Jacksonville, Florida: Lifework Leadership, which provides Christian leadership training and The Potter's House – serving the city. Featured Guests: Tammie McClafferty & Glenn Henderson

The story and influence of FCCI. Taped on location from D.C. at the Impact Summit (a gathering of over 400 leaders in the faith and work movement to build kingdom collaboration). Meet Bobby Mitchell &Chad Merrill of FCCI

Meet the patriarch of the Faith and Work Movement: Os Hillman. Hear his journey around "calling" and studying God's word on faithful work. And catch a glimpse of the faith and work movement, where it's been and where it's headed. www.iWork4Him.com

What does divorce cost you, the employer? More than you think. Tune into this podcast with Jim and Martha Brangenberg, avid marriage mentors, and hear about the hard costs, and potential options employers can offer their employees. www.iWork4Him.com

It's okay to make a profit in your business, isn't it? What's the difference between leading and managing? Tune in to this podcast to hear the answers to some provocative questions like these, from Bobby Albert, of Values-Driven Leadership.

Every business is a ministry and...Every ministry is a business. Hear about the Wise Counsel round-table group and from some of their members, and how to build businesses with a solid foundation of character, morals and spiritual principles.

Is it possible to have a new purpose at 65? Why yes, yes it is. Hear a not-done-yet story of business ownership, from Lyle and Sara Squires – a married couple who God decided they should do it again. For His Glory. www.iWork4Him.com

How do YOU measure success in your work? Hear from the Housh's who own a roofing company that gives all the glory to Christ. Hear about what Arry means when he says they measure success by looking back. www.iWork4Him.com

Where do you go looking for Christ? Jon Dengler, bike enthusiast, bike shop owner and now bike minister, shares his story of finding Christ through LSD, and on the streets with the homeless. Another bike brother and fellow minister, Pat Simmons shares Bikes for Christ.. www.iWork4Him.com

Could owning a franchise change your life? Quite possibly, it could be your calling. Greg Carr, left his job, left his state (sounds like an Abraham assignment) and started a business, with a lot of faith and little else. www.iWork4Him.com

Is your life filled with tombstones or steppingstones? Meet Dr. Dan Middlebrooks of Chaplaincy Care, Inc and his soul-saving organization that is bringing hope, healing and salvation to first responders. www.iWork4Him.com

Ever wonder if you're living your calling? Dr. Chip Roper and friends are living in their calling, thanks to the work of the Voca Center in the City the Never Sleeps. Hear about their work and nuggets of wisdom on how to live YOUR calling. www.iWork4Him.com

Forget normal, let's live a SUPER-normal life! Dr. Jim Harris joins us for a high-octane conversation that just may turn your perspective inside-out! Learn how to live super-naturally in your work. It's a gift!. www.iwork4him.com

A construction company built with wisdom. John DeAngelis shares about his biblically based business practices, and how he built a successful commercial construction company –and how Giant Worldwide helped. www.iworkforhim.com

Emails – they are useful, but can get us in trouble… Don't we all know it! We interviewed noted relationship expert, Emerson Eggerichs, to talk about his recent book and get us into some new, better emailing habits. www.iWork4Him.com

Undercover Boss made her famous. Christ makes her an excellent leader. Hear the story of the Dwyer Group, and their 21 franchise brands, management and her views on the dog-eat-dog world for women as executives and the environment for women who lead with faith.

What is a Kingdom calling? Do you have one? 'Kingdom Calling' is one of the top 5 Faith and Work books ever written. Her perspective on our work, is life and work changing. www.iWork4Him.com

Do YOU understand your Kingdom calling? Even if you do, take a listen. Dr. Amy Sherman wrote the definitive book on faith and work 'Kingdom Calling', and her book is a great place to start! She wants us Christ-followers to cause rejoicing in the city because of how God is using us.