iWork4Him PowerThought

The concept of FOLLOWING is all the rage these days. And the concept of following started with Jesus. He was the original "person to follow". So, who are YOU following? If you're following someone, you're listening to them, and they are speaking INTO YOU. And do you know who THEY are following and listening to? So how about YOU? If you're following someone other than Jesus, as a "Christian", you may want to take a harder look at who you're following, who that person is and why. How deep is their character and what is their character based on? Perhaps, you'll find they're not following the original. And therefore, neither are you. As our friend Mike Henry says: Be a follower of one.

The art of appreciation. It's a choice. Chuck Swindoll says "Gratitude is a decision of the will, and if a decision of the will, the choice resides squarely with us. Deciding to be thankful is no easy task. It takes work." Using appreciation with others, using it as a tool in you work, for most of us, takes practice. It's a mindset AND a heart-set shift. Most of us WANT and NEED appreciation, regardless of what form it comes in. So how about you? Is the art of appreciation a part of your work style? Your leadership style? We invite you to read one of any number of books, like the 5 Love Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace and start to use appreciation today!

Have you ever considered that God wants to use YOUR business influence, the position He's put you in, as a "platform" for Him? A stage on which to do your work while others watch and see HOW you work? If you lead just ONE person or have interact with groups of people inside OR outside your business, like vendors or, contractors, then you have a platform. A platform designed by GOD for you, for such a time as this. That you would work for His glory, show His characteristics of caring, courage, diligence, fairness, integrity, respect, responsibility, and trustworthiness. So how about you? When they watch you work do, they see YOU, or do they see Christ?

Have you ever met someone that lives one integrated life? They seem to flow seamlessly between their work and personal life without pause or care. What is this? It's authenticity. And its attraction is unparalleled. How is it possible? It's living a life based on Godly values. I'd hazard a guess a person like this lives their values in this order: God, Family, and Service. When we LIVE BY our values, decisions are easier, relationships are easier, and knowing where to invest our time, talent and treasure is easier. Because our values ARE our priority. And our heart lines up with our values, and those line up with our thoughts, our thoughts then direct our words and actions. How are YOU living your values at work today?

Sir Isaac Newton once said: If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants. The modern-day faith at work movement, is owed to a handful of willing and sacrificial giants over the past century, beginning in about 1930: R.G. LeTourneau, Dr. Stanley Tam, Bobby Mitchell and Os Hillman, just to name a few. These men have loved the Lord with their entire being, listened to the Lord, obeyed, and then collaborated with LIKE-MINDED people and sought council with fellow Christians. Their life's work laid the foundation for our current Faith at Work theology and practices. They sacrificed their lives, for those of us who are enjoying the freedom to stand for Christ in our work. How are YOU standing for Christ in YOUR work today?

Culture. Webster's defines it in the corporate realm as: the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization. How aware are YOU of YOUR COMPANY'S culture? When's the last time you really stopped and took a look at it? How does it align with your OWN personal values as a Christ follower? And if you're a leader, what are you doing to ensure your culture aligns with God's word and will? Romans 12:2, "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." What is ONE ACTION you will take THIS WEEK, to align YOUR CULTURE with God's will?

72% of people who get up and go to work every day think "nobody cares about me". That's a WHOLE LOT of hurting people that will never experience God's love. So, what if we just took God's love to them? What if there was a chaplain in the workplace that looks just like them, that meets them where they are; to just listen, pray and love them? Workplace chaplains DO exist and are more and more common in today's workplaces! And THAT is the gospel! Echoing Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 9, "When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings." So, we challenge you, look into finding a chaplain for your people and transform your workplace into a place where people are loved.

Generosity. Is it an action, a state of the heart, or a mind-set? I heard recently that generosity is BEST when it includes all three and we compare it with IMPACT. Have you ever thought about your giving in this way? That your giving could possibly be leveraged for the highest impact for eternity? What if we all stopped and looked and prayed over the resources we have, and re-committed the 10% tithe of all our income, to MAXIMIZE impact for the Kingdom? Isaiah 32:8 says, "But generous people plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity." What will you do today, to put on this new "eternal" mindset of generosity?

Ecclesiastes 4:12 says "A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." Are you a Christian standing alone in your work or professional life? Are YOU standing alone in OTHER areas of your life? What if you prayed and asked for a group that you could "do life and work" together with? We, as God's creation, were BUILT for community. IF you have no community, you may be operating out of God's will or, slogging or surviving, vs. thriving. We challenge you today, to ask a trusted Christian friend, or to go online and search for a Christ-honoring community to be a part of.

It comes as no surprise that less than 20 percent of Americans regularly attend church. But just about all Americans have a job. So, we COULD say that not everybody has a pastor, but just about everybody has a boss. So how will the other 80% of Americans find out about Jesus Christ if they are not stepping into a church? The current population of the US is about 330 million. So that's 264 Million people that WE can witness to through our daily interactions in our jobs. You are the one that has been chosen. You ARE CHRIST'S AMBASSADOR, for such a time as this. Today, won't YOU PRAY AND COMMIT to BE Christ-like at work, to everyone you work with?