iWork4Him PowerThought

When's the last time your beliefs about another generation were challenged? Mine were recently, after interviewing a couple, whose life's work is to teach and enable "generational reconciliation" in the workplace. What on earth is generational reconciliation? It's helping us, and each generation to understand the other generation, to know the truth about what they believe and to know the best attributes of each, so they can be appreciated and leveraged. What has it got to do with faith and work? Apparently, a great deal. In the next two years, Millennials will make up 50% of the workplace. Ifyou own a business or manage anyone from this generation, your knowledge of them will be a huge predictor of "meeting with ETERNAL and EARTHLY success". How will YOU seek generational reconciliation in YOUR OFFICE this week?

What's the difference between believing IN God and trusting God? A San Antonio business owner got to find out, when he had to choose between going to work on Wall Street as a fat cat, or listen to God, and chose what's best for his family. In Matthew 6:33 God advises us to "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." In the midst of your business decision making today, are you seeking first the Kingdom of God? Are you seeking God first vs. YOUR success? Your TEAM's success? The BIGGER sale? The LARGER profit? You're invited to seek God's best and highest first, as your go about your work today.

Changing the world. We all have that secret desire, don't we? Changing the world in Kingdom terms is not measured in the BIG, the BIGGER and the BIGGEST actions in our life and work. It's the opposite. Changing the world happens, one person, one word and one action at a time. It can be as small as a smile, a kind word, or a self-less act of service. It's counter-intuitive, just like the work of Christ. So how about you? Would you like to change the world? Would you be willing to start today, changing the corner of the world where God has placed YOU? We invite you to start changing the world RIGHT NOW, with ONE smile, ONE kind word, and ONE kind action.

Are you stuck in a rut or comfortably nestled in there? Have you been "doing your Christianity the same way, with the same people, in the same ministry, in the same church? In the same type of work? With the same company?" When's the last time you stopped, poked your head UP OUT OF THE daily rut and asked "Lord, am I doing your will? Am I doing ministry and my work YOUR WAY? Where do YOU want me?" PAUSE So how about you? PAUSE When's the last time you considered re-thinking how your walking out your faith? And who you're working or ministering with? When's the last time you got UNCOMFORTABLE, in order to follow The Lord? We invite you TODAY, to ask in prayer "Lord, where do you want me?"

How many of us think we are doing business God's way, when in reality, we are just Christians who love Jesus, go to church, and believe we live by Christian values? There's another way for us to start and run a business. To work and lead our teams. It's the Kingdom way. .... Start with God as your ultimate business partner, and ask Him what HIS plan is. And then keep moving based on what He's directed you to do. The mindset is: to be Kingdom minded, Kingdom focused and Kingdom motivated. When you are in this place, the business flourishes, almost effortlessly. .... When we are doing our job in faith and obedience, the fruit is produced, by God, in His way, In His time. Proverbs 16:3 Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed

Is it enough to be an ethical and hard-working owner, employee or boss, or does Jesus ask us to BE something MORE? Over the past twenty years of being a student of faith at work, we've discovered that there are costs to being a Christ follower in the workplace. Not a Christian, a CHRIST FOLLOWER. .... There's a difference. .... And there are COSTS to making Him known at work. They are born out of 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. If we don't stand out, how are people going to know Jesus has radically changed our life? .... So we're asking, do YOU stand out in YOUR workplace?

After years of meeting with and interviewing people from all types of work and all organizational levels, there is one major truth that keeps bubbling up to the surface. The investment IN PEOPLE, above all else, pays not only Kingdom dividends, but business dividends as well. This is what Christ did, and it is the ultimate example of Christ's holy character: Matthew 20:28 says "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many." When we invest in our employees, the next generation, or future leaders in our workplace, we are giving away our life as a true Christ follower. What is ONE commitment you will make today, to start investing in the life of another in YOUR workplace?

It's Christmas Eve. Tomorrow is a day focused on the giving and receiving of gifts and recognizing the ultimate gift of Jesus. The day that you were born, your parents saw you as a gift. How will you be a gift to your family today, to the parents that gave you birth? Is it with your frequent phone calls or notes dropped in the mail? Is it helping around the house with projects that they just can't do on their own anymore? Sometimes it takes a high level of intentionality to be a gift to the family that isn't always easy to be around. As a Jesus follower, you have been given the greatest gift of all time. Forgiveness and eternal life. Today, be that gift to those you love.

Christmas is coming – just 2 days away. This week has focused on the giving and receiving of gifts and recognizing the ultimate gift of Jesus. Are you a gift to the people you live near? Outside of work, we come in contact with a lot of people. You might be involved in a small group from church. How are you a gift to your small group? Are you a gift in the way you serve others in your community? Are you a gift in the way you love others when they're going through a struggle? Are you a gift in the way you pray for people or the way you help out with projects that others just can't do alone? As a Jesus follower, you have been given the greatest gift of all time. Forgiveness and eternal life. This week, be that gift to those you love.

Hebrews 11 says, "By faith Abel brought an offering." What is an offering? Jesus said that while the bridegroom is with us, we want to feast, but when he is gone, then we look at fasting. We don't earn God's favor when we go without or by bringing him an offering. Faith grows when it is expressed in sacrifice when it's not easy. When I "bring my sacrifice of praise" God is honored and my faith in Him grows because "God dwells in the praises of His people." When God gives the entrepreneur an idea, that does not mean the idea will automatically happen, even if we put some effort into it. The Venture Capital firm that you approach for financial help is more interested in your track record of executing an idea than the idea itself. Abel brought an offering. What are we bringing to God?