iWork4Him PowerThought

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?

We live in the midst of a non-stop world. Our responsibilities at home and work fill our thoughts the instant we wake up, then run with us throughout the day. Our jobs, meetings, phones, TV, personal trials and temptations are relentless, noisy invaders that drive us all our waking hours. The result – we can't hear God in our life, not enough anyway. Would you recognize the Lord's soft voice if He walked up behind you? You would if you spent time with Him. Find a quiet place to daily ask Him about His Word, His world and your place in it. Before long you will not only know His voice, but will know Him, and be walking with Him. Start your days with your Bible in your hands not your phone.

· Martha: Welcome to the iWork4Him Power thought for the day, we are Jim and Martha Brangenberg with iWork4Him

· Jim: During your commute today, whether its walking down the hallway or driving down the highway, what will you think about?

· Martha: Will you be caught up in the stress of the day or will you be preparing your heart for what God is going to do today, alongside you in your work?

· Jim: God set the workplace standard before evil entered our world. He gave Adam a job to name all the animals. An almost impossible task, except that God brought all the animals to him.

· Martha: You see, God doesn't expect us to get the job done without helping us.

· Jim: What if today, on your "way" to work, you spend that time asking God to reveal His purpose in your work and your placement in your workplace. Neither are by accident.

· Martha: How we spend our first moments of the day makes a huge impact on the rest of the day, especially our work. Spend your "commute" wisely today.

· Jim: For more about iWork4Him and the iWork4Him podcast, go to iWork4Him dot com. That's iWork the number 4 Him dot com.

Do you act differently around your pastor than you do around your family or friends? Most people do – even those who don't go to church. We feel like we have to be on our best behavior. We can't be our authentic selves. On the other hand, how do coworkers act around each other? It's usually easier to speak freely with the people we work with, especially if we've taken time to invest in a relationship with them. As believers, that puts us in an ideal position to minister to our coworkers – a position that most pastors just don't have. Don't lose sight of this incredible opportunity you have. You might not speak from a pulpit, but neither did Jesus. As Matthew 5:16 instructs: let your light shine bright so that those around you will have no choice but to praise God! You have more exposure to pre-believers than most pastors ever will.

You are a missionary. You know how I know? You are on a mission field in your workplace with lost and hopeless people who speak a different language than most people around you. Most of those around you speak in terms of hurt and disappointment. You speak a message fueled by love, forgiveness, and hope. Every day you talk with people, work with people and interact with people who have never heard the truth of the Gospel - the Good News about Jesus. They have a jaded idea about Jesus and the Bible and about church people, but most have NEVER read a single word Jesus spoke. They have never experienced the power of those transformational words. You are the bridge of hope to those you work with. Speak that truth today.

You are a missionary. You are ready for this assignment. You are equipped with the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit inside of you, giving you access to all the power of God. You have been dispatched to your workplace on purpose because lost and hopeless people there need to meet Jesus. Because you work there, you understand the culture and the tasks at hand. You know the daily stresses and the victory of a well-served client. The person next to you in the pew and the person at the pulpit don't have the same advantage that you do in reaching the lost in your work. You are a light in a world dominated by people cloaked in darkness. You have trained for this. You are ready. Matt 5:16 says, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

You are a missionary. Mission work takes time. For many of you, you have trained for this mission, Sunday after Sunday for decades. You have studied daily for thousands of combined hours. You have worn your carpet thin with hours of interactive training with our Father. You have a calling and a gifting, and they have been combined to provide a career as a fully funded missionary. You have worked years developing a reputation of integrity and excellence. You have displayed love and understanding in a workplace where forgiveness is rare and kind words, well…not so much. You can speak the language now. You know those who are hurting most. You want those you work with to experience His love. The time you have invested in preparing the fields ripe for harvest is well spent. Begin the harvest now.

You are a missionary. You are on a mission. Your Workplace is your mission field. Jesus said in Matthew 28:19 & 20 - Now wherever you go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And teach them to faithfully follow all that I have commanded you. And never forget that I am with you every day, even to the completion of this age." There is no question about calling – we are all called to go – wherever that is. You are a missionary to the largest unreached people group in America – Workplace Pre-Believers. Let that settle in. Lost and hopeless people surround you with an unending emptiness. Be Jesus to them today. Let your transformed life impact everything you do, and share Jesus with those you work with as you go.

This week we paid special attention to you, the everyday workplace believer, and your role in bringing God's Kingdom here to earth. Just because you're not a pulpit pastor or a foreign missionary doesn't mean that you're not in full-time ministry. Your workplace is your mission field! You might be the only representative of Jesus that your coworker, vendor, supervisor, or client ever comes into contact with. Every work day is an opportunity for you to be the hands and feet of Jesus. So, stop thinking less of yourself if you don't have a job in vocational ministry. Where you work and who you work with – none of it's an accident! Practice being intentional at work, especially with those who would never step foot inside the walls of a church. Your full-time ministry has already begun, and the workplace is the largest mission field in the world.

· Jim: Welcome to the iWork4Him Power thought for the day, we are Jim and Martha Brangenberg with iWork4Him

· Martha: When Jim & I were 13 we committed our lives to full-time Christian Ministry. So naturally I thought I would be a pastor's wife or a missionary.

· Jim: I thought I was going to be a youth pastor.

· Martha: When we got married, I naturally thought that ministry was in our future.

· Jim: Martha was right about that. But we were both wrong about the location of our ministry. We kept thinking we were headed for church ministry.

· Martha: But Jim and I are both good at business and we ran an insurance agency. We didn't know our ministry was right there in front of us. We treated people well.

· Jim: But we never saw it as a ministry. In fact, no one ever spoke into our lives that we could have a ministry in our workplace.

· Martha: But we were in ministry and our workplace ministry calling perfectly matched our God given gifts, talents, and abilities.

· Jim: So, are you committed to full-time Christian Ministry? You'll find it at your workplace today!

· Martha: For more about iWork4Him and the iWork4Him podcast, go to iWork4Him dot com. That's iWork the number 4 Him dot com.