iWork4Him PowerThought

One of my favorite topics on faith in the workplace is to delve into the legal rights of Christ followers at work. We have more rights than most Christians know. And these legal rights are extremely important for every Christ follower to be aware of. Whether you are an employee, in management or own a company or run a non-profit .   WHY?  We're  losing ground in our  rights, because  WE, the peopl...

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...

Every paycheck  you've  been putting a little away for retirement. But once that money enters your 401K, what happens to it? Well, usually it gets invested into a whole bunch of companies. But did you know that many of the companies you may be investing in are actually  support  activities that blatantly go against Scripture! Proverbs 16:8 warns against this by saying, " Better is a little with ri...

At some point in our lives, most of us have had at least one job that made us pretty miserable .   And even if you  haven't , we all have days when we  don't  feel like clocking in .  When  we  don't  want to be at our job, it shows .   Our coworkers  notice .   Our vendors notice .   Our customers usually notice .   What kind of testimony are we displaying at work ?   I'll  remind you of one of o...

The wonder-woman complex.  It's  an unrealistic belief that we as women need to be everything to everybody. Where did that come from? And  what's  it doing  to  us? What if instead of trying to BE  wonder-woman , we commit to be who God created us to be. .... To get to know our spiritual gifts, talents, strengths, and then went in search of God's heart, to find our true calling? .... What if every...

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...

I try to keep my heart pure and intimate with Christ, so I can be a source of light and encouragement to the people I work with.  That's  the faith at work philosophy of a millennial professional we interviewed. What a beautiful philosophy of how we can really prepare and BE Christ at work. So how about you ?   Is your heart pure and intimate with Christ so YOU can be a source of light and encoura...

Heard this great reminder from a manager of a Christian Retail company "The biggest challenges in my life and work have been when I have forgotten WHO God is, or WHO I AM in Christ." So how about you?  Are you in the midst of a challenge at work?  If so, CLING to the words of God. Remind yourself right now who you are IN HIM, not the words of what the world tells you. Here are just a few:      I a...

We  haven't  been taught to take advantage of the power of praying while working.  I'm  here to tell you today that it makes a difference.  That it  changes things. That it will revolutionize decision-making in your work. Whether  you're  the organization's overall leader or anywhere on the organizational chart, prayer can  impact  everything you do. Praying with others at work is also powerful. A...

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 wor...

With the new reality that my work was in fact my place of ministry, my workplace mission field, I  modified  my workplace  commute  prayer time. I still prayed for my family, but I added my bosses, my coworkers, and eventually my employees. I noticed a funny thing happening. I started to see these people differently - the way God saw them. I  grew in  empathy and love for them, and I really starte...

It all started with my new job.  Commuting  90 miles to work. I made a commitment to not turn on the radio for the morning commute. I wanted to learn how to pray.  My new job had so much adventure built in, but I wanted this job to be different.  I prayed for my family on the way to work and others who had specific prayer requests but then God rocked my world. One day, in my email in box, my frien...

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 kn...

I have this funny thing that I do. When I ask people how  they're  doing, I mean it.  So  if I ask someone, "How are you doing?" and they say, "Fine," I respond with, "Really? Freaked out, insecure, neurotic, and emotional. No, how are you really doing?"  And I mean it. Then I shut up and listen. When someone  shares from  their heart after  you've  had that exchange, it opens the door for the nex...

Our country needs healing, and it starts with bringing healing to your workplace .   You may be saying to yourself, but how do I bring healing to my workplace when I am so broken myself? As a Jesus-follower, you serve the ultimate healer. For the woman at the well, he  didn't  just give her water; he gave her healing from the inside out. She was a broken woman who had been married five times. No m...

Jesus routinely met and ate with people who we would refer to today as very, very lost. They were the most despised people of that day. And yet, Jesus had no issue with spending time with them. Our workplace is not only a place to make a living, but also a place God has ordained for us to make relationships, build trust, and grow friendships – especially with pre-believers. Often, the workplace is...

In 2006 I started a new job commuting 90 miles each way to work. I made a commitment to not turn on the radio on my way  into  work. I wanted to dedicate that time to pray for my family, my bosses and their families, my co-workers, and my employees. I learned to be  quiet  and I learned to make notes when I heard things from the Lord in my prayer time .   I like to say that it Changed my life .  ...

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'...

The body of Christ is made up of many parts; none is more important than the other .   Do you ever feel unimportant in the Kingdom of God ?   Like  who  you are and what you do is on a lower tier while others are on a higher one ?   In 1 Corinthians 12, God lets us know that each of us plays  an important role  in the body of Christ .   Verse 18 says, "Our bodies have many parts, but God has put e...

Your voice matters. No matter what  you've  experienced or been told, your ideas, creativity, and perspectives are important contributions to your work. Unfortunately, many women have been ignored, overlooked, and had their ideas stolen by others. Someone may have assumed you are more junior than you are. As difficult and discouraging as those experiences can be, other people  don't  get the final...

We all have two voices speaking to us daily—God's still, small, loving voice and the accusing, fear-ridden, loud voice of the enemy. How can you tell the difference? If  it's  encouraging, uplifting, life-affirming, convicting yet loving, aligned with Truth, you can be sure it is from God. If it brings fear, insecurity, anger, condemnation, or confusion, you can be sure  it's  from the enemy. Whos...

You, dear sister, were created in God's image. Man and woman were given the same cultural mandate to fill and subdue the earth. Your talents and desire to make an impact through your work are planted in you by your Creator. Your purpose is to steward those talents for His glory by continually leaning on Him.  No one else will use your talents in quite the same way you do.  You will reach,  impact...

Who you are is not the sum of your past mistakes, successes, or talents. You are a daughter of the one true King, created in Christ Jesus, to do work that brings glory to God in your own unique way. Even when no one else seems to notice you, God sees everything you do to support others, contribute to the success of your organization, and share His love. God hears every prayer you whisper, cry, or...

One day a friend of mine called me and said "Jim, I have been trying to mentor and disciple my friend for 2 years now .   He is hopeless .   Maybe He will listen to you." That was almost 10 years ago now .   My new mentee was not a believer yet, was struggling with issues from the battlefield that  impacted  his  marriage, and  was very skeptical of church culture .   For 3 years, we wrestled abou...

For the first two decades of our marriage, Jim and I did youth ministry as volunteers .   We spent thousands of hours with kids from various backgrounds and family structures .   I worked with girls who were daughters of pastors and daughters of high-powered executives, some from broken families and some from healthy solid families .   These relationships often started when these girls were 11 or...