September 5, 2015

"This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot.  Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.  They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart."  Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 

Until you can get the job you want, why not ask God to help you want the job He's provided for you?

How?

View your job as a blessing!

View your job as a bridge!

Third, view your job as a building project!

"Build what?" you ask.

Build your confidence!

In the book “Scully”, there is a dialogue between Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple Computers and John Scully, who at the time was president of Pepsi. Jobs was attempting to recruit Scully for the top job at Apple and he asked Scully, “Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water or do you want a chance to change the world?”

One way to build your confidence is to study and spend time with confident people.

Build your competency!

A local business puts a sign in the window, stating the following: “HELP WANTED. Must be able to type, must be good with a computer and must be bilingual. We are an equal opportunity employer”

A short time afterwards, a dog trotted into the office manager’s office, jumped up on the chair and stared at the manager. The office manager said “I can’t hire you. The sign says you have to be able to type.”

The dog jumped down, went to the typewriter and proceeded to type out a perfect letter. He took out the page and trotted over to the manger and gave it to him, then jumped back on the chair. The manager was stunned, but then told the dog, “The sign says you have to be good with a computer? The dog then executed a perfect program that worked flawlessly the first time.

By this time the manager was totally dumbfounded! He looked at the dog and said, “I realize that you are a very intelligent dog and have some interesting abilities. However, I still can’t give you the job? The dog jumped down and went to a copy of the sign and put his paw on the sentence that says Equal Opportunity Employer. The manager said, “Yes, but the sign also says that you have to be bilingual? The dog looked at the manger calmly and finally said, “Meow.”

Competency is a combination of creativity, common sense, confidence and connecting your learning with your life experience.

Build your character

”Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving”  Colossians 3:23-24.

“Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him”  Ecclesiastes 5:18-19

For years Gordon MacDonald rode the same bus daily from his home to his church in New York City. One day the bus driver complained to MacDonald: “You’ve got it a lot better than me. You have an interesting job and travel different places. I just drive this bus up and down the same streets every day.” MacDonald told the bus driver his job could be a Christian ministry too. “Every day, when you first get on this bus, before anyone else gets on, dedicate this bus to God for that day. Declare it to be a sanctuary for God for that day. Consecrate it to God’s glory, and then act like it is a place where God dwells.” Several weeks later MacDonald returned from a trip and saw the bus driver. “You’ve transformed my life,” the man said. “I’ve been doing what you said every day, and it has made me see my job in an entirely new perspective.”

THAT MAN LEARNED TO LOVE HIS JOB BECAUSE HE UNDERSTOOD IT WAS MORE THAN WORK – IT WAS WORSHIP!

IF I COULD SPEAK FOR GOD TODAY I BELIEVE HE WOULD SAY, “TAKE THIS JOB AND LOVE IT……..”

UNDERSTAND THESE TRUTHS TO HELP YOU LOVE YOUR JOB:

• You didn’t get your job it was GIVEN to you by God - Give it back to Him
• Don’t see your job as a profession but as a PLATFORM.  – Live Godly through it.
• Plan your retirement to be a RE-ENLISTMENT. – His plan is out of this world!

September 4, 2015

"This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot.  Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.  They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart."  Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 

Your job is a blessing! I hope that is your attitude toward the work God has provided for you.

I'm sure all of us have had to take some jobs we really weren't excited about. I had several of those at various times in my life. It was necessary to have those "dirty" jobs in order to get prepared for my "dream" job! That brings me to the second point about your attitude toward your job.

Love your job as a bridge!

One day an eager young man from Stanford University applied for a part time position at the school. The man who was doing the hiring said, “All I need now is a typist.” “I’ll take the job, said the applicant. “but I can’t start until next Tuesday.” On Tuesday he reported for work. The employer said, “Why couldn’t you come until today?” “Because I had to rent a typewriter and learn to use it!” Do you know who the student was? Herbert Hoover!

Here is a real life example of how Herbert Hoover used an entry level job as a bridge to his dream job!

HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT YOUR JOB AS A BRIDGE?

It is a bridge to a strong reputation

“We know how telephone conversations are; we usually hear only one side of the conversation. A young boy was talking and his father was listening, "Hello, sir, I was calling you to see if you could use a lawn boy to do your yard work!" "Oh, I see you already have one!" "Well, is he doing your work to your satisfaction?" "He is! Thank you, sir, I was just checking," then the young boy hung up the phone. The father looked at his son and said, "Sorry son, you didn’t get the job!" "Oh, no sir," said the boy. "I’ve already got that job. I was just calling to check up on myself!"

WHAT IS YOUR REPUTATION AT THE PLACE YOU WORK?

ARE YOU MAKING YOUR FATHER PROUD?

It is a bridge to showing real faith.

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people”  Galatians 6:10

Here are a few practical tips:

• Be “pre-prayered” – Pray for God to fill you so he can use you.
• Be pleasant and positive – Be a joy to work with!
• Be productive – Make the boss money and assist your co-worker

     YOUR WITNESS WILL BE ONLY AS GOOD AS YOUR WORK!
   
     It is a bridge to redemptive relationships

     What sort of bridges are you building to introduce the reality of Christ where you work?

If you are called to be a witness (and you are) – and if you spend 40 hours per week 50 weeks a year around the people at your job (and you do) – then how can you NOT be intentionally building bridges to your co-workers?

In the south tower, the first to collapse, a young quadriplegic was at work on the twenty-seventh floor. As evacuation of the building began, this young man instructed his personal-care attendant to leave with others via the stairs. While the attendant was at first hesitant, she agreed after the quad's best friend at work, a 55-year-old man, volunteered to remain until fire-fighters arrived to carry the quad down the stairs. The best friend could easily have made his way down the stairs, but selflessly he chose to stay with his buddy. Both men lost their lives when the south tower came down.

In the north tower, two men started down the stairs from the eighty-first floor. When they reached the sixty-eighth, they came upon a young woman in her wheelchair on the stairway landing. They quickly moved her from her wheelchair to a special fire-emergency carrying chair. Then, without regard for their own well-being, carried this lady down 68 flights of stairs to safety.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO INTENTIONALLY BUILD REDEMPTIVE RELATIONSHIP BRIDGES WITH THOSE YOU SPEND 2,000 HOURS EACH YEAR?

September 3, 2015

Some of us remember the old country western classic, “Take This Job and Shove It” sung by Johnny Paycheck. A few years later during a recession of the early 1980’s, I heard someone say that the new version of the song had been changed to say, “Shove That Job – I’ll Take It!”

This morning I have entitled this thought,  “Take This Job And Love it”.

Two factory workers are talking. The woman says, "I can make the boss give me the day off." The man replies, "And how would you do that?" The woman says, "Just wait and see." She then hangs upside down from the ceiling. The boss comes in and says, "What are you doing?" The woman replies, "I'm a light bulb." The boss then says, "You've been working so much that you've gone crazy. I think you need to take the day off." The man starts to follow her and the boss says, "Where are you going?" The man says, "I'm going home, too. I can't work in the dark."

What is your attitude toward your job?

What should it be?

“This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.”  Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

You should love your job as a blessing!

A husband and his wife woke up one Sunday morning and the wife dressed for church. It was just about time for the service when she noticed her husband hadn’t moved a finger toward getting dressed. Perplexed, she asked, “Why aren’t you getting dressed for church?” He said, “Cause I don’t want to go.” She asked, “Do you have any reasons?” He said, “Yes, I have three good reasons. First the congregation is cold. Second, no one likes me. And third, I just don’t want to go.” The wife replied, wisely, “Well honey, I have three reasons why you should go. First the congregation is warm. Second, there are a few people there who like you. And third, you’re the pastor! So get dressed!”

Here are some sobering facts that may remind you to love the fact you have a job.

The number of Americans 16 years and older who did not participate in the labor force meaning they neither had a job nor actively sought one in the last four weeks--rose from 92,898,000 in February to 93,175,000 in March, according to data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

That is the first time the number of Americans out of the labor force has exceeded 93 million.

Also from February to March, the labor force participation rate dropped from 62.8 percent to 62.7 percent, matching a 37-year low.

Five times in the last twelve months, the participation rate has been as low as 62.8 percent; but March’s 62.7 percent, which matches the participation rate seen in September and December of 2014, is the lowest since February of 1978.

Consider this, God blesses work!

God created work! The first time you see God in the Bible He is working! I'm sure you've heard of creation!

The first thing He did with Adam was to put him to work tending Eden.

Have you ever thought of that?

That makes quite a statement about the importance and the sanctity of work!

Work is honorable so why not honor God through the work He has given you to do?

How will you honor Him in the workplace this week?

Also consider this, work blesses you!

There is a great deal of satisfaction and security in being able to provide for yourself and your family. 

When God put Adam to work in the Garden he blessed him and blessed the work he did.

I'm sure there are days your job seems more like a curse than a blessing but imagine life without a job.

Also consider, work allows you to bless others.

One of the most spiritual and godly things you can do after providing for your family is to help others in need.

We do that well at FredWes! We teach tithing and we honor stewardship. We see ourselves as pipelines of Gods blessings not buckets that hoard them.

Ronald Reagan was famous for saying, “The man who does what he loves will never work another day in his life”.

And if you don't get to do what you love, God can help you love what you do! 

DO YOU SEE YOUR JOB AS A BLESSING – OR A BURDEN?

September 2, 2015

"And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work He had done." Genesis 2:3

With our first look at God in the Bible we see Him working!

Have you ever thought of that?

That makes quite a statement about the importance and the sanctity of work!

When you have finished thinking about that think about this, with few exceptions you know the great heroes of the Bible because of the work they did.

Adam was a care-taker before he was careless.

Noah was a farmer who became a ship builder.

Joseph was a dreamer turned dream-reader turned prime minister.

Moses was a prince turned fugitive turned rancher turned deliverer turned tour-guide!

Rahab was a member of the oldest profession turned rescuer.

David was a shepherd who became a giant-killer and part-time musician who became a king.

Nehemiah was a wall-builder.

Peter was a fisherman. So were James, John and Andrew.

Matthew was a tax-collector. So was Lazarus.

Paul was a pharisee turned evangelist.

Jesus was a carpenter for maybe 18-20 years and a rabbi for only three years. (I'm REALLY thankful for those last three years!)

This represents a short list of Biblical characters who are identified in terms of the work they did.

Work is honorable so why not honor God through the work He has given you to do?

How will you honor Him in the workplace today?

September 1, 2015

"The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take car of it." Genesis 2:15

"So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals." Genesis 2:20

"His servants will serve Him." Revelation 22:3

According to the Department of Labor, the first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, according to the plans of New York's Central Labor Union. The second Labor Day followed a year later, on September 5, 1883. Labor Day wasn't part of a three-day weekend until 1884, when the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed by the Central Labor Union, who then urged other labor organizations in other cities to celebrate the holiday on the first Monday of September.

The first state to enact a bill that would eventually become law to celebrate Labor Day was Oregon on February 21, 1887. Other states jumped on the bandwagon, just a few at first, but more than half of the states adopted the holiday to honor America's workers by 1894. On June 28, 1984 the U.S. Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories. So the idea of a three-day Labor Day weekend was well in place across the U.S. over 100 years ago.

Am I the only one to find it ironic that we celebrate the American Labor Movement by taking a day off and not working?

I also find it interesting that work is God's idea while taking a day off of work to celebrate work is man's idea! Just another of the multitude of reasons He is God and you're not!

As we head into this week leading up to Labor Day how do you feel about your job? Do you enjoy working?

Would it help to know that God invented work, put together the first job description, made the first hire and supervised the job site?

And remember that this all took place in a the original paradise, the Garden of Eden!

We see in the Scripture verses above that work was the part of God's will for man at the very beginning of time and it will continue to be a significant part our responsibilities in Heaven! He made meaningful work for man and He made man for work!

So, if you find your boss testy, your job tedious and your co-workers trying it might help to remember Who created work!

And remember, praising Him is job one!

August 31, 2015

"One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”  Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him."  Luke 5:1-11

"After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him."   Luke 5:27-28

Continuing on the theme of the sanctity of work, I remind you that many of the significant servants of the Bible were called by God while they were busy working. The Scripture references above affirm that. Remember that Moses was tending sheep when he saw the burning bush. God often met with David as he was tending his sheep. The angels appeared to shepherds in the fields announcing the good news of Jesus' birth. And, Jesus Himself, had a job as a carpenter until He entered His final three years of life and ministry.

I came across this article by a researcher named Craig Galati that explains why God calls busy people:

There is an old adage, “if you want something done, ask a busy person.” It certainly seems true that busy people do get things done, but I wanted to know why. I decided to poll a few people I know who are very effective in their work to find out.

Before I describe my findings, I want to establish a common definition of what I mean by a busy person. For the purposes of this article, a busy person is one who is sought after for his specific specialty because he does it well. He is the one who always has something to do and he is the one everyone chooses to help them when a task needs to be accomplished. He is not the unorganized, multi-tasker who swoops in with a flurry of activity but never really accomplishes much beyond creating chaos. The busy person I refer to is a performer and, because of his ability, is busy. He works on important things, not just busywork!

With that said, here are my findings:

Busy people are organized. It didn’t come as a surprise to that the people with whom I spoke, those who were busy and accomplished, were also very organized. Although there were a few exceptions to this rule, in most cases these busy people knew what they were working on, how long it would take, what resources they needed, when they needed resources, and they had a path to follow including contingencies. They spent the time necessary to plan an appropriate course of action. At times, these people didn’t appear to be as busy as the person next to them with the overflowing desk, but their workload and accomplishments indicated otherwise.

Busy people delegate. One of the ways top performers get things done is through timely and appropriate delegation. They have mastered the art of what and to whom tasks should be delegated. They also are accomplished in keeping track of the delegated work and provide support to their team. This keeps them from putting their team members in a panic or crisis mode and eliminates the need for micromanaging. I was told that when delegating, it is important to keep in touch with what the entire team is working on and ensure that all involved are communicating effectively among themselves.

Busy people spend time planning. The busiest people with whom I spoke were also the calmest. It was explained to me that one is not nervous working a well-thought-out plan. Busy people spend the time it takes to develop a solid work plan. When I asked how they were able to find the extra time it takes to plan, I was told that it didn’t require additional time to plan. The time it takes to plan is more than offset by the more effective use of time executing the plan. The high performers also explained that without a well-thought-out plan, people begin working on tasks that may or may not be relevant to the overall goals of the project. The plan is the key. Spending the appropriate time planning will ensure that the work meets its objectives, that tasks are sequenced well, and time is use effectively.

Busy people are driven. The busy people with whom I spoke were all very successful. I already knew that; they didn’t need to tell me. In fact, the busy people acted with a cool confidence that clearly told me that they knew they were successful and didn’t need outside recognition of that fact. They are driven by a need to succeed and to do a great job, and internal satisfaction is their reward.

The conclusion I draw to the adage, “if you want something done, ask a busy person,” is that busy people get things done because they are organized, driven and the are effective delegators. Most importantly, busy people get things done because they plan their work well to ensure its success.

I know you work hard and stay busy, but will you be busy for Jesus?

August 30, 2015

"Love must be honest and true. Hate what is evil. Hold on to what is good. Love each other deeply. Honor others more than yourselves." Romans 12:9-10

"Love each other deeply" says the Scripture. The word that is used is the word for "brotherly love". Within the fellowship of the church you are to love others like family. The "phileo" type of love is the highest measure of love which human beings are capable of sharing. It refers to a genuine warm emotional feeling of fondness and familiarity. In other words, when you love a fellow Christian give it all you've got. Don't hold back.

Why should you not love your fellow believers like you love family? After all, you have the same Father. If you love God you certainly should love those in your church fellowship who also love God. You love them because God, your Father loves them. You love them deeply because they are spiritual family.

And why should you not love your fellow believers who not only share you Father, but also share your faith. Faith is a powerful force in the life of a believer. Faith is a set of beliefs about Who God is, how He operates, how He loves you and what He wants you to do and to become. A common system of beliefs and values can form a strong bond for friendship and fellowship among believers in a local church. Sharing strong beliefs at the core of your being with other believers is a strong uniting factor.

Also, when you worship and work together within the fellowship of a church you share the same focus. You want that fellowship to prosper and grow. The people and the pastors and the ministries of that church has inspired you and instructed you and invested in you over the years and it has become an important part of your life. Because you value that you value others who share your passion for the the health of that church. You are a team, you are members of the body who are working together to achieve shared goals. That is a strong common bond.

Love one another deeply as you would a brother or a sister. Live in unity and harmony with them. Share spiritual community as you worship together , serve each other and reach out to the needs in your city.

Having the same Father, the same faith and an identical focus are important factors in loving each other deeply (like brothers or sisters) within a local church fellowship. It is a powerful bond! It will bless you in your spirit and build you in your spiritual development!

Do you have a brotherly love for those who worship with you?

If not, why not?