
Hosted by Jim & Martha Brangenberg · EN

Do you need to be removed? Sometimes, we start something and think we are supposed to stay in it, lead it, and serve it. And, we stay IN IT…sometimes too long. We no longer seek the Lord's counsel about IF we should still BE where He placed us. Sometimes He just wants us to START something, sometimes He wants us to "help get it off the ground", NOT stay and lead it or serve it. Sometimes, the BEST thing we can do for the work He asked us to start is to leave. So how about you? Are you staying in some work or ministry too long? When's the last time you prayed about what God would have you do next? We invite you today, to take your work to the cross and ask "Lord where do you want me? And what would you have me do?"

Have you ever experienced a major upheaval in your business or work life? Something that looked like it was taking you in the opposite direction of where you were headed? Or was (you thought) the next logical step? It's highly possible that God is using this to move you to exactly where HE wants you to be. For HIS work, in HIS time, for THIS season. Let Romans 8:28 encourage you today, and we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. God is orchestrating it all, for His glory. This week, as you experience upheaval in your work life, why not turn to Romans 8:28? And even place a copy of it on your desk?

Life-work balance. How many of us have fallen for that myth and tried to make it happen? Only to fail over and over…a business coach we interviewed has a better concept. How about living an INTEGRATED LIFE? One that brings Christ into each aspect of our life and work, so that we are putting The Lord, not our futile "balance" efforts, first. So how about you? Are you ready to live ONE INTEGRATED LIFE, where you represent the Lord, you listen to the Lord, and let Him show you your priorities every day? Join us in this prayer: Father, today, I submit my day, my plans to you. Please show me YOUR PRIORITIES for my day. In Jesus's Name, Amen

As a business leader, if you turned your business over to God, what would that look like? What would be the result? Hundreds of business owners we've interviewed over the past eight years have done it. They say the result is a DEEP sense of peace vs. stress, pressure, and tension. And a new, deepening understanding of their role as a STEWARD of God's business, vs. "being the OWNER of it". What would it take for YOU to be ready to turn YOUR organization over to the Lord's ownership today? We invite you to place Christ in your org. chart as CEO, and commit right now, to shift your mindset from "OWNER to STEWARD".

Martha: Welcome to the iWork4Him Power thought for the day, we are Jim and Martha Brangenberg with iWork4Him Jim: When you woke up today did you find yourself celebrating the first day of the work week or did you find yourself dreading it? Martha: It seems that most of us suffer from TGIF syndrome instead of adopting the TGIM revolution. We need to start Thanking God its Monday. Jim: you see, God designed our work to have purpose and fulfillment. He also designed it so that He could work alongside us, bringing us His wisdom along the way. Martha: What is it going to take for you to switch from dreading Monday to celebrating it? Jim: If you are like me, it is going to take a Romans 12:2 Paradigm Shift. We have to stop copying the Behavior and Customs of this world and allow ourselves to be transformed and allow God to change the way we think. Martha: Every Day your work matters to God. Let's start celebrating Mondays. For more about the iWork4Him podcast, go to iWork4Him dot com. That's iWork the number 4 Him dot com.

Relationship. Relational. Is there any better word to describe Christianity that sets our "religion" apart from all others? Our faith is based solely on relationship. And is there any better model for us to follow? In our life, in our work? And the basis of this relationship model is LOVE. 1 Corinthians 13:1-2 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing. Are you a NOISY GONG in YOUR workplace? We invite you to SHIFT to LOVE in your workplace today.

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.

Per a 2015 Barna Group study, only 20 percent of Christian adults are involved in some sort of discipleship activity. And, less than one-quarter of Christian adults (23%) are currently being discipled by someone one-on-one. Discipleship in the context of work is known as "mentorship". How about YOU? Are you allowing someone to mentor you as a Christ follower in your work? And if you are a "seasoned" professional, Are YOU making it a priority to intentionally mentor a next generation co-worker? We encourage you to pray about mentorship this week and ask the Lord "Who would you like me to mentor Lord?" and "Would you provide a God-honoring mentor for me?"

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?

There is a word that defines the bible, defines Christ, and defines leadership. That word is LOVE. But isn't love seemingly contrary to business and how it operates? Or IS IT? Did you ever have a bad boss? What quality of work did you do for them? Did you ever have a great boss? One that got the absolute best work from you? What was the difference in those two bosses? I'll bet it was LOVE. Love that respects, listens, appreciates and builds up. 1 John 3:11 This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Said another way, control disconnects. Love connects. This connection (which is actually LOVE) translates to the bottom line. We invite you to pick ONE DAY AT WORK THIS WEEK, and TRY IT.