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iWork4Him PowerThought

Jim & Martha Brangenberg

Prepping for work each day, chug your coffee and take a short swig of workplace inspiration with the iWork4Him PowerThoughts. Hosts Jim & Martha Brangenberg give you a 1-minute daily challenge to live out your faith at work. Each episode is designed to kick off your day with an idea you can put into practice as soon as you get to work. The iWork4Him PowerThoughts are focused on helping you to recognize that your workplace IS your mission field. Catch new episodes every Weekday.

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Friday · 1 min
Built for Community
Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, "A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." Are you a Christian standing alone in your work or professional life? Are YOU standing alone in OTHER areas of your life? What if you prayed and asked for a group that you could "do life and work" together with? We, as God's creation, were BUILT for community. IF you have no community, you may be operating out of God's will or slogging or surviving, vs. thriving. We challenge you today, to ask a trusted Christian friend, or to go online and search for a Christ-honoring community to be a part of.
Thursday · 1 min
Where Is Your Focus?
I think it's safe to say that the media focuses on, and provides negative news these days. Should we just take it, and keep feeding ourselves this negativity? How does this affect your work? Do you take it with you? What are you chatting with your co-workers about? And are you feeding the beast of "all that's wrong with world"? Or are you speaking life at work. We can, and should consciously choose what we WILL and WILL NOT listen to. Philippians 4:8 exhorts us: And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. We invite you today, to observe WHAT you speak at work, and shift it to glorifying God.
Wednesday · 1 min
Is Your Sabbath Holy?
For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. So how about you? Are you resting from your work? Are you taking a day off every week and keeping it holy? Are you honoring God with your business and keeping the Sabbath, not only for yourself, but for your employees and customers? Two of the giants in retail, Hobby Lobby and Chick-Fil-A are closed on Sunday, and their profits are up! The world says "you're crazy to close on Sunday", but God says differently. If you're working on Sunday, or asking your employees to, we challenge you to go to the Lord in prayer and ask Him "How can I honor you by keeping the Sabbath holy?"
Tuesday · 1 min
Our Obligation to Glorify God
I learned something new talking with a Physical Fitness company owner in Nashville. The only gift God has given us that we can control 100% is our body. What we eat, how we take care of it, what we feed it, if we are exercising it. Reminds me of Luke 11:36 Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you. Never thought of that. That we have an obligation to glorify God with our body, and that body is the vehicle that either enables us to work with excellence or not. What will YOU do today to ensure your body is primed to work in excellence unto the Lord?
October 26 · 1 min
The Fruit that Marriage Produces
What's your marriage got to do with your work? On the surface, nothing. But underneath, everything. Your home life always directly affects your mindset, your attention, attitude and perspective. When our marriage is unhappy, we are distracted, less productive, and typically less than 100%. Time invested in our spouse produces fruit. And that fruit sustains us and goes before us in every aspect of our family, life and work. Are you investing as much time and effort in your marriage as you are in your work? Rick Warren said: "The best use of life is love. The best expression of love is time. The best time to love is now."
October 23 · 1 min
Are You Generous?
Generosity. Is it an action, a state of the heart, or a mind-set? I heard recently that generosity is BEST when it includes all three and we compare it with IMPACT. Have you ever thought about your giving in this way? That your giving could possibly be leveraged for the highest impact for eternity? What if we all stopped and looked and prayed over the resources we have, and re-committed the 10% tithe of all our income, to MAXIMIZE impact for the Kingdom? Isaiah 32:8 says "But generous people plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity." What will you do today, to put on this new "eternal" mindset of generosity?
October 22 · 1 min
Serving Man or God's Kingdom?
Money. We all need it to live. Is your view of money healthy and in alignment with biblical principles? Is the WAY you use it serving man, or God and His Kingdom. 1 John 3:17 says If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God's love be in that person? How about your income? How about your company's revenue? Are you tithing from your corporate revenue stream? Have you ever considered it? We challenge you today, to pray about your personal and corporate tithing. And ask God HOW YOU should be using the income He's blessed YOU WITH to serve your fellow man, God and His Kingdom.
October 21 · 1 min
Disruption Over Comfort
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 people of faith, have been so silent. We are hiding our faith in the closet for fear of creating problems, of disruption or of retribution. We are putting our peace and comfort BEFORE our God. We are NOT called to comfort but to live as James 4:17 says: Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
October 20 · 1 min
Aligning Your Culture
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 your culture aligns with God's word and will? 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." What is ONE ACTION you will take THIS WEEK, to align YOUR CULTURE with God's will?
October 19 · 1 min
Where are your investments really going?
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 righteousness than great revenues with injustice." So, while you may be trying to steward your money well, you could actually be supporting businesses who work AGAINST everything you, and God, stand for! So, what can you do about it? Three words: Biblically. Responsible. Investing. Organizations like Inspire Investing can help you use your money to honor God and support companies whose values align with God's purposes. This week, take a look at where your money and investments are REALLY going.
October 16 · 1 min
Your Attitudes, Actions, and Words
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 our favorite verses here at iWork4Him: Colossians 3:23 – "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." You have a critical role in reaching pre-believers in your workplace for Christ! Your attitude, actions, and words all matter. You're not working for you or your boss. You're working for God! Transform your workplace by living out this life-changing truth!
October 15 · 1 min
Women Changing the World
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 woman of faith lived and worked their calling? How much different would our world, our nation, our state, our city, our community, our home, our workplace be? So how about you? Are you tired of being something other than what God created you to be? Visit us online to find resources to change your wonder-woman complex into your true calling.
October 14 · 1 min
What Does Your Platform Say?
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 such a time as this. That you would work for His glory, show His characteristics of caring, courage, diligence, fairness, integrity, respect, responsibility, and trustworthiness. So how about you? When they watch you work do, they see YOU, or do they see Christ?
October 13 · 1 min
A Faith and Work Philosophy
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 encouragement to YOUR co-workers? How about today, before stepping into work, you prayed this prayer: Father, purify my heart, that may I BE Christ to everyone I work with today. Use me Father, to be a source of light and encouragement to everyone I work with. In Jesus's name.
October 12 · 1 min
Child of God, Jesus' Friend, a New Creation!
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 am a child of God, I am Jesus' friend, I am a NEW creation, I am an heir with Christ, I am chosen, holy, and blameless before God and I have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.
October 9 · 1 min
The Key to Revolutionizing Your Work
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. As we finish this week talking about the power of prayer at work, my challenge to you is to start incorporating prayer into all of the minute parts of your life, especially when you're working. God wants to be involved in all of the details of our life. Talk to him today while you're writing emails, on the phone with others, in meetings, or even out to lunch. Involve him in every part of your work life and see the change that happens.
October 8 · 1 min
Your Corner of the World
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.
October 7 · 1 min
A Change for Your Heart
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 started seeing myself as a minister in my workplace. In addition to the demands of my new job, I started to serve my co-workers over and above what I was required to do. This selfless serving of others caused them to see that something was different about me. I started to see my faith relevant to my work. My paradigm was shifting, and my heart was encouraged. Who can you start praying for today? And then watch what God does to your heart.
October 6 · 1 min
God + Work = Kingdom
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 friend Bob sent me the Today God is First devotional from Os Hillman. For the first time, I learned that God loved my work and that my workplace was my mission field. I was floored. For years I had tried to go into full-time ministry in a church, but this devotional told me that I was already in ministry at my work. You are in your mission field at work. Let that sink in today.
October 5 · 1 min
Eternal and Earthly Success
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. If you 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?

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