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Archive for the ‘Marriage’ Category

Five Realities of a New Job

Posted in Balance, Calling, Faith and Work, God, Job Search, Marriage, Relationships, Stress, tagged , , , , , on February 20, 2013 | 2 Comments »

How long has it been since you started a new job? Before you make that big move to the next thing you feel “called to”, let’s consider a few simple truths.

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I was reminded of this when a young professional friend who I co-lead a Leadership@Work Nehemiah Study with, started a new job on Tuesday. Josh Richardson moved from a global corporation serving Wal-Mart, to a super cool, high growth small company, also serving Wal-Mart. Talk about a 180. Here was his tweet yesterday: Day 1 at the new job was amazing – better than I could have ever imagined. Praise God for his sovereign timing, purpose, and design!

Josh’s experience reminded me of the sometimes bitter sweet experience of changing jobs. Here are a few simple ideas to consider:

  1. Commit to a six month increase in work life focus – before you say yes to the new gig that you are so excited about, make sure you deal with this reality. Your work life WILL need more focus and time. This is especially critical if you are married and/or have children.
  2. Finish strong where you are – in both execution and relationships.
  3. Enjoy powerful growth with God - because He makes things  ”brand new” (Isaiah 48:7) in a new job, fear and anxiety can be very real. It’s a perfect season to sit daily in His lap.
  4. Be hyper focused – focus with intensity to build new relationships, learn the business,  and find small opportunities to add value to the business.
  5. Enjoy the new adventure - it will be stressful, but it will also be an exciting adventure of personal, spiritual and relational growth!

Have fun,

David

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2013…Living Life on Purpose

Posted in Faith and Work, Faith at work, Family, Goals, Marriage, Parenting, Purpose, tagged , , , , on January 1, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

Did you look back at 2012 yesterday?

As I wrote down some thoughts and graded myself (yes, I am that analytical) on my faith, marriage, children, work, etc., it beautifully prepared me for 2013. Just as a business forecast comes from historical data, so can the forecast for our lives in 2013!

2013 year beginning blog post

Let’s keep this simple today. I have shared in the past these basic ideas to help you shape your 2013 to live with more purpose. Let me encourage you to block some time, find a quiet place, buy yourself a cup of coffee (or other stimulus), and just think and listen. Write down what comes to you.

If you are a person that needs some structure, try this on for 2013:

  • Purpose – a simple statement that describes your focus for the year.
  • Word – one word that  summarizes your purpose.
  • Verse – a single Bible verse that supports your purpose.
  • Goals – this can be as short (4-5 goals) or as long (family, work, financial, serving) as you wish.
  • Book – this is a freebee…go to Amazon and buy a book that you really need to read. Here’s mine.

I pray that your 2013 focus will intentionally include closing the gap between your work and your faith. That’s WorkMatters purpose and passion for your life!

Let’s do this,

David

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2012…Are You Looking Back?

Posted in Faith, Faith and Work, Faith at work, Family, Goals, Gratitude, Marriage, Parenting, Planning, tagged , , , , , , , on December 31, 2012 | 2 Comments »

Wherever you are around the world, today is a unique day. Every one of us are living the final day of 2012. Will you treat it like any other day?

I have always believed strongly in using the end of the calendar year as an opportunity to both reflect and project. The Bible tells us that “God will call the past to account“ (Ecclesiastes 3:15 NIV). Knowing that God will be “reflecting”, don’t you think  we should, as well?

2012 yearend blog post

Think about your faith, your family, yourself.

What were the highlights, the memories, the markers that altered your life? Did you check an item off of your bucket list?

What were the lowlights, the things you are still struggling with, the things that were so bad but you are now seeing some good?

How did you grow in your faith? What did you intentionally do to make that happen? Did you get more or less involved in a church? Did you read the Bible? Pray? Did you spend time with other men or women sitting in a circle growing?

How about your work? Did you catch a new vision for why your work matters? Did you begin to close the gap that exists between your faith and your work? Did you take a step towards God …attend an event, read a book or a blog, participate in a biblical leadership study?

Let’s stop right there. This is not a guilt trip session. This is a time for honest reflection on both the incredible blessings of 2012, as well as the struggles and missed opportunities of 2012. We can see our God in both of them as we learn from the past to prepare us for the future!

2013 can be a fresh start. It’s a new opportunity. We’ll talk more about that tomorrow. For today, make sure that you invest some time learning from 2012. It will bless you in ways you never imagined.

Closing the gap,

David

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5 Things to Consider While Locked in a Stairwell

Posted in Adversity, Jesus, Marriage, Prayer, Relationships, Time, tagged , , , , , , on September 8, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

Being locked in a stairwell was not on my list of things to do this morning. As I sat on those cold concrete steps, God taught me a few lessons I thought worthy of sharing with you.

  1. Be thankful you stopped at Starbucks first.
  2. Be thankful you didn’t leave your phone next to your keys.
  3. Be thankful your wife has a sense of humor.

Seriously,

  1. Slow down! I am always thinking, always moving forward. What am I missing?
  2. Why am I where I am right now? Beyond the obvious stupidity answer, the stairwell has reminded me that God allows things to happen in my life to get my attention.
  3. Quiet time! Ironically, the reason I am locked in a stairwell at work is because I came here to deliver a book to a business leader I met with yesterday. Title of the book? “Quiet Time”! We need to find a quiet place (like a concrete stairwell) to talk and listen to Jesus.
  4. Who are my 2? When I got locked in the stairwell, my first phone call was to my awesome wife. But who would my second call go to? Who is the brother (ladies … sister) who I have developed a relationship with, who I have invested time with, who I can share the real me with … that I would call to save me from my stupidity?
  5. Did I mention slow down?

“But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”   Matthew 6:33

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Vacation – 7 Ways to Live, Love and Learn

Posted in Balance, Faith and Work, Family, Friendship, Marriage, Parenting, Prayer, Purpose, Travel, tagged , , , , , , , , , on July 16, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

This morning is day one following an incredible beach vacation with my my wife, Theresa and our two sons Dylan (18) and Tyler (13). Beach vacations are just different, aren’t they? So much more relaxing and introspective than other trips you may go on that are full of activity. I’m wired more for the later, but I realized this past week, that regardless of where you go, we must use this time purposefully. The busyness of life, the pressures of work demand this time to regenerate!

There is no secret formula for a purpose driven vacation (sounds like work already, doesn’t it!). But here are a few suggestions for you to consider:

  1. Marriage – if you are married, find ways to spend time together. A walk on the beach. A bike ride. Help with the grocery store haul.
  2. Children – regardless of age, what a special time to laugh, to play, to explore, to challenge, to talk.
  3. Read – pick two good books to read. I read two fantastic books that I highly recommend. The first, Lead…For God’s Sake, I listened to on the long drive to Florida when my family was sleeping or otherwise “plugged in”. The second, Love Works, I read early in the morning or on the beach.
  4. God – what an incredible time to get up early and pray and read the Bible. It is an especially good time to just listen. What are you hearing about your marriage, your children, your friends, your work?
  5. Body – this may be counterintuitive for some, but I love exercising on vacation. Maybe it’s a long run, or a hike, or a bike ride. It’s a time that your mind is more open and free to listen and think and smile.
  6. Ideas – I find that when I am mixing in all of the above, God seems to open my mind to fresh ideas and perspectives.
  7. Rest – doing all of these things can’t create busyness and stress. Just the opposite is true. Relax. Take a deep breath. Feel the joy of creation and the blessings of your life!
We lead active, fast paced lives. May God bless you richly with some time to rest and connect with family, friends, and the one that created us.

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Are You Courageous at Home and Work?

Posted in Culture, Faith, Family, Friendship, Influence, Integrity, Jesus, Job Search, Marriage, Money, Parenting, Prayer, Trust, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 6, 2011 | 1 Comment »

Yesterday was the 20th anniversary of one of the most important days of my life. On October 5, 1991, Theresa and I said “I do and I will”!

In honor of that day 20 years ago, we spent the entire day together just having fun. We reflected on the past 20 years. We looked at old pictures, we told stories, we laughed, we questioned why on a few things that have happened in our lives. We shared two fabulous meals. We visited the site of the soon to open world renowned Crystal Bridges Museum.

And then we went to the movies. But this was not just any movie. This was a movie about life. About the very fabric of why we are here. About our marriages, our children, our work, and our faith. About being COURAGEOUS in living with great purpose in each of those arenas of life.

You may be familiar with the organization that also brought us the movies Fireproof and Facing the Giants. These are powerful examples of using media to impact our culture in positive ways.

For men and women, but especially Dad’s, take the time this weekend to see this movie. I find it impossible to believe that your life at home and at work will not be profoundly impacted.

Proverbs 22:6

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Watching the Game Film

Posted in Encouragement, Faith, God, Jesus, Marriage on August 31, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

What would happen if your work today was captured on video? I’m talking every minute…all day long. Every conversation. Every decision. Every action. Every reaction. Every thought (are you kidding me?)… all captured on video. Then tomorrow, we sit down together and watch the game film!

Monday night, I attended an incredible event…Raise the Bar Rally in northwest Arkansas. The organizing team, led by ESPN’s Jimmy Dykes, were praying for 700 men to come to a night of hope, challenge and change.

1,400 showed up! Four men shared personal real life stories that were as real and painful and direct as you can imagine. In addition, several current and former University of Arkansas coaches and athletes shared challenges via video.

Of all of the impactful words spoken, Jimmy Dykes shared one that really stuck with me. Watching the game film. He talked about how painful it is to see the mistakes you made and to see how you can get better. But that wasn’t the challenge. The challenge was “what are you going to do about it?” You have to act to get better!

Can you take some time this week to get quiet…and watch your game film? Where do you need to raise the bar? Write it down. Pray about it. Ask God for the wisdom to know what to do…and the courage to do it!

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”   James 1:22

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Work and Marriage

Posted in Family, Marriage on May 24, 2011 | 1 Comment »

We are constantly teaching and equipping on why and how we can and should live our faith in our work. Most of the time, it is very work centric. However, we must constantly remind ourselves that all elements of our lives are integrated and connected.

That is especially true of our work and our marriage. If you stop and think about it, work has almost every element you can think of to damage your marriage:

  1. Long hours
  2. Pressure to deliver
  3. Pride from success
  4. Close working relationships with the opposite sex
  5. Heavy travel  (freedom to…)

We can talk work related affairs, work as our God (really?), work to gain respect and admiration … you can fill in the blanks.

We have to be intentional about this subject. If we just let gravity happen, the world will pull us down. We have to take our marriage to work with us. And then we have to take our marriage home with us.

Let me share a great resource with you today that can help you. Michael Hyatt, Chairman of Thomas Nelson Publishers, writes a killer blog. Read what he says about WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO PROTECT YOUR MARRIAGE?

Lord, today, give us a fresh perspective on how our work and our marriage dramatically affect each other. Challenge us to make some changes to strengthen both. Amen…

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1 + 1 = 2

Posted in Balance, Bible, Faith and Work, Family, Marriage, Prayer on March 16, 2011 | 4 Comments »

We get so strung out with the incredible pace of our lives. I am living through that right now. I just got off the phone with a business leader expressing the same anxieties and frustrations.

Our work is demanding and full of pressures. We strive to be the best husbands and wives possible. Many of us have children who we deeply desire to spend time with. Some of us serve, but so often that gets back-burnered. Some make church a priority, others fit it in if possible (try having a child involved in competitive sports). And the list goes on.

Do you need help?

Last month we had a powerful message on Legacy at our Eight to Five marketplace ministry. Mark Saviers, partner in Sage Partners, took us back to the basics. It was so refreshing. (Listen to Mark’s message)

1 + 1 = 2 … it is a simple, predictable equation.

If we wake up, work out (or not), eat breakfast, and run out the door … we will have a fairly predictable outcome.

What if we added one element to that equation… a few minutes of time alone with our Father … again, I believe we will have a fairly predictable outcome.

One will yield a day spent grinding. The other a day spent grounded.

After Mark’s message, he handed me a simple booklet (50 pages) that is a powerful tool for helping us get back to the basics of a quiet time with God. It is appropriately titled, Quiet Time, by Bill Smith. You can call 501-224-3238 to order a copy (only $5).

I need 1 + 1 = 2 in my life. I need to be grounded so that I have a fighting chance to reflect Christ in my life, especially at work.

Do you?

Pick up the book…see if some quiet time spent each day reading the Bible and praying and listening will help you find 1 + 1 = 2.

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A Faith and Work Model That “Works”

Posted in Faith and Work, Marriage on February 1, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

I am frequently asked for faith and work “models” for businesses. There is no one-size-fits-all model. In my view, Chick-fil-A is a company that gets it. It’s one of the reasons we are proud that they are the national sponsor of the 2011 Leadercast in May. We are making no WorkMatters statement here regarding the homosexual issue, but rather lifting up a powerful example of a business striving to do business as Jesus instructed us to. What do you think?

Chick-fil-A president addresses discrimination reports

MeatPoultry.com. Jan. 31, 2011

ATLANTA – Dan Cathy, president and COO of Chick-fil-A, addressed what he considered misleading media stories about the company’s stance on homosexuality, by issuing a statement.

“I feel strongly about the need to clarify some things,” he said. “In recent weeks, we have been accused of being anti-gay. We have no agenda against anyone. At the heart and soul of our company, we are a family business that serves and values all people regardless of their beliefs or opinions. We seek to treat everyone with honor, dignity and respect, and believe in the importance of loving your neighbor as yourself.

“We also believe in the need for civility in dialogue with others who may have different beliefs,” he added. “While my family and I believe in the Biblical definition of marriage, we love and respect anyone who disagrees.”
Chick-fil-A has a long history of trying to encourage and strengthen marriages and families, he continued, both within the Chick-fil-A system and with its customers.

“My father and our founder/CEO, Truett Cathy, is a role model for the Cathy family and all those who have joined Chick-fil-A,” Cathy said. “His personal and business values have always reflected a belief in the importance of marriage and family. We have seen these principles honored powerfully in Dad’s marriage of more than 63 years to our mother, Jeannette, and those of his family, including my wife, Rhonda, and me in our 37 years of marriage.

“At Chick-fil-A, we have a heart for helping marriages because we know marriage can be difficult at times,” Cathy said. “Through the years, we have supported our Chick-fil-A staff and franchised Operators in their marriage journey, and since the formation of our family foundation, the WinShape Foundation, we have helped others as well. Primarily through WinShape, we have supported summer camps for girls and boys, 14 foster homes, more than $26 million in college scholarships and the development and operation of the WinShape Marriage Retreat Center.”

Some recent coverage has incorrectly reported that the company requires potential franchisees to discuss their church involvement, Cathy said. “In addition, we do not require this in our franchisee selection process nor do we require a pledge to follow Christian values for the college scholarships we provide,” he added.

“Chick-fil-A’s corporate purpose is ‘To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us, and to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A,’” Cathy continued. “As a result, we will not champion any political agendas on marriage and family. This decision has been made, and we understand the importance of it. At the same time, we will continue to offer resources to strengthen marriages and families. To do anything different would be inconsistent with our purpose and belief in Biblical principles.”


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