WorkMatters is hosting three sites this year, two in northwest Arkansas and one at WorkMatters Marietta (GA). Over 2,200 leaders will participate in our WorkMatters Leadercasts! We are so excited and so blessed to be used by God in this powerful way to help build more purposeful leaders. And, we are grateful to be able to partner with such a humble and excellent organization as GiANT Impact, who delivers the Leadercast. Here is Sam’s message:

I wanted to let you know how grateful we have been for the prayers all of you have offered over these past couple of weeks.  It is such a comfort to know that others are lifting us up in prayer during this  busy time. 

It’s  hard to believe that all these months of work will come together tomorrow.  We have exceeded last year’s ticket sales now in Rogers, Ar and have surpassed our goal for ticket sales in your first year of hosting the Leadercast in Fayetteville, Ar.  We have more volunteers (100) than ever before serving and have had incredible Leadership teams helping us in so many ways.  It’s good to pause for just a moment in the middle of the crazy busy details of the Leadercast and reflect on all that God has allowed us to accomplish.

WorkMatters has a location in Marietta, Georgia as well that is hosting the Leadercast.  They have blown the roof off their goals as well and are now “standing room only” with well over 500 in attendance.  Praise God!!

If you would just continue to pray today for all the many details to come together for all locations, especially for our brand new location in Fayetteville and our friends in Marietta, Ga we would be grateful.  Please pray that some will experience life change and will draw closer to the Father as a result of attending tomorrow.

We are very excited about tomorrow and truly looking forward to a great day!

As I enter this new week, I find that I have many competing priorities and most of them feel like they need to get done immediately.  There are times when it seems that it all needs to get done, but often times I get lost in trying to make the decision of what to do first.  (Guess I need to read Steven Covey’s “First Things First” again…).   Yes, I know that I need to focus on the most important things and not necessarily just what seems most urgent.  I sometimes however,  need help knowing which is which because that often changes from week to week.

Our Lord is once again waiting and wondering why I don’t just ask Him about it.   He sees the big picture as opposed to our perspective of not even seeing the next step and will most willingly be our guide if we would just submit to his leadership.   Our plans should be His plans, therefore, we are most likely out of step with His will if we don’t seek Him in regards to our priorities.

Hopefully you will take some time today at the beginning of another super busy work week and step back to ask for His direction and for His clarity.  As the day/week progresses this constant seeking of guidance will make a huge difference in how you get it all done this week.  You will most likely look back at the end of the week and see that somehow you accomplished much more than you thought you would AND you will realize where your help came from.

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.  Luke 12:31

As I observed many of these people trying to get out of here yesterday, it made me think about the challenges that go with jobs requiring constant business travel.  I know this may be fun or exciting for some, especially at the beginning, but most report this wears off quickly and they would love to be able to stay home.  The constant travel hassles, hotel life and being away from friends and family really take their toll over time.  Often times we find ourselves in uncomfortable situations with constant temptation to let down our guard when traveling.  I have talked to several over the years that gave in to those temptations and ended up terribly regretting what it cost them.

Most of you probably know someone who headed out on the road yesterday or this morning.  Pray for these co-workers and for the situations they may encounter this week.  It would probably be a tremendous encouragement to them if you texted or emailed them a note letting them know that they are in your prayers today.  Most likely they never got a message like that and it may be just what they need to get through another business trip this week.

I have experienced this feeling so many times in my life and work that I think I have allowed myself to be deceived into almost thinking that if  I am NOT feeling this way, then I must not be DOING enough.  What a crock!  Jesus does not want us to live perpetually in this state which is entirely inconsistent with the teachings of the Prince of PEACE.

The only way I have found my way out of this state is giving up the illusion that I am in control of hardly anything.  Only through prayer am I able to mysteriously let go of the worry and anxiety that so often accompanies these times of feeling overwhelmed.  I don’t really understand how it works, I just KNOW that it does.

If you are feeling overwhelmed at work today, stop for a moment and give it to Jesus.  Lay it in His hands and he will gladly accept it and you will not only experience a sense of relief, but often times you will experience insight and new directions that, if you will be honest, you know could only have come from the Lord.

I love how Philippians 4:6-7 is stated in The Message.  It says, “Don’t fret or worry.  Instead of worrying, pray…….Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good will come and settle you down.  It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry as the center of your life.

When I was employed out in the marketplace more where most of you are, it certainly was not something that was routinely done.  I was fortunate enough however, to work with a couple of Christian bosses along the way that included me in some early morning, before work prayer times.   Every couple of weeks we would get to the office early, before most others arrived, we would close the door to his office or conference room and spend thirty minutes or so together praying for our work.  It was such a blessing and even though things did not always go our way, it just felt good to pray about them.  There is no doubt in my mind that God wired us in such a way that when pray, we are doing one of the things we were designed to do.  That is why it always feels like the right thing to do.

Maybe you could find a few like minded people at work and commit to starting the work week off in prayer.  If not, you can at least be more intentional about praying for your meetings, for the people God will allow to cross your path as well as other work matters.

Let me encourage those who are in positions of leadership to organize opportunities from time to time for your team to pray together.  It can be a tremendous opportunity for growth and blessings for all concerned.

Paul taught us in Ephesians 6:18 to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayer and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always praying.”

“All occasions” sounds to me like it could include those occasions when I am at work!

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

This month we are focusing on the first and most important of the Seven Pillars of Faith at Work – RELATIONSHIP. Here are seven simple “how to” tips to help you be successful in abiding with God at work:

1. Morning bible reading and prayer - include your work!
2. Wear a wrist band as a reminder to “think God.”
3. Meet weekly with trusted co-workers to discuss/pray for your work.
4. Ask God for his peace in your work.  Start watching for it.
5. Crazy but…the privacy of the bathroom makes an awesome prayer room.
6. Over lunch one day, fast and serve in a food kitchen or homeless shelter.
7. Be intentional with the Seven Pillars of Faith at Work.

What suggestions do you have?

One of the great leaders of the Bible was exceptionally good at inquiring of God before he made big decisions. And God so often directed Joshua’s path. But in Joshua 9:14, we learn that in one instance they did not “inquire of the Lord”. And it cost them. They were tricked into signing a treaty with neighbors against God’s directions.

Some suggestions:

1. Read this story of Joshua 9:14.
2. Begin praying in the morning for the “major” decisions you face each day.
3. Write it in your journal.
4. See what God does.

It may feel like you are slowing down in making big decisions, but if you get it right do you care?

The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord.   Joshua 9:14

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.

Have you ever considered that almost every workplace has a prayer room?         I missed this one. Dan talked about the importance of prayer in bridging the gap between his faith and his work. Once, two hours before a deadly storm was to hit the region (he knew it was coming), he went into the bathroom to pray for his community!

Think about it…if you ever have an issue you are struggling with at work and need to have some focused time of prayer, what a perfect place the bathroom stall could be.

So the next time you need some focused prayer time…get stalled @ work!

Listen to Dan’s message…