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

          If that is our perspective, we are surrendering half of our lives                     to the landfill. 

One of our WorkMatters Seven Pillars of Faith at Work  is CALLING. This is the idea of aligning our God-given gifts and skills and passions with our work. But why should we care? How about this:

1. We spend half our lives working. Shouldn’t it have purpose and meaning?
2. Work is hard. Many of us are dissatisfied and frustrated.
3. God cares about our work!

Let’s clarify what Calling is. As human beings, we are called into a personal relationship with Jesus. Then as believers, He calls us all to “go and make disciples of all nations”. This is a universal Calling which applies equally to all of us.

But, we have a 2nd Calling…to do the work that God created us to do! In Jeremiah 1:5, God said, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

God has a job for us to do!

The question is, will we invest the time and effort to better understand our calling? Most people don’t. They are essentially stagnant until they feel forced to make a move or they are reactive to a phone call. We need to be proactive in understanding who we are, what our skills are and what brings us joy.

Seven Ideas to Discover Your Calling

1. Intimate relationship with God: pray, listen, wait, obey
2. Learn who you are
3. Step out of your comfort zone
4. Determine the difference between a great idea…and an assignment from God
5. Seek counsel
6. Beware of your Enemy
7. When its time…be courageous!

This should get you started. Don’t wait until you are forced to consider your calling. Invest some time now. Stay true to your current work. God has you there. Do it with Excellence. But spend some time on these seven ideas. It will change your life!

It has been an indescribable eight years at WorkMatters. Everything about it has been new. Everything about it has stretched me. Everything about it has tested and pushed my faith.

It is such a joy to reread some of my journal notes early this morning from September and October of 2003. To reflect, just for a moment, on this day eight years ago.

What about you? What are the markers in your life? Do you write them down? Put them on your calendar as recurring every year? This is more than birthday’s and anniversary’s. These are life changing moments.

If the answer is yes, take the time to meditate on those days when they arrive. Some are incredibly exciting, some are heartbreaking. All are a major part of your life, who you are, how God is moving you closer to Him.

If the answer is no, maybe now is the time to get started. Think back about your life markers. Put them on your calendar. Maybe it’s time to buy a journal. Keep it with you. Jot down the moments worth remembering. Use it to see what God is doing in your life.

Last…thank you, thank you, thank you for being a part (large or small) of this WorkMatters marker in my life. It has been an extraordinary blessing to be used by God in the marketplace!

For Him@Work,

David

⁵ Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.

⁶ Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.

⁷ Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,

⁸ because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.

⁹ And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

Ephesians 6:5-9

Welcome to 2011! Unless you are a Razorback fan in New Orleans for tomorrow night’s Sugar Bowl, you are likely at work today with a new year and new priorities staring you in the face.

It has always been important to me to reflect on the year past and to pray about the year ahead. We need to slow down long enough to count our blessings and learn from our mistakes…and to look ahead to see how we can live our life with more purpose. If you haven’t already, let me encourage you to block some time (maybe this weekend?), 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 2011:

• Verse – a single Bible verse or quote that frames up your theme for the year.
• Word – a simple word that you can easily remember that provides focus.
• Purpose – a statement that describes your focus for the year.
• Goals – this can be as short (4-5 goals) or as long (family, work, financial, social, serving goals) as you wish.
• Book – this is a freebee…go to Amazon or Barnes & Noble and buy a book that you really need to read.

I pray that your 2011 focus will very intentionally include your faith and how you can choose to be the same person at work that your are in your personal life!

To a defining year,

David

P.S. Thank you for praying for us and with us over the past 60 days! As soon as we close the financial book on 2010 we will share with you what God did! 2010 was an extraordinary year at WorkMatters. And our Board and Staff are more excited about 2011 than any year of our seven years of serving you in the  marketplace (more on that tomorrow).

You may not read the book of Amos very often. I know I don’t. But Amos, as a simple Shepherd, became a channel for God’s message to others.

Your job may not make you feel all that spiritual. You may or may not be “successful”. But if you are in the place God wants you at work, how powerful that can be! God can work through you to do extraordinary things, no matter how ordinary your job may feel.

“The words of Amos, one of the shepherds…” Amos 1:1

Our vision is memorable and portable. For six years we have been focused on “bridging the gap between faith and work“. Our passion is for solving the enormous problem of the Sunday Christian in our culture today. I know, I was the poster child for twenty years. Our churches and our workplaces are filled with men and women who have some (or a lot) faith, but for a million different reasons, don’t live it Monday through Friday.

Our purpose, is to stand in this enormous gap in northwest Arkansas and the world. And our ultimate purpose is to help you grow deeper and stronger in your relationship with Christ through the lens of the workplace.

“For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. ⁴ They will reject the truth and chase after myths. ⁵ But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.”   2Timothy 4:3-5  (New Living Translation)

Father, what an awesome charge this is for our lives and for this WorkMatters ministry. Help each of us bridge this difficult gap between our faith and our work. Help each of us carry out the ministry you have given us!  Amen