Week #29 Working for God

How can I have a better attitude at work? Does God care how I do my job?

READ: Ephesians 6:5-6

Every service we provide, even our professional tasks are to be considered work done directly for the Lord. In these verses in Ephesians, Paul used the terms "slaves and masters"--today's equivalent would be employees and bosses--to describe how we as Christians should labor.

The way we go about our work gives us an opportunity to show others what we think about God. If we produce excellent work, do it with a positive attitude, and show that we care about other people, we are able to model God's character and become a witness for Him. By doing our work well, we please God and it makes more of an impact on others than we realize.

Whatever job you may have right now was given to you by God. He put you in your job, not only to meet your financial needs, but also so that you might be a witness for Him by how you act and how hard you work. God is constantly preparing us for something more in the future, but He wants to see how we handle what He gives us now. Our jobs count as an opportunity for us from God. He has placed you where you are right now. Make the best of it. Be happy, work hard, praise and obey God.

"Everything we do that touches other lives either glorifies the Lord or diminishes His name in front of a watching world."

-Charles Stanley

Week #25 Story in an Email

THE BRICK

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared . Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown.

The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, 'What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?' The young boy was apologetic. 'Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do,' He pleaded. 'I threw the brick because no one else would stop...' With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. 'It's my brother' he said. 'He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up.'

Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, 'Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me.'

Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay. 'Thank you and may God bless you,' the grateful child told the stranger. Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home.

It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message: 'Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!'

God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's our choice to listen or not.

Thought for the Day:

If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.

If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.

He sends you flowers every spring.

He sends you a sunrise every morning Face it, friend - He is crazy about you!

God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.

Week #24 Scaredy Cat

What's wrong with being afraid?

READ: Mark 5:22-23, 35-36; Mark 6:49-50

Jesus tells us not to be afraid. Jesus knows that fear paralyzes us and keeps us from doing things that God wants us to do. Everything God has called us to do is not going to be easy. Some things require us to have courage and to trust God to take care of us.

Fear convinces us that we will fail, that we will let other people down, and that God will not help us when we need him to. Fear causes us not to think straight. We become overwhelmed with what other people are thinking and all the bad things that could possibly happen. We should not be concerned with these things.

We do not have to worry about what other people think of us, we only need to be concerned with what God thinks of us. God is in complete control of our lives. Nothing will happen to us that He doesn't already know about and He will not put anything on our plates that we are not able to handle with His help. When we become afraid, we should immediately turn our focus to God. Whether we fear having talk to a group of people, fear not being able to find a job, or fear not being able to pay a bill on time, we can focus on the image of God fighting by our side and our fear will fade.

Do not be afraid; for I am with you.

Isaiah 43:5a

Week #21 Be Passionate About Your Christian Life!

Is it okay to celebrate the Christian life and be enthusiastic about my faith? I always thought my faith was all so serious.

READ: Philippians 3:7-12; Psalm 103:2; Isaiah 49:13
The word passion means to have an intense desire towards something or someone. This can apply to many areas of our lives, but it should apply especially to our spiritual life. Sadly, this isn't always the case. We are passionate about our jobs, money, sports, and our possessions. But what about God? Where does He rank on our list of things we are passionate about? Is He even on the list?

As believers, we should passionately seek to know God. In order to be passionate about someone, you have to get to know them. Today, many Christians "know" Christ in a superficial way. We know that He is the world's Savior, that He was the virgin-born Son of God, and that He died on the cross (accepting death in our place) and rose after three days to sit at the right hand of God. Those are the facts that we all know (even non-Christians "know" these things), but just knowing these will not bring lasting satisfaction. We want to know Who is this Jesus that willingly died and why did He give His life? To find these answers we have to seek an intimate relationship with Christ and gain a true knowledge of Christ.

The Lord wants us to be passionate about our relationship with Him. In order for our relationships with Him to grow, we have to read our Bibles, pray with Him, and walk in His light. Jesus wants us to serve Him enthusiastically, joyfully, and with a great sense of delight. We should celebrate because God has given us the biggest reason to celebrate...He has rescued us from the consequences of sin and He promises us the wonders of eternity!

Celebrate and enjoy every moment of life! Be passionate about the gift God has given you, the many blessings He provides each and every day, and the chance He has given each of us to have an intimate relationship with Him! Our passion and enthusiasm will be infectious!