Sometimes we get really complacent in our lives and our jobs. Then all of a sudden, something happens that is out of the ordinary and we realize that we’ve been in a rut…a long-term, comfortable rut. Ruts are good but only if we continue to grow while we’re in them! But most folks reach a point where their growth rate maybe doesn’t stop altogether, but it sure slows down to a grinding crawl.
Habits are the instruments that enable us to stay in our ruts. Kind of like the gauges on our cars that let us know when we’re running low on fuel, our battery is wearing down or we’re due for routine maintenance; our habits tell us when we’re out of our comfort zone. Our habits guard us from facing issues we don’t want to face and protect us from “personal space” invasion.
So when change hits us squarely in the head, we look up, wonder what happened, and then are often forced to change our habits to accommodate that change. Hmmm…growth happens. Especially for those of us who are Christians; we establish set times for fellowship with the Father and the time is interrupted; we watch our favorite ministry on TV but the channel gets changed to a sitcom; we want to eat a quiet meal after church but there are folks coming and going. Do we complain? Do we get offended? Or do we change. Yup. We change. We prayerfully go to the Father and cast (literally throw) all of our cares upon Him and ask Him for the grace to go on. Then what happens? We receive the grace to go on.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
Power & Authority
How many times have your prayers gone unanswered? Are you tired of banging your head against a spiritual wall? Are you tired of begging God to do something that never seems to materialize? Of course you are!
Well, I’ve got some good news for you! You’ve been “praying” wrong! (That’s good news?) God does not respond to begging. He responds to prayer that’s accomplished in accordance with His will (and that means procedurally, the way He has told us to pray). For example, the Bible tells us that “by His stripes you are healed” so then how can you ASK for healing? He won’t send Jesus to the cross again to be beaten for you or your loved one. The Bible also teaches us that we can have “confidence” that God hears and answers our every prayer, so how can you ASK Him to listen and ASK Him to answer? He has already said He will…don’t you believe Him?
So if you really want your prayers answered (and who doesn’t?), take the time to learn what your position is in Christ Jesus and what authority He has given you. Then learn what has happened in the heavenlies to give power to that authority. Never give up on God and never give up on yourself. Remember, He will never leave you nor forsake you, He will supply all your need, He will heal you, He will love you…always.
Well, I’ve got some good news for you! You’ve been “praying” wrong! (That’s good news?) God does not respond to begging. He responds to prayer that’s accomplished in accordance with His will (and that means procedurally, the way He has told us to pray). For example, the Bible tells us that “by His stripes you are healed” so then how can you ASK for healing? He won’t send Jesus to the cross again to be beaten for you or your loved one. The Bible also teaches us that we can have “confidence” that God hears and answers our every prayer, so how can you ASK Him to listen and ASK Him to answer? He has already said He will…don’t you believe Him?
So if you really want your prayers answered (and who doesn’t?), take the time to learn what your position is in Christ Jesus and what authority He has given you. Then learn what has happened in the heavenlies to give power to that authority. Never give up on God and never give up on yourself. Remember, He will never leave you nor forsake you, He will supply all your need, He will heal you, He will love you…always.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Are You a Leader?
Can you hear that little voice inside your head telling you that you’re special? That you’re more than you seem to be? That you’re a natural leader? But somehow what’s going on in your life doesn’t align with what’s going on in your head!
The biggest barriers to leadership are your own thoughts! All the while your head is telling you you’re special, it’s also telling you that you’re nuts to think you can be more than you are. Face it, we all have voices in our heads. It’s what we choose to do in response to those voices that determines the direction of our lives.
In business, the way you think drives your career, drives the way you handle employees, and drives how customers react to you. But you and you alone are in control of the way you think. You alone have control over your thoughts.
As a Christian, you’ve heard about the whole “spiritual warfare” thing. But let me tell you, the warfare is always a battle for your mind! Take the time you need to learn the Scriptures and how they apply to your particular situation. That way when your mind is under attack, you can fight back with the Sword of the Spirit, which is the living Word of God.
The biggest barriers to leadership are your own thoughts! All the while your head is telling you you’re special, it’s also telling you that you’re nuts to think you can be more than you are. Face it, we all have voices in our heads. It’s what we choose to do in response to those voices that determines the direction of our lives.
In business, the way you think drives your career, drives the way you handle employees, and drives how customers react to you. But you and you alone are in control of the way you think. You alone have control over your thoughts.
As a Christian, you’ve heard about the whole “spiritual warfare” thing. But let me tell you, the warfare is always a battle for your mind! Take the time you need to learn the Scriptures and how they apply to your particular situation. That way when your mind is under attack, you can fight back with the Sword of the Spirit, which is the living Word of God.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Business & Workplace Ethics
Everyone who is anyone has something to say about ethics: that we’ve all heard the term, that we all need ethics, that many people don’t have personal ethics, that businesses certainly don’t have ethics, that schools should teach more ethics, that businesses should do more employee training on ethics, that it’s not the same world it used to be…and on and on and on. But virtually no one talks about what ethics really are and what steps an organization can take to create an ethical workplace.
Workplace ethics are more than just doing what’s right. However, it is NOT religion even though some people are threatened because they think it’s “preachy” and it’s NOT shallow and unnecessary because of its simple message of “do what’s right.” The old saying that “there are two sides to every story” is what workplace ethics is all about. Real life doesn’t always present black and white choices; there are many grey areas that can demand answers that we are not prepared for.
Workplace ethics are a vital part of American culture. It wasn’t too many years ago that children worked in smoke-filled factories 16 hours a day; safety was non-existent and the maiming and deaths of workers were a matter of course; there was unethical price fixing; sexual harassment; physical abuse; ridiculous discriminatory hiring practices; and unfair wages. Americans demanded better…and we got it! Not without effort, not without struggle, but through perseverance and the knowledge that an ethical workplace is a better workplace.
Power In The Workplace has created a workshop that’s easy to follow, has lots of practical steps to take, but more importantly, will provide you with a process you can implement almost immediately. Contact us for more info!
Workplace ethics are more than just doing what’s right. However, it is NOT religion even though some people are threatened because they think it’s “preachy” and it’s NOT shallow and unnecessary because of its simple message of “do what’s right.” The old saying that “there are two sides to every story” is what workplace ethics is all about. Real life doesn’t always present black and white choices; there are many grey areas that can demand answers that we are not prepared for.
Workplace ethics are a vital part of American culture. It wasn’t too many years ago that children worked in smoke-filled factories 16 hours a day; safety was non-existent and the maiming and deaths of workers were a matter of course; there was unethical price fixing; sexual harassment; physical abuse; ridiculous discriminatory hiring practices; and unfair wages. Americans demanded better…and we got it! Not without effort, not without struggle, but through perseverance and the knowledge that an ethical workplace is a better workplace.
Power In The Workplace has created a workshop that’s easy to follow, has lots of practical steps to take, but more importantly, will provide you with a process you can implement almost immediately. Contact us for more info!
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