Opportunity Knocks

Opportunity in America takes on many different forms. Sometimes we recognize it, sometimes we don't. Sometimes we don't even know that opportunity is knocking!

But what does the Word tell us about opportunity? And what does the Word tell us about knocking?  Let's look at knocking first: ask and you shall receive; seek and you shall find; knock and it will be opened to you. The Greek actually translates "keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking" and so we have to realize that knocking just once may not do it. Now don't confuse knocking with begging or pleading. Loud banging and continual knocking does not change God's heart; knocking to seek God's wisdom changes our hearts and helps us realize that we have nothing and we are nothing without Him. It reminds us that the "keep on knocking" exercise continually brings us into the Presence of God which is where we should be. Scriptures tell us over and over that God hears and answers our prayers. So why do we have to keep on knocking if we've already been granted the petitions we've sought? We keep on knocking to find the wisdom we need to recognize the opportunities surrounding our prayers, to walk out the answers to our prayers, and to continually remain in an attitude of thankfulness.. It is God Himself Who is opened to us.

Opportunity is when God puts something in front of us that's good for us. Opportunity sometimes comes clothed in sheep's clothing (from the enemy or lust or the flesh or the world) and what may seem like an opportunity isn't. Sometimes God will simply say "No" to some opportunities - sometimes we think we want a piece of bread but God knows it's a stone; sometimes we want what we think is a fish but that God knows is a scorpion that will poison us. But opportunities do come and we have to be able to identify them. Again going before the Father in prayer will keep you in a position to be able to identify an opportunity from a temptation.

Pray on, people!

Get Rid of the Stress

Stress is really nothing more than fear. Sometimes you’re afraid of what’s coming; sometimes you’re afraid because you don’t know what’s coming. But no matter what the circumstances, you can always boil stress down to fear. There are numerous stressors, but the most common cause of stress is time constraints. So let’s look at some of the ways you can reduce the stress in your life just by organizing some stuff:

• Make a list of what stresses you; then decide what is and isn’t worth it; then change what you can change and develop work-arounds for what you can’t change.
  
• Use a wall calendar and a pocket datebook. (The operative word is use.
  
• Balance your scheduled activities: work/play; groups/personal; family/couple.
  
• Use your head! Think about what you’re going to do or how to do something.
  
• Don’t buy stuff that isn’t easy to take care of.
  
• Simplify your eating and cooking habits.
  
• Plan your day the night before: clothes, breakfast foods, lunches, money, dry cleaning, homework, etc.
  
• Simplify your schedule: don’t go places you don’t want to go!
  
• Unclutter! Throw it out or give it away.
  
• Make lists!
  
• Make more lists!
  
• Keep home and job separate. Spend quality time in both places.
  

These are just a few of the good ideas that will help take the stress out of your life…no matter where that stress comes from.

Edify by Example

The best way to build a team comprised of people who are loyal, trustworthy and who walk in integrity is to create a role model for them to follow. That’s right…you! The “trickle down” effect is most evident in the integrity of the people within an organization. Generally you can observe the workers to determine the type of leadership they have. If you walk in integrity, so will your staff.

The best way to create such a “dream team” is to work with your team; make sure they know what they’re supposed to know, train them, mentor them, and let them shadow you. As individuals grow, expand their responsibilities to “bridge” over to greater opportunities. We’re not talking about the distraction and fragmentation of “multi-tasking” here; we’re talking about learning one job, doing it well, and assuming additional responsibilities to learn another job.

As a manager, conform your actions to the needs of the organization and to the needs of your employees. Be all things to all people (in other words, do whatever it takes). Be diligent in following through with your team.

Only by demonstrating yourself as a trustworthy, dependable, understanding person will you be able to inspire loyalty and trust from your staff and volunteers.

A Kinder, Gentler Manager

A good leader listens to volunteers and staff with empathy. How do you do that? You ask good questions and respond appropriately. Learning to ask the right questions takes practice and is accomplished by trial and error. Ask the question; evaluate the response.

For example, “What’s wrong with you?” is, on a scale of 0-10, a flat 0! It’s a bad question no matter how you phrase it. Why not try something like, “You seem troubled. Would you like to talk?” Communication as a leader is all about listening. Empathic listening takes time, but not as much time as it takes to correct the misunderstandings you’ll face if you don’t. Volunteers and staff who are not encouraged to express themselves clearly usually repress their problems which eventually manifest as poor performance.

One of the fruits of the Spirit that you already possess is kindness; another is gentleness...wonderfully important traits for a manger!

Getting Staff & Volunteers to Cooperate

What a terrible waste of time when someone refuses to do their job the way they're asked to do it!


But what about creativity? What about self-expression? What about empowerment? What about..what about...hey, I know! What about doing it the way the boss asks you to do it! Ewww! Does that sound harsh? Yes. Get over it!


Every organization needs order and that means that someone (a/k/a the boss) has to make the decisions. Even as every boat has one captain, every department or church or organization has one decision-maker. If you are that decision maker, let me encourage you to hang on to the authority that's been given to you. God places authority over us...whether we're paid staff or whether we're volunteers. We must submit to that authority. Not only is it company policy, it's God's policy!


Usually it's easier to get paid staff to do their jobs right but it's just as important to get volunteers to do their jobs right, too. And it's often not easy at all to get both entities to work together for the good of the organization.


If you're in a leadership position in a company, a service organization, a church or ministry, and you need a little guidance on how to get your staff and volunteers to do what it is you need them to do, just write to us and we'll be glad to send you a free white paper on how to get them to cooperate! We've cut through the hype of being "politically correct" and gone straight to the "how to" of getting things done. This guide addresses issues you deal with every day and resolves them...step by step.


It's FREE, no strings attached, nothing to buy, nothing to join...just some good advice if you need it! Go to our website: www.powerintheworkplace.com and request a copy. We'll be glad to email it to you with our blessings.

ChurchWorks!

ChurchWorks! What the heck is that about? Well, it's about the church stepping up to the plate and really helping folks where it will count!

One of the things Power In The Workplace does, in addition to workplace ethics seminars, is job-search seminars. There are so many people in Brevard County who are out of work and where are they? They're sitting in the pews in our churches. But who's helping them? Are the churches equipped or even willing to take the lead in doing something?

I've been "preaching" for years that the rightful place for virtually any type of community assistance should be the church. But we've fallen short of our obligations and allowed the government of all things to take our place. What can the government do for a hurting soul? And who doesn't hurt after the loss of a job?

We CAN help; we have to do our part. But let me tell you who else is going their part...the Brevard Workforce. I had the privilege of attending a "Faith for the Future" seminar at their Rockledge facility. It was a presentation to create job clubs for out-of-work folks in our community...and virtually every church in Brevard County was invited. About 50 showed up.

Let's get behind this re markably timely initiative and help Brevard Workforce get our citizens jobs!!!!!!
C'mon, church, let's get to work!!!!

Staying Alert

There’s an interesting story in Judges, specifically Judges 7:6. It’s the story of Israel’s strategy to overtake the Midianites and how the Lord directed Gideon to send home any warriors who were afraid to go into battle – and 68% of his army left. God then directed Gideon to lead the remaining 10,000 men to water and to carefully watch how they drank it. Some of the men got down on their hands and knees and lapped the water like dogs, and some of the men got down on one knee and brought the water up to their mouths.

God told Gideon to send home the ones who lapped up the water in a “face down” position. I always wondered about that.

I heard a teaching several years ago that I think was quite revealing. It seems as though God wanted the battle to be won in a manner that would leave no doubt in anyone’s mind that He and He alone created the victory. Gideon’s army had dwindled from 32,000 to 300 men and the enemy they were facing was formidable with men who were “as numerous as locusts”. Of course Israel won the battle in spite of the numbers!

So how does that relate to us? Easy. The men who went home for whatever the reason had “better” things to do than participate in warfare. How many times do we know in our hearts that we should be on our knees in prayer and spiritual warfare but typically have something “better” to do? But it’s really just fear. But what about that whole water-drinking issue? That’s easy, too. The men who stayed erect on one knee quenched their thirst while remaining alert to the movement of the enemy.

So I told you all that, Beloved, to tell you to stay alert. Never get so complacent that you forget that there’s a real enemy out there who’s out to get you. The Lord needs you to stay alert! You don’t have to become paranoid because the Holy Spirit will direct you and let you know what’s ahead of you. He will prepare you for the fight. But you can’t win a battle if you don’t see the enemy coming and if you aren’t properly armed.

Gideon armed his men to win the fight; the Holy Spirit has armed YOU to overcome the ruler of this world and win the spiritual fight.