Does God care about my work?

Yesterday was my once a month budget reviews at work, and I had some serious problems! As a business planning analyst I oversee some 300 accounts and a few of them were grossly over the budget. Most of the problems were no one's fault, but just something that couldn't be avoided. Prior to going to work yesterday morning I spent time praying and in the word, and I specifically prayed for the budget issues I had to deal with in my meetings. To make a long story short the Program showed grace (rarely ever does) and covered the budget over run! I almost couldn't believe it, but then I smiled and laughed out loud as I new God's hand was at work. My God is so great and loves me so much He even cares about my job as I seek to live Jesus among my co-workers. So does God care about our work? I believe He does when we seek to serve Him in everything you do. Genesis 39:2-5 "The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master. Potiphar noticed this and realized that the Lordwas with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did. This pleased Potiphar, so he soon made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned. From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the Lord began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished."

Pray because God Listens!

Today was a prayer day; lots of things and people to pray for and praises to be given to the Lord. A co-worker of mine came and sat down in my cubicle today and told me about another one of my co-workers. At first I thought it was gossip, but then she looked at me and said, "maybe you can pray for his son to get better." Who am I to be called upon to pray for others? What makes me so great and worthy to intercede with the Father on behalf of another? My sinful self is unworthy and I am powerless to help. However, with the power of the Holy Spirit living in me and Jesus as my intercessor I can go confidently before the throne of our God and know He hears the prayers of his servants. Thank you Lord for hearing a sinner like me, and for using me as a vessel to reach others through your power and grace. John 14:13-14 "You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!"

Transparency Breaks Down Walls

Praise God it's Thursday! It was a non-stop day at work today, but the Lord again provided a window of opportunity for more interaction with my cubicle neighbor from the last post. After hearing she prayed with her son for the first time I spent some time in prayer for another chance to speak with her. The Holy Spirit put on my heart the idea of writing her a letter celebrating the fact that she prayed with her son, and to tell her a little about the Lord without overwhelming her. In the letter I told my own story and focused mostly on how Jesus took me as a sinner, broke me of my pride, forgave me of sin I had been living in, and provided me with joy I can't contain or even explain. It's so important to be transparent when ministering to non-believers. When we talk about how even as followers of Christ we are sinful and mess up it often brings down the defenses of the other person. I pray through the power of the Holy Spirit my story of how Jesus rescued me will make an impact on this woman's life.

Romans 7:21-25 "I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord..."

Expect the Unexpected

Today was one of those work days where it’s good to smile and laugh because every problem known to man crawled out from under the rug. Honestly, I was a little disappointed with the day and didn’t really feel like work or ministry was very productive. I am now repenting of my little faith and for actually thinking I do the Lord’s work on my own! Towards the end of the day a lady who sits in a cubicle near me stopped by. We talk every now and then, but we don't have much in common. To accurately describe her (please understand this is not slander, but fact) she is someone I usually get along with, a lesbian, single mother, going through a terrible break-up with a live-in partner, in the process of looking for a new home for both her and her son and outwardly not interested in the Lord. Again I must repent for we do have a big thing in common; we are both sinners, which means I need Jesus just as bad as she does. She popped into my cube and said, “Just wanted to let you know I prayed with my son last night for the first time. Things have been really hard lately and I thought it might be time to pray.” Praise Jesus! God you are amazing… you brought someone to my cube and they are ministering to my lack of faith! Again God brought an opportunity to plant a little seed as I told her I would be praying for her and her son. I also told her I’m glad she prayed and God is like a friend who wants to be there with her in the good, bad and ugly. She smiled and walked away. Pray for this woman and her son… God is at work! Literally!!!

Jesus is my real Bonus!

Happy Monday everyone! The Lord was at work (no pun intended) immediately this morning as I was called into my Manager’s office. I was blessed with a bonus for some miscellaneous tasks I had been working on and all I can say is God is the provider of my life and His grace is undeserved. My manager asked me to write a thank you letter to the VP of my program and another executive level manager for approving the bonus. I had an opportunity to thank these gentleman and I graciously in one sentence explained “My heart is full of joy in knowing Jesus gives me strength and wisdom to perform to the best of my ability in the responsibilities I have been given here.” I didn’t ask them if they were Christians or beat over the head with scripture verses telling them to repent of their sins; all I did was make sure they understood the reward they had gifted me was for the glory of Lord who gives me the ability to work hard and have success. After receiving the news I texted my wife and then went to a co-worker of mine who had been praying I would be compensated for my efforts. Praise God for brothers and sisters in Christ who lift me up not only in my family life and ministry responsibilities, but at the work place as well where Jesus is ever present and ready to use His servants! Ephesians 3:20-21 “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”

My Identity in Christ

Friday was a great day! The Lord provided three opportunities in one day to live Jesus! The guy in the next cubicle over from mine is a follower of Jesus and he popped into my cube today for a little chat. We got to spend a few minutes talking about the frustrations at work, but how God is amazing and He is greater than all our problems. What a blessing to encourage and receive encouragement from a brother at work. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 "So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing."

Later in the morning I was asked by my Manager's manager to attend a special meeting. I admit I was feeling a little prideful until he asked me if I could be the notetaker. Thank you Lord for humbling me :) Although I was bummed out about playing secretary for an hour long meeting it was a good reminder for me to remember I work for the Lord and not for recognition or reward. The meeting went over its hour and was basically an hour of this top executive listening to people complain and share their concerns about how bad things were in their jobs. My co-workers dumped their frustrations out and then the meeting ended. When everyone left I had the time to sit down with this executive and I asked if I could share some personal insight from my life. He was open and so I shared how I went through 6 jobs in 4 years and I finally learned my identity is not formed by what I do, how much I make or my title. My identity is found in Christ alone because because He is the only one who can redeem me and give me a foundation to stand on. I shared that my point was most the people I work with are defined by what they do and whether or not they receive positive recognition for what they do. In order to rebuild their trust and confidence in the processes and management at our company it is important to provide them with guidance and encouragement. We talked a bit longer about my job as a youth pastor and the church where I work and we both went our separate ways. What a joy to know God set that meeting with me as the lowly notetaker as a divine appointment to share a piece of the Gospel with this manager.

Ephesians 1:3-8 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight"

Thank God it's Friday

On top of the fact it's Friday what an incredible day the Lord provided. God started opening up opportunities with my co-workers as early as 6 AM today! So I'm the first person in my group to get to work (about 5:40 AM) and by 6 AM people start dragging in through the office doors. I hadn't been at my desk for more than 20 minutes when a co-worker held up this morning's paper and asked, "What do you think about Moammar Gadhafi being killed and his body being paraded around on TV and online?" A simple question about opinion and morality, but for a believer in Jesus an opportunity to share the Lord with a non-believer!

I responded by telling her I didn't feel it was right to celebrate or glorify the murder of anyone. There is no doubt Gadhafi was a wicked man who did terrible things during his life, but as sinner I also recognize I am wicked and without a Savior no different. This quickly got her attention and I received a puzzling look. I then briefly shared as a believer in Jesus I know I am just as guilty as this dictator because sin whether it be murder, oppression of others, or even anger in the heart is all wicked in God's eyes. To make sure she understood an accurate picture of who God is I referenced Ezekiel 33:11 "Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live..." I then explained that no I don't believe the way our media and general society glorifies the murder of this man or of anyone because God does not take pleasure in the death of those who die without accepting Jesus as their Savior.

My co-worker kind of made a "huh" noise and walked back to her cube, which ended our conversation. I don't know what she thought of my answer, but I know God provided an opportunity to share about his love and desire for people to come to Him. A seed has been planted and I pray the Lord will cause it to grow.