Ministry Starts at Home

Jesus saved me. He saved me from my sin, He saved me from an eternity of separation from Him, and He saved me from myself. Jesus is my LORD, and He has called me to love others in the same way He loved, to serve in the same way He has served. But what exactly does that look like in our day-to-day lives?

Today I want to share with you a bit of my personal story.

Martha and I have been married for 35 years, but we have known each other for almost 39 years. Both of our parents are in their 80s and starting to slow down. Meanwhile, all three of our kids are now speeding up, getting married, and raising their own kids. It's an odd thing to live between – the letting go of your children so that you can increasingly serve your parents. And although Martha's folks live nearby for roughly eight months a year, my folks live 2300 miles away. The reality is that we can't serve them equally, but we do our best to serve them as they need it. And it isn't easy. But it's vitally important.

I know what you're thinking; Jim, what does that do with us living out our faith at work?

Here's the truth: we can be great, big Jesus followers at work, but if we neglect our family, it discounts our witness and testimony.

1 John 4:11-12 says, "Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us." In other words, the way that you love your family should be an extension, an expression of God's love for you. And if it isn't, then your life is not expressing the gospel in its fullness.

I remember when I was 13 years old, my Dad said, "Jim, it's all great the ministry stuff you are doing in the community, but I'll believe it's true when I see you living it out at home." So, next time you are contemplating if you should serve on a committee at church or the board of a non-profit or volunteer some hours at your favorite charity, first ask yourself, what is the condition of your family and how can you serve them like Jesus FIRST?

Learning how to honor God in all areas of our life, starting at home, is undeniably a challenge – the kind of challenge that takes a lifetime even to begin to figure out. But it's essential. If you are looking for some ways to begin, I highly suggest picking up a copy of iWork4Him. We wrote this book as a guide to help you get a jump start so that your testimony is powerful and effective in every sphere of your life – both work and home.

Jim

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

The Love-Driven Leader

“Love-driven leaders are excellent followers of the ultimate love-driven leader. Jesus”.

~ Dr. Steve Greene, author of Love Leads via a recent interview on iWork4Him - listen to it HERE

Love in the workplace? Love in leadership? "What's love got to do with it?" Tina Turner famously asked.

EVERYTHING. If we are a Christ-follower, love is the basis for everything we do, because it is the basis for all He did. And if we have just one person following us, then we ARE a leader, regardless of our age, our role or where that is. Work, home, church, school...And in order for us to be a God-honoring leader, the first requirement is to love as Christ loved us. That love, by the way, is an action. An "active" intentional action that holds deep affection (vs. the type of love as the world defines it) and shows itself.

I had the privilege of interviewing Cheryl Bachelder, former CEO of Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen several years ago. This anecdote from her sums up the power of "love in leadership" well:

“I had a boss who was an encourager-leader. The first thing he said to me was 'I chose you for this role because I love what you bring to it. You're innovative, you're creative, you're bold.' Nobody had ever told me they loved that. And then every week he told me how excited he was about what I was doing. And boy, I was like, this is new. I never experienced this before. How uplifting! And, no surprise, I did some incredible work for him because we had a vibrant, encouraging relationship. The man that I worked for right after him was the opposite. The first words he said to me were, 'I've heard you were good. I'm going to see if I can trip you up.' And I said, 'Really? That's the most inspiring thing anyone's ever said to me.' I worked for him for a year. It was ugly. It was not fun; he was constantly drawing my weaknesses to my attention.”

Sound familiar? If you're a boss, are you the love-driven leader? Or the opposite? How would your team members describe YOUR leadership?

If our leadership is rooted in the love of Christ, it will have a solid foundation. The motivation behind our leadership will be well-placed, well-rooted and well-directed.

Romans 13:8 directs our love-based leadership:

Owe nothing to anyone-except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God's law.

Lead in love well this week.

For His Glory ~

Caroline Mendez, National Brand Ambassador

About the Guest Blogger, Caroline Mendez, National Brand Ambassador, iWork4Him

Caroline’s Mission: To raise the visibility of Christian Women in Leadership. She is passionate about empowering each woman she meets to be free from that which keeps them oppressed.

Marriage Ministry is Marketplace Ministry

Contrary to popular opinion, which is worth just about two sea shells on the sea shore, I believe Marriage is the fabric of society. Now, marriage has been difficult since sin entered the world, but people always learned to love and adore their spouse, despite the difficulty. Prior to the late 1960's, Marriage held communities intact, allowed families to flourish, and kept kids in check through discipline. Since the destruction of marriage has been a focus of the enemy these last almost 50 years, (through the Women's Liberation Movement and the continued attach on manhood) our country has been spiraling downward. Suicide, Mass Murders, Depression, Joblessness, Hopelessness - have spun out of control.

What can we do about it?

What does this have to do with our ministry in our workplace?

I am glad you asked.

Did you know that the difficult questions like "why is this happening?" and "why does my life suck?", can be answered with one Word...Jesus. Jesus is the solution to all the world problems. True followers of Jesus can transform their part of the world each and every day. When someone finally surrenders their life to Jesus, it transforms their life, then their families, their neighborhoods, communities and so on. God created marriage to introduce Jesus to children. When a marriage destructs, kids are destroyed and kids start to question who God is and why He let their mom and dad split up.

You can make a difference. You are surrounded by hurting people at work, at home, and in your networks. They may be contemplating divorce, have gone through a divorce, or are the collateral damage of a divorce. Jesus Followers can love on those hurting around us and it will transform your workplace. Why? Because hurting people, hurt people. So, Loving people can work alongside hurting people and love them into relationship with Jesus. Check out Monday’s show from this week by clicking HERE - and the website - www.NationalMarriageWeekUSA.org - to learn more about the impacts of marriage on our society.

John 13:34-35

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like the Holiday's

The Holiday blues are a thing.

Many of the people we spend life with at work and in our neighborhoods and churches, are hurting. At the Holiday's that hurt is amplified and multiplied. Think about the people you know who have lost a child, a parent, a spouse, or a best friend in the last year. This Thanksgiving and Christmas may mark the first holiday without someone special. This can be a painful time for the ones left behind, they may even feel guilty for moving on and enjoying life.

Did you know that?

What about those we know who had terrible hurt, pain, or rejection in their family. The holidays can be a time where they either have to "suck it up" and pretend there isn't a problem or "go it alone" on the days of the year that NOONE wants to be alone.

THERE IS AN ANSWER TO THIS PROBLEM - YOU.

As a Christ Follower we know Jesus is the answer to the pain, hurt, and loneliness our friends, coworkers, employees, or bosses are feeling. Jesus is the healer of all that is dark and ugly. Look around. Where will those you work alongside be spending Thanksgiving or Christmas? Do you know? Ask them "How do you spend the Holidays?" "Who do you spend it with?" "What are you going to be doing this year?" "Would you be willing to spend your day with our family?"

Let's start these conversations today.

Remember, you may be the only Jesus your co-workers, employees, bosses, and friends may ever meet. Invite them to spend life with you this Holiday Season!

1 Chronicles 16:34 New Living Translation (NLT)

34 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

iWork4Him Nation - Care - Part II

We continue our series on the iWork4Him Nation covenant and the living out of a Prayer/Care/Share/Work/Disciple lifestyle in our workplaces each and every day.

This week Part 2 of Care

CARE

1.  Find a way to serve my co-workers and employees.

Galatians 5:13-14 (NLT)

13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

2.  Find a way to befriend my co-workers and employees outside of the office so they will trust me when I share the truth.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NLT)

9 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.

Jesus loved people openly, even those who would appear to be enemies.  Nicodemus was one of those people. He was a religious ruler, yet Jesus befriended him, ate with him, and late one night, in the cover of darkness, Nicodemus came to Jesus seeking the truth.  This story plays out in John Chapter 3.  Understand this, unless Jesus was approachable and a friend, Nicodemus would never have asked those questions.  Jesus earned the right to the conversation through relationship.  Each of us can develop that kind of relationships in our workplace, and earn the right to have Jesus centered conversations with them because of our friendships.

Do you feel compelled to Join the Nation? – www.iWork4Him.com – Click on the iWork4Him Nation Flag. Commit to being an agent of change in your workplace.

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: To transform Christian-run businesses through mentoring Christian Business Owners (CBOs) by incorporating the servant leadership of Jesus Christ in their businesses, their home life and their walk with Christ.

What's Love Got To Do With It?

Don’t worry, I won’t sing that famous Tina Turner song but if you’re like me, it’s already playing in your head anyway.  Let’s answer that question, what does love got to do with it?  We just had Valentine’s day – which is all about love.  Another made up holiday just to promote greeting cards…

...or is it?

Jesus said in Mark 12:30-31 (NLT)

“30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’[a] 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] No other commandment is greater than these.”

If Jesus said it was all about Love then who are we to question Him.  He loved us so much that 2000 years ago he suffered and died for me and for you. So does Love drive you and motivate you to make a positive impact on your workplace, home, neighborhood, or church?

To be real, I struggle with some of the people I’m surrounded by every day.  Are you on the same struggle bus?  Being a Jesus follower gets even harder when you realize that he also said in Luke 6:27-28 (NLT) 27

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. “

Love isn’t a usual first reaction when we are in a negative situation, which means we’ve got some work to do. As a Christ Follower we are commanded in Romans 12:2 to - 

“Stop copying the behavior and customs of this world but let God transform us by changing the way we think.”

If we are going to change our world by setting the captives free – it will be through love.

Now you know – What’s Love Got to Do With it? Everything.  Do you think Tina Turner knows this?

For the Kingdom.  Jim

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: To transform Christian-run businesses through mentoring Christian Business Owners (CBOs) by incorporating the servant leadership of Jesus Christ in their businesses, their home life and their walk with Christ.