Lead Us Not Into Temptation...At Work

We found in our survey, that there are 11 temptations to avoid at work. The number ONE temptation is sexual misconduct. 70% of all affairs begin at work.

~ Steve Reynolds, co-Author of the book Taking God to Work, with David Winters

Whether we are aware of it or not, temptation is all around us at work. It didn’t get left at home when we stepped through our office doors. As we take God to work with us, we should also be aware that the enemy is actively working there too. Starting our day with the Lord in prayer, and committing our day and our work to God, is the best way to keep the door shut on all sorts of temptation when they arise at work.

I LOVE the armor of God, and physically “put it on” every morning, so I am ready to do battle. From Ephesians 6:

13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

I’ve been studying Joyce Meyer’s Battlefield of the Mind in a small group. It all boils down to one great piece of advice, as well as one great solution:

Be conscious of what thoughts you are thinking, and then speak scripture out loud to combat the wrong thoughts.

If you open the door even a crack to any temptation at work: think just one wrong thought, look once (and then a second time!), step into an inappropriate conversation or dwell too long in a private or intimate moment, you just invited Satan to come on in, and “set” a spell (as we say in the South). The swiftest glorifying response is to SHUT THE DOOR IMMEDIATELY or stop yourself from opening it in the first place. Today, fight temptation at work with the presence of the Lord and His word, and your victory will be assured.

Hebrews 4:12 12

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

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.

Excellence, Not Perfection

Ah, the word perfect. Like a snare, it lures us in with images of being up gazed upon with admiration. But as Christ Followers, is THAT what we are called to? Did Jesus say "well done, good and perfect servant"?

Is that who we are called to BE in our lives and work?

Let's look at the definitions and then we'll see what scripture has to say...

Perfection: a compulsive drive to do it perfectly, without mistakes or exception (I say impossible, unattractive)

Excellence: having high standards of being and performance for yourself and others (I say possible, very attractive)

Matthew 5:48 (NKJV)

Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

According to Strong's Concordance, the word perfect in this verse was derived from the Greek term teleios.

Teleios is defined this way:

(a) complete in all its parts, (b) full grown, of full age, (c) especially of the completeness of Christian character

Therefore, we are called to be COMPLETE IN CHRIST, vs. PERFECT, which as we know as Christ followers, we cannot be on this earth, and there is only ONE who WAS and IS perfect.

I invite you to stop and ponder.

Are you unreasonably setting "perfection" as the standard:

• in your organization?

• for yourself as a professional? As a leader?

• for your team members?

• in your home and family?

• in your relationships?

I'm inviting you right now to REMOVE the words PERFECT and PERFECTION from your vocabulary and mindset and to REPLACE it with and commit to a spirit of EXCELLENCE, as unto the LORD.

Colossians 3:23 NIV

23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters

Now how freeing is THAT?

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.

SHARE - Part II

As I stated last week, sharing doesn't need to be scary but we do need to share our faith. We don't need to be experts, we just need to be willing and somewhat equipped. There are tons of apps out there that can help you. There are also great websites.

Once we share our story, it is great to lead your friend to read some scriptures for themselves. I usually give a copy of the Gospel of John to read and then make a point to follow up. The Pocket Testament League is a great resource for Pocket sized gospels of John.

There are also 4 popular methods that I have used to guide them with powerful questions. Review these and see which one seems a good fit for you. They all introduce people to the Bible, what it says and help you to ask questions and have a conversation - NOT AN ARGUMENT.

• Share Jesus without Fear

• EE Method

• 4 Spiritual Laws

• Romans Road

If we don't SHARE, our workplace mission field is just a field without a mission. God has you there on purpose, remember?

Your workplace is your mission field and in that mission field you and me may be the only Jesus our co-workers and employees may ever meet. The job that you hold, the work that you do, the people that you work with, none of that is by chance. The people that you work with, they need to meet Jesus and you may be their only chance.

Live boldly today. Love someone, care for them, then SHARE with them why this flows out from you.

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!

SHARE - Part I

Over the last 4 weeks we have talked through the strategy behind the iWork4Him Nation Covenant.

It's all about developing a lifestyle of Prayer, Care and Share. We have talked through PRAYER and CARE. If you have missed those blogs, CLICK HERE to catch up.

This week and next we talk about SHARE.

To be honest, this is where most Christ Followers get hung up. We have been taught that in order for us to be effective, we need to have some routine and 16 scriptures memorized.

It is REALLY important that we realize that we will not be SAVING anyone. We will not be leading them to Christ. That is the work of Holy Spirit.

You are never going to argue someone into following Jesus. We just need to be willing to share our Jesus story, realize the hopelessness of our own lives without Jesus, recognize our need to get rid of our sin through repenting, (turning 180 degrees) and start walking down the narrow path with Jesus.

We just need to get our story down.

• How did you realize your need for Jesus?

• What was life like without Him?

• What was rampant sin doing to you and those around you?

• How hard was it to surrender to a Lord who was all loving, all forgiving, all merciful and also full of grace?

Then you need to tell them what life has been like since you surrendered from living your life your own way to walking with Jesus His Way. Please don't make this more difficult than it needs to be. When you are sharing your story, you are sharing the Truth and how the Truth set you free, once and for all.

Next week, I am going to share with you a few methods that I have found to keep the scriptures straight in my mind, as we take the conversation from sharing our story to sharing about Jesus and what He said when He was here.

If they know you CARE, they will allow you to SHARE.

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 "iWork4Him Nation' Convenant - Tenet FOUR

All along be a person of excellence in your workplace - the #1 employee in your position

I don't know about you, but excellence is rare in the workplaces of America. When you receive excellent service from a waiter, clerk, housekeeper or even an online purchase - does it take your breath away, it does mine?

As Jesus followers, what if excellence described everything about the work we do?

In our workplace, we should be the number one employee in our position. Everything we do should not just meet the standards we've agreed to, but exceed those expectations.

Excellence in our workplace needs to be demonstrated by those who have been given everything to live for. That's us Jesus followers, and that's why it's a part of the iWork4Him Nation Covenant.

Is your work mediocre? Does your performance evaluation include the phrase "meets expectations"? That just won't fly for a Jesus follower. Let's try to get "exceeds expectations" on the next one and do excellent work today!

Be excellent!

Colossians 3:23 (NLT)

23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people

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 "iWork4Him Nation" Convenant - Tenet THREE

Befriending those you work alongside outside of the work environment.

Relationships spur opportunity to share your life in Jesus. Friendships developed during the workday are good, but when you take that relationship outside of the office, into your home, those relationships can really grow. There is nothing like sharing a meal at your dinner table to really find out who someone is.

This does not apply to everyone you work with. If you're single you shouldn't use this idea as a dating service. Men should engage in friendships with men and women with women.

Try hosting people in your home or over dinner somewhere where you can really get to know them. When you get to know them, you will eventually get an opportunity to share who you are, including who Jesus is in you.

Relationships give us a platform for sharing what Christ has done in our lives. We have to earn that right, sometimes.

If you're married, invite your coworker and their spouse or significant other into your home. Let your marriage be a light as well.

If you're single, invite a group of coworkers and their significant other into your home. Let your lifestyle be a light as well.

I've got lots more ideas for you. All you have to do is email me: Jim@iWork4Him.com.

We can all do dinner with a purpose.

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.

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 "iWork4Him Nation" Convenant - Tenet TWO

Looking for ways to serve those you work alongside above and beyond your job requirement.

Part of the iWork4Him Nation covenant is to look for ways to serve those that you work alongside, over and above your job requirement, not just what your job description tells you to do.

Why is this added to the iWork4Him nation covenant? Here's why.

If you are the kind of worker that only does what you're required to do, then how do you stand out among the pack? When you start to serve those you work alongside over and above what's required, your light starts to shine bright to those around you.

What are some of things you can do?

• Help out with extra projects, before or after work, maybe even work through lunch. Often we are surrounded by fellow coworkers who are overwhelmed by projects. There may be something you can do to lighten their load.

• Offer to straighten up a mess in the office, break room, or warehouse that has been ignored. Ask permission first. A clean work environment is a safe work environment and a more pleasant place to work.

• Are there things that need to be done but never get done because nobody takes the time? That can be your new extra task.

• Start serving and watch what God does with this.

For more help to live out your faith at work - join the iWork4Him Nation.

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."

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 "iWork4Him Nation" Convenant - Tenet ONE

Praying For those you work alongside by name

I want to talk about one of the things I learned from God as He was shaping my heart to understand that my faith and my work should be intricately connected.

That first thing I learned was to PRAY for those that I worked alongside each and every day. It made a difference.

Did it change them? Not necessarily. It changed me.

It changed my heart. It helped me to understand my role as a pastor and missionary to them. When I started praying for my coworkers and employees and my bosses by name every day, along with their spouses and their children, it helped me to see them the way my heavenly father saw them.

Join the iWork4Him Nation today and get started praying for your coworkers employees and bosses. It will change your work life.

It’s easy to join and get started! Just follow these simple steps:

1. Join the iWork4Him Nation by clicking HERE.

2. Write down their names and their immediate family members.

3. Ask for specifics to pray about.

4. Pray daily for this list.

5. See how God responds to this commitment.

1 Thessalonians 5:17

5 Never stop praying.

Special News:

In just 2 weeks - Jim and Martha Brangenberg will join hundreds of leaders for the International Culture Shapers Summit, with Jim as the emcee.  Join us in the nation's capitol and hear from America's top leaders in business, government, media, education, arts & entertainment, family and the church. Register Here

If you are not able to attend in person:  we are excited to be among the first to share the opportunity to LIVE stream this event.  Register for streaming here.

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!

Through Colored Glasses

Have you ever heard the saying: “You can’t see the forest for the trees”?

This saying deals with familiarity. Think about this, in terms of our workplace. When we are new to a job we see things that long time employees may not notice anymore. Our ability to have a proper perspective diminishes when we’re deep within a problem, an organization, or a situation that is overwhelming us.

Losing the ability to see ourselves honestly can happen to the best of us.

Earlier this week I spoke with Tom Harper from Networld media group about his leadership fable “Through Colored Glasses”. It’s a story about an executive that lost the ability to be honest with himself about a situation in his company. Eventually the only solution was to tell the truth and admit defeat. In that defeat there was a victory, because the truth was honored.

Are you struggling with being able to see the forest and the individual trees in that forest?

What does your forest look like today?

Ask the people that you work alongside or live with. Be ready for their perspective and honesty and then listen for their answers. When we value the perspectives of those around us, we become a better leader.

Perspective changes depending on your point of YOU. But the truth is, it never changes.

Great leaders learn to be authentic, transparent and vulnerable. Surround yourself with people that you are willing to listen to, this is the sign of a great leader. Those around you will feel loved and appreciated and that’s what makes a great leader.

What color is your forest?

Ephesians 4:29 New Living Translation (NLT)

29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Visit Biblical Leadership for more amazing resources.

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 Marriage Mentor

Marriage is tough. So tough that many couples give up. It can seem overwhelming, but it's a lifelong contract with your best friend. You are with your best friend on the good days and the bad days, and even the in-between days.

So, how do you stay together for a lifetime?

Here's one solution: Do marriage with a marriage mentor couple by your side.

Every marriage is greater with another couple walking alongside you. A couple that has been at it more years, made more mistakes, seen more rough times and more good times; seasoned married people.

Martha and I have had several couples come along side us over the last 32 years, all of them chronologically superior and married longer than us. About 13 years into our marriage we learned that even with the few years we had been married, we could invest in other couples too. It has been the secret sauce for us.

We had couples invest in us and we then invested in other couples.

This week we talked with Steve and Rhonda Stoppe about their brand new book The Marriage Mentor. This book is an amazing collection of just about everything we have ever said to another couple, in one volume of sheer wisdom. Reading this book is like having a virtual marriage mentor. You can listen to that show by clicking HERE.

Want an awesome marriage? Find a couple willing to invest in you and find a couple you can invest in. It works every time. Want to know why? It was designed by God. It's called community.

Make your marriage great. Invest in it today.

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!