In elementary school I remember a line on our report card for “Works well with others”. Do you remember that? Hopefully most of us got an S or S+ on that line. What kind of grade would you get today if you were being graded on “Works well with others”? I believe most of us would disappoint our teacher with our score. That’s what collaboration is really – right? Working well with others?

In your job what does it really look like to collaborate, and does it really matter? Does it matter for the Kingdom? Is Collaboration related to cooperation? Did Jesus call for us to collaborate, cooperate, or just fulfill the great commission? Am I ever going to stop asking questions and bring some answers?

It's the end of the world as we know it.

• When Jesus was killed on the Cross, likely the disciples thought these very words, in Hebrew, of course.

• When Jesus rose from the dead, they likely thought these words again but for a different reason.

• In 300 ad, when Constantine adopted Christianity as the religion of choice for the Roman empire, likely the disciples of Jesus thought these same words – It's the end of the world as we know it.

But what about today? Is the world ending? Yes. This week? This month? This year? Only our Father knows.

If you are a listener to the iWork4Him Podcast, then you will understand when I say, “You are a workplace missionary.” Your ministry exists within your workplace – whatever that workplace looks like. As a workplace missionary, you represent the Creator God, Almighty King of the Universe, The Savior of the World, and the very Counselor of God. You are perfectly equipped to represent God in your workplace through fantastic work effort, a great work attitude, and a prayerful heart to bring Jesus with you to work every day.

Your work matters to God. In 2021, you have been placed on the mission field of your workplace. You are there because the people you work with need to meet Jesus and your life with Jesus will be an incredible influence in their lives.

Happy New Year! Most of us will not mourn the passing of 2020. It was a year of fear and strife. It was a year of lost freedoms and lost loved ones. It was a year we may want to forget but will likely remember forever. When the year began, remember how many people said 2020 would be the year of 20/20 Vision & Clarity? That the number of the year: 2020 represented so much hope and promise. Did that play out? I think it did, just not the way we expected.

In 2020 the U.S. Culture deemed the church non-essential. We saw church doors closed on penalty of a fine. The church was extricated from its buildings. We saw this as a problem, but God can use it for good. Removing the 4-walls from the church forced the church to be everywhere. Our communities are hurting and hopeless, and the church is the messenger of healing and hope.

So, where is the clarity for 2020?

Christmas morning when I was 7 years old, I had all the biggest packages under the tree. That year I remember getting a football uniform and the popular vibrating football game and many other things. Those gifts were significant, and I remember them well, but they weren’t my favorite Christmas gift I ever got…that was a few years earlier when I got my big wheel. Man, I tore the wheels off that thing. I would pedal up to the top of the driveway, go down fast, hit the brakes, and spin around. I loved my big wheel. I wish they had one for adults.

But truly, the greatest gift I ever got for Christmas was the truth about Jesus.

It’s the week before Christmas, and all through the house (aka workplace, school zone, and living space), everyone is going stir crazy because they are stuck in that HOUSE together. Yep, I’m sure we can all relate to the shared space dilemma.

Have you been planning for gift giving this year, or has it snuck up on you? Do you prepare gifts for the people who help make you successful? Allow me to make 3 last-minute suggestions to give your employees this Christmas. Everyone loves to get personalized gifts, but the gifts I suggest will last all year long.

There are a few things that I consistently do in life. I organize, share what other people are doing, enjoy a good deal, and pay attention to what God is up to in others' lives.

God has been churning these together recently, and like a good recipe, when you add the right ingredients together, you get tasty results. Read to the end to see the recipe that God's been creating.

Who makes the most impact in the workplace? Is it the management? The Business Owner? Or someone else? Have you ever considered that YOU may have the most impact to create a flourishing environment at your work? It just takes a little appreciation know-how.

Chuck Swindoll says “Gratitude is a decision of the will, and if a decision of the will, the choice resides squarely with us. Deciding to be thankful is no easy task. It takes work.”

There is no shortage of things to complain about in 2020. It would be easy to create a list of ways to complain at work, but who needs help doing that? What if we could develop habits during Thanksgiving that we could practice year-round? Now that would be an accomplishment! So, as we go about our work – no matter if we work alone, lead a group of 4 or 5, or a team of 100, here are a few steps we can take to increase gratefulness around us every day.