))
Prepping for work each day, chug your coffee and take a short swig of workplace inspiration with the iWork4Him PowerThoughts. Hosts Jim & Martha Brangenberg give you a 1-minute daily challenge to live out your faith at work. Each episode is designed to kick off your day with an idea you can put into practice as soon as you get to work. The iWork4Him PowerThoughts are focused on helping you to recognize that your workplace IS your mission field. Catch new episodes every Weekday.
…
continue reading
The sheWorks4Him Podcast celebrates and validates the diverse experiences of today’s Christian working women by providing a digital gathering space that connects them to God, resources, and one another. Each week join hosts Catherine Gates, Nadya Dickson, and Martha Brangenberg as they interview women of faith that embrace their workplace mission field. Full of incredible stories, biblical encouragement, and real-life tips and tricks, sheWorks4Him will empower you to live out your calling at ...
…
continue reading
The body of Christ is made up of many parts; none is more important than the other. Do you ever feel unimportant in the Kingdom of God? Like who you are and what you do is on a lower tier while others are on a higher one? In 1 Corinthians 12, God lets us know that each of us plays an important role in the body of Christ. Verse 18 says, "Our bodies …
…
continue reading
Martha: As you woke up today, did you find yourself celebrating the end of the work week? Jim: We have all been trained to celebrate weekends and to dread our work. Martha: But is that the way God feels? Jim: I grew up thinking that work was a result of original sin. That the reason work was evil was that it came from evil. Martha: But that was a l…
…
continue reading
Martha: Do you ever feel like quitting your job? Even though it’s a good job and it pays well. Jim: We mean quit your perfectly good job so you can go into full time ministry. Have you ever had that thought? Martha: If you are like us, you feel the need for significance in your work and you feel like a job in a church or a Christian non-profit is t…
…
continue reading
With the new reality that my work was in fact my place of ministry, my workplace mission field, I modified my workplace commute prayer time. I still prayed for my family, but I added my bosses, my coworkers, and eventually my employees. I noticed a funny thing happening. I started to see these people differently - the way God saw them. I grew in em…
…
continue reading
It all started with my new job. Commuting 90 miles to work. I made a commitment to not turn on the radio for the morning commute. I wanted to learn how to pray. My new job had so much adventure built in, but I wanted this job to be different. I prayed for my family on the way to work and others who had specific prayer requests but then God rocked m…
…
continue reading
Jim: When you woke up today did you find yourself celebrating the first day of the work week or did you find yourself dreading it? Martha: It seems that most of us suffer from TGIF syndrome instead of adopting the TGIM revolution. We need to start Thanking God its Monday. Jim: you see, God designed our work to have purpose and fulfillment. He also …
…
continue reading
Do you want to see your workplace as a place to live out your faith? Your work is a place where you finally get that chance to be involved in fulltime ministry. Then do these things. 1st Start praying for those you work around, by name every day. 2nd look for ways to serve those same people over and above what your job requires you to do. 3rd look …
…
continue reading
What do you do when you’re faced with a problem at work? If you’re like me, you probably go about trying to find a solution, usually starting with Google! We met and interviewed a remarkable woman named Susan. She went to God first, not google. She asked HIM for the answer to the problem. And kept praying in earnest expectation until He answered. S…
…
continue reading
Have you ever thought about what you want to be known for? Stephen, an executive we interviewed, says it starts with your personal brand. And your personal brand starts with asking yourself “What do I want to be known for?” So how about you? If your co-workers were asked about you, and who you are, what would they say? We challenge you today, to ta…
…
continue reading
Changing the world. We all have that secret desire, don’t we? Changing the world in Kingdom terms is not measured in the BIG, the BIGGER and the BIGGEST actions in our life and work. It’s the opposite. Changing the world happens, one person, one word and one action at a time. It can be as small as a smile, a kind word, or a self-less act of service…
…
continue reading
Are you stuck in a rut or comfortably nestled in there? Have you been “doing your Christianity the same way, with the same people, in the same ministry, in the same church? In the same type of work? With the same company?” When’s the last time you stopped, poked your head UP OUT OF THE daily rut and asked “Lord, am I doing your will? Am I doing min…
…
continue reading
Life/work balance. How many of us have fallen for that myth and tried to make it happen? Only to fail over and over…a business coach we interviewed has a better concept. How about living an INTEGRATED LIFE? One that brings Christ into each aspect of our life and work, so that we are putting The Lord, not our futile “balance” efforts, first. So how …
…
continue reading
In the past couple of months, I’ve heard one word repeatedly out of the mouths of followers of Christ who bring their faith into the workplace. INTENTIONALITY. Intentionality is a concept defined as "the power of a mind to stand for things, properties and states of affairs". WAS and IS Jesus intentional? You bet. Should WE be intentional? You bet. …
…
continue reading
Do you need to be removed? Sometimes, we start something and think we are supposed to stay in it, lead it, and serve it. And, we stay IN IT…sometimes too long. We no longer seek the Lord’s counsel about IF we should still BE where He placed us. Sometimes He just wants us to START something, sometimes He wants us to “help get it off the ground”, NOT…
…
continue reading
I try to keep my heart pure and intimate with Christ, so I can be a source of light and encouragement to the people I work with. That’s the faith at work philosophy of a millennial professional we interviewed. What a beautiful philosophy of how we can really prepare and BE Christ at work. So how about you? Is your heart pure and intimate with Chris…
…
continue reading
Heard this great reminder from a manager of a Christian Retail company “The biggest challenges in my life and work have been when I have forgotten WHO God is, or WHO I AM in Christ.” So how about you? Are you in the midst of a challenge at work? If so, CLING to the words of God. Remind yourself right now who you are IN HIM, not the words of what th…
…
continue reading
What’s the fastest way to get what you DON’T want? Tell the Lord “I will NEVER _________________” Yep, just ask any other Christ follower who’s made the mistake of saying something like that. You WILL end up being exactly where YOU said you would NEVER be or DOING something you said you would never do. Our thoughts are not God’s thoughts and His wa…
…
continue reading
Have you ever considered that God wants to use YOUR business influence, the position He’s put you in, as a “platform” for Him? A stage on which to do your work while others watch and see HOW you work? If you lead just ONE person or have interact with groups of people inside OR outside your business, like vendors or, contractors, then you have a pla…
…
continue reading
72% of people who get up and go to work every day think “nobody cares about me”. That’s a WHOLE LOT of hurting people that will never experience God’s love. So, what if we just took God’s love to them? What if there was a chaplain in the workplace that looks just like them, that meets them where they are; to just listen, pray and love them? Workpla…
…
continue reading
Have you ever met someone that lives one integrated life? They seem to flow seamlessly between their work and personal life without pause or care. What is this? It’s authenticity. And its attraction is unparalleled. How is it possible? It’s living a life based on Godly values. I’d hazard a guess a person like this lives their values in this order: …
…
continue reading
Culture. Webster’s defines it in the corporate realm as: the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization. How aware are YOU of YOUR COMPANY’S culture? When’s the last time you really stopped and took a look at it? How does it align with your OWN personal values as a Christ follower? And if…
…
continue reading
Generosity. Is it an action, a state of the heart, or a mind-set? I heard recently that generosity is BEST when it includes all three and we compare it with IMPACT. Have you ever thought about your giving in this way? That your giving could possibly be leveraged for the highest impact for eternity? What if we all stopped and looked and prayed over …
…
continue reading
Ecclesiastes 4:12 says A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Are you a Christian standing alone in your work or professional life? Are YOU standing alone in OTHER areas of your life? What if you prayed and asked for a g…
…
continue reading
What do you think would happen to our economy, our country, if all the working Christians decided to “go into ministry”? There would be no “marketplace”, our economy would collapse and we would be thrown into chaos. Could it be that is NOT God’s plan or design for us? What if each of us were CALLED TO MINISTRY IN OUR WORK, right where we’re planted…
…
continue reading
What’s the difference between a career and a vocation? Career is defined as an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person's life with opportunities for progress. A VOCATION, on the other hand, is defined as a person's main occupation, especially regarded as particularly worthy and requiring great dedication. WOW. That’s a big differ…
…
continue reading
We spend more than one-third of our life at work. Yet sadly, Barna research shows nearly two-thirds of churched adults say it has been at least three years or more since they heard church teachings on work and career, and yet, the workplace is where most Americans spend the biggest share of their waking hours. What can YOU do, to introduce your chu…
…
continue reading
It comes as no surprise that less than 20 percent of Americans regularly attend church. But just about all Americans have a job. So, we COULD say that not everybody has a pastor, but just about everybody has a boss. So how will the other 80% of Americans find out about Jesus Christ if they are not stepping into a church? The current population of t…
…
continue reading
Relationship. Relational. Is there any better word to describe Christianity that sets our “religion” apart from all others? Our faith is based solely on relationship. And is there any better model for us to follow? In our life, in our work? And the basis of this relationship model is LOVE. 1 Corinthians 13:1-2 If I could speak all the languages of …
…
continue reading
When’s the last time you were UNCOMFORTABLE, OR PUT YOURSELF IN A POSITION TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE in your work? Discomfort = growth, and comfort = stagnation. The people doing the most growing are the ones that submit to spiritual and personal growth, like having a group of fellow Christ followers, who challenge them and hold them accountable, in thei…
…
continue reading
Humility. The term "humility" comes from the Latin word humilitas, a noun related to the adjective humilis, which can be translated as "humble", but also as "grounded", or "from the earth", since it derives from HUmus (earth). The greatest leaders, including our Lord have it. CS Lewis said: “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking …
…
continue reading
There is a word that defines the bible, defines Christ, and defines leadership. That word is LOVE. But isn’t love seemingly contrary to business and how it operates? Or IS IT? Did you ever have a bad boss? What quality of work did you do for them? Did you ever have a great boss? One that got the absolute best work from you? What was the difference …
…
continue reading
Money. We all need it to live. Is your view of money healthy and in alignment with biblical principles? Is the WAY you use it serving man, or God and His Kingdom. 1 John 3:17 says If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? How about your income? How abo…
…
continue reading
There is a truth about work that has been lost to much of our culture since the creation of the world. It is that GOD CREATED WORK. He created work for us, to do together and for HIS glory. Genesis 2: 19 So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call the…
…
continue reading
What if our WORK WAS our WORSHIP? The Hebrew word avodah means work, worship, and service, altogether! Work: being productive, worship: praising and glorifying God and service: a form of service to the world and our community. We are MEANT to be of service, to be PARTNERS with God in the ongoing creation of the world. The various usages of this Heb…
…
continue reading
Are you feeling as though you’re just going to work on auto-pilot? That you can do your work now, with your eyes closed, with one arm tied behind your back? When’s the last time you asked God to stretch YOU, in your work? Comfort is not a place Christ-followers should be camping out in. .... So how about you? Are you brave enough, to ask “Lord, wil…
…
continue reading
Per a 2015 Barna Group study, only 20 percent of Christian adults are involved in some sort of discipleship activity. And, less than one-quarter of Christian adults (23%) are currently being discipled by someone one-on-one. Discipleship in the context of work is known as “mentorship”. How about YOU? Are you allowing someone to mentor you as a Chris…
…
continue reading
After years of meeting with and interviewing people from all types of work and all organizational levels, there is one major truth that keeps bubbling up to the surface. The investment IN PEOPLE, above all else, pays not only Kingdom dividends, but business dividends as well. This is what Christ did, and it is the ultimate example of Christ’s holy …
…
continue reading
I think it’s safe to say that the media focuses on, and provides negative news these days. Should we just take it, and keep feeding ourselves this negativity? How does this affect your work? Do you take it with you? What are you chatting with your co-workers about? And are you feeding the beast of “all that’s wrong with world”? Or are you speaking …
…
continue reading
I heard a clever quip the other day about trying to take control from God’s hands. God is writing the story of your life: so STOP TRYING TO GRAB THE PEN FROM HIS HAND! This applies to our work as well. Sometimes we think we are living God’s plan for us in our work when we are actually just “taking Jesus with us”. And only praying to Him to ask for …
…
continue reading
Being intentional seems to be a consistent hallmark of followers of Christ. Because Christ is our best example of intentionality. Intentionality is defined as being deliberate or purposeful. How about you? How are you working with intentionality today? In the office, with your co-workers, intentionally representing Christ and showing His love and p…
…
continue reading
Have you ever experienced a major upheaval in your business or work life? Something that looked like it was taking you in the opposite direction of where you were headed? Or was (you thought) the next logical step? It’s highly possible that God is using this to move you to exactly where HE wants you to be. For HIS work, in HIS time, for THIS seaso…
…
continue reading
The wonder-woman complex. It’s an unrealistic belief that we as women need to be everything to everybody. Where did that come from? And what’s it doing to us? What if instead of trying to BE wonder-woman, we commit to be who God created us to be. .... To get to know our spiritual gifts, talents, strengths, and then went in search of God’s heart, to…
…
continue reading
What if today, we committed to operate our businesses from a philosophy of “It’s not about WHAT we sell or HOW MUCH we sell, it’s about the LIVES we TOUCH and CHANGE.” That’s “God’s way of doing business”. And it’s the exact OPPOSITE of everything we have been taught as professional business people. But isn’t that always God’s way? This counter-cu…
…
continue reading
As a business leader, if you turned your business over to God, what would that look like? What would be the result? Hundreds of business owners we’ve interviewed over the past eight years have done it. They say the result is a DEEP sense of peace vs. stress, pressure, and tension. And a new, deepening understanding of their role as a STEWARD of God…
…
continue reading
Every one of us in ministry. What? No, you say, I’m a CPA, I’m an engineer, I manage people at a construction company. Yes, and you are called to be an Ambassador for Christ there. The Apostle Paul agrees, as he wrote to the Ephesians, in Chapter 6 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on s…
…
continue reading
Are you dreading Monday? Do you start to lose your joy come Sunday evening? .... What if instead of dreading Monday, you LOOKED FORWARD TO IT? What if instead of moaning about Monday, you prayed away your dread, and replaced it with thanks, and joy and intention? .... To pray that come Monday morning, you would FEEL GOD in your work, as you work. T…
…
continue reading
For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. So how about you? Are you resting from your work? Are you taking a day off every week and keeping it holy? Are you honoring God with your business and keeping…
…
continue reading
I learned something new talking with a Physical Fitness company owner in Nashville. The only gift God has given us that we can control 100% is our body. What we eat, how we take care of it, what we feed it, if we are exercising it. Reminds me of Luke 11:36 Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as fu…
…
continue reading
If you are like me you jump up out of bed, check for emergency text messages, check the weather, rush through your morning devotional time so you can get on to the real work of the day. Just recently Martha and I were reading a book by Kim Avery “The Prayer Powered Entrepreneur” and she suggests a different approach. Kim suggests that when we have …
…
continue reading
When’s the last time you really saw your co-workers? .... Saw them as real three-dimensional people? Not just a co-worker, workplace mate or just an employee? When’s the last time you remembered, that they’re a son or daughter of God? .... That they were created, like you, by God, for a purpose. That they are worthy. That they have a life, and that…
…
continue reading
