Devotion to Duty

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. Colossians 3:23

As a former military member, I know what it means to serve and also am quite aware about what the term 'devotion to duty' means. Recently at a laboratory visit on post, a lab tech demonstrated what devotion to duty was. I asked how many deployments he had under his belt and he responded "two". He further indicated how rewarding it was serving the warriors overseas in a war zone. It was not that taking care of the family back home didn't matter, but his heart was with those troops in harms way daily.

Each of us in life needs to be devoted to the duties we have ascribed to us. Our youngest son just completed 25 years of schooling with the completion of a three year residency in Emergency Medicine. Part of his grad gift from my husband and I were ink pens inscribed with the Bible verse above. It is a reminder of no matter what we do in life whether a simple ditch digger, garbage collector, stay home mom, teacher, doctor, or soldier, to work hard for your earthly bosses like you are working for God, because you in fact are.

Your job is to shine for Jesus and not be a slacker!

 PRAYER: Each day no matter what I am doing help me remember who my real boss is. Help me be honorable in all I say and do, in Jesus' name. Amen.

KEEP WORKING HARD FOR JESUS

If you have a job be thankful. It is a gift from God. God never
intended people to be lazy and "suck on the government baby bottle" as
I call it. He intended for man to work hard as if working for Him.
Colossians 3:23 is a verse I like to call the Christians' work ethic
and it says 'Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as
working for the Lord and not for human masters.'

1 Thessalonians 3:19(NIV) reminds us '..the one who is unwilling to
work should not eat.' Pretty clear and straight forward.

Here today in America we celebrate Labor Day. There are plenty of
people in our country today that like to let the government give them
everything and never lift a finger to earn it. They feel entitled to
it. There indeed are legitimate cases of those who are unable to
work, but if you can then you need to be. Working is a way a person
can feel good about providing for himself and/or a family. It builds
self esteem when you are contributing something.

Even the concept of just "shutting down shop" to retire is not in the
Bible. I have seen many older citizens who love working or
volunteering and contributing to society and not feeling like life
was over. It helps them to be around the younger generations too. If
you are retired and reading this I am not trying to guilt you but if a
person is in good health and able to work they should be allowed.

Stay home moms, your job is extremely important so please do not put
yourself down thinking you need to be in some office tower somewhere.

Today on this Labor Day be sure to give thanks for the gift of
employment and an income. Thank The Lord for the skills He has blessed
you with.

Proverbs 14:23 says 'All hard works brings a profit but mere talk
leads only to poverty.'

Both Ben Carson, MD and Star Parker, President of C.U.R.E. began life
in dire poverty and they were determined to make a good life for
themselves. It can be done. Never quit trying.

PRAYER: We celebrate the labor force today Lord and we thank you for
the blessing and gift of a hard earned income. I pray for those
needing jobs that you will encourage them to keep on and not give up.
In Jesus' name. Amen!

WORK IS A BLESSING...SAY WHAT?

A few days ago I heard a lady complaining about her job. Someone asked her how things were going and she replied something to the effect that everything but her work was great. Granted I know there are situations with impossible bosses, bad work conditions, or harsh treatment of employees, but to be able to have employment in this day and age is a blessing. Even probably the greatest job in the world has its' downside.

The attitude we should have as a believer is "how can I impact my workplace for Christ. How can I overlook the hurtful co workers or back biting that may occur." Realize God is instrumental in where you are and ask Him to make you a light in a dark place.

One of my favorite verses about work or life in general is found in Colossians 3:23(NIV) and it says 'Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.' You may have to pray for God to give you the strength and ability to love impossible bosses or co workers. Pray also for a good attitude.

Work is necessary in order to provide for yourself and your family. The Bible says in 2 Thessalonians 3:10(ESV) it says 'For even when we were with you, we would give you this command:If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.' Those who get constant handouts lose the desire to contribute to society and work but think it is the government who needs to take care of them.

Consider your job a blessing. If you are a stay home mom be grateful as you are being able to be a full time leadership developer and impact the next generation. I always hate it to hear stay home moms say they are "just" a mom.

No matter what your job is do it just as if Jesus were right there beside you. Ask Him for opportunities to be a light in a dark world.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus help me whatever I do to be an example for you whether in my home or in the work place. Help me shine your light out into the world around me which desperately needs you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

WORK AS IF WORKING FOR THE LORD

Today our nation celebrates Labor Day usually bringing on the anticipation of cooler weather,football season, and back to school time. What is Labor Day really? The first Labor Day was 1882. It stemmed from a Central Labor Union wanting a holiday for their workers. It became a Federal holiday in 1894. People were to celebrate trade and labor organizations. Some places used to hold parades and speeches.

 As I think of Labor Day I think of work. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden by eating fruit God told them not to God had something to say in Genesis Chapter 3. It is too long to put here but basically God said to man " because you disobeyed me you will work the land all the days of your life". Take time and read Genesis 1 through 3 for a refresher. It has some good things in there we all need to remember.

 In society today in America, our government almost encourages laziness by increasing welfare and unemployment. People get to feeling entitled and thus become dependent and lazy expecting everything. They have no desire to do anything if the government and hard working tax payers are  doling it out to them. It says in 2 Thessalonians 3:10 "For even when we were with you we gave you this rule, if a man does not work he does not eat." Parents, it is good to start  teaching your young children responsibility so they do not grow up lazy and expecting someone else to do things for them . Their future spouses will thank you too. When you do work, do it with a smile and be thankful for your job. Colossians 3:23 says " Whatever you do do it with all our heart as if working for the Lord and not for man." Working brings a reward too to help you pay your bills and do fun things. Now stay at home moms out there, you are working too and yours is the most important job ever so never say "I am just a mom" and men show respect and love to those beautiful women who are raising your children. It is not easy. My husband even got me my own stay home mom business card several years ago when my children were small.

Genesis 2:2-3 is where the verse is giving us Sunday, the Sabbath, as a day of rest. When I was young, on this day no malls were open and mostly only an occasional gas station, movie theater, or restaurant were open. It was actually quite refreshing as I recall. One day of less hustle and bustle, giving workers a day of rest and time to worship the Lord too. You need to to refresh and renew. Honor that day.

Those retired among us, do not just drift away thinking you can play golf or sit in a rocking chair. If you are blessed with health and ability to get around go find a place to volunteer. There are many places who would be thrilled with your services. Stop saying you are too old.Keep working past that set retirement age if you feel like it. Who says you are too old?

Today stop and say thanks too for those critical employees such as doctors, nurses, medical staff, firefighters, police, and the military who do not have this day off. We appreciate what they do to keep us healthy, safe, and secure.

So today if you are blessed with a day off enjoy it. Regardless be sure to thank the Lord for your job and the blessing of work. Get up each day and say "I get to go to work today" instead of "I have to go to work today". See your job as a Mission field God has placed you in. Stay home moms that means you are ministering to those darling little children. Go now into your mission field being thankful each and every day.

 PRAYER: Lord thank you for jobs. Thank you for those who create jobs.thank you for the blessing of an income. Thank you Lord for giving me the opportunity to witness where you have placed me. In Jesus name.amen.
>>

OLYMPIANS! NOW THERE IS DEDICATION!

We in the world are now enjoying the summer Olympics from London and  in awe of the athletic feats of these dedicated athletes. For an athlete to even get picked for the team and then to reach the podium for one of three medals takes a life of hard work, sacrifice, discipline and dedication. You do not become world class by doing something half way.It takes  dedication!
Athletes on a minor scale have to stay fit for the sports they enjoy . You can not just sit on a couch  for months and months then expect to get up and go complete a 10k race. It just will not happen. Discipline and dedication are the keys.

If only we could be as dedicated and devoted to our Bibles and knowledge of Jesus as we were to other things we like whether it is sports, working out, a hobby, or your job. Just think if you were to have a passion for Christ and want to know him better there would be no stopping for winning the gold medal of sorts in your spiritual life. You would be able to better cope with struggles that are bound to come your way.

1 Corinthians 9:24 says "do you not know that in a race all runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. "  I like to run and used to run in lots of races and would always focus on what was ahead of me and not the people behind me. Keep looking towards the finish line of life and not turning around and rehashing the past. Stay focused on Jesus.

Let me leave you  with a verse from Isaiah 40:31 which says " they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint."

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I want to be trained in Godliness and not be a flabby Christian. Help me to utilize the  tools at my disposal, such as my Bible to learn more about you and how to live a Christian life. I know Satan will get me to make excuses for not picking it up daily but I resist him in The name of Jesus as he has no power over me. In Jesus name. Amen.