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I got tagged by Dan at Management by God as a recipient of the Thinking Bloggers Award and was totally surprised when told about it. It was last month but I’ve held off as I wanted to update the look of this blog and have been spending time going through tons of templates. Anyway, now I can concentrate on this and other posts.

I felt honoured to be given this award. This blog began in May 2006 because of the direction that God was leading me in. I’ve since become part of a business ministry team at my church and am seeing things happening amongst our local business community.

The participation rules are simple:

1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme,
3. Optional: Proudly display the ‘Thinking Blogger Award’.

So that meant Dan had set me on this journey to find 5 blogs that make me think – actually there are heaps of them. But here are 5 I’m tagging and passing the award to:

1. Talk to Bev
2. Connect Simply
3. Rodney Olsen
4. Morsels From God
5. PopArt Diva

I would also like to offer my prayers over these bloggers and ask God to bless their continued work and outreach through what they do on a daily basis. Amen.

Our Pastor had a great message last night at church. He always has great messages, it’s just that some things set me thinking (and writing) and often sets something in motion.

One of the things he said last night was “God will often show you a glimpse of your influence at the point where you feel like giving up!” Ain’t that the truth?

Ps Rob gave an example which immediately took me back to several instances of when I wanted to give up but pushed through because someone contacted me at that crucial moment to say how much something I’d done or said had an effect on their lives.

Wow! How did they know to contact me right at that very moment? Because I’d prayed to God asking Him what should I do? Should I continue or should I give up? Sometimes I would be crying out loud (thank goodness I work in an office alone otherwise others would wonder what was going on) and other times simply praying silently with tears rolling down my cheeks.

I’ve found as I’ve pushed forward with what I know God has charged me with, I encounter even more opposition, and often those things are personal attacks on me, what I do, my life, my character and so on. This was particularly the case last year as I was writing my book “Worth More Than Rubies“, and especially as it got close to the point of publication and distribution. Fortunately the teachings I’d received over the years in church and elsewhere had told me that when we’re doing God’s work, there will be continued attacks to try and knock us off our path.

When I got back home from church I read the message on my calendar for the day and had to smile – a reinforcement from God.

“Only be strong and courageous!” Joshua 1:18 NIV.
God had battles for you to fight and win in his strength, but you must do your part.

Our Pastor has been speaking more about Ministry in the Marketplace, reminding all of our church members that they are Ministers in their workplaces. It’s so good to hear everyone being reminded of this. We have been commissioned to go ‘out there’ and minister to others about our faith, about our experiences, about what Jesus has done for those we live and work with on a daily basis.

Perhaps you have no idea what to say or how to say it? Don’t worry about it. We don’t need to be eloquent speakers, practiced in witnessing or preaching. Rather we are charged to just share our own personal experiences. If you are working with someone who is having a challenge in life, think about whether you’ve experienced similar and share your experience with them. Let them see from your own personal experience what choices you made in life and where you are today. Our own life experiences are what others need to know about. Our actions speak louder than words. Just be a friend and a support and encourager. Let God do the rest.

witnessing, sharing experience, ministry in the marketplace

I was attending a business workshop the other day and as I was supporting the person doing the workshop, was there prior to people turning up, greeting people, handing out name tags and so on. This gave me opportunity to speak to everyone and get to know people and find out things about them.

Can’t remember the reason why but one of the women mentioned the church she goes to and I immediately told her about my church and the Business Ministry we have therein. She was interested and asked if she could be put on the mailing list and gave me her card. We had continued our conversation as others sat at our table.

Later, about a half hour or so into the presentation, her business partner turned up late and sat beside her in the chair that had been saved for the latecomer and the two proceeded to chatter constantly all the way through the presentation. I did feel this to be rather rude – people came to the workshop to listen to the presenter and not the two women who chatted constantly but it also saddened me. Because I was very aware that others had been listening to the earlier conversation I had with one of the women about our churches and the business ministry. What must they now be thinking of this same lady?

We are constantly reminded by Paul in the New Testament to follow his example, who in turn follows the example of Christ. If we are to be a light to the world then it is important that we show that light constantly and lead by example. Many only know Christ through ourselves and it is through us that they might decide to come to know Christ too. But if what they see turns them off, what then?

In Romans 14:13 we are encouraged to “Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way”. The earlier part of this verse also mentions not to pass judgement on one another and I’m at risk of doing the same and that wasn’t my intention, but rather just to make you, the reader, aware that we are always on show and what we say and what we do are seen and heard by others. It is important that we act as we speak.

There may have been a legitimate reason for these two women to keep conversing throughout the presentation – they were business partners and perhaps much of what was being said needed discussion for future application, however it did mean that the ability of others at their table to hear what was being said was depleted and unfortunately could have coloured their perception of a Christian in Business. KMT

Christian in business, lead by example, Romans 14:13, Ministry in Business

Have you noticed in the accounts of Paul in the New Testament, that whenever he entered a new town, he first went to their synagogue and the very next place to visit was their marketplace. Why do you suppose that is?

Paul knew that was where the activity of the town took place and where he would find key people in the community. He wanted to reach the business people, the ones in the community that made things happen, those that fed and clothed the families, supported the families and the people as a whole. He wanted to reach the decision makers, the influencers of the community and those who could support and encourage a new ministry being developed in that area. Paul wasn’t fussed about who those business people were. He spoke to both men and women in the marketplace and introduced the Christian faith to them all.

Who do you know in the marketplace that you can introduce Christ to?  Who do you know that needs a friend or just someone to listen to them?

In the business world we are often so wrapped up in what we’re doing on a daily basis, and meeting deadlines, that often friendships, or the potential for friendships, are shoved aside. But don’t forget we are on show always, and that we have the light of Christ to shine. How will people see that if we don’t do something about it?

One way we can touch others is to spend time getting to know them. That could mean at networking events, over lunch or a cuppa, at a staff meeting or in an elevator. It means making use of our ears, our hearts and our minds and really listening to what others are saying and picking up on the unspoken word, the body language, the ‘attitude’ or something that demonstrates they have a need or that something is missing.  Often this will take place over several occasions and not just one meeting, but sometimes you might just strike them when the need is urgent. Seek God and listen and He will point you to those who need to hear from you.  KMT