I am excited to say that I will be attending a conference for a few days in Las Vegas! I’ve never been to Las Vegas. I’m not sure what to expect. I’ve heard the good and the bad. I’ve received advice. People have told me what to expect, but until I experience for myself, I will never really know.

That’s the way it is with Jesus. You can hear all the stories. You can read what the Bible says about Him. You can be told what to expect. But until you make the decision to experience Jesus for yourself, you will never know what it’s really like to be forgiven, redeemed, loved, a child of the King, accepted, filled with the Spirit and so much more. Why not take that important step toward Jesus today?

The conference I’m heading to is work-related. A group of Senior Administrative Assistants will be gathering to talk about our jobs. But since I’ll be pretty busy over the next few days, I’ll be re-posting some older blogs. And since my time away is work-related, my repeat blog posts will be about work as well. I pray that you will have a blessed week. I will miss you!

Work

I was helping Mom go through a few boxes this week and in the process found a plaque with this saying:

“It sure does make a day long when you get to work on time.”

I laughed when I read it and wondered how many people I know think this way. As I thought about my own work history, I believe I’ve tried to give my all in every position, but in reality I’m sure there were times when I didn’t give 100%.

And guess what? God has a few things to say about this topic as well.

Ecclesiastes 5:18-19 is where we’ll start. “Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him—for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God.” I know not everyone is happy in their work. But oh how much better life is when we accept it for what it is and strive to be happy doing it.

Colossians 3:23-24 tells us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” We must put everything into our work because we should look at it as if we are working for God. We are serving Jesus!

“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anyone.” (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12) There is something very satisfying about working with our hands. Knowing we can create or repair something should be part of our ambition.

And then in 2 Thessalonians 3:10 we see these words. “For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘If a man will not work, he shall not eat.’” These words sound harsh, but they key words are “will not.” We must be willing to do what we can to make our lives better. You’ve heard it before, “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.”[i]

And then there is the idea that we are to be doing good work for God. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture if God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” We need to be equipped by studying God’s Word and be ready and willing to do good works.

Ephesians 2:10 tells us, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” God created us to do good things in our world so that we might give praise to Him.

I’ve been unemployed for nearly two years and am still looking for a job. I look forward to the day I can once again give my all to a position. But until that time, I will give 100% to my writing and this blog. And I will be happy!

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna

[i] Author unknown