Work

Just Get It Done

/ Jana / Leave a comment

Work Ethic. God has been talking to me a lot about the self-discipline and tenacity required to complete in life. At the Yes and Amen retreat we discussed that a work ethic is a “set of guiding principles that we live by,” a set of beliefs, if you will. This can be a good thing or a bad thing.

If you believe you are 100% responsible for your choices and actions, your work ethic is  good. If you think believe that someone else will take care of you and rescue you from your own laziness or lack of boundaries, or lack or desire, your work ethic is not so good.

Before you spiral out of control in a complaint that life is not supposed to be “performance based,” hear me out. Your beliefs determine your actions. Therefore, your “work” ethic effects  your job but it also parallels how you do relationships, emotions, personal physical care, and even your God life.

What are you “willing” to do to invest and impact your own future? If you are waiting for “feeling” like it, you are waiting on the wrong motivator. Your feelings are not in charge. Your Will is the engine of your life.

“Self discipline is the ability to do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.” Elbert  Hubbard

Don’t think that life with God is devoid of work and effort. He is always happily, creatively working and wants us to join in what He is doing. He created us to create, produce and yield a harvest in many different ways.  We ourselves are fortified when we put effort and energy into a task. Whether that is family, work, or friend related, our creative power matters to others and it matters to our own heart.

Ask anyone who has been out of work for a long time. There is this slow leak of of dignity because we innately know we were made to be working and contributing to the world and God’s Kingdom.  Proverbs 28:19 says, “He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.”

Are you talking or are you doing your life?  Are you completing and fulfilling and what you have been told to do, what you yourself have promised to do? Or are you chasing the fantasy that someone else will pick up the slack?

Stop the drama. The excuses. The blame. The chatter.
Just get it done…

God’s Work?

/ Jana / Leave a comment

I am reading this great book, Rework. It is one of those rare books that actually has something fresh to say rather than regurgitated mush. Small is good. Meetings are a waste. No time is no excuse. And, I like how God keeps talking about “work” through this book, and others, like Linchpin and Proverbs.

Proverbs says: all hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

These authors remind us about the beauty of “work.” Work is not workaholism, busy for busy sake or busy for a pat on the back. More hours is not more work. Work is not watching the clock, punching a card.

Work is something very intrinsic to our nature; it is set apart. Dare I say it – Holy? When you sit around and watch TV, surf the web, or whatever you do to “zone” out, do you feel good? Proud of how you spent your time?

Or, rather, when you have attacked a problem and begun resolution, when you have quit making excuses and started writing, working out, cleaning, building, whatever you’ve been avoiding, don’t you feel PRODUCTIVE? You have created something of value.  And in some small measure you feel more alive. I’m not talking about proving value; I’m talking about revealing God’s giftings.

God never does half-ass work.  He always puts His whole heart into whatever He is doing. He loves what He is doing, and nothing deserves less than His best. Maybe, just maybe, that is why Colossians says: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the
Lord, not for men. (3:23)

God has created you for good works so that the two of you, together might be revealed. So are you working, or talking about working?

Lord, teach us to count the days and make the days count. Amen.

When Art Comes to Life

/ Jana / 3 Comments

There used to be a TV show when I was a kid, and the long awaited line every week was when the main character would say: “I love it when a plan comes together.”

(If you remember this show, shoot it back to me.)  Anyway, that is how I feel about the new website, www.womengettingreal.com

It took hours of thinking, stretching, aligning, coding, even arguing, but it is live and I hope you love it as much as we do. Take a look around and give us feedback suggestions. There are lots of things to see and digest.

Hats off to Michael Wender and Lyschel Burket for bringing this piece of art to life.  It felt a lot like labor at times, but my what a beautiful baby!! Thanks for all the hours and expertise.

It reminds me of the book, Linchpin, by Seth Godin. Work well done takes your breath away, because it becomes art for all to see.  Work as unto the Lord today. And let Him and us enjoy your art.