“From now on if you listen obediently to the commandments that I am commanding you today, love God, your God, and serve him with everything you have within you, he’ll take charge of sending the rain at the right time …” Deuteronomy 11:13-14 (The Message)

Repeatedly, the Bible says to “serve the Lord with all your heart.” God wants you to serve him passionately, not dutifully. People rarely excel at tasks they don’t enjoy doing or feel passionate about. God wants you to use your natural interests to serve him and others.

How do you know when you’re serving God from your heart?

The first telltale sign is enthusiasm. When you’re doing what you love to do, no one has to motivate you, or challenge you, or check up on you. You do it for the sheer enjoyment. You don’t need rewards, or applause, or to be paid, because you love serving in this way.

The opposite is also true: When you don’t have a heart for what you’re doing, you’re easily discouraged.

One characteristic of serving God from your heart is effectiveness: whenever you do what God wired you to love to do, you get good at it. Passion drives perfection. If you don’t care about a task, it is unlikely that you’ll excel at it.

On the other hand, the highest achievers in any field are those who do it because of passion, not duty or profit.

We’ve all heard people say, “I took a job I hate in order to make a lot of money, so someday I can quit and do what I love to do.” That’s a big mistake. Don’t waste your life in a job that doesn’t express your heart.

Remember, the greatest things in life are not things. Meaning is far more important than money. The richest man in the world once said, “A simple life in the fear-of-God is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches” (Proverbs 15:16, The Message).

Don’t settle for achieving “the good life,” because the good life is not good enough. Ultimately, it doesn’t satisfy. You can have a lot to live on, and still have nothing to live for. Aim instead for “the better life” – serving God in a way that expresses your heart.

Figure out what you love to do – that which God gave you a heart for – and then do it for his glory!

Question: In today’s tough economy, it may not be possible to always be doing a job we love. How can we nonetheless seek to glorify God regardless of our current occupation?

About this Author: Rick Warren

Are you confused and have too many responsibilities? One of our mentors would like to listen to you.

Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30 am EDT.

Susan sat by the window with her pen and paper on her lap.  A few quiet moments were hers to contemplate the things going on her life right now!  Today she found herself a bit anxious about the future.  She felt less in control then ever before.  She jotted down some definite actions she would make a point of pursuing.

She made a quick list of the things beyond work and home responsibilities that she had committed to.  She knew she needed to be deliberate in her choices to continue in some and not in others.  She paused to ask God to guide her in her choices and her plans.  He knew every detail of her live and He was the one who could give her direction.

As she prayed a verse came to her mind.  She thumbed through her Bible looking for it.  It brought a perspective to her mind and heart.  A perspective that put life into bite size, manageable pieces.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him”  (Colossians 3:17).

Whether the big picture ahead brings you excitement or anxiousness, God gives a formula to live by daily.  He tells us that in whatever we say or do we should consider our words and actions to be representing Jesus and to display a thankful attitude.

Try it. Take your day one conversation and one action at a time.  Recognize yourself as a representative of Jesus and His love and values as you move through your workplace and your home.  Ask Him to cultivate thankfulness in your heart even in the situations that frustrate you.  You will be surprised at the peace He gives as you hold His hand throughout each part of today. It will carry you, step by step and day by day, throughout the planned and the unplanned events of your life. It will revolutionize your days!!

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me just the way I am today.  Father God, You know the things that I need to change. You know the things that excite me and the things that worry me.  Thank you that You give me instruction in Your Word about how to face each new day.  I ask You today to help me speak and act in a way that represents You to those around me.  Father, there are people and situations that annoy and frustrate me. Please help me to cultivate a thankful heart even in the midst of frustrating moments. Help me to live, in everything today, in the peace that following You brings to my soul.  Guide me I pray. In Jesus name, Amen.

Questions: Is your life in a state of confusion? Why? How can you start to get your days more manageable and less hectic?

About the Author Gail Rodgers

How to Love the Job You’ve Got
Every day we hear about people making radical career changes. The opportunities exist, but will all these changes make us any happier once we get there? Maybe the question is not “how can I get the job I’ll love?”, but “how can I love the job I have?” Following are four practical steps towards coming to terms with why you do what you’re doing. Take some time to think about it, and you might be surprised by what you find. Read more

Take action: Whether it’s at home, at school, at work, or elsewhere, we all face conflict. Why not try our Dealing With Conflict online interactive life lesson?

You said it: This week, Diana commented on 5 Levels of Communication, saying “Sounds like he has fear of intimacy issues. I would suggest you see a counselor.” Read the article and add your own thoughts: Read more

Video: Street Level – Communication
Are hearing and listening the same thing? In this Street Level video we went to the streets to get your opinions. Add your own thoughts in the comments! Read more

Feature: Overcoming Anger
As we look at relationships today we have to ask: what has gone wrong? How can we personally overcome -anger- that enemy which causes so much relationship distress? Read more

Coming up next week: One of the topics of our upcoming online chats is “Does Prayer Really Work?” Join us in the chat room October 4th 2009 @ 9:00pm EST for this chat or see also our full chat calendar for other upcoming topics.

Imagine you are camping with your family by a big lake. You’ve cooked dinner over the fire and now you are relaxing around the campfire roasting marshmallows and eating s’mores. There is no wind and the lake is perfectly still looking like a mirror reflecting a beautiful sunset. After eating the s’mores, the kids decide to throw rocks into the lake. They are captivated with the ripples they are making in the water, having a great time seeing who can make the biggest ripples.

Dad comments to Mom that the ripples the kids are making when throwing the rocks in the water remind him of the affect our prayers can have on others. Our intercessory prayers for our family members, friends, co-workers and others to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ will have a ripple affect. They will affect their lives and the lives of those with whom they come in contact, even future generations.

In my family archives I found a letter written by my great-grandfather in Poland to my grandfather who had immigrated to America. In the letter, he wrote that he was praying for my grandfather, his children, and grandchildren. It has been a blessing for me to see, in writing, that my great-grandfather living in Poland had prayed for me when I was a small child. My great-grandfather’s prayers had a ripple effect on my grandfather, my father and on me.

We might be surprised how our prayers for our friends, neighbors, co-workers have a ripple effect on their lives and the lives they touch. When we introduce someone to Jesus Christ and he or she invites Him into their life, that person will have an influence on their families and others. We will never know many people they will influence for Jesus Christ in their families, neighborhoods, workplace and beyond.

Another way we can have a ripple effect is how we live our lives. As we seek the Lord ourselves and invest time, energy, and effort in our own walk with the Lord, we will have a ripple affect on our families and relationships.

In Psalms 128:1 and 2 it says, “When we walk with the Lord and follow his ways, we will enjoy the fruit of our labors and our lives will be rich”. Let’s deliberately pray for our loved ones, walk with the Lord and follow his ways then we will see the ripple effect, just as our kids enjoy the ripple effect from the rocks they throw into the water. We will enjoy the fruit of our labors and be richly blessed when we see God at work in the lives of others. We may not see the answers to our prayers during our lifetime but they will be in God’s storehouse and have a ripple effect.

Dear Lord I want to follow your ways so my prayers and the way I live my life will glorify you and have a ripple effect to my loved ones and those with whom I come in contact. Help me to be sensitive to the needs of others so I can pray for them and encourage them in their walk with you. Amen.

Questions: Do you pray intentionally for your families, neighbors, co-workers, friends, pastor, Missionaries etc?  Do your prayers or the way you live your life have a ripple effect on others?

About the Author Lillian Penner

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people” Colossians 3:23, TEV)

The apostle Paul teaches that we are to work as though we are “working for the Lord and not for people.” He’s saying that no job is too small; no job is too menial; no job is too insignificant when you have the right motive and perspective. We should think, “I’m doing it for God; I’m doing this job as if I’m doing it for the Lord.” I used to clean meat lockers in a butcher shop, and I would clean them as unto the Lord.

Now, how do I know if I’m doing my work for the Lord? Two characteristics will show up in your attitude: excellence and enthusiasm.

First, if I’m doing my work, not for the boss but for the Lord, I’ll do it with excellence. That means I give it my best shot. I do the best I can because I’m not doing it for anyone’s approval, except God’s. I do it with excellence, being the best I can be.

Second, I do my work with enthusiasm. I’m working for God; therefore, I do it with a cheerful attitude. “Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically” (Romans 12:11, NLT).

When you are working with all your heart, motivated by the love of Christ, your work is transformed into an act of worship for God.

Question: What does it mean to work “to please God”? When may doing God’s work not also please those around you?

About this Author: Rick Warren

“Teaching is a tough job, requiring boundless energy, time and dedication, both during the school day and beyond. In the course of any day, teachers tie shoelaces, wipe noses and keep order in a classroom of 30 or more students – all while striving to ensure that these students achieve at the highest levels,” said Jess M. Brallier, publisher, Family Education Network. “Teacher Appreciation Week gives parents and students a special time to thank the education professionals in their schools for their expertise and devotion to helping our children build a love for learning.” (PRWeb)

Looking for something nice you can get for your child’s teacher (or any teacher that you know)? There may be just the thing on the FamilyEducation website’s list of the “Top 10 Gifts for Teachers“.

Did you have a favorite teacher growing up? What made them so special? And if you are a teacher yourself, please feel free to share your struggles and triumphs with us!

Related reading: The Teachable Teacher – “When I began attending school, I loved my first grade teacher so much that I decided to become a primary school teacher.” Read Elena Chukreyeva’s story of life & faith.

Meta-Job Searches
Why search just one site when you can automatically search multiple job sites at once? Indeed.com (Indeed.ca in Canada) returns job listings at several job sites and individual companies’ listings automatically.

Contract Jobs
Consider a different type of employment: Use your skills and earn money with contract work. Project4Hire.com is a great source for general contract jobs, while ELance.com is the site of choice for IT/coding/tech jobs. Meanwhile if you’re handy with arts & crafts, you can sell your work on Etsy.com.

Non-profit/Charity Jobs
Help others and get paid for it by working for a non-profit. In Canada, CharityVillage.com is a popular source for charity jobs, while OpportunityKnocks.org offers a similar resource for US residents.

Specialized Job Search Sites
Many job sites exist which focus on particular careers. For example MediaJobSearchCanada.com concentrates on jobs involved with new media, marketing, and technology, eFinancialCareers.com offers business careers, while LawJobs.com indexes jobs within the legal profession. See this useful list of National & Specialized Job Listings for more in your own profession.

Online Classifieds
Old favorite CraigsList and growing competitor Kijiji are like national newspaper classified ads. Be careful, anyone can post an ad, so be wary of ads making fabulous promises or offering few details about the job and/or employer.

Please share your favorite job search websites or resources with us!

Related reading: How hardship caused one successful businessman to redefine success.

Image credit: davidfg

The Millennials Are Coming
In The Millennials Are Coming 60 Minutes reporter Morley Safer describes the generation of young people now graduating from school into the work force. Motivated more by their desire to have a life outside of work than a paycheck, gone are the days of working 9 to 5 in an office. Have you experienced this phenomenon yourself among your coworkers, or do you see these traits in yourself? See the video

Take action: Are “Millennials” still interested in spirituality? Explore your spiritual side in our Investigating Spirituality online interactive life lessons.

You said it: This week, Caitlin commented on What is true love?, saying “… I also think that comments using religion should cease, as religion has to do with one person and one person only; yourself. A personal belief (which is what a religion is) should stop being presented as fact. “Sex is created for marriage–a long-lasting commitment between a couple” This statement is a belief, not a fact, and it should be labelled and written as such …” Agree? Disagree? Have your say on this article!

Blog: Swine Flu Fear
News about “Swine Flu” has caused widespread concern, perhaps with memories of the SARS outbreak only a few years ago. Are you worried? Read more

Article: Ready for the Job Offer
Here’s how to know what kind of salary to expect for your job and be ready for your next interview! Read more

Coming up next week: One of the topics of our upcoming online chats is “Hindrances to Growth” Join us in the chat room May 2nd 2009 @ 12:15pm EST for this chat or see also our full chat calendar for other upcoming topics.

A busy life can hinder us from reacquainting ourselves with who we really are. We live in an ever changing world. New technologies and inventions constantly assault our senses and challenge the very notion of who we are.

Transition and self-worth

Transitions in life often force us to slow down and take a step back to reassess our lives. Entering another phase of life can be rather unsettling and stressful whether you are clocking 30 years of age or 50 and beyond. Because of our society’s obsession with youth and beauty, growing old is not usually welcome. There is no escape. As long as we live, we will eventually age.

For a woman with many family responsibilities and a demanding job outside the home, it can be rather tough. When the children grow up and start school or leave home, parents, especially mothers, can find themselves thrown into a crisis simply because they built their sense of self-worth on the wrong foundation.

Take stock

After years of ignoring who you really are, it is important to give yourself time to take stock. Is your life uneventful and dull? It needn’t be. Discovering your feelings, what you want and the possibilities that lie ahead of you will rejuvenate you.

Set goals

Self-depreciating thoughts do us no good. Build a sense of self-worth by setting out goals for yourself. As you move forward to greater things, allow yourself to enjoy the sophistication and confidence that maturity brings.

Inject excitement into your life

Create opportunities for social interaction and learn something new. As you expand your social circle, you’ll find that you inject excitement into your life which can be carried on to those around you.

Working within your circumstances will give you a jump-start and a sense of direction for the next phase in your life. You can then be thankful for your experiences because it is our experiences that mold us. Years later, you can look back on your transition in life and know that you have passed through another of life’s tests.

Are you searching for joy in your life? Read about How to Begin to Experience Discover Joy in your own life.

Most people apply for jobs not really knowing how much the position will pay.

If you are transferring within your department or are making a career change you don’t want to sell yourself short and accept less money than what the company is willing to pay to fill the position.

Other than breaking into the H.R. department and combing through their files how else is an applicant going to figure out how much the position will pay?

The wrong way:  If you are applying for a position internally do not ask the person that is already performing the job you want to have how much they are being paid.  Somehow word gets around when people begin discussing their salaries and the end result is never pretty.

The right way: Do your own research and do not divulge the information to your co-workers.  You will want to research whether the role you are going after offers a bonus or commission.  Most positions are paid on either a salaried (exempt level) or hourly (non-exempt level) basis.

Great web sites to check out that will reveal what salary range should be offered for your role are: www.salary.com, www.payscale.com, and www.salaryexpert.com.

Look at the job description sometimes it will tell you what the pay range is.  Also, sometimes the pay-grade will be listed on the job description.

If you are an internal candidate then you can gauge the salary range via the pay-grade.  If the pay-grade is listed at a 14 and your current pay-grade is 13, then you will know that the position will pay more than your current role.

If you receive a phone interview or introductory call from a recruiter or hiring manager it is appropriate to ask what is the pay being offered for the role; be sure to save this question for the end of the conversation.

Even if you learn that the pay is less than what you are currently earning you may want to consider other factors before you decide whether or not to move forward with the role.

Factors to consider along with the salary:

Management – Will you like your new management team?

Co-Workers – Will you like your new co-workers?  Will you fit in with the group?

Training/Education – Will training or educational courses be offered for your department?

New Challenges – Will you be learning anything new at your new job?

Career Growth – Will there be room for you to move upwards within your new department/company?

Benefits – Will your new company offer a good benefit package?

Hours – Will your new job require you to work more than 50 hours a week?

Your work-life balance is sure to suffer if you are consistently working up to/or over 50 hours a week.

Shift – Will you be working the shift that will suite your lifestyle?

Reputation – Does your new company have a good reputation?  Working for a prestigious or reputable company will enhance the way recruiters and hiring managers view your resume.

Exempt Level Status – Many people have difficulty going from non-exempt (hourly paid where you are eligible to receive overtime pay) to exempt (salaried paid position that does not offer overtime pay) status.  When employees have come to rely on their overtime pay they think that they will actually take a pay-cut if they accept a salaried position.  Initially you might receive less pay but in the long run it will be a much wiser move.

Overtime hours are not a guarantee.  When preparing your offer, the decision makers will more than likely factor in your overtime pay (this is true primarily for internal candidates).  The move from non-exempt to exempt is necessary in order to move up within your career.  If you want to move upwards you will have to make this move sometime, you might as well do it when the opportunity is presented to you.

When to walk away: If you learn that the salary is considerably lower than what you are earning and there will not be much room for advancement, or there will not be any new challenges to learn something new, then you may want to remove yourself from consideration.  If your work-life balance will be severely impacted for the negative you should reconsider the job opportunity.

So the next time you’re offered a job with a salary that reflects your skills and what the market is paying for that role you can confidently say, “I’ll take it!”

Four Recruiter Secrets

1. Although rare, a company will extend offers outside of the salary guidelines.  This is rare because the approval process can be very tedious and a potential career risk for the recruiter who must approach superiors to request the increase for the desired candidate

2. The average yearly cost to provide health care benefits to an employee is $9,312.

3. If you are faced with having to take a pay-cut in order to accept an offer with a more prestigious company you would be wise to accept the offer.

In the long run having worked for the prestigious, highly-reputable company will enhance your career.  Your background will appear more desirable to recruiters and hiring managers.  You will undoubtedly learn skills and processes that will strengthen your ability to perform in the workplace.

4. Corporations highly value the over-forty employee as they bring maturity, solid communication skills, a strong work ethic and a varied skills set.

The seasoned professional that brings the right skills to the table should have no problem obtaining the salary their skill-set demands.

Dealing with stress from job interviews, workplace politics, or a hectic home life? Try our online interactive life lesson, “Beating Stress“.