When Your Coworker is Laid-Off.

Rumors had been spreading around the factory floor, people were being laid-off. Then I saw him coming from the office with red eyes and a tremble in his lips. He told me he was gone and had been laid-off. Then I saw others coming toward him and I quickly whispered in his ear that I would be praying for him. I felt bad for him, knowing that I was once under him and he had seniority over me. But I did not feel guilty, I had worked hard to be where I was without stabbing him or anyone else in the back. The main hurt in my heart came from the knowledge that I really did know what he was going through. I had been in his shoes many times and it was not pleasant. Even when I confessed my trust in God rather than men, I was always afraid. So I knew my friend was going through a really bad time.
Even with my feeble attempt to comfort him, I felt I could have done more. Remembering back to my days of lay-offs, I remembered those who tried to comfort me. So here is some advice to help you help them, not listed in order of importance:
1. Don't ask them if they had applied for unemployment benefits. It is insulting.
2. Prayer is needful but not as a cure all when you don't know what to say. If you believe in prayer, reassure them by praying with them face-to-face.
3. Pass on any resources that you feel they could use. I informed my friend that because he had been laid-off, there may be funds from the State that could help him further his education. He had expressed his desire to further it in previous conversations.
4. Remain their friend on social media and wherever you socialize with them away from work. It is hard to know what to say to friends in this situation and easy to just let them slid out of friendship. Stay in contact but don't feed them information about work that would make things worse.
I am sure there are many other ways to help your friend and maybe resources to guide you. But the most important thing to do is to treat them the way you would want to be treated. Love them and give them hope. Let them know they are not alone. Pass their info to others in your network that could use their experience. In closing, if you can't do it for the love of a friend, do it because one day it might be you.

Secret Saboteurs by Toni Babcock

I had a co-worker many years ago who discovered she was the victim of secret sabotage in the workplace.  She was an energetic salesperson with a pleasing personality, who had the ability to really connect with her clients.  She was attractive, magnetic, and her positive attitude brought true value to the company we served.  None of us knew why anyone would have her in their cross hairs. What we did know was a happy vivacious saleswoman, now began to appear frustrated, anxious, and defeated;  fearful as to when the next work place incident was going to unravel her success.

When she brought her suspicions to management,  it seems they initially balked.  How did they know for sure she wasn't imagining things?  The person she was implicating was an otherwise good employee that no one else would have suspected.  But as time went on, the evidence became too clear and irrefutable, and the saboteur was eventually called into question.  He was thoroughly grilled by management and presented with the evidence.  Finally, he was forced to come clean and confess  his outrageous schemes and mind-games used to destroy a fellow employee's sales success, while creating a negative image for the company.  He was promptly let go of his position and basically fired on the spot.  

In God's kingdom just as in everyday life, we humans can become a real hindrance to one another. Perhaps you wonder why you are dealing with a person who appears to be against you when you are "just trying to do your job".  You don't understand why they seem to seize every opportunity to discredit you.  These may be people who appear dismissive, overly critical, or discouraging.   People who, when you attain personal success are strangely silent, but who suddenly appear like flies on road kill every time you make a mistake.  Soon you begin to feel like road kill just waiting for the next truck to run you over.  If you have ever been there, this is precisely where the devil wants you, because when you begin to feel like road kill, you won't succeed in doing anything worthwhile in the world, or in God's kingdom.   Satan's strategy accomplished.

Here is my take on what is really happening.  When this becomes our experience, somehow we have gotten our eyes off of Jesus and onto people.  We are looking to the wrong source for spiritual strength and validation.  We've crossed the line somewhere, and now we are suffering the ill effects of our own self-sabotaging ways.  Yes, by looking to the wrong source for validation, WE have succeeded in becoming our own saboteurs!  In the process, we have begun to feel a bit too sorry for ourselves.  All is not lost however.  Jesus is still on the throne.

Learn to view these negative experiences in a positive light. Consider how God may have allowed this person into your life to make you a better Christian.  Stop feeling victimized.  Take a new perspective.   Humbly look for something your critic is saying you actually might need to hear (even if it comes across too judgmentally).  Who knows,  maybe they feel constrained to point out your mistakes for the good of God's kingdom.  If so, figure out what it is God may be trying to tell you, even if you feel like you're being run over rough shod.  Bury the hatchet.  It takes grace and humility to turn the other cheek and not retaliate.

The fact is, antagonists can come in handy.  The psalmist wrote "Let the righteous smite me - it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities," (Psalm 141:5 KJV).  Take whatever good you can out of the experience and grow in Christ without laying down and assuming  "road kill" status. Remember, God allowed this person into your life for a reason, and Jesus is watching how you handle it.

Paul's words to the church at Rome ring true for every believer in any stressful situation: " Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which in in Christ Jesus our Lord."  (Romans 8:35-39 KJV).  Paul's theme is repeated to the Corinthians when he wrote:  "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."  (II Corinthians 12:10 KJV).

Copyright 2016 (Revised from previous post of same title).

Toni M. Babcock is author of The Stone Writer, Christian Fiction for Young Readers and Teens.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com CHRISTIAN WRITER 

Spiritual Warfare Study Part One

I will be taking a little time from the subject of this blog to share from my Facebook discussion group, which at the end I will tie it to our workplace issues.

I have seen lately how Jesus spoke often of Satan, Demons and He actively delivered those oppressed by them. So I have started studying the practice of Spiritual Warfare. The Church I was part of taught and practiced this since the early 80s. We practiced it as we learned. Some things we did were way off base like believing that the little scrubbing pad frogs in our kitchens were demonic, but the Lord centered us. I have read many books on the subject, but have decided to start from scratch.
All post will be approved by me before posting. I will not allow off topic post or discussion of demonology, we know our enemy, we don't need to get in bed with him. And I will adjust rules as needed.
I will be marking each point as Step 1, Step 2, efc... so you can search the group to go back over the steps. REMEMBER that these are just guideline points. I do not presume to say I know what I am saying. I am letting you join in in my study of the practice. At any point in your spiritual develop, you need to Pray, Don;t wait on doing battle.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1808979212666505/

Here is the first post:
Step 1 in coming against an enemy is to be sure you have no allegiance to him.
“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Luke 16:15
And Jesus said:
“Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever." John 8:34-35
So if we are giving ourselves over to sin, than we are siding with the enemy.
We need to get free from this bondage first of all.
Read John 6

 ...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us... Hebrews 12:1
Can you think of anyone in the Bible (real person, not parable) that had a secret sin and it cost them everything?
 Hollywood portrays Judas as a poor misunderstood disciple. That he just wanted to help Jesus reveal Himself. That he had no choice in the matter, he had to fulfill prophecy.
Judas had a secret sin, he was a thief. See John 12:6. He spent three years hearing Jesus teach on being a giver and in that whole time he stayed a taker.
And when the time was right Satan entered him. See John 13:27 and Luke 22:3
So here is an example of someone following Jesus, but let the sin that ensnared him kept him bond to the enemy.
Can you think of a book, movie, TV show that illustrates this point?
In Steven King's movie, "Perfect Storm", an evil man/creature chooses a small island town to find his new replacement. He chooses the town because the residents can keep secrets. And he reveals the sins of all the residents as proof. The local minister has a deep secret and when the sheriff quotes scripture to try and get the people to resist the evil man, the minister is held back by unbelief and guilt and because of his sin was unable to combat the enemy. Because of sin evil was aloud it's way.

The Marketplace Christian: Episode Two of Podcast: Religion is Not a Four Let...

The Marketplace Christian: Episode Two of Podcast: Religion is Not a Four Let...: Description:  Have you ever used the phrase,"I'm not religious, I just love the Lord!" Then you need to hear this. Podcas...

Is the First Step For a Muslim Take Over of U.S. Complete?

Yesterday at work, while I was operating the press brake, this thought just came to me. I do not dwell on such things and I am not saying "thus saith the Lord",but here we go.

The thought was, The first step in a take over by Islam in the U.S. is complete. Our military is weakened and there is no incentive for our young to enlist for bad benefits and pay to risk their lives.So were will the bodies come from. From the multitude of Islamic refuges that have come over to spread Islam. They will now be told that they can gain citizenship by joining the military and those with combat or military experience and rise as and officer. Without taking oaths of allegiance to the nation. Then it would be easy to join with UN forces to move in. This is a scary thought and I pray I mind was just running a muck, but it is just to plain to ignore the possibility. Every non-Muslim should be a little concerned. Watch the news and pay attention to world events. Not in fear, just to be ready. I have peace that God is in control. I have read the end of the Book. And I know the Price of Peace. Islam says that it is a religion of peace. But do not explain what that means. It means that the only way to gain real peace is for everyone to convert to Islam. This is the same view as us Christians, except we do not believe in forced conversions. Converts are made by God's Spirit, not threats of being beheaded.
So again I pray I am wrong, but I felt I needed to share this.

Episode Two of Podcast: Religion is Not a Four Letter Word

Description: Have you ever used the phrase,"I'm not religious, I just love the Lord!" Then you need to hear this. Podcast includes the song,"I Believe in You" by Bob Dylan.

Click Here To Hear Podcast

Podcast: When the Big Dog Comes to Town

http://from-the-factory-floor.madewithopinion.com/when-the-big-dog-comes-to-town/

Wayne shares how to Not be stressed when the Boss come to visit. Also shares the song "Live What You Say" by Dallas Holm and Praise.

Episode One of Podcast: What's In A Name?

If you have noticed I have not been doing many post lately. I am doing a podcast now and I will start sharing them here. I will post a regular post from time to time but for now I will be doing this. The podcast is recorded while I am on a break at work so it is a ruff recording with no editing. The subject is just very short comments on workplace issues, how to live and witness as a Christian in our workplaces. I will be also sharing a song from my record collection. It may or may not have anything to do with the message. So please listen in and enjoy.
http://from-the-factory-floor.madewithopinion.com/whats-in-a-name/
E1 description: Has anyone ever given you a negative nickname? Then let's talk. Podcast also includes the song "Jesus Commands Us to Go" by Keith Green