“Jesus gave them this answer: ‘I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.’” - John 5:19

Have you ever thought about a typical day in Jesus’ life? Perhaps He might have had questions like these, “Who am I going to heal today? Who will I visit today? Which person will I deliver from demons this day?” etc. The demands on Jesus’ time were great. Yet we see that Jesus allocated His time very deliberately. We don’t get the idea that Jesus was flustered or stressed from the activity He was involved in. He often sought times of prayer and reflection away from the disciples. His life appeared to have a balance of quiet moments and active ministry into the lives He came in contact with.

How do we determine what we will be involved in each day of our lives? What keeps us in sync with the will of our heavenly Father for the daily tasks He calls us to? Jesus tells us that He was only involved in those things the Father was involved in. Nothing more, nothing less. So often we determine our participation in an activity based on whether we have the time to do it or whether we desire to participate. The real question we should ask is, “Does the Father want me to participate in this activity?”

“Lord, should I add this Bible study to my schedule? Should I spend an extra night out on this committee this week? Should I take on new business that will take me away from home more? Should my daughter be involved in music lessons?” These are the daily challenges for the world we now live in. We are an activity-based society that often encourages more and more activity, often in the name of Christian virtue.

Our lives will become less cluttered, less stressful, and more fulfilling when we follow the model Jesus provided. It may not always please everyone. Jesus never sought to please everyone. Ask the Lord each day this week how you and He are to spend your time. Yield your schedule to Him. Let Jesus direct your every activity. You may discover that He desires you to cut back some things in order to spend more time alone with Him. He will be faithful to show you. And you will become more fulfilled because you are centered in His will for you. (from Today God is First by Os Hillman)

It’s one of today’s most common challenges–almost all of your daily “busyness,” you try to balance the important relationships and priorities in your life–your relationship with God, your personal relationships, and your career! At the end of the work-day, if you’re still standing, you feel fortunate that you’ve just made it through–regardless of the cost to your relationships.

Though it may be hard to imagine now, it is possible to balance priorities–and Pat Gelsinger, author of Balancing your Family, Faith, and Work, is a leading expert on the topic. Pat has been one of the fastest rising stars in the tech world–the youngest vice president and first CTO (Chief Technical Officer) of Intel. Pat not only successfully balances the priorities of the ever-changing world of technology, but also his precious relationship with the Lord and his family. Get ready to learn the time-tested keys that will turn your “busyness” into meaning.  Click on the image below to get your copy today!

Balancing Your Family, Faith & Work By Pat Gelsinger / David C. Cook

Matthew Kelly, the charismatic minister, speaker and best-selling author from down under, wants you to live life out loud and on purpose. In this expanded version of The Rhythm of Life he syntheses Christian theology, cognitive psychology and storytelling to unpack the paradox of being happy both in life and at work. As Kelly explains, “We want to be happy. We know what makes us happy. But we don’t do those things–because we are busy trying to be happy.” So here’s the gospel according to Kelly: To achieve balance, find a life-changing rhythm by choosing a central purpose and becoming “the best version of yourself.” With examples draw from his own life and diverse cast of characters including Charlie Chaplin, Jude the apostle, piano man Billy Joel, the Magi, and Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, he maps the way to a meaningful, happier life at home and in our careers. Kelly makes thoughtful distinctions. He contrasts the difference between doing and having, the legitimate need for health and happiness with the illegitimate desire for expensive toys and the pursuit of minimalism vs. excellence. Then he gets specific, offering five questions about life’s meaning, three instruments for anchoring your life and ten principles of excellence.

Once every twenty-five years or so, a book comes along that perfectly identifies our common search and struggle for happiness and work life balance, and teaches us how to find lasting fulfillment in a changing world. This is that book. Not since M. Scott Peck published The Road Less Traveled have we experienced a voice as refreshing and authentic as Matthew Kelly’s. The Rhythm of Life will help you to bring into focus who you are and why you are here. Through this book Matthew Kelly will help you discover your legitimate needs, deepest desires, and unique talents. He will introduce you to the-best-version-of-yourself and lead you to a balanced and integrated life filled with passion and purpose. Here are just a few of the timeless creeds that he presents in The Rhythm of Life…

“You were born to become the-best-version-of-yourself. This is your essential purpose. Embrace this one solitary truth and it will change your life more than anything you have ever learned. In every situation, ask yourself, Which of the options before me will help me become the-best-version-of-myself?”

“Everything is a choice. This is life’s greatest truth and its hardest lesson. It is a great truth because it reminds us of our power. Not power over others, but the power to be ourselves and to live the life we have imagined. It is a hard lesson because it causes us to realize that we have chosen the life we are living right now.”

“The measure of your life will be the measure of your courage. Courage animates us, brings us to life, and makes everything else possible. Fear stops more people from doing something with their lives than lack of ability, contacts, resources, or any other single variable. Fear paralyzes the human spirit. Life takes courage.”

“Energy is our most valuable resource, not time. The rhythm of life is a way of life that brings our legitimate needs, our deepest desires, and our unique talents into harmony with each other. The result: passion, purpose, and energy.”

Kelly has a way of thinking and writing that cuts through the stifling clutter of our everyday lives and delivers a clarity that is both refreshing and liberating.

Looking for an real life study in balancing work and life; a study of a real life work environment where everyone is happy while they work and happy in life. You only need look at the collection of work based on the actual real life research by Cyndi Crother as she studied Seattle’s World Famous Pike Place Fish Market. The fabled Pike Place Market was labeled by CNN as America’s “most fun place to work” in 2001. Crother worked as anthropologist; interviewed and flung fish with 17 fishmonger crew members and identified “the philosophies behind the fun”.

You will absolutely love this entire collection! As you read you will learn not only how to enjoy your work, but how that enjoyment can follow you home and change your whole life. So, buy them all and learn from the fishmongers how to adapt to change, how the right attitude can transform your work and your life, how to boost your morale and your results, how to create a vital and energized workplace and home, and how to achieve your life dreams!

Put your “gone fishin” sign up and learn the benefits of good work life balance.

I am convinced balance is life is simply not possible. But integration of life is. This may be an issue of semantics, but allow me to explain. Balance would indicate that the different different areas of our life our equal, and in this day and age, I do not believe that is realistically possible. Integration would indicate that, although the parts may not be equal, they are woven together, very interrelated, and very much affected by what happens in the other areas. Does this make sense?

For us to be happy, to be content with our lives we need to appropriately and successfully integrate the different areas of our lives. I believe with all my hear that the three distinct areas of our lives are personal, professional and spiritual. If we can pull it off; if we can discover how to have it all; if we can, dare I say it, be happy in all three areas, we might just be able to to say we have discovered heaven on earth! Well I happen to believe we can pull it off, and I believe there is a plan that exist to help us. More about that later!

First, I want to introduce you to a book that will begin to open your mind up to this idea, to help you view your life, family, and work from a very new, wonderful and freeing perspective. The book is called The Janitor, it is a wonderfully enjoyable parable that packs an equally wonderful life message.  Here is a synopsis.

Do you ever find yourself losing sight of the important things in life, losing track of your priorities, and realizing your life is all out of sorts-work and stress can become overwhelming at times. Such is the situation where CEO Roger Kimbrough finds himself in this business parable.

The Janitor was inspired by Todd Hopkins’s personal experiences of interviewing overqualified retired businessmen for evening shift janitorial positions. Todd’s applicants consistently would say they simply needed something to do. In this fable, janitor Bob Tidwell helps Roger to reevaluate how he is leading his business and his life. Bob’s counsel is based upon six principles that Todd and coauthor Ray Hilbert discovered have the most impact on succeeding in business while holding together a personal life. Their insightful advice is delivered in a real-to-life story that inspires you to find greater fulfillment in your life.

Like so many CEOs in the corner office, still working when the janitor arrives to do the nightly cleaning, Roger is having a difficult and stressful evening when he spills his guts to the older janitor. As their relationship develops, Bob, a retired businessman, promises help that will turn Roger’s business and personal life around. The story follows not only their weekly meetings at the office but also the application of each principle:

• Recharge vs. Discharge
• View Family as a Blessing, Not a Responsibility
• Pray, Don’t Pout
• Pass It Around
• Don’t Spend, Invest!
• Leave a Legacy

The Janitor’s message will capture your mind and heart; stimulate meaningful, lasting life-changes; and show you how to influence your family, neighbors, and coworkers while experiencing business and life to the fullest.

“Take a few minutes and devour this little book by Todd Hopkins and Ray Hilbert. It’s going to be a motivational classic, and you’ll be in on the first wave of inspired readers.” - Pat Williams, Senior Vice President, Orlando Magic; and Author, The Warrior Within

Get Your Copy Toda, and Start Successfully Integrating the Vital Parts of Your Life!