It’s here. The final episode of our Lies at Work Series and today we’re talking about our actual battle plan. Piece by piece.Mentioned Resources:The Prayer Map Journal for WomenPodcast Insider Newsletter Sign-Up (at the top of the page)

Work Is Good: A Podcast for Christian Women Who Work from Home

Our Battle Plan (Lies At Work Series, Part Four)

In this latest episode of Working Upward, we take a look at some actual lies prevalent in the work at home space, the different categories they fall into and the truth that keeps us on our mission.Next week, we&apos;ll wrap up by taking a closer look at our battle strategy to make sure we don&apos;t fall prey to these lies and the others that dilute the truth, distract us from our mission or detail us from our mission entirely.Stay tuned!SHOW NOTESDesk to Desk:Here are two good questions to help transition any conversation from &apos;small talk" to spiritual:1. When you were younger, did anyone take you to church?2. Tell me more about your spiritual journey.Word of the Week: Discernment.According to GotQuestions.org, “Discernment is defined as “the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure; an act of perceiving something; a power to see what is not evident to the average mind.” The definition also stresses accuracy, as in “the ability to see the truth.” Spiritual discernment is the ability to tell the difference between truth and error. It is basic to having wisdom. . . . . .I’ve used the idea of recognizing counterfeit money here before and it fits here perfectly again so I’ll remind you of this principle.  There are so many different types of counterfeit bills that the best way to recognize them is to know the real money so well, it’s easy to spot the fake money. The same concept holds true for the truth of the Word of God. Hebrews 5:14 says that when we know the Word of God well, we are “trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” In other words, we will be able to distinguish the voice of the world from the voice of God. My prayer for you is that through a close walk with the Lord and time in His Word, you will develop discernment to recognize the lies in the work at home arena and beyond. Categories of Lies We Work at Home Women Believe:Category #1: Diluted LiesLies with only a smidgen of truth.Money = Success.You&apos;ve Got This.Follow Your Heart.Category #2: Distracting LiesLies that distract us from our mission by directing our attention to ourselves.I can&apos;t do this.Who am I to do this? (Imposter syndrome).I need to look right to be successful.So and so is better than me (comparison game).Category #3: Derailing LiesLies that derail us completely from our mission. These lies are usually about our work itself. God doesn&apos;t care about my work.The primary purpose of work is to just put food on the table or to pay the rent.Recommended Resources:Episode #1: It&apos;s 9 o&apos;Clock Somewhere (Or, Why Work Is Good)Episode #2: How to Know Your True Calling from God

The Lies That Get Us Down (Lies at Work, Part 3)

Since last week we talked about our wonderful Truth and all His glory, this week we’re going to flip the coin and look closer at what and who  we’re up against in our quest for truthful working, thinking and living.And in our desk to desk segment, I’m going to share some ways you can help improve your focus -- because that is something we all struggle with from time to time, some more than others.Listen in for Part Two of our Lies at Work Series on the Working Upward podcast. Show NotesA few ways to help you keep focus as you work:Start your work with prayer.Make a list of three essential tasks for the day and focus on those. A variation: Brain dump a master list and cross out those things than can wait.Ask a simple question to yourself: What is the next right thing for me to do?Try the Pomodoro technique and set a timer for chunks of time at a time.Listen to instrumental music -- I&apos;ve found the Chamber Baroque station on Pandora to be incredibly conducive to focusing.Take exercise breaks. Intentionally recognize your work as worship.Recommended resource:The Non-Prophet&apos;s Guide to Spiritual Warfare by Todd Hampson 

The Greatest Conspiracy Ever (Lies at Work Series, Part Two)

This episode of Working Upward launches our summer series (as promised earlier) which is all about the lies we work-at-home-women believe. But in order to recognize and fight the lies we believe, we must first recognize and know the Truth -- in all His glory.

The Truth In All His Glory (Lies At Work Series, Part One)

A Quick Update from Kristen (Upcoming "Lies" Series, etc.)

How to Spring-Clean Your Business (episode 14)Free Business Spring-Cleaning Guide Virtual Assistant FAQs and Resource Page$27  Virtual Assistant Course (The Upward VA Roadmap)

Living and working in Easter's afterglow.

Read the devotional transcript here.Show Notes & Resources:The question of the week is: How do you or your family prepare your hearts for Easter, aka Resurrection Sunday?Email me at mail@workingupward.com or comment or message me on Instagram or Facebook or email me at mail@workingupward.com or comment or message me on Instagram or Facebook. To read a hymn a day during Passion Week, follow or subscribe to emails from HymnsIllustrated.com (my hobby site).

Trusting in the Lord and the lies we believe that keep us from doing it.

As business owners who want to integrate our faith with our work and who understand that even a financially successful business outside God’s will isn’t truly successful, we should avail ourselves of all God’s help available to us, right? But do we? This week we’re focusing on a specific way God helps us we tend to forget about.  But it&apos;s an encouraging truth best remembered!Note:The Theme of the Month is Burnout and the  Word of the Week is help.  You can read the devotional transcript here.**********Desk to Desk Links and Resources:The question of the week is: How do you or your family prepare your hearts for Resurrection Sunday?Email me at mail@workingupward.com or comment or message me on Instagram or Facebook. Book Recommendation: Crazy BusyBy Kevin DeYoungRecipes: Morning Glory Muffins & Cream Cheese Frosting (not too sweet, just right!)

One way the Holy Spirit helps us that we tend to forget about. Plus, a book recommendation, a recipe and more.

Do you ever wonder what it would be like to have superpowers? Snap your fingers and your laundry is done for the whole year. Blink like Jeannie and your kids are home from whatever they need to be home from? You say the word — it’s done!What a dream! But I can do you one better — no dreaming required.  As a child of God, it’s possible for your strength to be renewed every single day and though you may not be superwoman, you can still fly like an eagle. Keep reading . . . Note:The Theme of the Month is Burnout and the  Word of the Week is renew.  You can read the devotional transcript here.**********Desk to Desk Links and Resources:The question of the week is: What have you been reading in God’s Word lately?Email me at mail@workingupward.com or comment or message me on Instagram or Facebook. Book Recommendation: Then Sings My Soul, Volume 1By Robert J. Morgan / Thomas NelsonArticle: What Does the Bible Say About the Eagle?

How to fly like an eagle and never get weary.

The word of the week is rest and you can read the devotional transcript here. ******Desk to Desk Links and Resources:The question of the week is: What did you learn from the preaching of God’s Word this Sunday?Email me at mail@workingupward.com or comment or message me on Instagram or Facebook. Article: What Does It Mean that Jesus Is Our Sabbath Rest?Article: What Say Is the Sabbath, Saturday or Sunday?Resource:  Christianbook.com (a promising alternative to Amazon for Christian resources)

The Sabbath connection to burnout, Jesus' high view of women and more . . .

In this week’s episode, I share our theme for the month: banishing burnout. It’s real. It’s happening all around us and maybe it’s happening to you. I want to shed some Scriptural light on the topic all month long so be sure to tune in each work for a new word and devotional to help refresh our souls and give rest to our bodies.Desk to DeskIntroducing new monthly themes for our weekly words.Introducing a bit more structure in the Desk to Desk segment (coming next time!)Introducing the Question of the Week (because I want to hear from you to keep this conversation a little less one-sided)Word of the Week: StillRead the full devotional over at WorkingUpward.com

Burned out? Or getting there? Let's talk about it . . .

The Word of the Week is wisdom and the devotional can be found online at WorkingUpward.com on Monday morning. **********Desk to Desk Links & Resources: 1.  Here&apos;s the article I referred to when talking about the dangers of digital wandering: Social Algorithms Are Today&apos;s Lady Folly2.  Here&apos;s an example of my own "Link In Profile" page: workingupward.com/linkinprofile 3.  I would like to feature your work at home business in the podcast. To apply just click the first button on the top of my podcast page.4.  Feedback, questions and comments are always welcome by email.

Wisdom, the Dangers of Digital Wandering and an Invitation to Connect by Email

The Word of the Week is ready  and you can read the text version of the devotional podcast segment at WorkingUpward.com. Desk to Desk Links & Resources: 1. Feeling sad, unmotivated or depressed?  If you&apos;re currently struggling with feelings of sadness or lack of motivation, you may be suffering from depression or Seasonal Affective Disorder. You may also have an underlying health issue (i.e. hypothyroid or another kind of autoimmune disorder).  If this is impacting your relationships or productivity in any way, I encourage you to seek help -- talk to a biblical counselor from your church and see your doctor to rule out any health issues. Your hormones affect your feelings and energy levels more than you might think. If unable to find a biblical counselor near you, please email me. I may be able to help.2. Linktr.ee is a popular "link in bio" service to give your social media followers a one-page resource of your recent or primary shared links. But it costs money. If you can create a web page, you can create one for free. Here&apos;s an example of a linktr.ee page you can use as a template:  Theology of Work Linktr.ee (pretty simple, huh?)3.  would like to feature your work at home business in the podcast. To apply just click the first button on the top of my podcast page.

How prophecy affects our work plus a quick project that can save you and your clients money every month.

The Word of the Week is ambition and following is the text version of the corresponding devotional podcast segment.  Mentioned resources and links from the Desk to Desk segment  are at the end of the devotional.**********Ambition.I used to cringe whenever I heard or read the word ambition. To me, it just smacked of greed or worldliness and I couldn’t help but picture climbing the ladder, elbowing people along the way and doing anything you could for more money and more success.But it turns out there are actually two different kinds of ambition and the Bible paints a clear picture of each. There’s the  version where you wake up and "pour yourself a cup of ambition" and go to the office -- or stay in your home office -- and work 9 to 5 and try to get to the top of the ladder even when everything’s working against you -- yes, just like Dolly Parton’s song. This is in line with Merriam-Webster’s definition which states that ambition is “an ardent desire for rank, fame, or power.”Now think about that for a moment. Who gets the rank? Who gets the fame? Who gets the power? The person with the desire to get it. The person who is ambitious. It’s all about that person.The Bible minces no words when it comes to this kind of ambition. It just calls it for what it is: selfish ambition.“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself” (Philippians 2:3). In this passage and others where the Bible talks about selfish ambition, the root Greek word is eritheia which means faction, strife and contention. This is the same kind of ambition we read about in James 3, “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. “Contrast that with what the apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:9. “Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.” The root Greek word for this good kind of ambition -- the kind that results in God’s pleasure -- is philotimeomai which refers to striving earnestly. So my question for you this week is what kind of ambition do you have? The one characterized by contentious strife or the one characterized by earnest striving? The one that is focused on you getting what you want -- whether that’s approval, recognition, fame or more money -- or the one that is focused on pleasing the Lord?Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, how good and how kind you are. You know I love you but sometimes I really struggle with my motivation. Sometimes I’m selfishly ambitious -- craving approval, recognition and success the way the world sees it. But when I’m looking upward to you, that all goes away and I’m ambitious for your glory and for your pleasure. This week, please help me have the good kind of ambition -- the kind that esteems you  and others higher than myself. I can’t do this alone. In Jesus name, amen.Links & ResourcesI would like to feature your work at home business in the podcast. To apply just click the first button on the top of this page.Book recommendation: 12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You by Tony ReinkeThe Upward VA Roadmap is now just $27.

Pour yourself a cup of this kind of ambition. Mindset devotional, book recommendation and more.

The Word of the Week is grace and following is a transcript of this week&apos;s corresponding devotional podcast. Mentioned resources and links  are at the end of the transcript. **************The word translated "grace" in the New Testament comes from the Greek word charis, which means “favor, blessing, or kindness.”It’s a constant theme in the Bible -- in the Old Testament but especially in the new -- and it’s most often referred to as a gift. God gave it to us through His merit alone - in other words, it’s not something we earn or even learn by ourselves. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,  not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2: 8-9The gift of grace came to us through the person and work of Christ. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. - John 1:17And His grace is not only given to us through salvation, it is given to us every single moment of our lives -- through hard times and good times. I love how the apostle Paul begins many of his letters with the phrase, “Grace and peace to you.” He ends many letters that way, too.  Every time we take the time to stop and consider God’s grace, we will find it amazing. My challenge for you this week is not only to take the time to consider God’s amazing grace in your own life but to shine a light on God’s grace by showing grace to others. I Peter 4 exhorts us to steward God’s gift of grace by serving one another. This is such a relevant Scripture passage for all work at home businesses, especially those of us with service-based businesses. Verse 10 here says ”As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God&apos;s varied grace . . ."This means we should:Show it to our clients -- when they struggle to give us something in a timely manner or answer that email or offer feedback or give constructive criticism that’s hard to take. If you have virtual team members or those you’ve hired to help you with your work - show it to them. When they disagree with you. When they don’t do something the way you think it should be done. Show it online-- in our social media posts, in our blog posts, wherever we talk about our work and life. Be bold with God&apos;s truth but always as gracious as possible. The world is a dark place, especially now -- make a point to be a light. God sees every comment. Show it to our families. When they interrupt a phone call or a project you’re working on. When your children make a mess. When it’s time to serve them even when you don’t feel like it. Show it to ourselves and by that I mean remind yourself of God’s grace so you don’t consume yourself with guilt or take all the responsibility of the world on your shoulders alone. And so you don’t endeavor to earn favor from God’s that unearnable because it’s already there. Show God’s grace because He shows it to you.Prayer:Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your eternal grace displayed on the cross and through salvation. And thank you for giving daily grace to meet every challenge that comes my way. Help me to delight in your grace even more and show it to all I serve this week. In Jesus&apos; name, Amen. Links & Resources:I would like to feature your work at home business in the podcast. To apply just click the first button on the top of this page.

God gives grace to serve. (New weekly format & devotional)

Listen to the gaze-shifting, thought-provoking and heart-moving podcast for Christian women who work from home. If you embrace a biblical worldview and desire to keep looking upward to Christ in your work and beyond, you’re in the right place. The Work Is Good podcast is your go-to resource for work at home productivity tips, professional and business growth strategies, mindset shifting topics and clear ways you can integrate your faith with your everyday work. Learn more at WorkingUpward.com.

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Work Is Good: A Podcast for Christian Women Who Work from Ho...

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