Levincent

I was so moved by this story I want to share it with you. My friend Eli, The ESM Group, recently traveled to Zambia for a missions trip. I'll let the story speak for itself. I think it's helpful in putting life in perspective. I would love to hear your thoughts. My friend is an angel. More on how's she's touched my life on a personal note at another time. I'll let Eli introduce Levincent to you through her blog post. God bless.

Local Article

Happy New Year. Is it too early for this wish? I don't know about you, but our family is still celebrating Christmas. I've made several references lately to national press coverage. Here is an article from ABC Newspapers, a local newspaper.

The Business World

Walking in Faith has been generated interest in the business world as well as in Christian communities. The press release was picked up by equities.com.

http://www.equities.com/news/headline-story?dt=2012-12-04&val=787497&cat=business

Of course the most excited request has still been the request for a book to review has been from the Wall Street Journal.

I hear it every day. I live it every day. The workplace is full of hurting people. This is a great message for the marketplace. I'm so thankful to see it reaching audiences all over.

Google "Walking in Faith in the Workplace"

My husband Googled "Walking in Faith in the Workplace" this morning. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that of the top twelve hits for this search request, eleven were my book. Try it.

PR Web listed my recent press release.

Amazon, Google Books, Christian Book, and, Powell's Books all came up as places where Walking in Faith: Stories of Hope and Encouragement for the Workplace could be purchased.

The MN Christian Examiner article comes up, as does the Northwestern College article.

It's an exciting time for Walking in Faith. Since the press release on Nov. 19, 2112 I've had a radio interview on PRAISE FM  and an newspaper interview with ABC Newspaper locally.

I've had radio interviews from coast to coast and places in between -- CA, NY, GA, OH, MI to mention a few. See you Facebook Walking in Faith Fan Page for more details. And, please, while you are there if you have not already "liked' my book on the fan page please do!

I also had my first request for a live television interview in Atlanta. I'm thinking of going.

A Time to Move On

Greetings.

Ahh, the weekend before Christmas. I love this time. I am an early bird. I like to have things done sooner than later; and typical to my nature, and normal schedule I am and have been ready for Christmas. With only one son, no grandchildren, and the siblings agreeing to exchange gifts for the first time ever, shopping was especially easy this year. Not that I'm a fan of easy shopping -- I love shopping. Buying and overspending is something I enjoy. Something I inherited from my mother, even if I don't excel to the same level she did.

So, a quite weekend for me, and just what I needed too. I've had a few extra and unexpected challenges of late. My family is celebrating my nephew Mike's birthday later this afternoon, otherwise no plans. The tree is lit, the cookies and peanut butter balls soon to be taken from the freezer where they lay in wait for the celebrations to begin.

I was reading this morning in Luke of our Saviors birth and the reminder why we celebrate and give gifts this time of the year. Christ was born. What an exciting time.

Many of current challenges I face fall into the Work Bucket. I've come to the conclusion that it may be time to move on from my current position and work I really love. I will not go into details in this post, but will in a future post. I applied for an internal position and interviewed last week. I am hopeful for a fresh, new start. Waiting on the Lord to see what will be next.

God bless you and your families. Wishing you the best Christmas celebration ever. Cherish your time with your loved ones. I will do the same.

Work is Worship

What do you think of the idea of work as worship. I think you will like this video.http://vimeo.com/53948355

Oprah!

Oprah / OWN was sent a press release. Praying for this door to open up. Pray with me!

Wouldn't it be something if Oprah were interested in Walking in Faith!

The Wall Street Journal requested a copy a few weeks ago. No updates. I'll keep you posted.

Out of Balance Comment

A comment posted on my latest article, Out of Balance, from Walking in Faith on Bridging the Gap.

Comment by Kathy Banta - 12/11/2012 - 11:57pm
Wow! Shari, this is such a good message. I relate all too well. Although I am tired, this was inspiring and encouraging. Thank you.

Kathy

Live Your Story

Walking in Faith: Stories of Hope and Encouragement for the Workplace isn’t another “how-to” book about faith in the workplace. It’s a gut-wrenching personal account of my challenges at work that readers have been able to connect with and relate to on a personal level.

I think of the woman who shared with me that she cried through the entire first chapter. She felt my stories because she’s currently living those stories.

Read on, my friend. Read on. They are stories of God’s grace and faithfulness. They are stories of hope and encouragement. God has seen me through a myriad of intense, personal experiences in the workplace as I’ve struggled with relationships, forgiveness, hurt, and betrayal. He’s using the workplace to shape me, and mold me into the strong woman of faith that God has called me to be – called me to be in order to encourage you to be bold and take your faith to work too.

The Empower Ladies Conference is about living your story. Ladies, we must tell our stories! Jesus told stories, and so must we. As we walk down the road of life, there is comfort in taking the journey together.

In the story, Not made for Perfection, I wrote, “The greatest gift we can give each other is a willingness to share our imperfection and accept each other just the way we are.” I challenge you to dare to be yourself at work. Doing so might just give the next person the freedom to do the same.

What freedom there is in being able to be ourselves wherever we go.

Work can be so challenging – ever more increasingly, so it seems. From my vantage point in corporate America, the pressures only seem to mount by the day. However, in the midst, if we bring Him to work with us, there is Jesus Christ. And what a difference this makes in my workday. Overwhelming work demands are balanced with praying friends. Difficult coworkers and managers are tempered with God’s Word.

Live your story! Share your story! I will be at the Empower Conference sharing my stories from my book, Walking in Faith: Stories of Hope and Encouragement in the Workplace. I hope to see you there.

Blessings, my friends. God bless you all as you live the story God has given you.

Empower Conference

Live you Story! Come to the Empower Conference to hear more about living your story. Main speaker is radio host Susie Larson. I will be doing a breakout session on talking your faith to work.

Empower Conferences

Saturday, January 12, 2013 from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM (CST)

Brooklyn Park, MN

KFIA Sacramento -- Kingdom News Interview

I'm going to be interviewed live on KFIA Sacramento for their Kingdom News segment Nov. 27, 2012 at 8:15 pm. You can listen line.

Praise FM Radio Interview

I'm going to do a live radio interview on Praise FM 95.3 tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. You can listen online.

Press Release Nov. 19, 2012 -- Walking in Faith Released on a National Level

Bringing faith into the work week

New author demonstrates how taking your faith to work can make a difference



MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – In a 2012 Harris Interactive poll, three out of four Americans said they are stressed while at work, which has left many workers searching for answers.


Walking in Faith

is a story of God's grace and faithfulness in the workplace, told through the challenges of one Christian woman's struggles, offering solutions to navigate the stressful workplace environment many people deal with every day. This real and authentic journey from author Shari Harris edifies her past trial and error while learning to put her faith in God. Through testimony and Scripture, Harris illustrates God’s way of using the workplace as a tool to mold her into a woman of strong faith, and a leader in the workplace.

"Most faith in the workplace books read like a how-to book," says Harris. "My book shares personal stories that
show how to take faith to work. It really isn’t like any other book..."

With 35 years of experience in the work world, Harris’ testimony is a powerful example of how taking your faith into the workplace can and will make a difference. Her intense passion to bring God to work with her and to encourage others to do the same is fueled by a personal life-changing experience of a coworker demonstrating faith in the workplace years ago. The reader will be able to relate to her experiences of job loss and overwhelming work incidents. These narratives will grip your heart and compel you to think differently about bringing your whole self to work. Currently working in human resources for a Fortune 500 company, where she serves on the board of the Christian employee group, Harris proves to readers that bringing Christ to the work desk is possible.

Throughout the collection of stories, Harris shows God’s faithfulness in chapters on prayer, faith, relationships, forgiveness, hope, compassion and trust, to show you are never truly alone with God.

An inspiring message of passion and hope,
Walking in Faith expresses the importance of bringing God into every aspect of your life – not just on Sunday – while also encouraging readers.

Special note: Harris’s mother served as inspiration and encouragement in writing this book. She passed away a few months before the publishing of the book from ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), A percentage from each book sale will go to ALSTDI for research.

Walking in Faith



By Shari Harris

ISBN: 978-1-4497-1410-9 (sc), 978-1-4497-1412-3 (hc), 978-1-4497-1411-6 (e)

Pages: 115

Price $11.95

Available at www.shariharris.com, www.westbowpress.com, www.amazon.com, and www.barnesandnobles.com

About the author

Shari Harris graduated from Northwestern College with a B.S. in Business Management and a minor in biblical theology. In addition to working for a global human resources team at a Fortune 500 company, Harris serves as a back-up Chaplain for Marketplace Chaplains, USA. Harris writes for Bridging the Gap and Workplace Influence. Harris currently lives in a Minneapolis suburb with her husband, Bill.


# # #



**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

EDITORS:
For review copies or interview questions, contact:

Nicole Sikora

260.437.2967 | nsikora@bohlsengroup.com


(When requesting a review copy, please provide a street address.)

God Does Not Misdial

Have you ever doubted God? I've asked God  . . . "Who, Me?"

My latest Bridging the Gap post talks about the time I questioned God when he wanted me step into a leadership position. The name of the article is God Does Not Misdial.

My articles can be found on the Bridging the Gap website under My Life > Leadership / Workplace.

Bad Bosses

Have you ever had a bad boss? You bet I have. I wonder if there are many who haven't had a bad boss.
This is the topic of the article I'm currently working on.
How do YOU hand a bad boss situation?
I've tried to look at them as opportunities to learn. It's a challenge -- no doubt. But, I've found there is always something to learn from challenging times. In the Bad Boss Times I have learned how not to treat people for sure.
The workplace can be a testing ground. Often times it's my heart God needs to change. I need to be open to this.
I'd love to hear your comments.

Bridging the Gap is a wonderful ministry. If you've never visited their web-site you might want to start by checking out my article The "Send Me" Prayer. This story is the first story in my book, Walking in Faith: Stories of Hope and Encouragement. Bridging the Gap

The bad news -- I don't know how to convert time zones! I'm so sorry. The good news is the show was recorded. If you go to the link below and look at SCHEDULE, my interview is recorded under the 7-8 time slot. I will also be getting a file that I can post on my website. 

Indie Book Publishing #2 order of interviews for the 11/11/12 show:  7:00-8:00 PM EST

1.      “Let the Beatitudes Be My Attitude in You: Begin the Quest”; by Marlin J. Harris

2.      “Coal Dust is White: A Novel of Ambition and Greed, Love and Lust, Power and Atonement”; by Irwin Sagenkahn

3.      “Walking in Faith: Stories of Hope and Encouragement for the Workplace”; by Shari J. Harris

To find the Indie Book Publishing #2 Show Page, click on this link: http://toginet.com/shows/indiebookpublishing2

 To listen live, click the “Live on Air” (yellow arrow) at the top, left side of the page.

 Your interview will also be on the show page in our podcast library by date.  To find this page – on the right hand side of the page, you will see “Recent Shows”.  At the bottom of that list you will see “View all podcasts”.  Click on that.  Another page shows the entire list of authors that we have interviewed.  Your interview will remain in our archive as well.

An interview on Walking in Faith: Stories of Hope and Encouragement will air this Sunday evening! See below. 

Your interview will air: Sunday, November 11^th, 8:00-9:00 PM Central Standard Time on TogiNet Radio (www.toginet.com)

      To find the Indie Book Publishing #2 Show Page, click on this link: http://toginet.com/shows/indiebookpublishing2

      To listen live, click the “Live on Air” (yellow arrow) at the top, left side of the page.

      Your interview will also be on the show page in our podcast library by date.  To find this page – on the right hand side of the page, you will see “Recent Shows”.  At the bottom of that list you will see “View all podcasts”.  Click on that.  Another page shows the entire list of authors that we have interviewed.  Your interview will remain in our archive as well.

I hope you can catch it! I'll be posting a recording here soon if you are not able to catch the radio show tomorrow. 

God bless. 

Gossip

Good, Happy, Sunday morning!

Hopefully you have your work worries on hold for the weekend. I was reading the Bible this morning when I came across a really great Scripture for the workplace.

Proverbs 26:20

Without wood a fire goes out:
Without gossip a quarrel dies down

Sounds like a good verse to take to work on Monday.

Faith Believes

Faith Believes

When I don’t see God’s plan unfolding in my life, it

doesn’t mean there is not a plan. God always has a

strategy and He’s always working out the details.

My life, including my time spent at work, overflows with His

abundance. When I have doubtful moments, God’s blessings are

still all around me, and the biggest one yet may be around the

next corner. I have to trust. I have to have faith.

 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean

not on your own understanding; in all your ways

acknowledge to him, and he will make your paths

straight.

Proverbs 3: 5-6

 

On a recent fall trip, as my family and I marveled at God’s

beauty revealed through the changing foliage, God gave me an

illustration of faith.

The trees were spectacular, more brilliant than I’d remembered

seeing in years. I felt incredibly blessed and couldn’t believe God

would have timed our trip to coincide perfectly with nature’s

32 | Shari J. Harris

performance; for surely it was the precise moment of peak colors

displayed that day, seemingly just for us!

Looking ahead I saw a particularly colorful patch of trees on a

hillside. I fxed my eyes on the delightful scenery, anticipating the

visual treat a closer view was going to bring. Much to my dismay,

the road suddenly curved and a hillside cropped up completely

blocking my view. I stared longingly at the barren hillside as it

rushed past outside the car window.

It made me think of a work situation. An exciting opportunity

I was looking forward to seemed lost. Although I was counting on

an expected event happening, the opportunity had disappeared

from my view. Doubt clouded my vision so much that I’d lost

all hope of seeing what was once so clearly in my line of sight. A

friend woke me up from my doubt-induced stupor by challenging

me with, “Oh, ye of little faith.”

As we passed the obstacle on that fall drive, God’s splendor

was displayed in full view. Much to my surprise, I had not missed

the vivid scenery I was anticipating. God had timed it such that

I had a front row seat, from a perfect vantage point, at just the

right moment.

God reminded me the beautiful trees were still there when the

hillside temporarily blocked my vision, just as the work opportunity

was still there hidden behind current circumstances.

Nothing could change the fact the trees existed beyond what

my eyes could see. Just as the spectacular fall scenery was always

there, so is God’s good plan for me. It was several months before I

saw the possibility at work again, but it was there just as the trees

on the trip had been.

 

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares

the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm

you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11

 

God has the perfect plan for each one of us. Faith believes this

even when our eyes do not see it. It was several more months, but

the hoped for opportunity became reality. Faith believes God at

all times.

Psalm 42: 1-3

Work and scurry can cause worry and discontentment. Run, run, run  . . . Deadlines, objectives, meetings, and projects fill my day. The phone rings and the e-mails mount without ceasing. I try to keep up. I work faster. I work harder. I work longer.

Then one day I wake up with an ache in my soul that at first I’m not able to identify. All of a sudden I just feel like something is missing. I feel empty. I recently dubbed this state of affairs as soul ache.

As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.
 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God? Psalm 42: 1-3

Global Leadership Summit

Tomorrow I'll be attending the Willow Creek Church Global Summit at a corporate satellite site in my workplace. The conference will be a two-day event where Christians in the workplace will come together in fellowship and prayer to hear a line-up of amazing speakers (see link below).

http://www.willowcreek.com/events/leadership/about.asp

I've attended this event in Chicago with other Christians from my workplace for the past two years. It's a phenomenal event. I'm so excited to be attending at my work this year.

Workplace Influence

http://workplaceinfluence.org/ Here is a great web-site. You can find some of my writing on this site. Here is the description:

Women Equipping Women

Workplace Influence is a non-profit dedicated to helping women find and maximize their God-given potential through practical applications coupled with the inspirational guidance needed to succeed in today's secular world. 

Through continuing education, networking, peer mentoring, prayer, encouragement and training in spiritual growth, and other resources, WorkPlace Influence strives to equip its visitors and registered users as they live out the message and character of Christ in their workplace. 

At WorkPlace Influence, we believe that God has a plan specific to you and that he gifts you uniquely for the mission to which he has called you. WorkPlace Influence is with you every step of the way, helping you grow to be all that God has planned!

Land Mines - It's Dangerous Out There in the Workplace

There is a war raging in the workplace and it’s claiming countless victims every day. The landmines are marked, albeit often not clearly: greed, lust, envy, jealousy, uncertainty, pride, rage, etc. There are more. Workplace land mines are cleverly concealed in things work culture may name as healthy and promote, such as goals, objectives, competition, promotion, deadlines, and many more. 

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand” Ephesians 6:12-13

Summertime in Minnesota

Did I promise to post snippets of my book to tease you and tempt you into purchasing a copy of Walking in Faith here in this space? Yes, I did. I have been so remiss.

Summertime in Minnesota -- I shall say no more. It's the only excuse I have to offer. Those of you whom also live in this fine state understand too well. Summer is short. Winter is long. We love summer and attempt to make the most of it. I love to be outside. My husband, Bill, and I love to ride our bicycles on the many bike trails and take our boat out on the many lakes. This summer we added to our list of things we love to do outside in the summer when we bought a new motorcycle -- A Harley, no less!

The call of the outdoors is even stronger this year, and even stronger yet as we rapidly approach the end of the season we love!

With that long-winded excuse behind me, I offer this . . . my intention is to come back to my blog and share my writing with my fan base -- all four of you (thank you for being my faithful followers). I guess if I had to be honest (which really is my intention), I would admit to feeling a little like I was posting things to a place where it wasn’t being read, a

place where not a soul would care if I posted or not.


I will try to be more faithful in posting -- taking work from both Walking in Faith and the new book I've started. Thanks for hanging in there with me. God bless. 

Workplace Grace by Bill Peel

Hi. Are you looking for a good resource (besides Walking in Faith)? Try Workplace Grace by Bill Peel. I recommend it.