Devotion: Knows Your Name
 

Knows Your Name



"But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine." (Isaiah 43: 1)

Yes, the Lord knows my name, He really does! It excites me that THE Almighty God knows me, as small as I am and guess what, He knows you as well! Now there are many people that you and I don't know and never will, but there is not a person dead or alive that God does not know!

Have your ever been around someone that is famous or very well-known like an actor, a sports athlete, a politician or a TV person, and they recognized you by giving you their autograph or just having a picture taken with you, do you remember how that made you feel so great? Well think about this, there is no one greater than God, no one with the power that God has, or anyone greater that can give you so much or love you so much, AND HE IS ALWAYS AROUND US!

The Lord will NEVER forget me nor will He ever forget you.
HE KNOWS YOUR NAME AND MINE, BUT DO YOU KNOW HIM!

Burned Biscuits I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ l
 

Burned Biscuits
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

When I was a kid, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work.

On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite!
When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits."

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides - a little burnt biscuit never hurt anyone!"

Life is full of imperfect things......and imperfect people. I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each otherÔÇÖs faults - and choosing to celebrate each otherÔÇÖs differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

And that's my prayer for you today. That you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal-breaker!

We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship!
"Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket - keep it in your own."
God Bless You..... Now, and Always....

Author Unknown

Devotion: Extending Grace
 

Extending Grace
By Bill Moeny

"And whenever you stand praying, if you had anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your wrongdoing." Mark 11:25

Have you been in a position where it was clear that God was requiring you to extend grace in a situation that seemed very unfair?

Perhaps you had a customer, an important customer, who wanted to buy a lot of your product, but were being very difficult in negotiating the terms.

Or perhaps you are trying to negotiate a strategic alliance and your potential strategic partner was being exceptionally difficult in agreeing to terms. And while, from your perspective they were clearly in the wrong, God's clear admonition to you was "you must extend to them the same grace I have extended to you".

That is a heavy command. How much grace has God extended to you and to me? Where would we be today without His grace?

Our very salvation is a direct result of His unmerited grace extended to us. And how about the business? If your business is like ours, there would be no business without God's grace.

Our technology has come directly from Him. Our business contacts, our customers, and the potential strategic partner are all gifts from Him. And the same is true of your company.

There would be no business without His grace.

He has stated unequivocally: "without Me you can do nothing". It is His grace that enables the Holy Spirit, representing Christ, to do the work of the business through us.

So, how much wrong do we need to endure, in "extending to them the same grace I have extended to you"? How many insults? How many missed deadlines, where they said they would do something and did not? The answer is: As much as Christ tells us to.

If Christ owns our business, then He has the right to direct us through the minefield of difficult customer relations or difficult negotiations. Our relationship with Christ through daily prayer and study of Scripture is therefore the key to our extending grace. There is no limit to the grace He has extended to us and therefore, He is the only one who can set the limits of the grace we are to extend to others.

It is all about the relationship with Christ, isnÔÇÖt it? He is Lord, and we are not. His role is to command and provide, our role is to obey.

The time of prayer with Him each day is the most important time we spend on the business and in our lives.

Devotion: Knows Your Name
 

Knows Your Name



"But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine." (Isaiah 43: 1)

Yes, the Lord knows my name, He really does! It excites me that THE Almighty God knows me, as small as I am and guess what, He knows you as well! Now there are many people that you and I don't know and never will, but there is not a person dead or alive that God does not know!

Have your ever been around someone that is famous or very well-known like an actor, a sports athlete, a politician or a TV person, and they recognized you by giving you their autograph or just having a picture taken with you, do you remember how that made you feel so great? Well think about this, there is no one greater than God, no one with the power that God has, or anyone greater that can give you so much or love you so much, AND HE IS ALWAYS AROUND US!

The Lord will NEVER forget me nor will He ever forget you.
HE KNOWS YOUR NAME AND MINE, BUT DO YOU KNOW HIM!

Devotion: The Value of Age and Wisdom
 

The Value of Age and Wisdom


"But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him" (2 Chronicles 10:8).

Age and wisdom do not always equate to one another, but they often do. Rehoboam was the son of Solomon. It appears that Solomon had become heavy-handed in his employment practices by placing an overbearing burden on the workers. This was causing a problem with the northern tribes. It was the equivalent to a threat of a labor strike. Jeroboam was like the head of the labor union. In fact, he had fled from Solomon because of the abuse he perceived was happening. When Rehoboam was selected as the new king, he came and appealed to Solomon about the plight of the people.

"Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lightens the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you." Rehoboam answered, "Come back to me in three days." So the people went away (2 Chronicles 10:4-5).

So, Rehoboam asked for advice from the older men who had been a part of Solomon's reign and then he asked for advice from his younger contemporaries. The elders advised Rehoboam to not be too concerned. They told him that if he did, they would be loyal workers the rest of their days. He chose not to take this advice. The younger advisors told him to tighten the reigns more. This turned out to be bad advice. As a result, the northern tribes rebelled, and the kingdom was permanently divided.

Today there is a tendency to discount input from older people. However, God has placed wisdom in older people that the young can learn a great deal from. Do not despise input from those who may be considerably older than you. God has placed a level of wisdom in them that can help you avoid major mistakes.

Devotion: Impossibilities
 

Impossibilities
Bill Money


Have you ever been faced with an impossible situation, something that was far too hard for you to do? I have, and I bet you have also.

If you have not, you will, if you are serious about your relationship with God through Jesus.

You can both gut it out and try your best (which will not be sufficient), or you can go to God and tell Him: ÔÇ£I cannot do this on my ownÔÇØ. His response might be: "I know. I structured it this way for you. Now let us get on with it."

You do not believe me? Consider the following promise from Jesus:

"Whatever you ask in My name (according to my will, my purposes, my ways and my character) I will do it, that the Son may bring glory to the Father." John 14:13.

Or how about this promise from Jesus:

"If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.ÔÇØ John 15:7

Do you see the word "whatever"? The core issue is making sure that what we request is what He wants to do. That is why remaining in Him is so crucial.

We need to know what He wants to do in the situation, and that takes time: time to adore Him, time to listen to what is on His heart, time to know Him, and time to read His Scriptures to know Him and know His voice. It takes time.

Impossibilities only appear that way to us. They do not appear so to Him:

"for nothing is impossible with God." Luke 1:37

So we can ask: Whatever.

The key is to go to Him as a little child: humble, helpless, and yet fully convinced our heavenly Father will take care of us.

Devotion: Washing Toilets
 

Washing Toilets


..."those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled' (Daniel 5:19).

Paul desired a career in the building industry. Early in his career, he was working with a large ministry to help direct several of their construction projects.

As the projects were completed, Paul was asked to stay on for future projects. To keep him busy he was given a number of jobs - one of which was cleaning toilets. He recalls getting down on his knees each day and complaining to the Lord, "Lord, I'm a college graduate!"

Discouraged, Paul told the Lord, "I will not leave here until You promote me. Please give me contentment with my circumstance."

Paul felt totally forgotten by God. A few months later, Paul received a phone call from a man in the Midwest who owned five successful businesses who wanted to interview Paul for a job. This came as a total surprise to Paul. As he drove to the interview, he told the Lord, I only want Your will in my life, nothing else. I am content to remain obscure for the rest of my life if I have You. You must override my lack of experience for me to get this job."

The owner of the company asked Paul a surprising question: "If I asked you to clean a toilet, what would you do?" Paul sat there, stunned. He wanted to burst out laughing. Paul assured him that he would simply pick up a sponge and start cleaning.

Amazingly, Paul was hired even though other candidates were more qualified. After several months of success Paul asked his boss why he hired him. His boss replied, "Paul, I still have a large stack of applications from people who wanted this job. Do you remember the first question I asked you in the interview? I asked each one the same question. You were the only one who said he would clean the toilet. Paul, I am a wealthy man, but I grew up dirt poor. I clean my own toilets at home. I can't have people running my businesses who are too proud to clean a toilet."

Sometimes God places us in situations to see if we will be faithful in those before He is willing to promote us to greater things.

Devotion: Opposing God's Leadership
 

Opposing GodÔÇÖs Leadership


"The anger of the LORD burned against them, and he left them" (Numbers 12:9).

Beware of trying to depose a leader that God has raised in your midst. Leaders are placed by God in business, government, churches - almost every place where leaders are required. When God places a person in position of authority, it is a grievous sin to go against that leadership. God Himself opposes those who come against His leadership.

God's leaders are not perfect. They make mistakes. That is why following a leader can require a faith that goes beyond faith in the leader. Our faith lies in the God who elevated the leader to his or her position.

Miriam and Aaron, the older brother and sister of Moses, had a family dispute about Moses' wife, who was an Ethiopian and Cushite. She most likely was a black woman. We do not know the nature of the dispute, but it was a typical family conflict.

However, the family conflict began to impact God's agenda for a nation. They were now meddling in God's business. And He did not like that in the least. God literally brought Aaron and Miriam into the switching house. He judged both Miriam and Aaron for their rebellion against His ordained leader. "Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? (Numbers 12:8).

Miriam was stricken with leprosy and had it not been for Moses' appeal on her behalf, she would have been cast out for good. God gave her a second chance but it required being cast away from the camp for seven days. Miriam and Aaron repented for their rebellion.

If you struggle with a leader that God has over you, pray for that leader. If God wants to remove that leader, He can do it. Think twice about conspiring to remove a leader whom God has not chosen to remove yet.

Good stuff!

Devotion: Whatever You Need, God Has
 

oh snap, someone IS reading these...i will be more diligent to post them daily...

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Whatever You Need, God Has
Written by Bill Zorn


ÔÇÿThrow your net on the right side of the boatÔÇÖ and they caught 153 fish. (John 21: 1-14)

After the disciples had fished all night, catching nothing, Jesus said to them, ÔÇÿThrow your net on the right side of the boatÔÇÖ and they caught 153 fish. (John 21: 1-14) ThatÔÇÖs how it works; one Word from Him, and suddenly everything changes for the better. Then we read, ÔÇÿThe disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ÔÇ£It is the Lord!ÔÇØ.

Peter immediately jumped into the water and went straight to Jesus. Peter had to decide whether to leave the fish and go to Jesus, or stay behind and enjoy what he had worked hard for. ItÔÇÖs a test we all face when we have accomplished some great feats. The challenge is; do we stay and guard our blessings, or go overboard for the Lord and commit ourselves fully to Him?

Paul briefly refers to his career success: ÔÇÿyou know my pedigreeÔǪfrom the elite tribe of BenjaminÔǪdefender of my religionÔǪmeticulous observer of GodÔÇÖs law.ÔÇÖ (Philippians 3:3-6). Career wise Paul was a ÔÇÿWhoÔÇÖs WhoÔÇÖ. But listen to him now: ÔÇÿThings I thought were so important are goneÔǪdumped in the trash so that I could embrace ChristÔÇÖ. (Philippians 3:8) Paul realized that his true identity lay not in his accomplishments, but in his relationship with Jesus.

Do you feel that way? That morning it could have felt like Peter was forfeiting everything, yet when he reached the shore he found Jesus busy; cooking fish! Whatever you need, God has it. Whatever you give up, He will repay many times over. Whatever you are willing to walk away from, ultimately determines what God can trust you with.

thread has almost 40,000 views! more than just me!

Devotion: The Lord is Not In It
 

The Lord Is Not In It

"The LORD said, 'Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by'" (1 Kings 19:11).

"I don't believe that God is in it," I said to my wife. A situation had arisen in which a friend was about to engage in something they felt God was leading them into. Later, the truth of the situation was revealed and our friend made a bad mistake. God was not in it.

Elijah was in a crisis in his ministry. God had just corrected him about his perspective of his situation. If any man needed a touch from God, it was Elijah because he was in such distress he wanted to die.

The Lord intervened and told Elijah that He was coming to talk to him. However, God did not tell Elijah how He was going to reveal Himself. It was up to Elijah to tell whether God was in the situations about to take place.

"Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave (1 Kings 19:11-13).

We often think God is in our grand projects only to discover that He is not. We may also assume because of the success or visibility of a situation that God is in it. He may, in fact, be in the project. However, God's ways are not always highly visible. Sometimes He chooses to come in the soft, gentle whisper. It is sometimes difficult to recognize it as the Lord because He shows Himself in such subtle ways.

We need to be able to discern when God is actually part of our situation. Only then can we avoid being deceived in thinking God is not behind our projects. Ask God for wisdom in knowing when He is involved in it.

Devotion: When Your But's On Fire
 

WHEN YOUR HUT'S ON FIRE


In everything give thanks. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions.
One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky... He felt the worst had
happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and
anger. He cried out, 'God! How could you do this to me?'

Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! 'How did you know I was here?' asked the weary man of his rescuers. 'We saw your smoke signal,' they replied.

The Moral of This Story:

It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of our pain and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.

P.S. You may want to consider passing this on, because you never know who feels as if their hut is on fire today.

Devotion: A Man Who Has God's Favor
 

A Man Who Has God's Favor


"...Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you." - Zechariah 8:23

Few men of God have become extraordinary people of faith without the influence of mentors. A mentor is one who takes responsibility for the spiritual and, sometimes, physical care of another. It requires a commitment from the teacher and the student.

Elijah mentored Elisha. Elisha became one of the greatest prophets in the entire Bible. One of the primary reasons for this was Elisha's hunger. Elisha wanted a double portion of Elijah's spirit. It was this hunger that drove Elisha to be sold out to God's purposes for his life.

I have been privileged to have had many mentors throughout my spiritual life. In each stage of my maturity, God brought new mentors who had unique gifts that the previous mentor did not have. God has given me the hunger to desire a double portion of those positive attributes of my mentors. This desire is sorely missing among many today. I fail to see the hunger among many who could be used greatly in the Kingdom. Instead, the cares of this world distract them. It is an attitude of a la carte versus an attitude of pressing in to the full measure of what God might have for them.

Who are the people of God He has placed in your life? Are you learning from them? Are you seeking a double portion of their anointing? What prevents you from gaining from their wisdom and experience? God may have brought them into your life to prepare you to be a man or woman of God with great anointing. However, there is a time of training and waiting to prove out your own faith. Ask God today if there is someone He would have you mentor or be mentored by.

Devotion: From the Desert to the Promised Land
 

From the Desert to the Promised Land


"The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate of the produce of Canaan" (Josh 5:12).

God calls you to eat from the fruit of your own work. During the exodus from Egypt, Israel had to eat manna, the supernatural provision of God because there was no ability to make a living in the desert. However, the moment they stepped into the Promised Land the manna stopped because God had brought them into a new place. The new land could yield food and provision for their families. They simply had to work it.

For most of us God has provided us an ability to derive our provision from the work He has called us to do. God made a covenant with His people that provision would always be there if we were faithful to His commands.

"You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock - the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out" (Deuteronomy 28:3-6).

In order for this promise to be fulfilled we must fulfill His requirements. We must love the Lord our God with all our hearts and minds. And we must avoid having any idols in our lives that will take the place of God.

Every believer is called to come out of "Egypt" and enter into our own Promised Land. He has already set aside the land for you. It is your responsibility to prepare yourself to be able to derive the fruit from your land.

"The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands" (Deuteronomy 28:12).

Devotion: Pleasing to the Lord
 

Pleasing to the Lord


"Prepare it with oil on a griddle; bring it well-mixed and present the grain offering broken in pieces as an aroma pleasing to the Lord." Leviticus 6:21

There is a requirement to be blessed at a deeper spiritual level by God. Christ requires it of each of His servants. He required it of Paul when He struck him down on the Damascus Road. He required it of Joseph when he was left in the pit and then sold into slavery. He required it of Jacob when he left his homeland penniless and needy. He required it of most every major leader that He used significantly - brokenness.

Brokenness cannot be achieved on your own. It is something God does Himself. We cannot determine that we are going to be broken, but we can refuse to become broken. When God begins this deeper work in our lives, we can kick and scream and refuse the process. We can manipulate and strive to stay on top, but this only delays His work.

Pride and money are ruling strongholds of the workplace. Brokenness is considered a weak position in the workplace. However, God says until we are broken we cannot be an aroma pleasing to the Lord. God wants you to be an aroma in the workplace. In order for this to happen, you and I must be a broken vessel in His hand. Pray that God would allow you to become a pleasing aroma to Him no matter the cost.

Devotion: Grace
 

Grace


..."Peace be with you!" John 20:19

How would you respond to a group of fellow workers if you were their leader and you poured your life into them, teaching them all you know for three years, only to have them disband and go their own way when troubles came? What would you say to them after you were reunited for the first time? Perhaps you might scold them. Perhaps you might cite each one's offense. At the least, you might shame them for their lack of faithfulness and courage.

After Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead, He appeared to the disciples. His first words to them were, "Peace be with you!" The word grace means "unmerited favor." When someone loves you unconditionally, without regard to your behavior in return, it becomes a powerful force in your life. Such was the case for the disciples when Jesus appeared to them. They could have expected reprimand. Instead, they received unconditional love and acceptance. He was overjoyed to see them. They were equally overjoyed to see Him.

Jesus understood that the disciples needed to fail Him as part of their training. It would be this failure that became their greatest motivation for service. Failure allowed them to experience incredible grace for the very first time. Grace would transform them as human beings.

Have you experienced this grace in your life? Have you extended grace to those who have hurt you? Can you let go of any wrongs that have come through friends or associates? The grace you extend may change their lives - and yours.

Devotion: Controlling Anger
 

Controlling Anger is Futile!
By Jay Younts

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31- 32)

Loving God enough to end rage, anger, inner seething, and resentment is not a matter of simply saying no to bad behavior. If you or your children have been controlled by patterns of anger, there is only one way to address this attitude of the heart that will bring lasting change. When anger becomes a way of life you know it is wrong. You can deeply want to change. You know your anger hurts others. But just knowing these facts will not remove anger from your heart and life.

Verse 31 states the obvious. You must get rid of anger and its byproducts. Verse 32 provides the new heart attitudes that God commands. When obedience is restricted to physical behavior, the Christian life and parenting becomes a curse rather than a blessing. The power of the gospel must extend to attitudes as well.

When directed to be kind and compassionate, the angry heart says, ÔÇ£you must be kidding ÔÇô be kind to him after all he has done to me?ÔÇØ The gospel teaches that we are not kind and compassionate because someone deserves to be treated this way. We are kind and compassionate because that is what God has commanded.

This is the stunning truth that verse 32 is based upon ÔÇô I am to be kind and compassionate because this is how Christ treats me. Is Christ kind to me because I deserve his kindness? Of course not!

By making Christ the standard, Paul totally turns our world and our self-righteousness upside down. The person that made you so angry is not the reason you should be kind. Jesus is the reason you should be kind.

Think about this. The other personÔÇÖs behavior is not to determine the way I treat him. GodÔÇÖs Spirit through His written word is the one who makes that call.

As long as you only see all the faults and flaws in others, your anger will remain. See the compassionate love of Christ instead of the faults of others. Now you have hope to end the rule anger. Your heart can be ruled by the compassion of Christ.

Devotion: Staying Connected
 

Staying Connected


"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul." - Psalm 143:8

Two of the greatest inventions of my time have been the laptop computer and e-mail. The laptop means I no longer have to stay in one place to be productive in my business life. E-mail has allowed me to stay connected to people all around the world with the touch of a button.

My greatest frustration is when either of these does not work. Sometimes e-mail cannot be used because I can't get a connection. Sometimes I cannot use my laptop because I have not properly charged it, and then the charge runs out while I am on an airplane. Both of these situations mean I am unable to tap into the resource that allows me to fulfill my calling in my work to the fullest.

The morning time with God is much like these situations. God pours His Word into my spirit and I am recharged. This recharging has an important effect on my day. It allows me the greatest opportunity to hear the small voice that directs my steps. If I refuse to "get connected," I risk following my own ways of fulfilling the duties of my day. It sets forth the opportunity for God to speak into my spirit what He desires for me each day. It allows me to focus on God's purposes, not mine.

The only way to know someone is to spend time with him or her. The only way to discern the voice of another is to hear that person's voice. David, the author of this psalm, was a warrior, king, and businessman. He understood this principle of connecting with God in the morning. His morning allowed him to connect with God's love, renew his trust in Him, and hear His directions for his life. Shouldn't you and I do the same?

Devotion: The Fallacy of Full Time Christian Work
 

sometimes, i sin so much, and my heart is so hard, i need more than 1 a
day...

this one says a lot about glorifying God thru your work: you may not preach, may not even go to church, but you are honest true & decent.
that's a LOT in this world. i think most of the guys I have met on CHP fall in that bracket: good decent men.

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The Fallacy of Full Time Christian Work


"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." - Colossians 3:23-24

"I didn't know you were in full-time Christian work," said my close friend as we were driving. "I didn't realize that," she went on. I responded, "Every person who has followed the will of God in their life is in full-time Christian work." God calls some to the mission field, others to be accountants, and others to be advertising executives, and still others to be construction workers. God never made a distinction between sacred and secular. In fact, the Hebrew word avodah is the root word having the same meaning of "work" and "worship." God sees our work as worship.

We have incorrectly elevated the role of the Christian worker to be more holy and committed than the person who is serving in a more secular environment. Yet the call to the secular workplace is as important as any other calling. God has to have His people in every sphere of life. Otherwise, many would never come to know Him because they would be separated from society.

I learned this lesson personally when I sought to go into "full-time" service in my late twenties, only to have God thrust me back into the business world unwillingly. This turned out to be the best thing He could have done for me, because it was never His will for me to be in full time service. He knew I was more suited for the workplace.

We are all in missions. Some are called to foreign lands. Some are called to the jungles of the workplace. Wherever you are called, serve the Lord in that place. Let Him demonstrate His power through your life so that others might experience Him through you today and see your vocation as worship to His glory.