Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. Life is pretty full these days, and if I’m not careful I’ll rush through my time with the One I need the most to see me through. So, I make sure that I focus on Him first, and I clear my mind of everything else that will come AFTER we Meet. The fact that it’s not easy sometimes is enough to set me straight. After all, if every step, and every word, and every encounter, and ever provision will be sifting through His Hands before they ever reach mine; why in the world would I set Him aside until I have more time to spend with Him? Isn’t that the way you see your schedule too?

It’s funny how people are inclined to separate their work from His Work when it all goes hand in hand in His eyes. It doesn’t do a whole lot of Good for His Work to keep our Faith inside the home and inside the church and never take it to work with us at all. Our greatest platform for Him IS through our work because that’s where we spend most of our time and that where the “lost” people are…but it’s in the workplace that most of His “followers” remain silent. I haven’t always worked for myself where I’m free to do and say whatever I want in His Name without the risk of being fired. But even when I relied on employment for my income; I still fearlessly took a stand. Even though I sometimes feel like the birdhouse in this photo, standing tall and standing alone…I never deny Who I am in Christ…no matter who signs my check.

Back in those “employee” days, I had a Bible front-and-center on my desk and it wasn’t set aside for anyone of any faith or position. A few times when I was challenged to “put that away” I kindly offered to meet outside of my office, but I never put it away at their request. When I took a break I opened those pages to nourish my soul and I made no apologies when I was found in His Word. The people around me always saw me stop to pray before our meals no matter who was joining us for lunch, and eventually I was asked to lead the prayer for all. My Words were kind and my Spirit was peaceful and loving, and I refrained from speaking harsh words of judgment no matter what I saw or heard. I wasn’t always publicly acknowledged as being a Christian, but I was always acknowledged as being “nice”…and even a time or two I heard “she’s the nicest person I ever met”. I loved those moments! Not because it made me feel good to receive a compliment, but because it gave me the chance to give Him the Glory for all that I am.

Almost everyone we read about in the Bible had a job to put food on the table, and God didn’t tell them to stop fishing, or to stop administrating or to stop being a physician, or to stop farming or to stop being a merchant when they started Following Him; He told them to FOLLOW Him and to GO FORTH and tell the world instead. More than being an opportunity to create our income, our work is an opportunity to reach the world for Christ. There is no separation when it comes to the things of God. So, if you’re inclined to “behave” yourself in public and refrain from sharing Him with your world, you might have to answer for all those lost opportunities One Day. As for me, I might get ridiculed and “judged” every once in a while, but I don’t care much about what those people think of me…I care about what HE thinks of me instead. I’ll be working hard to put food on my table today and everyone I encounter will be another opportunity for me to bring my King Glory by sharing Him with my world.

How about you?