Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s that time of year in Virginia when one day it’s warm and sunny and the next day it’s bitter cold again. It’s almost as if God “teases” us with the beauty we know is just around the corner as if to say “Savor it all”. It’s been unusually busy this week and I was dragging at sunrise because of it, but I’m refreshed and revived for my Journey after time in the presence of the Most High God. Time spent with Him is absolutely the most Important thing I’ll do all day (and everyday) – not just because I’m showing Him Honor by giving Him the first fruit of my time – but because He’s my Commander in Chief and each step I take with Him is a Step in the Right Direction. So, I wake up, I pray up, I listen up, and I armor up each day with His Plans for me front-and-center, and as long as His Plans are my Main Focus, I’ll succeed in every single thing I do…for Him and with Him. Isn’t that the way you see your Life too?

It’s easy to measure “success” by material things that lots of people assume come by way of “easy money”. Big cars, big houses, big vacations, and big toys catch the admiring eye and can go from “looking” to lusting faster than you can say “Amen!”. Occasionally these things are an outward sign of “success” but more often than not they are nothing more than an attempt for some poor soul to fool the world into believing they’re something they’re not. Some people try hard to impress the world, and the cost and consequences don’t seem to matter much to them while they become more and more desperate to be admired. Sometimes there is no outward sign of money at all, and the “keeper” of the wealth could easily be presumed to be penniless…and they like it that way. There’s nothing wrong with having lots of money as some people of Faith would lead the world to believe. In fact, it’s a very good thing for those who Understand God’s Economy! But the truest “sign of success” isn’t measured by how much money we have. It isn’t measured by how many toys we have. It isn’t measured by how extravagant our vacations are. It’s what we do here on earth that has an Eternal “measure of success” that will bring the Greatest Rewards AND Joy. Our Rewards in Heaven will far exceed the value of all the gold in the entire world a zillion times over and our Joy will never run out! This is what Kingdom Success looks like.

We’re born for a Big Purpose and each of us has already been equipped for the Job assigned. These days the threat of being fired for staying at home to work has thousands upon thousands of people fired up as if going into the office is some sort of punishment or curse. Somehow the concept of trading time for money has been blurred and the idea of being obedient to the rules has been exchanged for entitlement. I’m not sure how that’s going to fly in the marketplace, but I KNOW how it (doesn’t) fly with the Living God. When it comes to the Alpha and Omega, He has Expectations for His Followers too, and refusing to do what He Commands us to do will cost us a whole lot more than a mere paycheck here on earth. Despite the “threat” of consequences for not leaving the house to “Go forth”…for refusing to be the Light and Salt of the earth…and for withholding the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a dark world as we’re Commanded to do…most people refuse to do that too. How sad that even the Highest Office in Heaven fails to get their attention. If people refuse to follow the instructions of a “boss” here on earth, I’m thinking Jesus won’t even hit their Radar Screen because Serving Him comes at a much higher cost than a paycheck. Serving Him will cost us everything…a Price most aren’t willing to pay in Exchange for Eternity.

I was a successful businesswoman for most of my life and I worked hard to earn my dollars – but the Greatest Work I’ve ever done OR will ever do in my Life is the Work I do for Him for Free(dom). The Signs of my Success in my Journey won’t be found in an investment portfolio, my “success” can be seen in my Children and Grandchildren instead and the Rewards for my Hard Work will go from generation to generation. He’s my Commander in Chief and I do my best to Follow His commands every day. He’s front and center in my family, in my friendships, in my work, and in everything else in between. He comes First and He doesn’t pay me a dime – He Offers me Eternity instead and THAT IS PRICELESS. As long as I have my Life in Perspective, I’ll always be successful and the fruit of my labor will have Eternal Significance. I love Him.

How about you?