When we first relocated to Florida almost 20 years ago, Martha took a job in insurance since that was our area of expertise. She was gifted in it and learned a lot but it was evident that it was not her calling, it was a j-o-b. She eventually ended up running the bookstore where we attended church. This job used many of the skills that she had accumulated over the years and allowed her to nurture her staff and customers, this was a calling.

Do you have a job or a calling? A job is something you do, often for compensation. A calling defines who you are and what you are created to do.

So, what is your calling? Have you ever taken the time to consider the answer to that question? Does your calling change as you get older?

There are many ways to figure out what the calling is on your life:

When you left your home for work today, if you left at all, did you do so with excitement and exhilaration or with dread and depression? Do you ever ask - what's the point of work? Many see work as a necessary evil used to get what we want. Is it the same in God's eyes?

God made each of us unique.

• Each has a unique set of gifts, talents, and abilities.

• Each has a unique relationship with God – experiencing Him differently than I do.

• Each has a unique passion in their heart.

• Each is brought to their knees by a different pain in the world.

These unique qualities drive us to solve different problems in our work, homes, and communities. What is it for you?

It is not insignificant that Jesus was born to a family who had a small business. Carpentry. God could have put Jesus in any number of families but He chose one where the primary source of income to support the family was the small family business. You might find yourself asking why?

Are you living out your faith in your work today. Do people know that your life has been radically transformed by the power of Jesus and His death on the cross?

Do people know that Jesus is the only hope for the problems of this world?

We are the messengers of hope, sent by Jesus. We have been silent about the transformation in our lives. Our country has suffered by our silence. It’s time to speak and share the good news of Jesus and how He is radically transforming our lives.

Jesus prayed the passage in John 17:20-23 out loud in front of a crowd. He was driving home a point. Unity among Christ Followers would demonstrate the reality of His presence in the world. Martha and I have made a marketplace observation, Christ Followers at work are unified in a common cause…

Ah, the good old days. Where life was crazy busy and you had little time for family. Where you had time to worry about which sporting events to attend and who was driving to practice…Yeah…Those days…

Do you dream while you sleep? I do. I believe God speaks to me in my dreams. Why? Maybe it’s because it’s the only time I seem to relax enough to hear a message from God. I always ask God to reveal what the dreams mean.

I had multiple dreams this week, with a common element -

In times of crisis will you be remembered for your panic or your peace. Your wise cracks or your wisdom. Your hoarding or your helping. Your isolation or your love. Your rebellion or your flexibility. Your pride or your kindness. Your greed or your generosity. Your false strength or your God.

Have you ever said to yourself, “I wish I had time to go on a mission trip.” Well guess what, you DO!  Your workplace IS your mission field. We can all begin to view our workplace and every co-worker as “the mission”