Harold wanted me to share a story with you about waking up on election day knowing God wanted him to pray.  He stated:

“As I prayed...God stirred in my imagination what would happen if someone were to die today before the election results were known.”

“As the person entered heaven...God allowed me to see this person asking Him ‘who won the election.’ To which, God boldly replied, ‘I did.’"

"The people whose candidate lost...prayed to me for the safety and protection of the country from the things they don’t agree with.

"The people whose candidate won...praised me for his victory and the next four years.

"In both cases...I WIN....because the people prayed."

Over the last many years of ministry, Harold has written over 90 blogs and television programs on leadership.  I, in turn, am an editor so I take and tweak what he’s written and we at times discuss the blogs and scriptures together.

You would think we’d have covered the bases on the do’s and don’ts of being a leader.  Until God allowed us to see something in a way that we’ve never seen it before.

In 2 Timothy 3:1-4 it states:

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

² For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

³ Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

⁴ Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God….”

And Timothy goes on to list more of the problems of his times … which we can all pretty much agree … are the problems of our times at well.

When we became born again believers we were called to Kingdom business. 

We may or may not be looking the end of the world in the face but that essentially doesn’t matter because no matter how much longer the earth remains… we have all been called to do Kingdom business. 

What we are doing in the here and now will be what we are judged for in the by and by.  And the by and by is going to come sooner or later for all of us.

I’m pretty sure that as Nazi Germany was attacking countries and gathering Jews across Europe, they felt this had to be the end of the world. It certainly looked like the end of theirs. 

It is said that 6 million people were annihilated in Poland alone, one of the few countries that had always been open to the Jewish population.  I might add it is said 3 of the 6 million who died were Christians trying to protect the Jews but that is often forgotten or put in the last sentence of the article.

Jesus’ disciples felt the end was imminent.

The years surrounding the year 1000 were filled with predictions about the imminent return of Christ - to the point where Christians didn’t plant crops for the next year, buildings weren’t repaired and the details of daily life were ignored.

Two scriptures have captured my attention today.

The first scripture is 1 Corinthians 15:20-22  which says:

“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”

I looked up the words “. . .in Christ shall all be made alive” in the Strong’s Concordance.

The word “alive” is the Greek word zōopoieō (zō-ah-poi-e'-ō) (G2227) and it means:

“to cause to live; by spiritual power to arouse and invigorate; to give increase of life; or of seeds quickened into life, i.e. germinating, springing up, growing.”

As I read the definitions the Lord quickened several things in my spirit.

Many people want “success to be convenient and instantaneous”.  If possible, they’d like to have an app on their smartphone or be able to order it on the internet with free overnight shipping.  It doesn’t work that way.

There is a process to being successful. . .and being faithful is one of the major keys.

Write down this next statement. . .get it embedded in your mental hard drive. . .available for instant recall.

If you’re not faithful with what you’ve got. . .that’s all you’ll ever get.

If you cannot be faithful where you are with what you've got...you'll never arrive at any other destination than where you're at. . .at the moment.

If you're not faithful where you are with what you've got...it'll take more than Map Quest for you to ever find your way out of mediocrity.

If you're not faithful where you are with what you've got...you'll never have to worry about your future success because you'll never find it

If you're not faithful where you are with what you've got...you'll never hear God say well done My good and faithful servant.

If you're not faithful where you are with what you've got...then He will never reveal to you secret riches and hidden treasures.

Here are seven keys to being faithful and successful.

Even before the coronavirus shutdown it was easy to get into our comfort zone and like it.

Now, so many who get out just want to get back to the comfort of their own home at night and not leave until they have to. 

I can relate…however, as Christians we are called to make a difference not make excuses.

Hebrews 12:12-13 in the Message Bible says:

“So don't sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it!”

I started wondering why people sit on their hands and drag their feet….and realized it happens when people make excuses.

But don’t take my word for it ... what does the greatest book ever written have to say about excuses?