Ok, I have a secret to share. It's my secret, so no worries if you've told me something that was supposed to go to the grave with me;)

I recently saw an ad that made me laugh. It's advertising a financial institution. The woman who has purportedly discovered this company is shown with this permanent smile on her face. The man in her life is also shown with a permanent smile on his face. Whether he's at the office, the golf course...or whether she cooking supper or working out..they are constantly sporting this similar grin. Incessantly thinking about this opportunity and how it has changed their lives without an ounce of work.
The commercial proposes, nonsensically, that if you buy into this idea, your life will transcend all earthly limits, and you will walk thru each day in bliss. No work required.


The secret is this: Incredibly smart people take a significantly more active role in embracing each day and each challenge more than average people. That's it. Success is work. Anything worth having is WORK. In other words, successful people really get involved in whatever needs doing! They do not expect things to be handed to them. A hands on approach to ministry and life will require HARD work, encouragement, prayer, compliments,criticism, hurts, study and persistence. But success stories do not expect that everything will just get done..but rather they make sure it gets done. They don't wait on a supernatural feeling to overtake them, they simply act on what they know to needs to be done. But yet, how many people wait on something ...an audible voice of God, money, a relationship, an idea, a feeling, a position, to absolutely open up the door to ministry? We are told..take it easy. The prosperity message... wait on it to come to you and make your world perfect! Likely not happening.


Real life and real ministry are work. When you feel like it and when you don't. And it certainly won't mean perpetual, easy results and constant smiles. But, it is rewarding. I promise you that. That's the secret. But please...do tell.