How do you define success? For many years I thought success was defined by what others thought of me. I am successful if my ministry is visible by others - I am successful if my ministry is housed in a great building in suburbia - If my numbers are high (noses and nickels).Success is really working within your own limitations and believing that God will do something BIG. Craig Groeshel has this equation [limited resources + Increasing passion = Exponential Innovation]Success is not how great, influential, or relevant you are but it is how you use the resources around you to build on. Success is being resourceful with what you already have and using it to help someone find their way to the cross.I have met many people who would be considered the LAST, the LOST and the LEAST. These are the resources that God is wanting to use in my life and ministry. My success is all around me and my success is helping the "least of these."In my county - 15,450 people ( www.thearda.com ) claim no religious affiliation. None.. Zero... Nada.... I am so excited to be where I am - I have the makings of "great success" all around me! In North America 33,000 communities are without a Full Gospel Message!!! Stop trying to find success in perfect buildings with perfect programs directed by perfect people with perfect life styles... Instead - Look for the least, the last and the lost and they will help you find true success and true ministry.
A man in Topeka, Kansas decided to write a book about churches around the country. He started by flying to San Francisco and started working east from there.
Going to a very large church, he began taking photographs and taking notes. He spotted a golden telephone on the vestibule wall and was intrigued with a sign, which read "Calls: $10,00.00 per minute..."
Seeking out the pastor he asked about the phone and the sign. The pastor answered that this golden is, in fact, a direct line to heaven and if he pays the price he can talk directly to GOD. The man thanked the pastor and continued on his way. As he continued to visit churches in Seattle, Dallas, Chicago, Milwaukee, and many cities and towns all around the United States, he found more phones, with the same sign, and the same answer from each pastor.
Finally, he arrived in Missouri, upon entering a church in the beautiful Ozark Mountains, BEHOLD - He saw the unusual golden telephone. But THIS time, the sign read, "Calls: .35!" Fascinated, he asked to talk to the pastor, "Pastor, I have been in cities all across the country and in each church I have found this golden telephone and have been told it is a direct line to Heaven and that I could talk to GOD, but in the other church the cost was $10,000.00 per minute. You sign reads only thirty-five cents. Why?"The pastor, smiling broadly, replied. "Son, you're in Missouri now... You're in God's country. It's a local call."Author unknown
My daily devotions [the chronicles] have led me to a very interesting place... I have just read through the many descendants of so-and-so & so-and-so!!! Then, in chapter 9 of 1 Chronicles, this chapter starts off with a very powerful reality... Listen to this... "The people of Judah were taken captive to Babylon because (get this) of their unfaithfulness."Wow, how many times have we been unfaithful? To God, others, family members etc. This verse just jumped off the page and had held my attention there. Unfaithful!!!
Most of the Old Testament is the story about the people of God who were unfaithful and were led away to Babylon for 70 years.What would have happened if..... the children of Israel would have been faithful to God... hmmmm??? Jeremiah wept over this problem, Ezekiel spoke of this, Isaiah prophesied about this, Habakkuk was warned about this situation...The Chronicles tell the story of a group of people who did not listen to God and were not faithful to him..I don't know about you... But this makes me want to drop to my knees and pray and ask God to cleanse me and wipe me clean... "Create in me a clean heart!"I don't know about you... But I don't want this to be my legacy!!! God, give me clean hands and a pure heart!
How do you define success? 
