My husband, Tod, also works at home. Before he transitioned home, he left the house around 6:00 a.m., had an hour commute, worked all day, drove an hour home, and saw the kids for a few hours at night. That was when he was in town. Now, he still starts work around 6:00 a.m., but he tromps down the stairs to have cereal with someone, dashes over to school for lunch, and goes for a run or coaches baseball practice at 5:30 p.m.

While our days are full, the wonderful truth about working at home is we can schedule work around our lives, instead of our lives around our work. Because our work isn’t tied to a clock, we can work at odd times of the day. That means sick kids aren’t an inconvenience, school holidays aren’t a concern, and a neighbor who needs a ride due to a dead battery isn’t a major interruption.

You’ll have more time for ministry and missions work.

Another benefit of working at home is you increase your availability to be used by God for ministry and missions work.

In the fall of 2005, my husband and I adopted two little sisters, Cathrine and Ruth, from Liberia, Africa. This wonderful happening came at the end of a wild year, which included the launch of two home-based businesses, my husband’s transition home, and my first book contract.

As I consider that year, I’m convinced those happenings were connected with our more flexible schedules and our openness to be used by God in all areas of our lives.

Adoption is a long and laborious process. You hurry and fill out all the paperwork, then wait for months while it seems nothing is happening. Then, one day you receive a phone call announcing your daughters know they have been chosen for adoption and you can come get them in two weeks.

My husband and I stared mutely at each other and in 60 seconds decided that he would go. Those next two weeks were a whirlwind as we applied for Tod’s visa, he got a physical and the necessary shots, and I tried to finish the girls’ bedroom and guess at their clothing sizes. Two weeks later he flew to Africa and spent nine days there with the girls acquiring their American visas. My husband brought home two beautiful children, but left a piece of his heart in Africa. While there, God planted a vision in Tod to start a nonprofit organization to raise funds for the orphanage. Tod will return to help build those precious children a school. This is a personal passion because Cathrine and Ruth had never even held a pencil before they came to us, and had never set foot in a school.

This missions work is easier because Tod is an entrepreneur who works from home. I know this might scare some of you who fear God might send you to Africa someday. If God does, trust me, you’ll want to go. I tell you this story because when you offer your employment, your time, and your energy to God, prepare to be used. So many women and men who work from home find they are able to pursue more of God’s kingdom work in their neighborhood, city, state, country, and world.