Breathe In, Breathe Out

Life is under appreciated. We wake up each day, live, and go right back to sleep. We often do not think of the implications that it has on us and the ones around us.

Life is precious. Life is precious, because it expires. Our physical life will not last. There will come a day where we will breathe our last. Our body will be an empty shell. Think about the last minute of your life. Whatever you did in that minute is gone. You cannot get it back. One day, all the minutes that have made up our lives, will be that way.

So how do we make our life last? How do we make it count?

"If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord." - Romans 14:8

We were made with a purpose. That is to honor God. That is the only way that our life can last.

Will yours last? What if today was your day? Would people stand at the podium and say, honestly, that you lived for Christ? Would they describe you as a person who had a breath-in, and breath-out commitment to the Lord?

The only way our life can last is if it belongs to the Lord. A key to following Jesus is self-denial. As followers we have to have a "Your kingdom come, and your will be done" attitude. If you live for you, your life will die with your body. But, for those who live for Christ, they keep on living past their expiration date. How? Jesus is the giver of eternal life.

So, what effect will your life have on the world today? Will it just be another day, or will you live a life in which every breath is breathed for the glorification of the King?

I encourage you to live breathe by breathe and day by day. Pour yourself out in the name of Jesus, for the name of Jesus. Be spent for the Love of Christ. As we take it breath by breath, pouring ourselves out, the memory of us will cause people to have a memory of HIM. When people remember what you do today, will it cause them to remember Christ?

Breath in, and breath out.

Keep Loving Jesus,

Seth

You're Boring Me

I was recently I asked if I had any talents. My response? "No"

All in all, I am pretty boring. I do not have any distinctive hobbies or defining ablilities. I don't play instruments and I don't go sky diving. You will probably never see me on TV and I don't dream of being on the radio.

I love sitting at home. I love to hang out with friends, and I enjoy coffee. And, yes, I am a reader. There is nothing like sitting in a rocking chair. And, man, I love talking to people who were born over 60 years ago.

So, I am cleary no Indiana Jones. I am no hero. Everything that I dreamed to be as a little boy? I'm not that. I am not scoring touchdowns, I am not an astronaut, and I am not wooing the ladies. I'm not making lots of money, I am not driving a fancy car, and I've never rode a bull. I'm not what I always dreamed of being.

Am I okay with that? Most definitely.

Colossians 2:9-10



9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.[a] 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

Our adventure is to be found in Christ. There is nothing like waking up everyday and living on faith. Christ called 12 men. He called them to walk with Him on the greatest action story ever recorded. They were not going to go into bars and start fights, or have the american dream, but they were called to be satisfied by the riches of Christ. Now, that is exciting.

I pray that my life be an adventure. To be honest, I am quite bored with the mediocrity of denominations and religion. I am bored with my own mediocrity. I am bored with walking by logistics and math equations. I'm bored with trusting in my gas tank, and not God, to get me that extra mile. What kind of life are we making for ourselves?

Who Are We?

• Runner- Some of us are runners. You may be the kind of person who runs back and forth between situations looking for excitement. Often looking for adventure in all the wrong places. You try new jobs, new hobbies, and new relationships. Why not a new car, or a late night. You are constantly looking for a good time. "Where's the party at?"

          Runners struggle to find satisfaction. They're constantly hungry for something. Their appetite is often left unsettled. They do not feel complete. You may ask yourself, "Why does everything seem to feel so dull?" or, "Why doesn't anything ever go my way?"

• Log- Some of us are like logs. We enjoy just laying around. Motionless. We don't see a need for adventure. I, being boring, find myself in this category often. We like rocking chairs. We like sitting at home, and we are okay with having little reaction with others. We are dull, and often think that we are smarter than we really are. We are often proud. We like to brag about our lack of calamity.

         The truth is, our calamity is just organized. Our minds struggle with the open time. We become weathered from staying in one place for so long. Our nothingness and boredom causes us to age and wear out. We often say, "there has to be something else", but we don't bother with looking.



So?

Runners need to stop running for themselves. They want to be filled but find themselves at the wrong well. Go to Jesus. If you want to be excited, walk by faith. There is nothing like waiting in anticipation of what God will do next. We are to be complete in Him. Good times will fade, but the adventure with Christ is eternal.

Logs need to be moved. We need to have a sincere hunger for the Word of God so that we may be pushed into a journey full of life and excitement. We need to live out of inspiration from the Holy Spirit. When we get lazy we must push on and resemble a cross country star pushing towards the goal.


Challenge:

Do something different in the next ten days. But, don't do it to fill yourself up. Do something exciting for the Glory of Christ. Take a "risk" and tithe 20% instead of 10%. Push yourself to take a chance and share Jesus with someone. Step out into the waters and really walk by faith. Do not settle for less than what God has for you. Push for a life full of excitement in the name of Jesus. Leave everything and go on missions. Pay for an African Child's food for a month. Just do something, and do it in the name of Jesus. For the next ten days live it up..for Christ. It will be exciting, and you will want to make it a habit. Remember your days to impact the world for Christ are running thin...

"If we live, it's to honor the Lord. And if we die, it's to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord."

-Romans 14:8-



What's Next?



Sometimes life looks like this...

So, which road do you take? Which school? Which career? Or, which T-shirt do I wear today?

Life is full of choices. Some are simple. Some are not. But, either way, we must choose. No matter how many options there are, we must make a pick. Some of these picks may put us on the high way to success, but others can leave us deserted and lost. This is scary. We don't want to find ourselves stuck in a ditch.

So what choices are you facing? Any forks in your road? You're going to have to make a decision.

1. Don't Rush

So many of us rush things. Whether it is a relationship, or job choice, we make impulse decisions. In the Gospels, we see that Peter's impulse choices got him into some trouble. He would think little and say much. He found himself digging himself out of many ditches. Let's learn from this. Let's take it slow. Take time to pray and seek God's face in each situation. Don't be rushed into anything. If needed, pull over, and take some time to think.

    2.  Don't Panic

One of the biggest mistakes we can make while driving along this road is panicking. Life is scary. When we come to the fork in our road, and forced to make a decision, we seem to throw our hands up in the air out of fright. Don't do this. Stay focused on your destination. Remember your reason for being in the car, and be determined to make it to the finish line. Also, remember that you're not in control anyway. We need to remember, as believers, that God is moving us. He is in control. The best that we can do is let Him drive, and follow His directions like a map. No reason to panic, the King of the universe has His hands on our wheel.




Lately, I've dealt with some uncertainty. School is coming to a close, and with that are lots of questions. This verse is one that God has been using to comfort my spirit:

"Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

Remember that we have someone to go to. Don't be so prideful that you refuse ask for directions. The Father loves us, and wants us to be on the right road. Be faithful enough to let Him drive. 

Heart Like Ice

Ice is water in solid form. When water is exposed to frigid temperatures, you get ice. Ice is frigid. Ice has no regards for the surface on which freezes. It doesn't care how it effects it's surroundings. Ice is sharp. It's edges can be shaped in such a way that it can pierce the flesh. Ice is used for cooling and burning. Ice can become so cold that it can "burn" anything that is exposed to it. Ice is hard. To be removed, it must be melted, chipped, busted, or scraped. Ice is slick. There is no traction. It is dangerous.

Sound like your heart?

So many of us have frozen hearts. Hearts that are cold and sharp. Hearts that have little concern about those around us. Our hearts may be hard and need to be scraped. They may be slippery, and it causes our lives to spin out of control. And, if your heart is icy, you're probably denying it right now.

Maybe it's because you have been exposed to harsh conditions. Maybe your heart was put in a cooler by a family member or friend. Maybe you were hurt, and your heart has grown cold towards people and God. Either way, we need to be melted.

With a frozen heart, we struggle to love. We find ourselves feeling angry for no reason, and we feel like the world is coming at us with a snow plow. We feel pushed to the side. We feel that it is everyone else's issue, so why bother with changing.

This is not the heart of a joyful person. A heart that leaps with joy is one that is fully focused on the Lord. And, the Lord is like a warm cup of hot chocolate pressed against our lips that warms our insides. His love comforts our hearts and pushes past any sign of a frosty barrier.



So who are you? Are you someone who is frozen from the inside out? If you show no regard for those around you, be melted by the love of God. If we struggle with loving people, we need to exposed to God's ice pick...

It may be hard. Have you ever heard a snow plow scrape the street clean? It doesn't sound joyful. It may not feel great, but it's for your benefit. You will have to forgive. God wants you to experience His warmth. The Father wants you to feel The Son.

My last Tuesday Teaching YCI (Pictures)

This past Tuesday(Jan. 17th) was my last non-exam day of High School. It was also my last time teaching at the Youth Commision International club. It was a good time. To my surprise, my emotions were running high. I will miss this stuff. I will miss these people. You don't get this time back.

High as a Kite

Drugs. You've got a view. You've got a memory. You may have an addiction.

No matter who you are, drugs play a role in your life. Whether you've done them or not, you've had interaction with someone who has. They are not only on the radio, and in movies, but they are on your street, and maybe even in your own house.

I've had my experiences. Over the past few months, questions have been asked. In the past week, I have been asked twice if I do drugs. Over the past month and a half, I have been told at least three times that I look like a "druggie". My response? I was.

Growing up, I had holes to feel. Drugs were a space filler. By the time I was in 7th grade, I had begun experimenting with prescription pills. Anything that I could get my hands on. They were an escape. They made the issues temporarily disappear.

As I continued my use through middle school and into high school, I saw myself change. I was consumed. My thought process was turned upside-down. It's all I could think about. I was never happy with myself. I replaced a kid's smile with a plastic one. The hole I thought I was filling, was getting bigger. The memories I thought I was washing away, began to haunt me more and more.

Not only did my mind change, but my body did as well. I was an athlete. But, my love for game was replaced with selfish ambition. My mind switched from team to a self-driven life due to an addiction, and ultimately, my sin. My eyes began to droop, and personal hygiene was a daily struggle. I guess this is why I look worn out now. I was being used, by myself.

I haven't been able to stop thinking about these comments. They have made me reflect on my life. They have made me take a close look in the mirror in both literal and figurative ways. Through this, I have come to two major conclusions.

One: It wasn't worth it. If I could get those days back, I would. No matter how high I got, it would wear off. I've come to learn that getting wasted, is a waste. The bottle would always run empty. I hurt myself, and others. Those days did nothing but create more baggage than I already had.
It wasn't worth it, because it wasn't Jesus. See, highs wear off, but the love of God doesn't. He doesn't create holes, but he makes them over flow. I wasted 3 years of my life.

No matter how fun you think it is, it's not worth it. If you use, don't. You're not only using drugs, but you're using yourself. This will end up in disappointment. Put it down. Jesus wants to give you a satisfaction that exceeds anything of this world.

Two: It's only by the Grace of God. I'm not good. I'm still an addict. I still have moments where I want to use. But, it's only by the grace of God that I can look at those people in the eye, and honestly say that I am clean. It hurts to think of what I have done to myself through my perversion. But, by the grace of God, Jesus has filled me with a joy that says I no longer need a high. I thank God for pulling me through the fire. I am so unworthy. He has over matched my sin with love. I have no reason to boast in myself, because it's only by the grace of God.

Everyday is a battle. I see things that remind me of using. When hard times come, my flesh says use. The Spirit of God says, "Be satisfied by me." I can tell you that as I am clean, I am high as a kite. But, not on drugs or sex. I have been lifted by the love of God. I have been lifted by the grace of a sovereign King.

No matter what you want to fill your life with, know that it doesn't compare to Christ.

Keep loving Jesus,
Seth Springs

Depth of the Dance

What is a title? A description? A summary? What is a Doctor? Someone who gives check-ups? Well, the truth is that there are different types of Doctors. There Doctors of medicine, Doctors of Divinity, and Doctors of Science. So when we say Doctor, do we need to be more specific? You don't want to see a Doctor of Letters when you have a cold.

In Revelation 22, Jesus gives himself three titles that are specific and to the point. To believe in a God, we must know who He is. We need to know His character.

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." -Revelation 22:13

We have heard these descriptions so many times, that we forget to take them for what they are. Did you get excited when you read the verse? Did you take them as just a list of titles, or a description? Our complacency with the Word of God has watered down our understanding of many verses, including this one.

Challenge: Explore. Discover. Search the Word. Search your God. Search your Heart. Do not settle for a vague knowledge of the God you claim to serve. But, dig. Lift ever rock, and search around every corner for your God's identity. Don't settle for just knowing that your God is the Alpha and the Omega, but I urge you to experience it. To experience it, you must find it. Do not settle.

In these titles are promises. Jesus managed to sum himself up in 17 words. Don't you think that every letter of those 17 words is slam packed with adventure and explosion? But we must search those letters.

3 Promises
There is an uncountable amount of promises within our God's identity, but here are three that stood out to me...

1. Who We Walk With- We should ecstatic about our opportunity to have a day-in and day-out companionship with the Alpha and Omega. We often struggle to pray. This should not be the case. We need to count it as a privilege to talk with Him. Look at how much you talk and text. What if we talked to God that much? We can. Jesus, through the cross, bridged the gap between us and the Father. How exciting is this: We get to walk and talk with the ruler of the universe! That is a promise of Jesus' identity. Take advantage of this!
2. Who We Live For- We no longer have to live for our sinful nature. We no longer have to live trying to feed our selfish desires. Through Jesus, we have been given the opportunity to live for something more. We actually get to leave it all behind, and live for the God who created us. This reminds me of myself as a child. I love my mother. And, I constantly wanted her attention. I wanted to please her. I was constantly saying, "Mama, watch this.." We now have the opportunity to put on a show for the Alpha and Omega. He is watching. He deserves a good show. Live in a way that makes him want to give a standing ovation. Through Jesus, we have this ability.
3. Who We Live With- Jesus is the Beginning and the End. We get to live it with Him. Through His resurrection, we have been given life. His endless love, has given us endless life with Him. Our walk with Him is not brief. Our life for Him is not cut short. We get to live in the presence of the Alpha for eternity. What a promise!

Conviction

Family (Video Blog)

Blood. That's what makes family, family. But, that's not it. A family is not family without love.

In the past I have done a great job of disconnecting myself with my family. We are from Waxhaw, NC. My family is dysfunctional. We are not rich. We all have pasts, and they often smack their food when they chew. Get it?

Today, however, I realized how much I missed all of this. (I really missed being "Mr. Fix-It" with my Grandpa) I realized how selfish I have been, and how big of a blessing they are. Now, they are still weird. They still have issues. But, I'm excited about changing the "they" to "we".

God often blesses us with things that we do not see as blessings. Whether it is a lost job, closed door, or broken relationship, God keeps blessing. I have ignored the blessing of my family. Now, I'm not usually this mushy, but it all hit me at once today. I am happy. But, more importantly, I have a true joy. Not a painted on smile. God has used a snow day to expose one of the biggest blessings in life: Family.

Special Thank You (Video Blog)

Thank you guys. God Bless.

Farewell (Romans 16)

Here, I can see Paul blowing goodbye kisses.

Romans 16

1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea.2 Welcome her in the Lord as one who is worthy of honor among God's people. Help her in whatever she needs, for she has been helpful to many, and especially to me.


3 Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in the ministry of Christ Jesus.4 In fact, they once risked their lives for me. I am thankful to them, and so are all the Gentile churches.5 Also give my greetings to the church that meets in their home.


Greet my dear friend Epenetus. He was the first person from the province of Asia to become a follower of Christ.6 Give my greetings to Mary, who has worked so hard for your benefit.7 Greet Andronicus and Junia,* my fellow Jews,* who were in prison with me. They are highly respected among the apostles and became followers of Christ before I did.8 Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord.9 Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.


10 Greet Apelles, a good man whom Christ approves. And give my greetings to the believers from the household of Aristobulus.11 Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew.* Greet the Lord's people from the household of Narcissus.12 Give my greetings to Tryphena and Tryphosa, the Lord's workers, and to dear Persis, who has worked so hard for the Lord.13 Greet Rufus, whom the Lord picked out to be his very own; and also his dear mother, who has been a mother to me.


14 Give my greetings to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters* who meet with them.15 Give my greetings to Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and to Olympas and all the believers* who meet with them.16 Greet each other in Christian love.* All the churches of Christ send you their greetings.


17 And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people's faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them.18 Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.19 But everyone knows that you are obedient to the Lord. This makes me very happy. I want you to be wise in doing right and to stay innocent of any wrong.20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus* be with you.


21 Timothy, my fellow worker, sends you his greetings, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my fellow Jews.


22 I, Tertius, the one writing this letter for Paul, send my greetings, too, as one of the Lord's followers.


23 Gaius says hello to you. He is my host and also serves as host to the whole church. Erastus, the city treasurer, sends you his greetings, and so does our brother Quartus.*


25 Now all glory to God, who is able to make you strong, just as my Good News says. This message about Jesus Christ has revealed his plan for you Gentiles, a plan kept secret from the beginning of time.26 But now as the prophets* foretold and as the eternal God has commanded, this message is made known to all Gentiles everywhere, so that they too might believe and obey him.27 All glory to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, forever. Amen.



Goodbye Kisses
As I've stated, this passage gives me a picture of Paul blowing big goodbye kisses out to the Church who he has written. In the opening of this chapter we read Paul's goodbyes, and see you laters. He expresses his love for the Church, and this love has been obvious.
 
Paul learned from the best. Christ taught Paul's heart how to love the Church. This is awesome. In these goodbyes we can see the relationships built through the blood of Jesus. Through these expressions we are able to see the love of Christ spilling out of Paul and onto his fellow believers.
 
We need to be more like this. We need to be more loving. We need to freely give away our sisterly/brotherly love like Jesus did for us. We need to learn from the God who is love.
 
Are you holding love and mercy away from those around you? Are you bitter? Or, are you just a grump? I am sure that there were issues in the Roman church. I am sure that there was drama and heartache involved with the readers of Paul's letters. Just like in your family, church, and personal bubble. But, Paul loved them anyway. Let's learn from Paul. More importantly, let's learn from Jesus.
 
Eyes and Ear
Within Paul's farewell is a challenge and a warning. He warns them of false teachers and prophets. Just like in our day, the world was filled with liars. People were filled with Satan and selfish ambition. Sound familiar? Then Paul proceeds to challenge them. He distributes a challenge to not listen to anything that clashes with the Good News of Christ.
 
We must keep learning. We must live with eyes wide open, and watch out for those who want us to stumble. We must be aware of those who lie and live a life of deceit. We must answer Paul's challenge. We must refuse to accept anything other than the Gospel. We must stand firmly on the foundation that Christ has given us. We cannot budge.
 
What the world teaches looks good. It looks rich and promising. But, we must remember that anything outside of Christ is empty. Anything outside of Jesus has no value. Refuse to accept anything outside of Jesus.




"All glory to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, forever. Amen." -Romans 16:27