Missionary or Mission field?

I work with the public. I am a waiter so I am in constant contact with people. As a minister this awesome. But, it brings up questions about how I am to serve certain individuals. Do I treat everyone as they are lost? Do I treat everyone as they are saved? Or, if they mention church or Jesus, do I assume they are a believer? Do morals play a role in this?

I have come to a conclusion. There are two kinds of people. Not good and bad, because we are all bad. Not saved or lost, because only God knows every man's heart. But, by mission. By partnership.

When Christ calls us to salvation, He calls us to ministry. He calls us to serve Him, and to serve others for His glory. We are called to a mission, as missionaries. So, we are to minister to people based on their mission and how they are living it out. Are they a missionary, or a mission field? Are they my partner, or what I am working towards for the Glory of God?

This brought up another question: When people look at me, do they see a missionary or a mission field? Do they see a servant of Christ, or a way to serve Christ?

This question has turned into a conviction. So often, as the American church, we look at Africa, Asia, and Haiti as mission fields. But, what about our workplace? What about our household? What about our school? And, this is scary, but what about our church? We often assume that everyone has heard, or we assume that every situation around us will take care of itself. We assume that it is someone else's responsibility. Don't assume, because "assumers" accomplish little for the Kingdom.


So, are you a missionary or a mission field? There is no other option, and often enough, this answers the question of "saved or lost?" So, looking at your life, are you on mission.? Are you serving Christ with true conviction, passion, and love?

Matthew 28:18-20

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,* baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."


Are you making disciples or do you need to be made into a disciple?
 
Mission or Mission Field...

Lose Everything

Cover via Amazon

I have been reading two books at the same time. For me, this is quite difficult. I am not the brightest star in the sky, but God is using it. Along with daily bible reading, I am reading Radical by David Platt and Crazy Love by Francis Chan.

Both of these are challenging books. Though I have just begun reading, I have already been deeply convicted.

The biggest theme that has stuck out to me in both books is that Jesus is worth losing everything for. Both writers have written about the greed of the American Church, and how lazy we are when it comes to loving Christ.

I recently asked my Sunday School class if they were willing to get their tongues cut out for Christ. Is Jesus worth it to you? As you look at your life, are giving everything to Christ or living out the typical SBC bull. We have fallen into the trap of giving our possessions and comfort higher value than our relationship with God.

Jesus is worth much more.

If you don't want to settle, I recommend these books to you. Check them out!

Watch This video by David Platt.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZfC7vAbte4&feature=player_detailpage

You're Beautiful

It's the first date. You're nervous. Your stomach is full of butterflies. Your palms are sweating ferociously, and you probably used too much cologne.

You want to be impressive, because you are impressed. Why? She's beautiful.

How do we feel about the Lord?


I was recently convicted on the way I approach daily devotions and worship. I'm lazy when it comes to these things. I don't act the least bit impressed with Jesus. My stomach doesn't turn, and His breath no longer causes my hands to sweat.

So, how should we approach these things?

Like we are in love.

As the Bride of Christ, we are to live and worship with all passion and faithfulness driven by a deep love for our King.

Are you impressed?

If so, you will approach every devotional with intensity. If so, you will approach every chance to worship like you are going to meet the love of your life.

We are not to "casually" worship. But, God calls us something way more intense. He calls us to be in love with Him, which is not a casual, or less-than exciting.

Are you impressed?

Identification, please.

I'm a waiter. The restaurant in which I work serves alcohol. Often enough, someone will order a drink, and I will have to ask the question of, "May I see your I.D?"



On a license you see very limited info.  You see a birth date, eye color, height, and gender. It also includes race, and address. These are what we call demographics. I think we would all agree that there is more to a person than demographics.

Who are you? Don't tell me your age. Don't start describing yourself with physical traits.

We have come to a place in society where we sum ourselves by saying what others can already see. To know me, you have to know my heart. To truly know Thomas Seth Springs, who was born on 12/22/92, you have to know my desires. To know me, you gotta really know me.

So, I ask again, who are you? I had to ask my self this same question recently. To really know, we have to escape what others see. We have to look beyond the obvious. We have to look at private moments. We have to look at our thought-life.

In some places I was disappointed. In some places I realized that I was not who others think I am, and that I was not living for Jesus 100% of the time.  If you are not Jesus himself, you will probably see the same thing.

So, Who are you? Are you playing church. What is the difference between who you are, and what others see? Who do you want to be?

Do you want to be someone who is sold out to Jesus, or do you want to be a pretender. I look at my brother Trey, and I am impressed. Trey loves Jesus. It is genuine. He has his struggles, but he admits to them, and tries to abandon them. Trey wants to be someone who is totally committed to Christ, therefore he pushes toward the goal.

There are others who claim to walk the walk, but don't. They may admit their faults, but they probably don't have a true, Christ-centered, desire to grow towards Christ. These are the people who are at church. They go, and they feed off of everyone elses fruit, but struggle to bare their own. See, but don't seriously serve. They use the product, but they don't pay.


So, who are you?

Are you pouring your life into your friends, family, and church? Or, do you sit back, go to bible study, and refuse to grow?

Identification, please.

February of 2011? (Video)

My Top 10

At the top of my blog it says, "A blog used for voicing biblical truths, personal opinions, and motivations."
Time for some opinions. My top 10.

Here is a list of the top 10 things that I enjoy...

1. God-to-Man Companionship- Man. This is unexplainable. There is nothing like walking hand in hand with the King.
2. Christian Fellowship- I love meeting with my brothers in Christ. Whether it's over breakfast or a football game, it's a blessing.
3. Coffee and Breakfast food- I love coffee and breakfast food. I am a firm believer that they both can be consumed at any time of the day.
4. Charleston, SC- The prettiest place on the planet. I miss it. I'm feeling a trip soon.
   
5. Pictures- I love pictures. There is nothing like catching moments on film.
6. Comfortable Shoes- Cleats, tennis shoes, or dress shoes. Look good, feel good, and do good.
7. Chopping Wood- A stress reliever. Enough said.
8. Bond Fires and Cold Weather- I love winter. I could live in Alaska.
9. Writing- I like to blog, but I'd much rather be writing poetry. Yes, poetry.
10. My Brothers- I have 3.

You're Trash

You are despicable. You are low down and disgusting. You're scum. You just aren't good enough. You're not worth it.

Ever heard this?

Chances are that you have. And, chances are that you will again. People like to be-little others. It makes them feel big, to think little of you. No matter where you turn, there is someone to criticize you and to blame you.

So, who are ya? Did you grow up rich or poor? Are your parents together, divorced, or are you adopted? What kind of car do you drive? Oh, and do you happened to have a past?

To the world, these are the things that define us. Our occupation, standard of living, and relationship status puts us in a category. Jocks, nerds, and Emo's. Pretty, ugly, and pretty ugly. Monroe, Waxhaw, and Marvin.

Despite what the world says, this is not you. You are not your parents, and you are not your car. You are not athletics, and you are not a stack of text books. You are not a mansion and you are not a trailer.

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." -Psalm 139:14

God did not make you as trash, and he does not see you as trash. You were made wonderfully, and even though we a filthy, God sees you as clean through the Jesus.

Who is the authority? When you die, this world will not judge you. You do not receive salvation from the world, nor do you receive damnation from it. God is the Judge. It is by His standard we are tested, and by His Son's blood, we pass the test. Through Jesus, the Father sees us as blameless.

So? Find your identity in Christ. Seek to please Him, and Him alone. Do not stress over the words of others, but rest in God's purpose for you. By Him we are saved, so by Him we must live.

How does it feel? How does it feel to know the Lord of the universe finds you to be wonderful? He sees you as beautiful, by the grace of His Son. God loves you so much that He chose you. He called you by name. How does it feel?