Are you a SON or a HIRELING?

What If?

WHAT IF:
• I were the owner of a restaurant, but never ate at it?
• I were the owner of a hotel, but never stayed at it?
• I were the coach of a sports team, but never attended a game?
• I were the leader of a ministry, but never led it?
• I were the pastor of a church, but never attended it?

WHAT IF:
• There was a restaurant convention in town but, as an owner, I didn't avail myself or my team to it?
• There was a hotel convention in town but, as an owner, I didn't avail myself or my team to it?
• There was a sports conference in town but, as the coach, I didn’t avail myself or my team to attend it?
• There was a Childrens/Student/Leadership Ministry conference/event in town but, as a ministry leader, I didn't avail myself or my team to it?
• There was a pastor's/leadership conference in town but, as a pastor/staff, I didn't avail myself or my team to it?

Are you thinking like an OWNER or an EMPLOYEE?
Are you thinking like a SON or a SERVANT?

How you see yourself often determines the words you speak & the actions you take. I would go as far as to say that the way you see yourself is the way others will treat you.

As I've served in ministry & observed business practices...I've learned that we can never stop learning. We must continually position ourselves to learn where we can & when we can.

I've also learned that my actions reveal who I am. This verse has always been powerful to me: Where your treasure is...there your heart will be. (Matthew 6:21)

If the company I work for (which pays my salary & provides my livelihood) succeeds...I succeed.

If the church I attend & serve in (which provides me community, a place to fulfill my calling & spiritual help) succeeds...I succeed...and my family succeeds, too.

When you GRASP this...it's a REVELATION that will affect your actions.

I've always lived my life with this thought, "I must promote what's promoting me." In other words, what ever is adding value to me...I need to make sure I'm adding value to it as well. It's a principle called RECIPROCITY.

I also approach this from another perspective: How can I bring improvements to where I'm at? A lot of times, we get in a rut & need to remind ourselves that we are called to ADD VALUE everywhere we are.

Don't let miscommunication, misunderstanding or misinformation allow you to miscarry your full potential! God wants you to BLOOM where you're planted!

Bring VALUE to the table & be determined to IMPROVE yourself in the process. God will bless you & others in the process.

It's a journey.
One step at a time.
Hit the reset button, but don't give up.

What if you turn your WHAT IF into a WHY NOT?

#BeEncouraged
#YouGotThis

How Will God Use You To Elevate His People?

While so many people are trying to make a “name” for themselves through their talents, appearance, social media status & education...the real key to significance & success is SERVICE.

The question each of us should be asking is, “HOW WILL GOD USE ME TO ELEVATE HIS PEOPLE?”

Stop reaching for the “Title” & get a firm grip on the “Towel.”

God doesn’t need anymore showmanship in His Kingdom...He needs SERVANTS who have burned their plowshares & killed their oxen. He needs people who are more concerned with lifting OTHERS, rather than lifting themselves.

I’m thankful for all the ministers, leaders & people who are striving to build God’s Kingdom & not their own. To me, they are the real deal...when it comes to ministry.

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;” 1 Timothy 1:12

Our GOAL & ROLE is to elevate others...not ourselves. John The Baptist said, “I must decrease...He must increase.”

SUCCESS & SIGNIFICANCE flow through SERVICE to others...which is ultimately unto our Lord...Jesus Christ.

Who will you ELEVATE today?

(I’m not talking about you elevating YOU again...YOUR specific family or your HOBBIES...BUT other people!!!!! - Social media posts about you or your family don’t qualify!)

Where are you serving others?
How are you serving others?
When are you serving others?

#ROOM
bfwc.net

Q & A: Should we worry about our calling or focus on the need?

Q: "I had a question about your Servant Leader post. My husband and I strive to be the best servant leaders we can be. We have always felt called to work with youth, in various ways. Right now there is a need in our church for a Sunday school teacher for a particular age group. We want to dive in and help fill this need. However, should we do that if it’s not part of our calling? We're scared that if we commit to this then later something could come up with the youth and we wouldn't be able to help with that because we are already committed. As good servant leaders, should we dive in and fill the need of the church before worrying about our calling? Thank you." 

Anonymous 

A: Great question! God sees the desires of your heart. 

• Proverbs 18:16 "A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men." 

Your gift will make room for you. In other words, your gifting will continue to bring opportunities before you.

MINISTRY, by definition is "Seeing a need & meeting it." If you are seeing the need then you already know the answer to your question...because your heart is open to the KINGDOM NEED already in front of you. :)

• Your FAITHFULNESS in LITTLE will bring your FRUITFULNESS in MUCH. 

Regarding your CALLING...it will always be before you.
I believe I'm just as much called in this season as I was in the last season or in any future season. 

It matters not what I do if I'm where I'm supposed to be...because the Holy Spirit will continue to manifest my GIFT to compliment my CALLING no matter where I serve.
To me, serving in ministry is a ROAD you travel...not a LADDER you climb. For example, in this season, I might be scrubbing toilets in the Kingdom. In the next season, I might be scrubbing toilets & teaching. Either way, I'm SERVING where I'm needed. If God desires me to be OVER THERE...He will bless me OVER HERE. The two will come together at my INTERSECTION of OPPORTUNITY. 

I believe my NEXT is in my NOW.  If I can get my NOW right...my NEXT will already be waiting on me.  This principle will not & cannot be bypassed. 

God bless!

Why I Love Servant Leaders

Are You A Big Shot?

1. Find the SERVANT & you've found your LEADER. They're not the big shot sitting at the head table...they're the one in the kitchen preparing the meal.

2. "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant." Mark 10:43

3. Do you want to be a LEADER? Then become aSERVANT. Pick up a towel & start washing dirty feet. Think of yourself as a SLAVE & not as a MASTER.

4. True leadership is not a matter of having a title, a position or an over-the-top personality. Leadership is first & foremost a matter of the HEART.

5. If SERVING is beneath you, leadership is BEYOND you.

BONUS: We don't need anymore SUPERSTARS in the body of Christ or in business...we need more SERVANTS.

• People who think of OTHERS first. 
• People who are THOUGHTFUL & CAREFUL not to offend. 
• People who consider other people's FEELINGS...not just their own.
• People who ANTICIPATE the needs of others.
• People who SHARE their TIME, TALENT & TREASURE.
• People who are INCLUSIVE not EXCLUSIVE.
• People who don't tell you just what they want you to KNOW, but walk in total TRANSPARENCY. 
• People who GIVE more than they TAKE.

Selah

Are you a SON or a SERVANT?