Amy Scott's Thoughts

Sharing the thoughts that bounce around in my brain!

My Seven Words: Verses May 17, 2012

Filed under: Bible,Simply Me — Amy Scott @ 8:00 am

I finally did the other part of my homework from the Bethel Church Ladies Retreat. The first part was finding a way to get your core value words in front of you. I shared a few blogs back about how I used http://www.wordle.net to make a word cloud. I used that image as the background on my desktop. I love it! I honestly just like to stare at and repeat the words to myself. I know that might sound crazy, but I love these words! They hold deep meaning to me! The other part of the homework was find verses to attach to each of the words. Now not every word I chose is in the Bible, but I found verses that captured the heart of the message. Here are my verses:

  • Acceptance
    • Hebrews 2:10-11
      • In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.
  • Compassion
    • Psalm 112:4
      • Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.
    •  Matthew 9:36
      • When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
  • Courage
    • Deuteronomy 31:6
      • Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
  • Encouragement
    • Romans 15:4
      • For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
    • Philemon 1:7
      • Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
  • Integrity
    • Psalm 41:12
      • In my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever.
    • Proverbs 10:9
      • The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.
  • Joy
    • Psalm 19:8
      • The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
    • 1 Thessalonians 5:16
      • Be joyful always;
  • Vision
    • Genesis 46:2
      • And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!” “Here I am,” he replied.
    • Proverbs 29:18
      • When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild.
        But whoever obeys the law is joyful.

Note: Sorry for those who receive my email and got the beginning of this before it was completed! Stupid, sensitive publish button!

 

 

In Her Steps May 15, 2012

Filed under: Bible,Children's Ministry,Women in Ministry — Amy Scott @ 6:06 pm

As promised, here are my notes from this weekend’s sermon. We divided the time up into three sections. The first was a question and answer time. The second was a focus on three different Biblical moms. The third and final section was on action steps to take away from the lesson. The theme in In Her Steps focused on the Biblical Moms and how they are ladies we can follow in the footsteps of.

I don’t have the notes for the other ladies, but I am glad to share mine with you. You can hear the entire presentation via podcast (https://sites.google.com/site/bethelchurchpodcast/). I highly recommend you hear the whole sermon with Pastor Vicki and Shereena’s contributions. It’s definitely worth it! Trust me!

First Section – Question & Answer Time

Vicki: What is your favorite thing about children’s ministry? The relationships I get to build with the students. It’s so special to be a part of their spiritual journey and see them building a foundation on Jesus Christ. It’s also really great to see how our friendships remain over time, even after they graduate from children’s ministry. In fact, the first class of students I taught will graduate next year. It’s been an honor to be part of their journey for the long haul.

Vicki: What kinds of questions and concerns are you hearing from the kids you work with?

  • Relationships with the opposite sex. Kids are already talking about dating and how far is too far to go in the relationship. They see this behavior with their friends and they are wrestling with that it means for them. 
  • Media is a powerful influence as well. Children’s ministry magazine posted a statistic that says that 7.5 million Facebook Users are under age 13 which violates the sites privacy policy. Of that number, 5 million are under the age of 10 and most are unsupervised. Movies, music and video games are tricky waters from them to navigate.
  • Probably one of the biggest concerns of kids is their parent’s choices. Depression and anger can be seen in kids who have watched their parent’s struggle with divorce. Not having a Dad around the house is especially hard on boys and we see that come out at church. According to author, Vicki Courtney, 40% of children in the US go to bed each night without a biological father living in their home.  Even if the parents aren’t divorced, kids are still highly sensitive to their parent’s stability and it greatly affects them. Kids are watching their parent’s commitment to each other. They derive great strength or great insecurity from their parent’s relationship.

Vicki: What ages are these kids? It can start really at any age, but I would say most of my conversations happen with students ages 9-12.

Vicki: Are kids able to talk with their parents about these issues?  Honestly, it depends on the environment that parents create. Kids are very sensitive when it comes to stability with their parents. If there is any uncertainty in a child’s mind about trusting their parents, the child is more likely to start building walls and keeping parents at a distance. Most kids at a young age are willing to talk with their parents and really want that influence in their life. Kids are more willing to share with their parents when they’ve been told from a young age that they came to their parents with anything. It’s important for kids to know that they can trust their parents and that their parents won’t react with overly-emotional responses. When they know they will be listened to and treated fairly, kids will feel comfortable being honest even if they are at fault. Parents have to create this environment early on in their child’s life. It has to be an overstated fact so that kids always know and never forget they can talk to their parent’s about anything.

Second Section – Biblical Mom – Hannah

  • Hannah’s back story
    • One of two wives – her rival wife could have children, but she couldn’t
    • The taunting of this other wife deeply affected Hannah
    • Every year the family traveled to make sacrifices and worship the Lord. Even on a trip that should have been a sacred time for the family, we can see this other wife continuing to deepen Hannah’s wound.
  • When Hannah has no other options and it seems like there is no hope, she goes to one place and the one person she knows has the answers. She turns to the Lord and pours out her heart to him in the sanctuary.
    • 1 Samuel 1:9-11:
      • So Hannah ate. Then she pulled herself together, slipped away quietly, and entered the sanctuary. The priest Eli was on duty at the entrance to God’s Temple in the customary seat. Crushed in soul, Hannah prayed to God and cried and cried—inconsolably. Then she made a vow: Oh, God-of-the-Angel-Armies, If you’ll take a good, hard look at my pain, If you’ll quit neglecting me and go into action for me By giving me a son, I’ll give him completely, unreservedly to you. I’ll set him apart for a life of holy discipline.
    • We can see Hannah gave her all to prayer. She didn’t just send up a 30 second prayer, but she spent time seeking the Lord. Not only time, but she put forth great energy and emotion in her request. Eli’s response when he finds her shows us just how into praying Hannah was. He was taken off guard by her actions and assumed she was drunk when she was really just deep in prayer.
    • A wise mother knows what powerful men can forget — that the way to move heaven and earth isn’t with a strong arm but with a bowed head.  – Ann Voskamp
    • Eli was probably surprised when realized the dedication to prayer that this women had. We can see how his response “May the God of Israel give you what you have asked of him” (vs. 17)  really changes Hannah. Before she even sees her prayers answered, she is confident that the Lord has heard her and it shows! The Message says her face was radiant after this experience.
    • Just as she had prayed, Hannah had a son within the year. Once the child was weaned, she did exactly what she said would do and dedicated the child to the Lord.
    • Hannah honors God from the beginning by realizing that the Lord gave her the son she had requested. She kept her word and gives him back to the Lord. Hannah might wanted to keep Samuel for herself, but I think she knew this truth deeply – She was given Samuel for the Lord’s purposes, not hers. She didn’t hold on to Samuel. She let him go, just as she promised.
    • 1 Samuel 1:25-28
      •  Hannah said, “Excuse me, sir. Would you believe that I’m the very woman who was standing before you at this very spot, praying to God? I prayed for this child, and God gave me what I asked for. And now I have dedicated him to God. He’s dedicated to God for life.”       
    • I think it’s important to remember that we’re raising children for the Lord, not for ourselves. Anyone influencing the next generation needs to have a strong awareness that we are not shaping them to be like us, but to be like the Lord.

Third Section – Action Step – Vision

Having an honest evaluation of where your family is at is just the beginning. Now is the time to have a vision for your family. Dream about where you want to be. Just like a road trip – set your eyes on the final destination. There are no quick fixes and the journey will be long, but that shouldn’t diminish the vision God puts in your heart. As a parent, you are setting the direction for your family, so be intentional about where you are leading them. When you grab a vision for your family, you’ll change your family tree. This decision to dream big will not only affect your children, but the generation to follow. Be the catalyst for change in your family.  Go after the vision God lays on your heart with tenacity and focus. You won’t regret the decision to follow God’s best for your family.

 

Trying To Figure It All Out May 10, 2012

Filed under: Bible,Children's Ministry,Recollections,Women in Ministry — Amy Scott @ 3:59 pm

Oh, the age old question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” We’ve all pondered it. Most would say they have it figured out. Some probably never will… I feel like I’m somewhere in the middle. It’s a weird spot to be in. Honestly, it can be confusing and complicated.

When I went off  to college with a dream about who I was going to become, I knew two things. I was either going to be a pastor or a pastor’s wife. Ministry was my passion. It was going to be the center of my life. However, I didn’t realize how multi-layered ministry roles were. In my head, I would get a ministry job and have a spouse that worked outside of the church. Or I would marry a pastor and I might work a job outside of the church or I might be a stay at home mom, but I thought if I wasn’t the pastor then I would be the behind the scenes support to my husband.

I remember when Jeremy and I were meeting with Don Detrick (the Secretary-Treasurer for our AG network and the minister who married us) for a premarital get together. He suggested I get my credentials and I laughed at him. I said one pastor in the household was enough and I was fine being behind the scenes, supporting Jeremy. Oh, if I had only known then what I know now. I might have prepared myself for life a bit better. God eventually did lay it on my heart to get my credentials and become a licensed minister which led to be becoming ordained.  That was not a part of my original plan. Seems the Bible has something to say about that, “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.” (Proverbs 16:9 NIV)

The tension comes from the fact that I never planned to be in a two pastor family. It was always going to be one or the other in my mind. As God has unfolded his plan for my life, I’m realizing that his plans are bigger for me then I imagined. I feel my own call to ministry, outside of being paired with my husband. Let me tell you, that is a very scary thing. I’ve planned my life to be the supporter, not the one up front. In fact, I’m not a huge fan of being up front. I feel like God has certainly called me to a ministry of writing. I love to communicate through the written word. I’m never without anything to say. I always have an opinion on the matter. I love discussing things and digging deeper into God’s word. As an introvert, it’s hard for me to find the balance of ministry to people and quiet moments like these were I can process, reflect, and minister through writing.

I struggle with being viewed as a “pastor”… This is hard for me to admit, but titles do mean a lot to me. I wish they didn’t. As an administrator, I often feel like my heart for pastoral ministry is in conflict with my job that puts me behind the scenes. I know I’m called to more than pushing buttons on a copy machine and keeping track of attendance. I don’t technically have the “pastor” title, so I don’t like to presume roles that are not given to me. And yet, I am an ordained minister, how does this all fit together?

I’ve often wondered what it might look like to seek out more pastoral roles, but that seems to be tricky water as well. I don’t want to head off on my own ministry track that pulls me away from my husband. I don’t want each of us to be in our own worlds and have our calendars no longer match up. I don’t want to pull my heart away from children’s ministry, because I truly love it and I am passionate about seeing young children build a lifelong foundation on Jesus Christ.

I do think there is something to be said about saying yes to the small opportunities that come my way. Who knows if these small yeses will lead to bigger doors in the future? Doing things like co-preaching on Mother’s Day are little windows to grow my skills and expand my influence. Today I was asked if I wouldn’t mind doing the devotional for our area pastors meeting next month. While I am excited for this opportunity, I am yet again faced with the tension of being one of three women who attend these meetings and younger than most of the people in the room by a good twenty-five years. Not only is it hard to feel qualified, but it’s also hard to find people that can relate to me, who understand where I am.

I guess this leads me to another area of ministry that God has been laying on my heart. There is a very noticeable lack of women ministers in the meetings I attend. I have a passion to see women in ministry. The Lord has been fueling this fire in my heart to stand up and be a leader, to have a say, to be heard. The voice and influence of women ministers seems so small right now. It’s lonely to think that there are very few people out there who understand this call to ministry and the challenges. I’m not sure what my future looks like, but I hope that I can make a way for other women to step up. I would love to see the number of credentialed women match the number of credentialed men in our meetings. I would love to see the faces and hear the voices of other women ministers. I don’t want to be alone.

Children’s ministry, writing, public speaking, and encouraging women in ministry – I see all of these playing a big part in my future. I’m not sure exactly where these doors will lead me, but I know these are the areas that God has laid on my heart. I know that he will help Jeremy and I navigate the waters as a couple in ministry. I fully aware that my ministry affects my husband and his ministry affects me. We are connected. I know that God has a plan for us a couple and as individuals. We both have a lot to offer the Kingdom of God and we both want to use our lives to serve the Lord. I’m wrestling with a lot questions and I struggle to see  the picture sometimes. Where is this all leading me? Honestly, I’m not sure… but I do know that God is growing me. He is stretching my faith muscles more than I would like at this moment!

So, what do I want to be when I grow up? I think the safest answer would be: in ministry! The rest is up to God!

 

By Faith May 6, 2012

Filed under: Bible — Amy Scott @ 5:21 pm

Today’s Bible reading found me Hebrews 11. This is one of my favorite passages of Scripture! It just stirs me up inside! After reading it I always feel such great conviction. My heart just wants to scream “God, I wanna be like that!!!!” My prayer is the life I live speaks of my faith. It touches my heart to see the author of Hebrews using people who live hundreds of years ago as examples of faith. There faith stood the test of time and we remember them long after they’ve parted. I want faith like that!

My favorite section of this chapter is verses 8-11:

By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God’s call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home. When he left he had no idea where he was going. By an act of faith he lived in the country promised him, lived as a stranger camping in tents. Isaac and Jacob did the same, living under the same promise. Abraham did it by keeping his eye on an unseen city with real, eternal foundations—the City designed and built by God.

I want to be like Abraham. I want to keep my eyes on an unseen city with real, eternal foundations.  My heart is drawn to thought that this is not where I belong. This world is not my home. In fact, my current favorite song is “Where I Belong” by Switchfoot. It speaks to this concept – the fact that we’re still searching for a world where we belong. I thought I would post a link so I could share it with you. I hope you enjoy one of my favorite heart songs!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCxAfpYTt_U

 

Something Worth Fighting For April 30, 2012

Filed under: Bible — Amy Scott @ 9:31 pm

Here is the devotional from the second day our family ladies retreat. We had a powerful time praying each other on Saturday morning. I was honored and blessed to be in the room with such great women as we sought the Lord’s favor on each others lives. Here is hoping that you find the strength to walk into your own Promised Land!

Read Numbers 13:1-2, 17-33, 14:1-3, 6-9

Are you ready for battle?

This was the fateful moment that set the Israelites on a 40 year long walk through the wilderness. I can’t imagine being Joshua or Caleb (the only two who would see the Promised Land from the older generation). 40 years seems like a lot of wasted time when the mission of God was close at hand. They saw the Promised Land. They knew what it had to offer. However, because of the sins of the people, the mission that had been on their hearts since they left Egypt was now on hold. It must have seemed like forever as they waited.

I can’t help but look at the story from the perspective of the other 10 scouts. They all knew going into this trip that God had promised to give them the land. It was land what Abraham had journeyed to long ago. They had deep roots here even if it had been a while since their last visit. I’m not really sure what they expected to find. Part of me thinks they expected God to throw a big welcome home party for them. Upon entering the land they would find homes with the keys in the door, lights on, cleaned and cleared of all personal items such as idols. As we all know this wasn’t the case. The inhabitants of the land were strong, healthy and large. This wasn’t just any enemy. It really was an unfair battle. The Israelites felt weak in comparison, but they underestimated their number one resource: God! As a result, they wasted a lot of time. Time that they could never get back and for the older generation a promise they would never see fulfilled in their lifetime.

We all have a Promised Land. It’s the picture of God’s best for our lives. Often we assume the Promised Land comes with no battles and fights. We assume that God will just hand over the keys and we’ll walk right into it. However, life is seldom like that. The best things in life are worth fighting for. Sometimes I view struggles and set-backs as a way of God telling me this wasn’t for me. I wonder how many Promised Land experiences I’ve missed out on because I wasn’t willing to fight through it and keep going. A lot times the struggles look like giants. We see the odds and we know that they are not in our favor. The enemy is armed and we let fear stop us from going forward.

From the beginning, God told the Israelites that he was going to be with them. He told them he would give them the land. Instead of fighting for the promise, they wanted to turn around and head back to Egypt. Truthfully, it’s easier to stay in our slavery than fight for our freedom. When we resign ourselves to the fact that this how it has always been and this is how it will always be, we sell ourselves short of God’s best. Yes, fighting the battle will take effort. It will hurt. There will be moments when you want to retreat and accept the old way of life, but that would a waste. It would be like turning back into the wilderness on the cusp of the Promised Land.

When the Israelites finally made it the Promised Land, they did not fight their battles alone. God was with them. We can see that even at their first battle in Jericho the Commander of the Lord’s Army (scholars believe that this was a pre-New-Testament appearance of Jesus – God in human form) was there in person giving instruction to Joshua. The Israelites had success and God was fighting for them when they were dedicated to the cause and serving him wholeheartedly.

Just the same, we must not be afraid to claim the promises that God has made in our lives. If he has called us than he will equip us so we can accomplish our calling.  Even if we don’t feel battle ready, all we have to do is remember that the Lord is fighting for us. The heavy lifting really isn’t on our shoulders, it’s on God’s. However, we must be active in claiming our Promised Land. Even though it’s up to God, we have to give feet to our faith and live it out.  Don’t give up on your Promised Land because there is a battle ahead. Some things are worth fighting for and with God on your side you will see victory!

 

 

Another Weekend Away April 29, 2012

Filed under: Bible,Family Time,Travels — Amy Scott @ 6:51 pm

I’ve returned from another weekend away at the Oregon Coast. This time I got to hang out with my family for the weekend. The Scott/Reid/Carroll/Smith crew spent time together laughing, crying, praying, playing, crafting, walking, shopping, and eating together. This year my sis-in-law, Beckie, and my cousin-in-law, Cori, and I took over the planning. I offered to do the devotional time. It was an honor to pray for each of the ladies on our trip and share with them what I felt God laying on my heart. I thought I would share with you our devotional message from Friday evening:

Read Deuteronomy 6

God Moments and Spiritual Storytelling:

This is one of my favorite passages in the Old Testament. It calls us to be story tellers and remember what God has done for us. It’s not just enough to remember in our own quiet moments, but it calls us to be vocal and to share what the Lord has done in our lives.  We can’t keep it to keep it to ourselves. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get so focused on the future that I forget about the past. Now, I wasn’t there when the Red Sea parted and God delivered the Israelites from Egypt (shocker, right?), but I do have my own God Moments where God showed up big in my life. For me these were moments where God re-directed my life or revealed some life-changing truth to my heart. He has helped me conquer hurdles and obstacles. For me, these God Moments are the times when the Red Sea was parted and God showed up in a big way. When these God Moments are happening, it’s easy to see his hand and recognize his work. However, as time distances us from these moments, the details get hazy. Something we couldn’t stop talking about doesn’t come up as often. We move on and get back to life. This was a big problem for the Israelites. They seemed to have the attention span of a child. God provided miracle after miracle and yet they still didn’t trust him. Even with witnessing the awesome hand of the Lord fight for them, they were still derailed by each new struggle.

This is where Spiritual Storytelling comes into play. Since I work with kids, storytelling is a key part of helping them grasp the Word of God. It’s no different really when we grow up and become adults. We still need to have the element of storytelling. We need to be sharing with each other and the coming generations where God showed up in a big way. Here a couple reasons why Spiritual Storytelling is so important:

  • It helps us remember – when we share our stories; it solidifies the lessons learned in our hearts and minds. It keeps the miracle fresh and live.
  • It inspires us and others – I love that feeling of being on the edge of our seat as you listen to a good story. It’s compelling. When we share our stories, we inspire others in the middle of their own struggles. We are living examples that the Lord is good. Also, our stories will help us in the future. All of us will have many God Moments and have many Red Seas. When we remember how he has been faithful before, we can confidently walk into the next struggle knowing he will not let us go there alone.
  • It keeps the legacy alive – There are moments in history that certainly define a family tree. I can think of couples who have broken the cycle of addiction or abuse, people who have made commitments to change the future for the next generation. These are moments that need to be shared. Even in my own life, I can see how my parents made intentional decisions and shared the reasoning with my sister and me. We are a part of their legacy. These major decisions and life altering moments can change a family tree forever. We must celebrate these changes and also guard the next generation from going back to destructive patterns.

I realize that not every environment is safe for sharing our personal stories. Some things will be shared with only a few. However, I think there is value in sharing our stories even if it is with just a few trusted people. You might feel that everyone already knows your story, but you’d be surprised how many actually don’t.  Also storytelling isn’t a onetime thing. It’s repeating the miracles over and over. It’s about writing them down and making alters of remembrance in our lives. Don’t assume that everyone knows or that no one cares. We all miss out when you keep your stories to yourself!

 

All In March 3, 2012

Filed under: Bible,Women in Ministry — Amy Scott @ 12:33 pm

I love it when my Bible reading grips me and really moves me! I would love to say that I have feeling every single day, but that wouldn’t be truthful. Lately, however, I’ve been extremely moved by my reading. I love it when I think “This is so good! I have to blog about this!” My desire to blog about something means that it really touched me, so much so that I can’t keep it to myself! Yet again, I will share with from my reading in 2 Corinthians.

I could probably post the whole chapter because it was so good, but that would be super long, so here is 2 Corinthians 6:1-13:

Companions as we are in this work with you, we beg you, please don’t squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us. God reminds us,
   I heard your call in the nick of time;
   The day you needed me, I was there to help.
Well, now is the right time to listen, the day to be helped. Don’t put it off; don’t frustrate God’s work by showing up late, throwing a question mark over everything we’re doing. Our work as God’s servants gets validated—or not—in the details. People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly . . . in hard times, tough times, bad times; when we’re beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we’re telling the truth, and when God’s showing his power; when we’re doing our best setting things right; when we’re praised, and when we’re blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all.

Dear, dear Corinthians, I can’t tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life. We didn’t fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren’t small, but you’re living them in a small way. I’m speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!

I found myself nodding as I was reading this! It just came to life in The Message. I’ve read this passage numerous times in the NIV and while I knew it was important, it never really hit me the way it did this go around. I think this time I could see pieces of myself in the passage. I’m no where near as cool as Paul, I can’t raise my hand and say that is me – I’m all in, I know what that looks like in its entirety. There were parts where I knew exactly what he meant and others where I know I haven’t been there, I haven’t lived that call. While my lifestyle is very different from Paul’s, I hope that if faced with each of the situations mention that I would chose to go through with it – all of it. There is great good listed and great pain. Am I willing to have one and not the other? Ministry has it’s highs and lows, will I accept them as they come?  I think that Paul makes an excellent point when he tells the Corinthians that he didn’t fence them in. They are doing it themselves!!! Their lives aren’t small, but they are living them in that way. It makes me wonder in what ways have I fenced myself in. Am I living a small life or am I running in wide-open spaces? To me, it all comes down to being all in. I can’t have one or the other. I have to embrace the good and the bad in order to have the kind of life that Paul is taking about. By keeping myself from pain or hurt, am I building fences in my life? These are just some of the thoughts bouncing around in my head. It’s so good when God’s word really opens up your heart and makes you start to evaluate and re-prioritize!

So my questions to you (and me) are this: Do you see yourself in this passage? How can you relate to Paul? What things did he list that you haven’t experienced? Are you willing to? Are you held captive in a pasture or are you roaming free in wide-open spaces?

 

It jumps out! February 7, 2012

Filed under: Bible — Amy Scott @ 4:39 pm

There are so many times that even though I have read a verse before it jumps out at me in a new way.  I have the pleasure of this experience happening quite a bit as I read through the Bible using The Message this year instead of my usual New International Version. The Message has such a fresh way of wording things and it makes the verses jump off the page. This happened to me just the other day with Romans 8:15.

This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are.

I read that and instantly thought, that is it! That’s what I want! As a believer I have the resurrection life within me. I know that I am saved by God’s grace through the blood of His Son. However, I think it’s possible to have the adventure and expectancy turned off in my everyday, routine life. Each new day I need God’s Spirit to touch mine and confirm who I really am! When I’m listening to God tell me who I am than I am excited and ready for whatever is next! So often God’s voice isn’t the one I tune into. Not listening to God is how life goes from an exciting adventure to grave-tending. I’m reminded that He is the one who defines and that definition and acceptance fuels the fire of my passion and desire to serve Him. I can’t muster up that drive on my own. It only comes from relationship with God. A daily relationship of letting Him define me and bring me to life.

Just some food for thought! Are you ready for what’s next? Are you excited for this adventure?

 

The Simplest Things December 28, 2011

Filed under: Bible,Family Time — Amy Scott @ 1:43 pm

Right now I’m in the midst of my Christmas break which has been awesome, but sadly brought down by a massive head cold. I’ve been able to do all that I wanted and hoped for – just while being medicated… kind of a bummer, but a break is a break and I’ll take it! We spent a lot of time with Jeremy’s family over the weekend and yesterday my sister and brother-in-law arrived from Kansas. We’ve had a great time connecting with them and playing lots of video games. They boys will play Call of Duty MW3 and when we all play together it’s Wii Party. Good times. Tonight we’re heading up to my parent’s house for our immediate family Christmas celebration. It’s fun to push the holiday out just a little longer.

As you can tell my normal blogging schedule is a little off. I apologize to all readers, but I think it’s a good thing when there is so much life going on that I don’t have to write about it. Makes me feel like I’m really living! Nothing dramatic, just filling the time in good ways! Today I was reading my Bible while everyone took turns getting ready. I found myself in Matthew chapter 6. It seems the simplest things and the simplest sentences can be the most powerful. This verse is highlighted in my Bible and I’m always so profoundly hit by it. I wish I could really own this verse and live it out. “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Matthew 6:27. I suffer from anxiety. I get nervous about everything and worry all the time! It’s amazing! I know it does NOTHING, but yet I am prone to it. I should really post this verse all over my house, car, and office! Worrying does me nothing. Even on Christmas break, I have found myself worrying about what others think, worrying about the schedule, worrying about this, worrying about that. I’m on a vacation and worrying seems to follow me! So today I am remind that worrying will not bring me more time or a better outcome. Give up the worry and just live!

 

 

Getting back to routine December 20, 2011

Filed under: Bible — Amy Scott @ 8:18 pm

Why is it so hard to get back into routine? It seems like a break from the usual scheduled programing for a few weeks and its like pulling teeth to get back into my old patterns. I’m talking about my Bible reading plan. I finished reading the Bible for this year at the end of November. Instead of starting my next plan right away, I gave myself a short break. I’ve been trying for the last week to get back into my flow and I’m finding that it’s been more of a struggle than I would like. I really do love reading my Bible. Once I open it, I’m glad that I did. It’s just the getting to the point where I’m sitting quietly and I’m not distracted. This time of year is hard when it comes to distractions! They are everywhere! It might be choosing to watch a Christmas movie, connect with a friend, bake, clean or work! There is a lot to do! However, especially at this time of year, it’s important to make that quiet time with the Lord a priority. It’s a weird concept to think that we get all worked about Christmas and what God did at this time many years away, but to not really acknowledge him during this season. It needs to be more than just adding “God bless” to a Christmas card. So even though I’m struggling, it’s worth it! As an act of worship and way to connect with my Savior, I will spend my time with the one who gives true value to my life. I will recommit to reading His word throughout the entire year. It’s amazing how every year I love it more and new things stand to me as I walk through different seasons. The Bible is not something you read once and check it off your list. I will forever have a lifetime relationship with this book!