Amy Scott's Thoughts

Sharing the thoughts that bounce around in my brain!

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!

 

There is a first time for everything May 9, 2012

Filed under: Children's Ministry,Cooking Experiments — Amy Scott @ 1:51 pm

For Christmas I received a mini-bundt cake pan from my sister-in-law and brother-in-law. I had requested baking cookbooks for Christmas and I was amazed to find that each gift from the Scott’s revolved around the baking theme. I will admit that I’ve never made anything “bundt” shaped in my life before. I was excited to receive the gift, but then sadly it sat in my cabinet… for 5 months. Sorry, Nate and Beckie! Last night, I decided now was the time to try this new piece of cooking equipment. Since I’d never used a mini-bundt pan before, I did learn a few valuable lessons from trial and error. One lesson being, don’t over fill the ring… My first batch looked more like cupcakes with funny bottoms! Oh well, I cut off the over-filled sections and munched on them while filling the pan again – this time with less batter! I assumed most bundt cakes are frosted with a glaze, so I used my best trick for glazing. I melted lemon frosting and put it in a frosting bottle so I could control the drizzle. The end result was pretty good if you ask me! I’m excited to share these little cakes with my class of 5th/6th grade girls tonight. I’m so lucky to have a group of ladies to bake for each week! I get to play around making goodies in the kitchen and then I get to share the results! Seems like a win-win situation to me!

 

Flying By April 26, 2012

Filed under: Children's Ministry,Family Time,Women in Ministry — Amy Scott @ 2:06 pm

It seems to happen all the time in casual conversations. Someone says, “I just can’t believe how fast the month is flying by!” I don’t know about you, but I hear this all the time. In fact, I think that very statement could be one of the anthems of my life. Time just always seems to be flying by. Things that were months or weeks out on the calendar are now just around the corner. Once one thing is off the radar, something else comes up to take its place.

Here are I am thinking about how the month of April has just flown by. Easter always takes up a huge chunk of time and energy. Add a church ladies retreat, a family ladies retreat, my sister moving home, planning a sermon for mother’s day, a local area connection dinner for women in ministry, a party for a friend, randomly getting a new king mattress (hand me down, but in great condition) and then needing to spend the day shopping to find all the bedding for it since we’ve never owned a king bed, preparing all the permissions slips for summer which means nailing down all the details for our summer activities, multiple lunch dates with friends, family and mentors, selling two vehicles… should I go on? I could list all things that I didn’t get to this month, that I now feel guilty about  – like not reading enough, not writing enough, not meeting with students enough… No wonder the days fly by! Really??? Anybody else just plain tired after reading all that? I know I am after living it!

Right now I find myself in a situation I find myself in a lot… It’s the day before something, today is the day before my family takes off for a ladies retreat at the Oregon Coast. I’ve been planning and prepping for this weekend away for months. Two weeks ago I was busy preparing the devotional times I hope to share with the ladies, on Tuesday I was printing all my materials and making a pile of all the stuff I need to be remember to bring. Somehow in all the prep and trying to keep up with life that I almost feel too tired to go… This bothers me. My life gets so busy that instead of looking at a weekend away as a blessing, I tend to view it just as another thing I need to do. I should clarify that this has nothing against the event itself or the people who will be attending it with me. It’s good stuff, but more than anything I just want to sit in my pajamas and do nothing. Instead of being social, I want to hide. I’m being real here!

This month was a tricky one for me. I really tried to balance things out, but I don’t feel like succeed. I don’t want my life to just fly by. I don’t want my time to be spent just marking dates off the calendar and throwing myself headlong into the next thing. I know I’ve mentioned it before, but with my schedule, I feel like I live my life a month in advance at times, by the time I actually get to whatever is on the calendar I’m either too tired to enjoy it or my mind is already onto the next month and all things that I need to be doing in prep for that. It’s a vicious cycle!

As I prepare to head into the next big thing on calendar, I pray that God would give me rest. Even in a room full of people, I pray that my little introverted spirit would be refreshed and feel a sense of peace and calm. I don’t want to live life frantically. I don’t want to be so busy that even the good things in my life start to look like things to check of my list. I want to savor the moments! I want to really live in them – not too tired to enjoy them and not thinking about the next big thing I need to be on top of.

I can see how this all comes back to my core value word that I got to add back (it’s really my aspiration word) – balance! I need to find balance. I know that I struggled with this month so much because my core value of balance is out of whack. Even though April has flown by, here is hoping that I can slow it for May. I guess that is the great thing about each new month and really even each new day, we can decide the pace. I’ve been trying to keep up a little too much in April. I know myself and I know I can’t live this pace continually. It’s up to me now to set the tone for May. Here’s hoping it doesn’t fly by as quickly.

 

Administrator, Mentor, Party Planner? April 10, 2012

Filed under: Children's Ministry,Women in Ministry — Amy Scott @ 7:17 pm

There are a lot of things that I didn’t realize went with the territory of ministry. Yes, I figured where ever I served I would be doing administrative tasks in some form. I’m well organized and I have a mind for details. Over the years, I have felt a stronger call to the pastoral side of ministry as well, but admin is something I know will always be a strength of mine.  When I first saw myself going to into ministry, I thought there could be nothing better than spending my days at the church and investing in people. This is still very true. I love being a mentor and being a part of the lives at Bethel Church. Mentoring is a passion of mine and the students that I get to build relationships with are the highlight of my ministry experience.

However, one thing I really didn’t think through was large event planning.  Working in children’s ministry gives Jeremy and I the opportunity to throw multiple large events each year. Girl’s sleepovers, harvest parties, giant Easter egg hunts are all a part of normal calendar of events for us. Take this weekend for example, nothing like throwing a party for 2,500+ children… The breakdown for this event looks like 60,000 candy filled eggs, pony rides, face painting, balloons, inflatables, petting zoo, prizes and more. Now, let’s be honest, Jeremy and I don’t pull this off all by ourselves – that would be impossible. Days like this involve a team of dedicated volunteers. The planning and prep does land on our shoulders and it’s important to make sure all the details come together. There is a lot that goes into a big day like our Easter Eggstravaganza. After 7 of them we’ve watched it grow and expand. Each year is a little different and each year is a chance for improvement.

Another example of party planning would be the Missionettes Sleepover. This event is fun for me because we have a new theme each year and it gives direction to the crafts, games and decorations. I told Jeremy after our last sleepover that I’m positive that our future children will have the coolest birthday parties because we are so used to planning parties. The crafts at the sleepover are items they can take home to remember the event. The games are fun and run off energy – this greatly enhances the chance of sleep that night. It’s a big party!

The purpose of these big events is to provide fun opportunities for people to come to our campus and see how great it can be. Church shouldn’t be intimidating or scary. It most certainly shouldn’t be boring. These events are open to our people, but they are also extremely invite-able. It gives our congregation something they can bring neighbors and friends to. Not only are they easy to invite people to, but our volunteers get to rub shoulders with the community and share genuine love with visitors. Through our smiles and friendly conversations, we have an open door to share what we believe as a church.

So, did I think that party planner would be high on my list of skills going into ministry? No. It can be overwhelming at times, but mainly it’s just fun. There is a lot of room to dream and get creative. Ministry really lends to a diverse résumé – administrator, organizer, teacher, mentor, large event planner, hall monitor, counselor… The list goes on! I have truly learned to be a jack of all trades. However, I hope that I’m not a master of none. Personally, if given the choice of what I would want to master it would be teacher or mentor. No matter what hat I’m wearing or how many balls I’m juggling, I hope that I can serve with a smile and a willing heart.

 

Being a Guest Reader March 7, 2012

Filed under: Children's Ministry — Amy Scott @ 10:10 am

I got the privilege at the beginning of this week to be a guest reader at one of our local elementary schools. I normally work with older elementary students at the church, so it was a fun stretch for me to be in a younger classroom. I will admit I was nervous because I had never done this before. Jeremy has been a guest reader numerous times over the years and I was asked to join him this year. Now when I say join him, I don’t mean read in the same classroom as him. We were split and sent to different rooms. I had a lot nerves in my tummy as I opened the closed door to the classroom I was supposed to read in. I don’t like to disrupt things and I wasn’t sure what I would find behind the door.

I introduced myself as the guest reader and the teacher asked me to go select a book while she finished up her lesson. Instantly, the kids were focused on me and telling me things like “You’re pretty” and giving me book suggestions. I decided on I Can Read with My Eyes Shut by Dr. Seuss. I figured since it was just Dr. Seuss’ birthday and it was a book all about reading that seemed like a good combination. I sat down in their reading chair and answered a few questions about myself. I was told I smelled good, that my shirt was beautiful and that my hair was nice and soft. I forgot how much younger kids don’t mind getting into your personal bubble. It was flattering, but at the same a bit overwhelming.

I was able to share a little bit about how much I love to read and I really enjoyed sharing the story with them. I did forget one part of a page and I was informed of my mistake right away. It was really cute. Once I finished my book the teacher told the kids that they could pick a book to read to me. I was mobbed by 20+ kids who all wanted to read to me. One of the girls sat down on my purse and jacket (I wasn’t sure what to say about this, so I let it slide) and started to read to me the book Go, Dog, Go.

At one point a student who was listening to the reader started to fiddle with some things in the classroom. Another student started to complain and wanted to see and touch the items as well. I suggested that maybe they put the items away so it wasn’t an issue. One of the students said “She said we should probably put it away” and the other responded by saying “She’s just a helper, not the teacher.” Wow! I’m not used to that. Normally my word goes with the kids that I work with. I wasn’t there authority figure and it showed. Since this was a small thing, I didn’t make a big deal out of it. The kids resolved the issues before it got out of hand.

The teacher was focused on fixing a computer with an IT person, so I just stayed on the floor and continued to be read to. Once it came time for them to move on to music, the teacher thanked me for keeping them occupied while she had this computer problem taken care. It was actually a blessing to me that I got to hang out these kids. I mean who doesn’t like to be endlessly complimented??? I’m also glad that I got to share my love for reading with those that are younger than me. I’m feeling inspired to see what it would be like to volunteer more in elementary schools. I think it could be a good way to have an influence on more kids than just the one that walk through the doors of my church. Overall, it was an amazing experience and I’m so glad that I did it!

 

Recent Readings February 22, 2012

Filed under: Amy's Bookshelf,Children's Ministry — Amy Scott @ 1:52 pm

I love this time of the year following Christmas and my birthday. Why? Because I usually have a good stock pile of books waiting for me to read them! I get really happy when I have about 5-6 unread books on my shelf. It challenges me and motivates me! I haven’t written about what I’ve been reading lately, so I thought would share with you 3 amazing books that I’ve been reading and how they all connect.

The first book I read was Not A Fan by Kyle Idleman. The adults at our church have done the video curriculum based off the book and our pastor did a sermon series based off the book as well. I knew it really rocked our community and I wanted to see what it was all about. Let me tell you – this book is a must read for everyone!!! Kyle is serious in his challenge to evaluate our faith and see if are truly following Christ (abandoning our lives to Him and His call) or we just fans (people are enthusiastic admirers of Jesus and aren’t really in the game).  As someone who works in the Christian ministry for a living it’s easy to read a book like this and think that Kyle might be challenging you to do more to prove your faith – that is not the case. Doing more doesn’t mean anything. It’s a heart issue and when your heart is truly devoted to God than your actions will follow. It’s basic, it’s foundational and it a message that can easily be drowned out by our culture. This book is powerful. Kyle also has a great sense of humor. There are footnotes in the book that made me burst out laughing. His personality comes out through his jokes and it is a good balance to the serious nature of the topic. Another great thing about this book is it’s an easy read. Not too many big words and lot of story examples. Some Christian growth books can be hard to plow through, but this one will easily keep you engaged. Like I said before, everyone should read this book! It will make you think – in a good way!!!

The next book I read was one that was given to me by a fellow staff member to check out. It’s called 5  Conversations You Must have with Your Daughter by Vicki Courtney. I know, I know… I don’t have a daughter! But I sure do work with a lot of other people’s daughters. In fact, ministering to young girls would be number one my list of lifetime callings. This book is full of statistics and information that parents need to know and need to discussing with their daughters. The topics of the book surround themes like you are more than how you look, sex is great and worth waiting for, don’t be in a hurry to grow up and anyone be a “girls gone wild” kind of girl but dare to be virtuous.  A lot of time Christian parents think that their good Christian kids don’t need to hear these things, but the truth of the matter is culture is speaking lies to girls daily and parents need to be an active force for good in their children’s lives.  These conversations aren’t one time occurrences. Conversations about such things should happen often and start when girls are young (in age appropriate ways). The statistics in the book will give you an honest look into what society is telling our young ladies and how the lies are effecting them. The thing I took away from this book is I have a voice in the lives of so many young women. I may not be their mother, but I can continue to affirm the message of virtue and self-worth in God.  Parents need to read this book and they need to be actively engaged in their child’s life. That means boundaries, rules, guidelines – whatever you want to call them – you need to have standard of living in your home and it starts with you!

Now the book I am currently reading is called Father Fiction by Donald Miller (previously published as To Own a Dragon). This is certainly a swing in the opposite direction from the last book. Donal Miller explores what it means to grow up without a father. He openly admits what that has done to him as  man. It’s a challenging to read this because you can deep impact and pain that comes to the fatherless. Honestly, there is a generation growing up fatherless. There are a great many of people who missing that piece of the puzzle. It does mess with them… I’m not finished yet with the book, but I can see so many strange parallels between the conversations that parents are supposed to have with their children and what Donald is saying about the lack of conversations and influences. The extremes are incredible and people are greatly affected. Donald’s writing style is one that personally enjoy. Seeing the world through his fatherless eyes is opening my eyes to the children who are in the same boat as him. Working with kids, I get to see firsthand how profound the influence of a parent is on a child’s life. Yes, parents can be engaged and truly leading their children on the path of life. But sadly, parents can be absent – physically or disengaged, and it has a very negative influence. Parents are the biggest influence in their children’s life – for good or for bad.

I think it’s interesting how all 3 of these books connect and relate to each other. Not A Fan really strengthened my call and resolve to serve the Lord with my whole life. 5 Conversations You Must have with Your Daughter reminded me I have role in the lives of children. I have been called to speak life to them and direct them the best I can towards God’s will for their lives. I am parenting many kids in many moments throughout the week. I am using those moments well??? I was challenged to be a force for good in this generation. Now reading Father Fiction, I can see what happens if parents don’t step up and don’t engage in the call to parenting. Overall, I am reminded that this fatherless generation is never alone. Even if their earthly father or mother has walked out on them, God never will. He is a father to the fatherless. The Bible makes it pretty clear that children hold an important place in God’s heart. Jesus loved the children and I have a feeling those kids were better off as a result of the love that was shown to them. My prayer is that parent’s would be empowered to be the spiritual leaders of their children. My prayer is that by partnering with families, I can be a part of this divine calling to serve the church. Too much is stake to be a fan in the bleachers, I’m all in and I’m ready to give my life for something matters for eternity!

 

Do it for the kids February 17, 2012

Filed under: Children's Ministry — Amy Scott @ 2:41 pm

There are lot of times in children’s ministry where I will step out of my comfort zone – usually it’s in wearing something ridiculous and knowing that other adults will see me in my crazy get-up. Sometimes I don’t want to participate. I want to plan these fun dress up days and these fun events and then… well, look normal and not push myself beyond my comfort zone. Tonight is our 1st-5th grade class sleepover and it’s a Hawaiian theme. I’ve been telling kids and leaders alike to dress up and really get into the theme. I’m really good at talking the talk, but will I walk the walk? Now this might be a surprise to you, but I don’t own a single Hawaiian item in my wardrobe! I totally had the excuse to not dress up for the sleepover, but I knew I’ve been telling others to do so and what kind of leader would I be if I didn’t? Yesterday while shopping for the sleepover food and supplies, I stopped by a party supply store and for a whopping $10 got a pink lei, pink bracelet, and a pink grass skirt. I combined that with a flower I wore in my hair for a friends wedding and my Hawaiian ensemble was complete. Now I might look like a dork – my husband already told me he wouldn’t take me to Hawaii looking like this… I guess it’s not authentic. For the kids though, I will wear it! For the kids, I will put on my most excited face and be jumping with joy tonight! I might be tired and sore from a long week, but I will push that aside so that the kids have the best time possible. Sometimes I just having to remind myself… I’m doing it for the kids!

 

Some weeks… February 15, 2012

Filed under: Children's Ministry,Family Time,Women in Ministry — Amy Scott @ 4:49 pm

Okay, some weeks are pretty free and life is fairly easy going… then I have weeks like this week where I am filled to be brim with good stuff. I’m talking about things I like to do, things I enjoy, things that matter to me. However, add them all together and it starts to feel like a bit much. So here is a glimpse into the first half of my week and my projection for the second half of my week. (Note some of you will read this and think that I’m a wimp and have accomplished really nothing of worth… that is fine if you are super human and super cooler than me. I am not super human and I like naps).

Sunday started off like any other Sunday. I get up and get ready while my dog sleeps snuggled into my bed. I’ll be blow drying my hair and look over at him so peaceful like and I am reminded that life is not fair. I am certainly not a morning person, but a lot things happen in the morning hours – like church. So I must get up and take part in these activities with people who enjoy the morning. I try to smile and pretend that I wouldn’t rather be in bed. By the time children’s church rolls around I’m usually pretty alert, but starting to get hungry for lunch. I know it’s so silly, but I often think a lot about lunch while I’m helping with the kiddos. Maybe I should pack a snack??? But then they all look at me with those eyes that say “did you bring enough to share with the group?” and of course, I didn’t… so I scrap the snack idea and just wait for my first meal of the day to happen around 1:00pm. Sunday was a life group Sunday and the group was meeting at our house that night. I got home and started to eat almost immediately. After my late lunch I started to clean my house in anticipation of the company I would have over that evening. Once the house is clean enough to make my conscience happy I then decide to spend my last few free hours sleeping – oh yeah! Gotta love a Sunday afternoon nap! I wake up to discover my hubby has fallen asleep on the couch. That never happens! We are both dopey but welcome our company shortly after 6:00pm… After 2 hours of meeting and listening to Jeremy talk on the phone with his brother about blinds and my favorite TV show, it’s off to bed.

Monday morning has a way of being different than all other mornings… It’s a beginning of a new week. This week happens to hold the Missionettes sleepover where I can expect to be responsible for 80-100 girls and volunteer leaders. Needless to say, Monday morning is spent focusing on nothing but the sleepover. Monday at noon I head off to lunch with my mother-in-law. We have a monthly lunch date to spend some time together out of the office and develop our friendship. After lunch, I head to the store to by eggs, flour and an onion. The eggs and flour are for baking project later that evening. The onion is for my husband. I have a few quiet hours at home and then I have a youth student over to bake cookies with me.

Tuesday while getting ready I hear my cell phone go off saying I have a text message. I find that my mom has decided to give Jeremy and I a couch and an over-sized chair. I tell Jeremy and he gets excited because these are nice pieces of furniture. We accept and make plans to pick up the furniture next Thursday… then on Monday… and then we decide to pick it up after work! Yep, we’re decisive. Since Tuesday was Valentine’s day Jeremy was sweet and got us take-out for our staff meeting meal. After work we headed up to my parents to pick up the furniture. We realize the furniture doesn’t fit through the doors well, so have to load it by going round through the backyard where there are double doors that make things a bit easier. We load up a church van almost completely full with furniture. Jeremy and I decide we’re starving and stop to get fast food on the way home. We know that with furniture in the van we’ll want to set up ASAP when we get home. The rest of the night is spent moving what seems like all the furniture in our home around to various places and then moving them back again. Good times.

Now we come to today. I woke up and cleaned my entire house, steam vacuumed all by one room of my house (I didn’t do our guest room because pieces of a disassemble futon are scattered around it n0w – yes, you better believe that drives me crazy). I have finished a book and started a new book. I have responded to many emails and phone calls regarding the sleepover because the deadline to register is today. I will dress up in clashing mismatched clothes for a class dress up day tonight and I will come home and pass out. Tomorrow I will set up and decorate for the sleepover. Than I will go shopping for all the food and door prizes for the sleepover. Soon enough Friday will be here and I won’t stop moving until midnight when I make my class go to sleep. However, I won’t sleep because every sound I hear I will assume that some student is trying to sneak out.

Okay… this got quite long! Sorry! I just thought I would share the fast paced, high action life I live! It’s a fun life, but let me tell you – I see another nap in my future… most likely a 6 hour one when I get home on Saturday!

 

The Resolution Ceremony February 11, 2012

Filed under: Children's Ministry,Women in Ministry — Amy Scott @ 5:11 pm

On Wednesday night our church did something a little different for our midweek programs. Instead of being split up all over the building according to our age, we joined together for a powerful evening. We recently showed the movie “Courageous” as a family movie night. Out of showing the movie, we felt compelled to do a resolution ceremony of our own. For those that haven’t seen the movie, 4 fathers make a resolution about being a man of God and what that means as a husband and a father. The resolution ceremony gives men an opportunity to stand in front of their families and commit to being the spiritual leaders of their households.

There were a couple reasons this night was so cool for me. The first would be that we got worship together as a whole church and that meant my hubby was by my side. I don’t often to get hear Jeremy singing next to me so I always enjoy the times were the two of us can praise the Lord together. It was also great to be there with all age ranges. I normally attending the earliest service at our church on Sunday mornings. As you can imagine, not a lot of youth are in that service because of the time and because they have a Sunday School class at that hour. The energy that comes from worshiping together as a whole church is very exciting and one I wish I would experience more often.

The pastoral staff were invited up to the stage first to lead by example. This would give the guys a chance to see what the ceremony would look like and have the men of our team going before our congregation. I’m not usually the type of person that likes to get up and hang out on stage. I’m much more in my element in a back classroom with kids. Lucky for me, I just had to stand there… and not laugh. That was tough!!! The men turned to face their wives and children (no children in our case). Jeremy took my hand and repeated after our regional presbyter, Myron Ness, the word of the resolution. Now here is the kicker – Jeremy has been ill all week with a high fever. Jeremy was cold medicine to get through the evening. Jeremy doesn’t do well repeating after others… add all these things together and you get a very funny moment. Jeremy tired his hardest to follow along, but couldn’t keep up. I’m standing in front of the entire congregation in what is supposed to be a hallowed moment and I’m trying not to lose it and totally bust up laughing. Jeremy was in the same boat as me. We held it together, but wow, it was hard! That is a memory I won’t soon forget!

After the pastors took their vows, we called over 50 guys up on to the stage. We have a big stage at our church and it was completely full of men committing to this resolution. It was quite the sight to see. My favorite part of this ceremony was the young men who are not married and do not have kids that came forward. These men are making a conscience decision while they are young that they want to be men of honor and are going hold themselves to this high standard. I was extremely impressed with them. One of the young guys up on stage used to be in Jeremy and I’s children’s ministry a long time ago. As a kid he had a lot of anger and was working through some big issues that life had dealt him. Now as a high school student, he helps us in children’s church each Sunday. It was great to see how God doesn’t leave us where we are at. I’m not sure 5 years ago, I could have pictured him on stage repeating those words, but there he was on Wednesday. It was awesome!

Now this wasn’t planned, but I think this ceremony was the perfect thing to do before Valentine’s Day. I would much after hear my husband commit to being a man of God and striving for God’s best in his life much more than I would like to receive flowers or candy(not that receiving flowers or candy are bad things). Flowers will wilt and candy was disappear, but the memory of those words will remain, especially for those who will hang the resolution vows on their wall as a reminder. It’s important to challenge men to lead in matters of faith. It’s important for the younger generations to see men fighting for their families. It’s important for kid’s to see their dad pray for them. Even though some moments of the evening involved humor, for the most part it was a serious evening as men agreed to a serious call. I’m so proud of all the guys who took part in the resolution ceremony. My prayer is now that their words are followed by solid actions and that families are forever changed for the better because of that night.