Amy Scott's Thoughts

Sharing the thoughts that bounce around in my brain!

Most Tenacious June 15, 2011

Filed under: Recollections,Simply Me,Women in Ministry — Amy Scott @ 3:33 pm

During my 4th grade school year, my house was flooded by the Lewis River in Woodland, WA. This was definitely an experience I remember vividly. Many people in our town had a similar flooding situation; however, I was the only one in my class whose home had flooded. My teacher at the time, Mrs. Fredricks, was a kind woman who spoke into my life a lot that year.  I went back to school the next day after the flood and I remember the hug she gave me. She hadn’t expected me back to school so quickly and her response made an impression on me. Throughout the year, she shared words of encouragement with me.

One time when we were on the bus driving back from swimming lessons, she sat beside me and shared that sometimes we have hard situations in our lives so that we can help others later through their own hard situations. As a 4th grader, I thought that was nice to say, but the true meaning didn’t sink in right away. At the end of the school year, Mrs. Fredricks gave out awards to many of the students in her classroom (I’m guessing everyone got one, but I only remember my own). She gave me the award for Most Tenacious.

Until this award entered my life, I didn’t even know what the word tenacious meant. One definition of tenacious given by Webster’s dictionary is “persistent in maintaining, adhering to, or seeking something valued or desired.” My little 4th grade self was unaware of the impression I was making while just trying to make it through the school year and recover somewhat of a normal life. I have had other accomplishments in my life, but winning Most Tenacious still stands out to me.

It seems easy to be tenacious in a time of struggle. When life gets hard we all need an extra bit of tenacity to make it through. When you’re working towards that goal – whether it is finishing a degree, buying a home, seeking promotion and advancement, trying to reach a new level of ministry, or trying to reach that one person who needs break through – we seem to be hold to hold tight and maintain a firm direction and course.  These moments strengthen us as we use “faith muscles” we may have never had to use before.

Recently, I found myself in a place where I have felt stuck. I’ve always been a very goal driven person. Some of them have come true through a lot of hard work and some still wait to become reality. At some point, I felt like that I had done all that I could do. Things were the way they were and I couldn’t do anything to change it. I was at a crossroads. I could decide to accept things as they are or push forward and believe that there is still more out for me. As I began to think over all the dreams that I still have, this whole story of my Most Tenacious Award came floating up from my memory. I realized that I wasn’t acting very much like my 4th grade self who pushed through the sometimes yucky, real life stuff and moved on with my life.

There are moments when I get tired and I lose my tenacity. I don’t maintain the course and I feel stuck where I am. I know that when I push through these emotions and feelings, I can see that God has a lot in store for me when I’m willing to keep pressing on for the next thing. I have not arrived yet, I’m not who I want to be and I know that God’s not finished with me yet. I can sit back and let life happen to me or I can partner with God and be proactive.  It’s easy to get comfortable where we are at – even if we are unhappy there. It takes courage to step forward and say I want more and I am going to put myself in line with God’s will and go for it. True accomplishment doesn’t come from sprints of emotion, but from a tenacious spirit who is willing to maintain the course and not give up the dream regardless of anything.

 

Gifts June 13, 2011

Filed under: Bible,Women in Ministry — Amy Scott @ 11:00 am

God gives us all talents and special gifts. I have been told this since the time that I was a little girl. Working in children’s ministry, I tell this to lots of children as well. I know that God made each one of us special and that he has a plan for our gifts.  Psalms 139:14 says “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!  Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.”

I have this truth tucked away in my heart, but there are times as a woman in ministry that I don’t feel like my gifts are enough or even that special when I compare them to others. I’m an ordained minister and a pastor’s wife.  When I visualize what a woman in my shoes should have in the way of skills, I picture a woman who is a great public speaker, who can sing or plays the piano, she is never frazzled or uncoordinated, she remains calm at all times and always has an answer to every question. This is very far from the truth of who I am.

Throughout my ministry experience, I have taken many personality tests that are supposed to help me figure out how my gifts, talents, and skills are best to be used. It turns out that I’m an introverted perfectionist who leans towards being a bit of a nerd and super organized. I will admit that even though I’m a good administrator and these tests are been accurate in their findings, I have found that these aren’t the things that define my life and my ministry. God has used these gifts I have for his glory, but under the surface I feel that there is so much more.

So I can organize things well and maybe I can’t sing, the truest gifts in my life I have learned are the relationships that I have built in ministry.  Like I mentioned before, I work in children’s ministry. I spend most of my time with 4th-6th grade girls in a small group environment. The relationship that I have built with my students is a blessing in my life. Sometimes I may wish that I could stand up in a pulpit and preach eloquently to a crowd of people, but then I realize that I do have influence in many lives. It might not be in a flashy, eye-catching way, but each conversation I have with student or a parent is a divine appointment from God.  The influence God has given me is not to be taken lightly. I view it as a precious gift.

I might not have all the skill sets I desire or even that I think I should have to fit my role. I know that God has equipped me with what I need to live his calling. Psalm 139:16 reminds me, “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” I know that God has made me and all my complexities and I know that he has laid out each step of my journey. I might doubt my gifts. Sometimes, I would like to suggest to God which gifts he should have given me. My life would be so much easier if I was… Fill in the blank.  God not only made me but he knew exactly how he made me was going to affect every day of my life. He isn’t in heaven thinking, “Oh no, I forgot to give her this specific skill! How will she ever make it in ministry?”

I can see that God has called me to where I am right now. I might not fit the mold I think I should, but then again, I’m not the one who created my specific mold! God created me just as I am and he knows how he is going to use each unique gift and what I view as sometimes a boring skill set. As I evaluate where I am, I see the faces of those I love and who I get to minister to on a regular basis. If it is just for them, if I am here just so I can be an influence in their life, then it is worth it. My gifts and talents might not be anything to brag about, but the truest rewards in my life are the relationships that the Lord has given me. I need to remember that I am where I am for a reason and I am wired and skilled the way I am for a reason.

 

Just Keep Swimming May 10, 2011

Filed under: Bible,Women in Ministry — Amy Scott @ 3:35 pm

Finding Nemo is now a well known Disney/Pixar classic movie. It follows the tale of a young fish named Nemo who gets captured from the open ocean and placed in a fish tank at a dentist office. His father, Marlin, sets off to find him and along the way meets, Dory, another fish that joins that journey to find Nemo (thus the title). There is a really cute song that Dory sings along the way called “Just Keep Swimming.” In fact, those three words are the entire song. The simple little tune of “Just Keep Swimming” comes to mind many times when I’m tired and overwhelmed. It might seem silly, but it’s a great reminder for me to keep going.

It seems like this song fits a multitude of situations – when you’re tired and stressed and you know you have to wake up another day and do it all over again – just keep swimming. When you’re dreams aren’t panning out at the pace you had hoped – just keep swimming. When people don’t come through for you like you had hoped – just keep swimming. As much as we might want to throw in the towel from time to time, we know that we have been called by God to complete His glorious purpose. We can’t allow our visions to become detours. Sometimes you have to just keep swimming.

Galatians 6:9 is the best verse I know to keep me swimming. It says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for in the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”  It might be a cheesy illustration, but Marlin didn’t give up in the quest for his son. He kept swimming despite hardships and received the joy of being reunited with Nemo. There will be a great reward if we keep on going. It might seem easier to stop, but we’ll be sacrificing the joy at the end.

I think one of the reasons I love Galatians 6:9 so much is because Paul acknowledges we can become weary in doing good. Being in ministry isn’t an easy vocation. I know personally I can become weary when I look around at all that still needs to be done. I can grow weary when I invest in people only to see them stay in the same sinful cycles. I can grow weary when the pace seems faster than me and I can’t keep up. Let’s be honest – we all limitations and weariness can set in.  Sustainable ministry is so important so that when weariness sets in; you can be rested and renewed. It’s important to not let weariness lead to burn out.

As you swim through this journey of life, we have to remember that the good outweighs the bad. When we’re investing into Kingdom endeavors then our hard work will not be in vain. We might not see the reward as quickly as we like, but it’s there.  This verse reminds us that there is a harvest to be had if we don’t give up.  Here is a personal example of how I’ve seen this happen in my life – I’m very close to my students and stay in contact with them long after they leave my classroom. I had one student keep in touch with me for many years only to push me away after a hard season in her life. I tried so hard to encourage her and let her know that I was there for her, but it didn’t matter. I learned that I can’t make someone be open and share with me. I was left with only one option and that was pray for her. I let go of all the efforts I was making to connect with her. It was over a year before I heard from her again, but when I did, let me tell there was great joy! The wait was more than worth it! I can now see the harvest of my prayers. It was in God’s timing, not my own. I could have never brought this all about on my own.

Some days when I just need a little “something” more to keep me going, I might start humming the tune “Just Keep Swimming” and quote to myself Galatians 6:9. I know what I am called to do, but I realize that I can get weary in doing good. When I remember the harvest – my true purpose for doing it all – it helps to me not give up and just keep swimming!

 

Let’s Get Real April 30, 2011

Filed under: Bible,Women in Ministry — Amy Scott @ 1:44 pm

Recently, I read a book about being real. The main focus was about being real before God and letting His love transform me. The book was called The Velveteen Woman and it used illustrations from The Velveteen Rabbit to make its point. While the rabbit illustration were cute, I found it missing the mark in my life. I was struggling with reality, but in a totally different way.

I don’t want to say I never struggle with being real before God, but for the most part, I feel like I’m very real before God. I must have accepted long ago that God knows everything, so He is the person who knows me the best and see every thought that goes on in my brain (that does worry me sometimes). I have explained to my class of 5th/6th graders that God needs to become their best friend. You can tell Him anything.

My time with God is very open and honest. I feel no need to hide because I know He knows. I find that I laugh at myself as I explain to Him what is going on in my heart and head. He must laugh too at how silly I can be. When I am hurting, I am not afraid to tell Him how I really feel about the matter. He is a perfect confidant and I trust Him with me – the real me.

When it comes to people, I’m not so confident. I’m not sure I can trust them with the real me. Along the way, I have felt the need to build up this image of who I am based off who I think I should be. Being in ministry, I feel like I have to look like I have it all together at all times. Somehow I have built this image of what a pastor’s wife is like or what a church staff member should be. I want to live under the umbrella of the images I have created in my mind. Sometimes I really believe I am the image I am trying to create. Other times it’s harder to grasp at perfection. I feel I can trust God with me the real me, but what about others? This has been my challenge.

I’ve really had to wrestle with God’s calling to be real. I feel so safe with him. I know I can be honest and He will love me. After much prayer and reflection, I can see that I’m living only half of my calling if I just give God me and leave it at that. I’m sure He is delighted in our relationship, but He didn’t create me to hide from the world. He created me with a purpose and a calling to love the world.

This reminds me of Luke 10:27 where Jesus says, “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” There are two elements to this relationship with God. The first is the most important, the relationship between you and God. However, that relationship with God then commands you love others. Our purpose is two-fold. God doesn’t call us to stay tucked away in a safety cocoon with Him. Once we have that relationship with Him, we are sent out to the love the world as we have been loved.

It’s time for me to get real with others. The walls that I have built in protection are really holding me back from the true purpose God has created me to do. I realize that in this world I can’t please everyone and there will be moments of rejection that I will have to work through. If my identity and reality is rooted in Christ, then I will have the strength and boldness to accept whatever comes my way and move forward in truth and honesty.

 

Reflections on Ordination April 28, 2011

Filed under: Bible,Travels,Women in Ministry — Amy Scott @ 1:27 pm

I don’t have a lot of time, but I want to write down my thoughts about ordination now while they are still fresh! I don’t want to look back and think “oh, it was a nice day.” So many special moments are lost in the recesses of memory because they are not documented and intentionally remembered. I strive greatly to capture as many moments as I can to save them and cherish them in the future.

Ordination – two words come to my mind first – honor and humble. They seem to contrast, but they would be the best description of what I felt at my ordination ceremony. It is an honor to be recognized in such a way. To have my divine call to ministry publicly affirmed and supported by the Assemblies of God and by my many colleagues and family members is such an honor. I do not take lightly the call that God has placed on my life. I am actively pursuing whatever means possible to grow and develop that call. For me, ordination was another step in the journey the Lord has placed before me. In the midst of all this, I felt humbled! Just like King David prayed to God, “Who am I, Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign LORD, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant—and this decree, Sovereign LORD, is for a mere human” (2 Sam. 7:18-19).  Now I didn’t receive the same news David did, but wow, I can’t believe that God has taken me so far! I’m humbled that I can be used to service His Kingdom purposes. I’m so honored and so humbled to be where I am today.

More than ever I feel the fervent call to mentor and teach God’s Word! I am passionate about those God has placed in my life and I know my influence is God given. Teaching God’s Word and helping the next generation to fall in love with it is an amazing calling and I am so excited to live it out. The theme of annual conference was “Find Your Voice” and I think is this so fitting for the new season of life I am in. I am so excited for this new calling to writing ministry and I look forward to using my voice to express my love for the Savior and chronicle my life in ministry. I continue to pray that God will grow me and use me in all these passions and callings! I do believe that big things are in store for the future.

In closing, I would like to say thank you to everyone who has supported me in this journey! The prayers and encouragement have meant more to me than you’ll ever know. I know that I am not alone and that I can’t live out this calling on my own. I am blessed and so grateful for all the love I have been shown. Yesterday was a very special day and I won’t forget the outpouring of love and support I was shown!

 

Getting Ready for Ordination April 24, 2011

Filed under: Travels,Women in Ministry — Amy Scott @ 10:23 pm

I’m going to be taking a quick blogging break for the next few days. Tomorrow I set off for Yakima, WA for Annual Conference 2011. This year I have the honor of being ordained at Annual Conference. Last year, I got to share this experience with my husband, Jeremy, as he got ordained and it was a very exciting time. Now that my mind can move past Easter weekend, I am starting to look forward to this occasion. It has also sparked some interesting emotions and is stirring a lot within me! I promise to write again with how the ceremony went as well as all God is laying on my heart! Pray I don’t trip as I walk across the stage!

Because it’s still Easter (…for another hour and a half…) – HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!

 

More than Chocolate Bunnies and Egg Hunts April 23, 2011

Filed under: Bible,Children's Ministry,Women in Ministry — Amy Scott @ 4:48 pm

Today was a great day! We at close to 2,000 kids at Bethel Church for giant egg hunt! 40,000 plastic eggs full of candy were hidden in our fields for children to find. We had inflatables, pony rides, petting zoo, face painting, balloon animals. With such a big event on Easter weekend, it is very easy for my Easter to be all about Eggstravaganza. I mean I do Eggstravaganza for Jesus and for outreach, but what I am thinking about – prize eggs and signage and parking and volunteers… So right now I want to take a moment to remember the true purpose of Easter – beyond the bunnies!

My Savior died for me because I am sinner and separated from God. There is no way in my humanness that I could bridge the gap. He was God’s ONLY SON and he gave his life for me. He died while I was still a sinner. He died for me because He LOVES me. I have done NOTHING WORTHY of this love! The cross is so central to Easter, the suffering my Savior endured. However, death couldn’t hold Him down and the enemy was defeated! I have the glorious hope of heaven and purpose for each day here on Earth.

As I was thinking about Jesus in the midst of the egg hunt, Philippians 2:5-8 come to mind:

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very natureof a servant,
being made in human likeness.
  And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

Thank you, Jesus, for dying for me. Thank you for lowering yourself from the heights of heaven to human lowliness. I don’t deserve your love, but I gratefully accept it.I know that I serve a God that is living and the grave couldn’t hold you down. Help me to reflect your love to others and make the most of my time here on earth. I LOVE YOU! Amen.

 

Better Together April 20, 2011

Filed under: Bible,Children's Ministry,Women in Ministry — Amy Scott @ 2:44 pm

When I was in high school, I felt the call of God in my life to go into ministry as a full time vocation. The thing is I only knew I wanted to be at church – all the time. I couldn’t picture myself heading into an office building and working the 9 to 5 job. I liked kids, but the thought of being in a classroom all day as a teacher scared me. So where was I going to fit? It all seemed so wide open. So many options!

Then the Lord brought Jeremy into my life. Jeremy was the intern at my home church. He was active in children’s ministry and right around the time we started dating he was offered the position as children’s pastor at my home church. This was very exciting for him and I was so proud of him. I was away at college during this process so when I came home for that summer, he was curious if I wanted to teach a class of girls on Wednesday nights and help with children’s church on Sunday mornings.

Being just out of high school, I was still in the youth mindset, but I knew that church was much more than a youth ministry, so I decided to jump into children’s ministry. I figured if God wanted Jeremy and I to be together then I would need to find a fit in children’s ministry. If I didn’t fit, then I figured maybe this wasn’t the right direction for my ministry calling.

That summer was so important for me as a young person with a passion for ministry. I fell in love with children’s ministry and it set me on the path I’m now walking out. The great thing about my ministry is that I’m not doing it alone. I get the joy and the pleasure to walk beside my husband in truly a partnership of ministry.

Being able to share my ministry with my husband is so important for strength. We are able to support strengthen each other. We process the world differently, so we have two perspectives that help us to think outside of the box and openly discuss life and ministry from various angles. My strengths are not my husband’s strengths and his are not mine. We are able to round each other out.

Ministry is so rewarding, but it also can be very draining. By sharing the load, in a partnership, I am able to go farther and do more. I am also empowered to be who I am and how God made me to be. I don’t have to worry about trying to be just like my husband and mirror his ministry. We can see where we each shine differently. Every person is blessed with unique spiritual and leadership gifts. Using these unique gifts brings balance to ministry. We are energized to be an allied force for good.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.  But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” I get to live out this principle every day at work. I know that I am better off for working in a team. We get more done together then we do alone. Our labor has a good return and we have the support and strength of each other. It is so nice to know that someone is there to catch me when I fall and that we’ll be able to get up and keep going. No getting stuck in a pit for this girl, I’ve invested in the buddy system.

Now I realize that not everyone has the blessing of sharing their ministry with their spouse. The ideas and principles still apply to anyone. We are not meant to it alone. Ministry is best done together because it is so central on relationship. We need to build partnerships into our lives and share our loads. Not only will the burden be lighter, but you have shared joy and shared triumph. Build people into your life that you deeply share your ministry with. Don’t walk this path alone. It’s truly better together!

 

All Things For Good April 18, 2011

Filed under: Bible,Women in Ministry — Amy Scott @ 2:41 pm

Recently, my husband and I have walked through a very sad and unique season of life. My husband lost both of his grandfathers in less than two months time. It was very hard for me to watch the family grieve. Through this season I was overwhelmed with thoughts about what if my last remaining grandfather was to pass away as well. I knew he wasn’t in the best health, but I assumed he had years left to go. Just 6 months after we buried my husband’s first grandpa to pass away, we buried my grandpa. We lost three grandpas in six months.

The personal family loss was hard, but it was also coupled with many other losses within my own church congregation. In ministry, I attend many memorial services for congregation members and their families. During this same season of family loss, our church had a woman at age twenty-three lose a battle to cancer and another member die in a tragic plane accident. My sister-in-law’s sister also passed away during this same time period.

It seemed like death was everywhere and in every circle of my life.  My grandpa was the last to pass away in the string of many losses. I can see that the Lord prepared my heart for this very loss. I know many families are like mine, I grew up being close to only one set of grandparents. My first encounter with loss was my mother’s father. Mental illness had kept us from being close for many years and when he passed, I felt relieved. I knew his mind was whole again and he was with his Savior. Emotionally it was still difficult, but I always knew the next grandfather to pass would be the most difficult loss, because he was the one I had been most attached to. Watching my husband grieve only made me wonder how I would ever handle the loss of my own grandfather. I had no idea that this experience that I dreaded was right around the corner for me.

During this strange and sad season, I had looked up a lot of scripture to help the ones I loved. I would pour through the Bible looking for encouragement for those whose hearts were aching. Even in my own devotional time the Lord brought scripture after scripture to me. I was so encouraged and was able to share with others the positive words I was receiving. Now I can see that the Lord was preparing my own heart for the road that was ahead.

I thought the Lord was giving me these Scriptures so I can be used in the situations that surrounded me. It was for others that He was pouring out these verses to me. It wasn’t until my own grandpa passed away that I learned the Lord was prepping my heart and preparing me for the loss that was about to come.  He used the ministry that I poured out on others so that He could minister to me in own hard season of the loss.

Death is always going to be a part of my life. Especially in ministry, I know that I will attend many more memorial services and minister to many aching, grieving souls. Because of this season that I have walked through, I feel like the Lord has prepared me for the future. He has shown my heart the healing power of His scripture. The meaning feels so much deeper now. I feel the words with greater conviction and long even more for the glory of heaven.

There are two verses really struck me during this time of loss and I would like to leave them with you. Revelation 21:4 “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Tears were so common during this season and they still come from time to time, but there is such peace knowing that there will be a day when all is made right and all pain will be redeemed. Also, Romans 8:28 spoke to me saying, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  I was reminded in those hard moments that God can use all things for good. Even the things we can’t see as good. He uses it. My personal experiences have not been pleasant to walk through, but I know that it has deeply impacted me as a person and the way I minister. The best ministry comes out of experience and I can see how I walked through a hard time so that I can pour out to those who find themselves on a similar path. God can and will use my pain for his glory.

 

Keeping Track April 14, 2011

Filed under: Women in Ministry — Amy Scott @ 1:40 pm

A few years ago I had a friend tell me I should write a book on organization… It’s not a book, it’s a blog, but I still hope it helps!

I’m sure you’ve been there too – looking at your calendar like it’s a giant jigsaw puzzle to be rearranged and contorted so that everything you feel you need to accomplish has a space and a time. Ministry has a different schedule all to itself. It isn’t nine to five like most jobs. It happens at all times of the day – morning, afternoon, evening and even night! Sometimes it is overwhelming to try to keep track of everything and stay sane at the same time.

In your quest for organization, I would suggest keeping one master calendar. For me I use my Outlook on my laptop as my master calendar. It’s important to put every engagement on this calendar. It doesn’t really matter how small the event. Having a master calendar will help you evaluate where you are really spending your time. I can tell just by looking at my calendar if my schedule is in balance or not. Different events are color coded as work and personal. The great thing about electronic calendars is most come programmed with reminders. Some things I know I forget more easily than others, so these are things I intentionally use a reminder for. Some people prefer to use their smart phones, some prefer the day planner and some use their computer.  Whatever works best for you, make sure to keep it handy and updated!

I keep in my purse a little notebook. This is my random notes book. If someone asks me to remember something and I’m worried about forgetting, I jot it down. I find that just the act of writing it helps to cement it in my brain. This notebook is good for random thoughts, making lists, pulling a piece of paper out and sharing information with another person. I find many uses for it. Once it gets filled up with my scribbles it gets tossed and replaced with a new notebook. Many phones come with a note application that you can use just like this, but for me there is something about the paper that helps.

There are many books out there with grids and charts to help you process what to prioritize in your day.  I’m not a huge fan of charting out my priorities, but I have found this to be an important exercise. When my routine schedule changes or I feel like my plate is getting full, I take time to reprioritize. During this process I write out my commitments (the things I have to do) and I write out what I want to (the stuff that makes me happy). When I write all these things out I can honestly see what I have on my plate. Recently, I’ve had to learn that if I’m adding something to my schedule I might have to take another thing off my schedule. This really helps me focus on what is most important to me.  Often as women in ministry we feel we have to be super human and be at all places at all times. The truth is I am human and I am reminded of this often. I can’t do everything. Through a process of prayer and planning I can sort through my schedule and keep it in place with where my energy will get the most impact and effectiveness.

Once on the path to organization you might feel the pull to use every second of every day. Just like prioritizing what ministries and people you are going to pour yourself into you, there also needs to be time built into your schedule for you. In a culture that doesn’t under the Sabbath concept, we must remember to build rest into our lives. If you don’t build it into your schedule then no one is going to do it for you.  As an introvert, I have built quiet times into my schedule so I can read and reflect. For an extrovert, maybe you need to schedule time with family and friends outside of a ministry context to just have fun.  When you schedule time for you to be you and do the things you love, you’ll have more energy when tackling the other activities on your calendar. It’s important that you don’t get lost in your own calendar.

So say good bye to frantic planning, post-it notes everywhere, and overbooking. It’s time to take a realistic look at your schedule. The more you evaluate it and it keep in line with your calling; you’ll find it rewarding and not daunting to keep up with. Your schedule should be defined by you and not the other way around. The energy and empowerment you’ll find from getting a grip on the calendar will help to push you forward into new heights of effectiveness.