Amy Scott's Thoughts

Sharing the thoughts that bounce around in my brain!

Being Intentionally Slow August 24, 2011

Filed under: Women in Ministry — Amy Scott @ 1:57 pm

Being in ministry keeps my life at a fast pace. It seems like there is always the next event to be planning, people that need contacting, the weekly classes that need to be prepped. There is always something to do and focus on. When God called me to ministry as a high school student, I knew that this was the life for me. I wanted to the pace and I wanted the action.

Now that I’m a few years out of college I have realized that I don’t quite have the energy level I once had. Now that I’ve been living the ministry lifestyle, I truly know how much goes into keeping up the pace. It’s different than I expect. I’m different than I expected. Turns out I’m more of introvert then I realized. The more I spend time with people, the more I need to spend time alone. It can be hard to balance it all. Commitments, to-do lists, trains of thought continuing on the work track when I’m at home… I’ve had to learn a lot about intentionally slowing down my life. I’ve had to learn where to say yes and where to say no. It’s easy to fill up every second of everyday, but it isn’t necessarily wise.

I’ve made some tough decisions over the last couple of years to help myself intentionally slow down. It seems like everything comes at a cost, even quieter living. One of the major decisions that I have made is to not work full time and be content with a part time job. This is something I’ve struggled with over the years. In a society where most people without kids have two incomes, Jeremy and I decided that a part time job allows me to invest myself more fully in other areas. It seemed like the more hours I worked, the less energy I had for mentorship and doing things after work. I would just want to come home from work and be a blob at home to recover for the next day. I may not be paid or considered “on the job” while I’m mentoring and hanging out with students, but I know my reward will be greater in heaven then it will be right now on earth. When I have a kingdom perspective, I can see that the things that get little to no credit are of great value because they are done with a pure heart and the right intent.

Another way I am intentionally slowing down my life is by investing in the things I do, beyond mentoring and people. Starting this blog has been a great outlet for me. When I am in the quiet of my home, I pick up my laptop and write about the things that matter to me. It’s been a lot of fun to come up with blog ideas and dream about the things I would like to share. Even though the readership of this blog isn’t on a national level, I am greatly affected just by writing the entries. Yes, I hope others are touched and intrigued by my ramblings, but really my blog has been a chance for me to develop myself and the person I am and want to become.

I have learned that some days need to be viewed as sacred. Just like the Old Testament called for a Sabbath. There are days in my life where I know it’s important for me to keep them free from the clutter of a busy life. The day of the week might not be the same each week, but for the most part Fridays are my sacred days. I try to make no ministry plans on Fridays so that way Jeremy and I can keep our one day off together focused on us. It’s not possible to keep every Friday free from plans, so I’ll often keep certain nights of the week free for just hanging out at home. I’ve learned that I can only go so long with something schedule on each day of the week before I burn out and start to resent my schedule. Being protective of certain dates and keeping things sacred has helped me to build in slowness to my schedule and my life. It gives me time to breath and time to relax.

I realize that not everyone has the freedom to make the decisions I have made. Some people have to work full time jobs or over time to make ends meet. Some people might think that I’m even lazy for balancing my schedule and trying to keep some time sacred and slow. I’m still in the learning process because the opinions of others do matter to me. The truth is that I can’t make everyone happy and I can’t make people see things from my perspective. All I know is that I am called by God to live a life of sustainable ministry. The longer I do this, the more I can see the importance of building slow moments into the schedule. It looks different for everyone. I’m definitely more introverted than most, so I have come to realize that my down time needs are greater than others. At first this frustrated me immensely because I felt that I wasn’t being “Super Amy.” God is working my heart to show me that I don’t need to be super, I need to be healthy. Even the things that I have made time for in my life, I know will have eternal rewards and I feel like the balance I have struck is one that allows me to be filled so I can empty myself out with others and not run dry. Living at a slower pace is counter-cultural and that is why it takes serious effort to be intentionally slow.

 

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp August 21, 2011

Filed under: Amy's Bookshelf — Amy Scott @ 10:29 pm

Let me just start by saying this book has to be one of the most amazing books I’ve read this summer. I was deeply challenged by it and I plan on reading it again as soon as possible, so I can make sure I squeeze all that I can out of it. It’s such a simple concept – dare to live fully right where you are. The impact this book had on me was powerful. I was changed and inspired.

The beginning of this book doesn’t start out happy and cheery. In fact, it started out surprising relatable. Life is painful. The author, Ann Voskamp, recalls the death of her three year old sister in their front driveway. Her sister, Aimee, was hit by a truck driver who never saw her coming. Ann watched as her parents held on to their bleeding, dying daughter. This traumatic event shaped the course of Ann’s life and the family she would grow up in. Not all of us have experienced such a life altering circumstance, but in many ways, we can see how life has brought us pain and we have been hurt. We live on a fallen planet and we see the evidence of it all around us.

Each chapter of this book is like a layer. Each chapter builds the foundation for the next. I found it really interesting that it would seem like each chapter in itself could be the end of the story, but as you read you discover that there is more. This was reassuring to me. God didn’t give Ann this great revelation over night. Her transformation took time. She didn’t go from bitter to thankful in the course of twenty four hours. It was a long term process. In some ways the journey to thankfulness was a goal, a determined direction.

Ann was challenged to make a list of one thousand gifts from God. She started to jot down the little things she saw around her that she knew were gifts. This gave her a new found happiness. Through the process she learned to be looking for God’s gifts at all times, always keeping her eyes open for the work of the Lord. She always learned to see God’s gifts in the pain and the things that she wouldn’t claim as positive. The process from joy to pain, from distrust to trust in God, from bitterness to thanksgiving (or thanksliving as Ann puts it) is astonishing.

I loved the simple nature of the challenge. One thousand gifts… it may be many, but isn’t each moment a gift from the Lord. The good moments and the hard moments? I loved seeing Ann discover gifts in the simple moments of everyday life. She is a home-school mother to six children. Her husband owns the farm they live on. At times I found myself so swept up in her domestic life and finding the blessings in the simplest of moments. It wasn’t about big flashy times with God. It’s more about taking the moment to notice how the bubbles in the sink reflect the sun. It’s about smiling as you watch children play in the snow. It’s about the sights and smells of home. It’s about the love that is in your life.

Living life to the fullest right now means truly feeling everything. Ann says, “Joy and pain, they are but two arteries of the one heart that pumps through all those who don’t numb themselves to truly living.” This hit me like a ton of bricks. How many people have allowed themselves to become numb because the pain just hurt too much? How many people are missing out on joy to save themselves from pain? Another quote that deeply impacted me was, “Darkness transfigures into light, bad transfigures into good, grief transfigures into grace, empty transfigures into full. God wastes nothing – ‘makes everything work out according to his plan.’ (Ephesians 1:11).”  Grief turns to grace, empty turns to full. This is what I want in my life, what I crave.

I could go on and on about the scope of this book. How it can take you so far in only a matter of pages. It has challenged me to look for one thousand gifts. I started a journal just this morning and I plan on documenting one thousand gifts just as Ann did. I expect my journey will look different than hers. I desperately pray that the destination will be similar. I want to have the joy of seeing God in all things, I want to get to the place where I can see the good in pain, and I want my life to be a testimony of thankfulness. One last quote to end, “Spend the whole of your one wild and beautiful life investing in many lives, and God simply will not be undone. God extravagantly pays back everything we give away and exactly in the currency that is not of this world but one that we yearn for: Joy in Him.” This is my prayer, this is my calling! I want to live my one life giving to many lives knowing that it will be more rewarding than I will ever expect to experience.

 

More Goodies I love! August 20, 2011

Filed under: Cooking Experiments — Amy Scott @ 4:00 pm

I couldn’t leave my foodie blogging just about the cookie book when there another equally great cookbook in my life. One of my most treasured possessions is a church cookbook from Shueyville United Methodist Church. My mom lived in Shueyville, Iowa as a girl and this cookbook is from 1972. It was given to my mom as a wedding present and it has handwritten notes in from my grandma.  It’s tattered and torn. The cover has certainly seen better days (it is no longer attached). Every time I pull it out, I feel like I am pulling out a piece of family history.

I actually had the thought once to cook through the entire cookbook. It’s full of old Midwest recipes that I’m sure would be a hoot to create. The terminology is so different. I had to ask my mom what oleo was when I first started using it. It would be like cooking a blast from the past. However, I have still only made two recipes out this cookbook and I plan on sharing them with you today. These recipes are some of my favorites to bake and I know exactly where to find them in this unusual book. It’s almost like the book flips right open to them as if it knows me that well.

No Bake Chocolate Cookies (submitted by Darlene Lindemann)

¼ cup oleo (translation – butter)               3 cups oatmeal

½ cup milk                                                           1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups sugar                                                       (I add about a ½ cup of peanut-butter to the recipe)

1 tablespoon cocoa

Bring first four ingredients to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes and remove from heat. Mix in oatmeal and vanilla (peanut-butter if you choose) quickly. Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper.

Banana Bread (submitted by Ruth Ziskvosky and a note from grandma saying “This is your bread!”)

1 cup sugar                                                         ½ teaspoon baking soda

2 large or 3 small bananas                             1-1/2 teaspoon baking powder

3 tablespoons milk                                          2 cups flour

2 eggs                                                                   ½ cup nutmeats (chopped) (I don’t add this)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract                            ½ cup butter or oleo (melt)

Mix ingredients in given order except oleo. Then add the ½ cup oleo. Bake in 2 bread pans (9×5 inch) at 300F for 1 hour. Bananas can be sliced real thin instead of being mashed)

The great charm in this book is that when my mom gave it to me, I discovered a calendar from April 1997. It was made by my dad and it is of April and I’s little league schedule. The hand written notes are great because I know what recipes my grandma loved (and what ones she didn’t like). She also has little suggestions and tips here and there. It also has little sayings typed at the bottom of every few pages. Here are some you might find interesting:

  • Money will buy a fine dog but only love will make him wag his tail.
  • Laziness often is mistaken for patience.
  • Few men have ever repented of silence.
  • Sad facts of life: square meals make round people.
  • We get our parents so late in life that is impossible to do anything with them.

Like I said, the charm of this book cannot be denied! It’s a good old fashion Midwest cookbook and maybe someday I’ll make more than two recipes out of it!

 

Cookies August 18, 2011

Filed under: Cooking Experiments — Amy Scott @ 8:00 am

I’ll be honest with you… My mom didn’t send me off into the world with great culinary skills. For many of you who are home cooks, you would be horrified if you knew how little I can actually cook. I’m a master microwaver and I really love cereal for any meal. This is an area of my life that I know I have great room to improve in. However, my kitchen doesn’t sit empty and downcast. I love to bake! In fact, I try to make a treat my Wednesday girls each week. It’s a special treat in my life and I love to share it!

My mom might not have passed down a love for cooking to me, but she did pass on a love for baking. There weren’t many treasured recipe books in our family, but there was one that both my sister and I loved dearly. It’s title – “Cookies”! Originally published in 1983, this book was a staple in our household. I’m absolutely positive the best cookies are made from the recipes in this book. Getting married and moving out of the house meant leaving the cookie book behind at my parents. No other cookie book took its place. I brought the cookie book to work once and photocopied my favorite recipes out of it. For Thanksgiving 2009, my mom surprised April and I with copies of the cookie book. She had found them used online since I’m guessing this book is out of print. It has been truly a blessing to have the best cookie book back in my midst.

Below are my three favorite cookies out of this book. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Original Toll House Cookies – (Yes, I do really use Toll House chocolate chips for this recipe)

1 cup butter, room temp.             2-1/4 cups all purpose flour

¾ cup granulated sugar                 1 teaspoon baking soda

¾ cup packed brown sugar          1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract            2 cups (12oz.) semisweet chocolate pieces (I use milk chocolate)

2 eggs                                                   1 cup chopped nuts, if desired (I certainly never desire nuts)

Preheat oven to 375F. In a large bowl, beat together butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla and eggs until fluffy. Add flour, baking soda and salt, beating until well blended. Stir in chocolate pieces and nuts, if desired (not). Drop by rounded teaspoons, 2 inches apart, on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light browned. Remove from baking sheets; cool on racks. Makes 100 (2-inch) cookies.

Snickerdoodles – (This is Jeremy’s favorite cookie that I make)

1 cup margarine, room temp.     1-1/2 teaspoons cream of tarter

1-1/3 cups sugar                               1 teaspoon baking soda

2 eggs                                                   Pinch of salt

3 cups all purpose flour

Cinnamon-Sugar Coating:

2 tablespoons sugar                        1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Prepare cinnamon-sugar coating; set aside. Preheat oven to 375F. In a large bowl, beat together margarine, sugar and eggs until fluffy. Add flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt, beating until blended. Shape into 1-inch balls. Roll in cinnamon-sugar coating, covering completely. Place 2-1/2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 10 minutes or until golden. Remove cookies from baking sheets; cool on racks. Makes about 80 (2-inch) cookies.

Basic Butter Cookie Dough – (This is my holiday cookie dough. There is a great variation using peppermint extract and food coloring to make candy cane cookies.)

1 cup butter, room temp.             1 teaspoon vanilla extract

¾ cup sugar                                        2-1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 egg                                                     1 teaspoon baking powder

In medium bowl, beat together butter, sugar, egg and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add flour and baking powder, beating until blended. Use dough immediately or wrap and store. May be stored in refrigerator up to 1 week. May be frozen, wrapped airtight, in moisture and vapor proof paper up to 2 months. Thaw in refrigerator several hours before using. Bake at 375F. Cookies should take about 8 to 10 minutes to cook depending on thickness.

 

The Global Leadership Summit August 17, 2011

Filed under: Children's Ministry,Women in Ministry — Amy Scott @ 8:00 am

This last week I had a great opportunity to attend a highly acclaimed leadership conference. The Global Leadership Summit is put on by the Willow Creek Association and it is always a top-notch event. The speakers are always amazing and truly gifted in their fields. For two full days, the amount of leadership knowledge that gets poured into those that attend is astounding.

Today, I went back through my notes and highlighted the points that really stood out to me through conference. The worst part of a conference like this is it’s easy to fill your head with all this information and then slowly let it seep out. Reviewing a couple days after the conference gave me a chance to clear my head and then go back in and intentional remember the points that I want to take away.

Below are the points that I found myself highlighting. I figured typing them out would be another way to reinforce their place in my memory. I also thought they might be of some benefit to you. Each point is just a small piece of the great leadership expertise shared by this amazing line-up. I hope that some of the thoughts below jump out at you and strengthen your leadership just as much as it did mine.

  • You do your best work when you right over the over-challenged line at work. Not when you are appropriately challenged, not when you’re dangerously-over-challenged and not when you are under-challenged. (Bill Hybels)
  • You set a bad example when you live in crazyland (in reference to the dangerously-over-challenged work environment). (Bill Hybels)
  • Believe in the future by creating it first. (Len Schlesinger)
  • Historical results do not show future results. (Len Schlesinger)
  • Baby steps and small wins go farther then you realize. (Len Schlesinger)
  • Use your blessings to move you forward – don’t allow them to make you dumb, fat, and lazy. (Honorable Cory Booker)
  • Everyone is born an original, but most die a copy. (Abraham Lincoln, quoted by H. C. Booker)
  • How you see the world reflects your heart and character. (H. Cory Booker)
  • Look past the current problem and see the opportunity. (H. Cory Booker)
  • When you catch on fire, people will come to watch you burn. (Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil)
  • We are not called to survive the world, but to change it. (Steven Furtick)
  • Only God can make it rain. We can do all we can do, but God is the one who sends the favor and blessing and healing. (Steven Furtick)
  • If what you’re doing isn’t intimidating you, then it’s probably insulting to God. (Steven Furtick)
  • If you want to see the land filled with water, then you must dig ditches. You prepare for what you believe is coming. 2 Kings 3:9-20. (Steven Furtick)
  • Sometimes we only need to see the next step. (Steven Furtick)
  • Don’t confuse your behind the scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel – it took a lot of ditching digging to get to those highlight moments. (Steven Furtick)
  • What I’ve learned – Silence your body, listen to your words. Silence your tongue, listen to your thoughts. Silence your thoughts, listen to your heart. Silence your heart, listen to your spirit. Silence your spirit, listen to the Holy Spirit. (Mama Maggie Gobran)
  • Wise people see the light and adjust to it. Fools see the light and try to adjust the light, not themselves. Evil people see the light and run. (Dr. Henry Cloud)
  • Show people you are willing to do what you are asking them to do. (Patrick Lencioni)
  • Honor others by being interested in them. Put them first. (Patrick Lencioni)

The other speaker I would like to highlight was an interview with Michelle Rhee. In 2007, Rhee was made Chancellor of the Washington DC public school system. From the very beginning she made drastic changes to the school system that rocked the city. She is a woman with high standards for education and a desire for quality in the classroom. I’m not a school teacher, but my job does involve working with the next generation. I got very wrapped up into her story, because she fights for the next generation. She wants to make the next generation better and bring them to a place where they will succeed in life. This goal is very close to my own heart. I want to make sure that I make decisions that are best for the kids in my life. I don’t want to make my decisions based on popularity or pressure. High standards ensure that the kids we come into contact with will have best opportunities possible. Her story and her fight impressed me greatly. While I took down no quotes from this session, it was one that deeply impacted me.

I was so glad that I was able to go to the conference this last week. The Global Leadership Summit always leaves you full of thoughts and ideas. It challenges you to take what you have heard and do something with it. Investing in leadership training is something I value so much about the team I work with. It was great to go as a church staff. I look forward to all that God is going to grow out the time invested into our leadership.

 

The Fall Transition August 16, 2011

Filed under: Children's Ministry — Amy Scott @ 8:00 am

There is no doubt about it! It’s back to school time! When I enter Wal-Mart, I see back to school lists and shelves stocked a mile high with school supplies. It’s one of my favorite times of the year. I have no idea why seeing all those school supplies makes me happy, but I know for sure it does! I actually miss being a student and having a “need” to buy them. I still browse the aisles for old time’s sake!

For some students, school starts in two weeks. It’s hard to believe that summer is almost over and fall is almost here! However, the weather we’ve been having in Washington state does make it a little easier to accept. The weather has been in fall mode much before the rest of us. Back to school is a big time for students, schools, and families, but it is also a big time in children’s ministry. It’s our transition period where our students move up to the next grade.

As a 5th/6th grade teacher in my church, this transition time always hits me the hardest, because it means saying good-bye to many students who will now be moving up into our youth ministry. It’s a good time to watch them spread their wings and there is always another class moving up to fill their shoes. Every year the transition flow is the same, but the faces of the kids are different.

Tomorrow night will be a “last” class party for my Wednesday night girls. We will take down our bulletin board and our class poster. We will pass out our binders and clear them out for the next class moving up. This is a clean up the room night and get ready for the new school year. After the cleaning and sorting is finished, we will play games and just hang out as a class for the last time.

The last two Wednesday of August will be spent in Fusion, our youth ministry at Bethel Church. We all go and sit together as a class. For my 6th graders who must move up, this gives them a chance to move up with familiar faces surrounding them. For my 5th graders, this gives them a chance to see what Fusion is all about and make up their mind if they would like to move up or stay in my class another year. No matter what decision my girls make, I want them to be well informed and make the decision that is best for them. These two weeks almost feel like a mini-vacation for me. I don’t have to plan a game, a lesson, a craft and make a snack. It’s a nice way to end the summer.

Come the first Wednesday of September, I will have a new class on Wednesday nights. All the 4th graders will officially become 5th graders and my 5th graders that stay will be my 6th graders. The beginning of a new year is always fun. I get to redecorate the bulletin board with fall colors! Something I always love to do. We will make a new poster that everyone will sign their names on and we will make new binder covers for another year of lessons and learning. It’s a great time to play ice breaker games and get to know the new vibe of the class.

Every class is different and it always changes each year as new girls move up. I’m truly blessed by my girls and they bring so much joy to my life. The transition period is always hard for me to say good-bye to the students that are moving up. I tell them that they can always come visit my classroom before and after church! I’m still available for hugs and chats! They must promise never to get “too cool” to hang out with me. While it is hard to let go of some students, the void doesn’t stay empty. My new students are waiting for me to get to know them and invest in them. Each year brings so much promise and opportunity. I am blessed by each class I teach. I’m sure this new class will be no exception!

 

My Top Ten – Favorite Household Cleaners August 15, 2011

Filed under: Simply Me — Amy Scott @ 3:28 pm

It’s no surprise to anyone – I LOVE to clean. I absolutely love cleaning my home and keeping it fresh. I sometimes wonder if the ministry thing doesn’t pan out long term, I could become a maid or go into some kind of housekeeping business. For most, that doesn’t sound like a glamorous way to make a living, but I love cleaning that much – I might consider it!

Over the years, I have developed a habit for which products I use most and like best. I thought I would share the 10 products I use around the house on somewhat a daily basis, if not weekly or monthly. They are not listed in any particular order. I find it too hard to choose favorites. It’s like picking between friends and that doesn’t seem right. Okay, you probably think I’m crazy… and maybe I am. The purpose of this blog to share my thoughts and give insight into my life, so this is a key part of Amy Scott! Might as well share it with the blogging world (or the 5 of you who actually read this – *personal plug* feel free to subscribe to my blog or share it with others, more readers are always welcome).

  • Arm & Hammer Order Eliminator – This is a powder that I sprinkle around my home before I vacuum. I only use it about once a week to freshen the carpets. I use the pet fresh scent and it works to help pull up more pet hair and dirt while vacuuming. I love this product and it goes a long way to leaving a nice clean scent around the house while helping to vacuum more effectively.
  • Clorox Disinfecting Wipes – This is probably the most used product in my home! I used these wipes multiple times a day in my kitchen to clean up messes and sanitize. I also use them in my bathroom. I buy these at Costco in bulk and it’s a product I never run low on.
  • Windex – Windows, mirrors, bathroom sinks are all cleaned with Windex in my house. Toby loves to slime the sliding glass door and Jeremy is notorious for toothpaste splatter on the bathroom mirror. Windex comes in handy when the boys in my life make messes!
  • Bar Keeper’s Friend – Interesting title, right? I didn’t actually know about this product until I moved into my home and my mom shared it with me. I used it to clean my kitchen sink. I have a white sink which was horribly stained when I first moved into my home. This product worked so well to make my sink white again. I also noticed that my sink can get marked up by pots and pans and this product removes the marks.
  • Lysol Disinfecting Spray – This is another product I buy in bulk at Costco! You can’t beat it! Jeremy actually hates it… something about the cloud of spray I leave around the house… I use this product about once a week to hit all major hard surfaces (i.e. light switches, door knobs and bathroom and kitchen surfaces). This is mainly for my psychological relief in knowing that I’m killing germs where ever they lie.
  • Febreze Fabric Spray – I will use Febreze after I vacuum if I didn’t use the carpet powder that day. I also love it on floor mats, couches, curtains and throw pillows. Febreze makes things that I don’t wash on a daily basis still smell fresh and clean. I purchase the refill jug and keep filling the same spray bottle. I find it is more cost effective to buy the refill instead of buying a new spray bottle each time.
  • Scotch Brite Stove Top Cleaner – I have a flat surface stove top (I think it is glass, but I’m not really handy with appliance jargon). I use this stove top cleaner to remove the burnt on gunk and splatter. I scrub the stove top and then use a paper to polish it to a shine. I love how clean and shiny my stove top looks afterwards!
  • Swiffer Duster – My preference is the ones with Febreze scent added to them. This duster collects dust and much more. I’ve used it to pick up bugs and clean the lint of my laundry room floor. The duster is fun and fluffy. It’s like the modern version of the feather duster.
  • Swiffer Sweeper Wet Mopping Cloths – I use my Swiffer Sweeper at least once a week if not more. It’s so rewarding to use a wet cloth and see the color it is when I am finished. I love the feeling of knowing that I have removed dirt from my floor. I love the fresh clean scents that are available.
  • Lysol Max Coverage Toilet Bowl Cleaner – This is the best toilet bowl cleaner and requires the least amount of scrubbing. The cleaner goes on thick inside the toilet bowl and if allowed to sit over time will do all the work for you. I leave this in the toilet bowl for hours at a time (some people I know leave it overnight). It works on removing the colored rims and grim without the need for endless scrubbing.

If you thought ranking these would be hard for me, try keeping me to just 10 products! Below are my honorable mentions:

  • Scrubbing Bubbles Shower Cleaner – it’s fun, it’s easy to see where you have cleaned, and it does the work for you. Enough said!
  • Downy Wrinkle Release – not a cleaning product, but I use it all the time on bedding after I wash it to smooth out the wrinkles. It also replaces ironing for shirts and skirts. It’s easy to pack away on trips to keep clothes wrinkle-free.
  • Clorox Toilet Bowl Wand – I use this along with the Lysol cleaner from time to time. I use this product instead of a toilet bowl wand. I find it works just as well and using a new brush head each time makes me feel better about germs.
  • Scentsy Flameless Candles – Now Scentsy products might not clean my home, but they sure do leave it smelling good! Through a line of warmers and waxes, I can mix and match the smells in my house to create an inviting atmosphere. It covers up any smells that might be coming from the kitchen or the bathrooms. I love walking into my bathroom and having it smell fresh even through it’s been days since I cleaned it. I got rid of all my Glade and Febreze plug-in air fresheners and switched to Scentsy products. This is a change I never have regret. Plus my sister-in-law is a consultant with Scentsy, so I love knowing I’m supporting a family business (https://andreascott.scentsy.us/).

If you have any questions about a product I use or how often I clean what, just ask! I love talking about household cleaning and organizing. Also, if you have a household product you love, feel free to comment and share it! I’m always interested in what works well for others and trying new things! Especially when it comes to making my home a cleaner and safer place.

 

Passion for God’s Word August 10, 2011

Filed under: Bible,Simply Me — Amy Scott @ 3:35 pm

Psalm 119:9-16 How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, LORD; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.  I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.

Tonight is the conclusion of a six week unit with my Wednesday night class. Since I teach 5th/6th grade girls, many of them are going to be moving up into our student ministries within the month and becoming youth students. I decided that the last unit we should do together as a class would be about the Bible. It seems like kids bring their Bible to church for a prize or at least have one sitting somewhere in their room at home. However, most don’t know how to use it! It’s been fun to teach them facts like the Bible has 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. We’ve discussed who wrote what books and why it’s important to study the Bible. I LOVE being able to explain how the promises in the Old Testament are fulfilled in the New Testament. The Bible is not a book of short stories, but is one complete message from God showing His plan for redemption! It was written by many different men, over many years and yet, it’s message is seamless! God used ordinary people to communicate His extraordinary love! He gave it to us in written form so we can have it with us always!

I’ve mentioned this a couple of times, but I don’t think I will ever be able to stress enough how much I enjoy reading the Bible and how much I love my Bible reading plan that allows me to read it cover to cover in one year. It takes about 20 minutes of reading a day and it blows my mind! New things pop out to me each I read God’s word. Through the years, different passages bring out new meanings to my life and encourage me. I’m also one of those highlight and write in the margins kind of a Bible readers! I love making notes about what stands out to me. I love finding foreshadowing of Jesus in the Old Testament! I’ll underline the verse and then in bold text I will write “JESUS”. It just makes me happy!

The whole reason I went to Bible college was so I could learn more about God’s Word and be able to teach it better. The Word of God is living and active (Hebrews 4:12). It has the power to shape our lives and transform our character. I am teacher – I love the kids I get the privilege of teaching on a weekly basis. However, in order to be a good teacher, I need to be a good student. I will never master the Bible. I will never reach a place in my life where I know it all and never need to read it again. The Bible isn’t a one time read! It is a continual, life shaping presence in our lives. Currently in my Bible reading plan I am reading through Psalm 119. It’s the longest Psalm and longest chapter in the Bible with 176 verse. I think it’s very appropriate that the longest book of the Bible all about God’s Word and the important role it plays in our lives. I pray that my passion for God’s World would be that same as the Psalmist. May it be ever growing, ever increasing, ever deepening!

 

Anonymous by Alicia Britt Chloe August 9, 2011

Filed under: Amy's Bookshelf — Amy Scott @ 6:28 pm

I read this book about three years ago and it would go on my list of top 10 books that have changed my life and point of view. Reading this book opened my eyes to the joy and gift of anonymous seasons. The first time I read this book, I had just finished college and was ready to take on the world. I was waiting for the spotlight and the accolades that other friends my age were receiving. Children’s ministry is a very important part of the church – one of the most important parts, if you ask me. However, children’s ministry isn’t glitz and glamour. It’s also a very behind-the-scenes ministry. Granted every few months there is a showcase event like Fall Fest, Easter Eggstravaganza or Kid’s Choir that gets kids in front of the congregation. For the most part, children’s ministries take place down a long hallway in classrooms away from the hub of the main church action. Little Johnny and Susie may have an awesome time at church, but their parents might often view the classes offered as childcare (something that gives them an hour and a half break). The point is that children’s ministry is often tucked away and it’s not a line of work where you get a lot of spotlight time. Just a few years ago, I learned the valuable lesson of anonymous ministry. After reading this book, I decided that the kids I minister to know the effort I put into it. Kids are surprising grateful that people are interested in them and care. I decided if my only audience was children and the Lord – that was going to be good enough for me. All that mattered was that I was doing what I was called to do, regardless of how many thumbs-up and high-fives I got.

Okay, now to the book, I just recently reread and it continued to let its message penetrate into my soul. Chloe uses the example of a tree. Trees have many seasons. In spring and summer, you can see the tree blossom and bloom. This a fruitful season for the tree where it’s growth and beauty is very evident. There are also seasons like fall and winter, where the tree is stripped of its leaves that adorn it. Chloe brings out the point that in winter trees are bare, but they are not barren. Life is never still. Even in what seems like a barren season, there is still growth occurring under the surface. Chloe also use the illustration of an iceberg – only 10% of an iceberg is visible, but it’s 90% of unseen mass is powerful and strong. This visual of an iceberg is how we tie into Jesus’ life and story. Jesus lived 33 years on this earth, but most of His time on this planet is hidden from us. Chloe puts it well when she says, “Jesus was born in Bethlehem in a smelly animal pen (followed by hidden days). He was circumcised in the temple on his eighth day (followed by hidden months). Before turning two, Jesus received a visit from Eastern wise men (followed by hidden years). At age twelve, Jesus got in trouble for staying in the temple, listening and asking questions when he was supposed to be with his parents’ family headed back home (followed by almost two entirely hidden decades).”

Jesus was familiar with being hidden and with being underestimated. His greatness in ministry didn’t just happen overnight, but it was built through decades of anonymity. Chloe uses the example of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness to showcase what grows in hidden seasons. We can see that Jesus had developed a great understanding for God’s word. He not only had the Words of the Torah in His mind, but He knew their meaning and how they applied to His life. We see that Jesus was able to turn down the three alluring things that Satan threw his way – appetite, applause and authority. I know that my own personal longing and desires drawn towards being recognized and important. However, having these opportunities without the strength that hidden year can build may be dangerous. The equation that Chloe uses is “10% visible + 90% unseen = an indestructible life.” We can see how this was true in Jesus’ life as he suffered not only through desert seasons, but through rejection, punishment and a death he didn’t deserve.

Chloe brought up the point that we can say we want to be like Jesus, but it seems that we have restrictions to that statement. We don’t want to be hidden for almost 90% of our lives, we don’t want to be rejected by our own people, we don’t want to be beaten and abused. We like the public, encouraging stuff, not the hard stuff. Through reading Anonymous, I am reminded that the winter/desert seasons in my life have great benefit. Even though my tree might seem bare, it is not barren. Because life is always is moving, I can grow and develop great strength in seasons of anonymity. If I truly want to become more like Christ that means I need to learn and grow from the hard situations. I need to be developing inner strength and integrity when no one is looking. Someday when there is an audience, I will have the spiritual muscles to make the right choices, because I have been making them the entire time. This book is a must read and one that I am sure I will reread every few years. It has given me a different perspective on my life and on my ministry. If 10% of Jesus’ life was visible, I will be happy with my 10% and not try to make it more. I will grow when no one is looking so that when the right opportunity comes my way, I will be prepared.

 

Kid’s Camp 2011 August 6, 2011

Filed under: Children's Ministry,Travels,Women in Ministry — Amy Scott @ 9:39 pm

358 kids and adults joined together this week for Kid’s Camp 2011 at Camp Berachah! The theme was “Extreme” and every part of the week lived up to the name! Extreme activities, extreme worship, extreme fun, extreme exhaustion! The mornings were early, the pace was fast and the nights were late. Overall, every moment was used to the fullest.

The great thing about our network kid’s camp is how intentional they are with the flow of the day. We have 3 environments where kids get the same message repeated to them and allow them to soak it in using different opportunities. The first environment is morning chapel. This chapel is high energy and extremely engaging. It introduces the message for the day and give the first opportunity for response. The second environment is cabin devotions. This time allows the cabin to discuss the topic of morning chapel and dig through the message. The third environment is response chapel. This falls right after cabin devotions and right before bed. As a close to the day, the kids are invited into a quieter chapel environment for one more chance to act on what has been spoken over them all day. This might look like visiting a prayer station or singing along to a passionate worship song or praying with a leader. All day the kids have had the opportunity to let the Holy Spirit speak to them about the message and the last thing they do before bed is a have a chance to respond to what the Lord might be working in their heart.

The other great thing about kid’s camp is the flow of the messages through the week. The first day message is usually about getting sin out of our lives and salvation. It’s all about getting right with the Lord. This is great for first time campers and those not familiar with Christ. It’s also a good reminder and a fresh start for those of us who have been in church and camp environments before. The next day focuses letting go of things that hold us back. We talked about how God made us very good and has created us with all we need for life. As things happen to us, we have added different things into our lives that God didn’t intend for us to have. The second day message dealt with the baggage we carry through life and need to let go. Day three focuses on the Holy Spirit and His power to give us boldness to share about Jesus and what He has done in our lives. We also shared how the Holy Spirit give us passion and peace. This is one of my favorite days because we ask kids to pray for the Holy Spirit’s empowerment! I know a lot of kids get excited to know that God wants to help them talk to their friends. With the Holy Spirit’s help they can do more then they ever imagined. Day four focuses on service and how we can serve anywhere, at anytime. Not everyone is called to be a full time pastor or a missionary, but they are called to serve in someway. Kids were invited to seek the Lord about where He might want them to serve. The last day is always a celebration of what God has done and a commitment to follow through once we leave camp.

Power Play is a great opportunity for the kids to engage in fun challenges and hear stories from missionaries. Power Play is formatted by having the kids go to different locations around the campground based on clues. At each station they hear powerful and extreme stories about missionaries. This section of the schedule is so amazing because kids can see how exciting missions can be. Our other missions theme at camp revolves around our offering project. This year our goal was to raise $1500 toward building a roof for a christian school in Tanzania. I’m happy to report that we did reach our goal and as a result the camp leadership team got soaked by the kids in the giant water fight.

As you can tell there are a lot of spiritual moments to look forward to at summer camp. Mixed in with these extreme moments with God are extreme activities and kids just being kids! Many of our students conquered their fears and went all the way to the top of the big swing. They raced each other at go-karts and pigged out on candy at snack shack. Jeremy’s favorite time with the kids is during the swimming hour. Every day the kids ran off their energy playing wacky outdoor field games. Also there was a campfire with silly songs and S’mores the first night. Fun is mixed in with everything at summer camp!

Summer camp is an awesome experience for students to get out of their normal routine. It gives them dedicated time to focus on God and deepen relationships with others. It was certainly an extreme time and one that hopefully won’t be forgotten quickly! I praise the Lord for the moments I had to pray with students and hear their hearts. Join me in prayer that what God started at camp will come to completion in the lives of our students!