Amy Scott's Thoughts

Sharing the thoughts that bounce around in my brain!

Get Down June 21, 2011

Filed under: Children's Ministry,Women in Ministry — Amy Scott @ 5:30 am

I will admit that my legs are sore today. However, they are feeling a lot better when I compare them to Sunday and Monday. You might wonder why I am so sore. At children’s church on Sunday we sang “Get Down”. The song is originally performed by Audio Adrenaline. Google it if you are unaware of the song. The song sings the line “get down” numerous times. Every time it is sang, you squat to the ground and then get up. Thus, “I get down and he gets me up.” Over and over and over again!!! Well, after my many “get downs”, I was feeling it and continued to feel it.

As a leader in children’s ministry, I often have to make the choice to go all in. I could have not done the motions to this song because it would make me look silly and it would make me hurt for the days to follow. However, I choose to be a good example for the kids in that room and I got into it so that way they felt free to get into worship as well.

Sometimes we don’t want to go all in. We would much rather do certain things and not all things that pertain to our ministry. I’m wondering what spiritual muscles we are allowing to un-strengthened when we choose not to use them. It takes a lot of energy when you decided to give it everything you got. It may not be seem like a big deal whether I do the motions with the kids at worship, but I’m choosing to totally enter into my ministry role. Giving it 100% might hurt at first. Just like all muscles, its takes time to build up strength. I’m sure if I “got down” enough it would no longer cause my legs to be sore. It just takes practice and consistency.

It might seem like a silly example, but it’s a simple truth stuck out to me today. Going all in can take a lot of effort and energy. There might be a season where it makes us sore because our muscles just aren’t used to the work yet. Going all in and getting involved will eventually grow those muscles and tone them so you don’t even break a sweat. Maybe someday I’ll actually experience that after we sing “Get Down”…

 

Balance the Checkbook June 20, 2011

Filed under: Women in Ministry — Amy Scott @ 2:42 pm

I always thought it was a silly illustration to use a bank as a way of saying where we are at emotionally, mentally, spiritually. Making deposits and withdrawals seems like such an odd way to judge oneself. I first discovered this illustration in college and didn’t think too highly of it. Now that I’ve lived a bit longer, I can start relating more and more the banking metaphor. Back when I first started out this path to ministry, I had a lot more energy. I thought I would be one of those people who would be at the church anytime the doors where open. I didn’t understand balance. All I understood was dedication.  Being dedicated is good, but we all have our limits. As a young student, I couldn’t fully grasp the concept of sustainable ministry. I assumed burn out was impossible when you’re working for God.

Now have I’ve been in full time for the last five years, I can see how we must keep things in balance. Just like a checkbook, if I’m giving myself to others and to ministry, I must also be depositing into myself. I’m not an endless supply of energy (though I sometimes wish I was). I’ve learned that some relationships are investments. They take work and don’t pay off over night. I’ve learned that when I’m making major withdrawals for the sake of others, I need to make be making major deposits, so the bank doesn’t run dry. No one like to dip into the red.

We all have different things that add resources back into our banks. For some it is hiking, cooking, crafting, etc. We know the tasks that make us feel good and give us that new round of energy to tackle life. I am an avid reader. Reading a good book inspires me and bring so much energy to my soul. I view a good book almost as dearly as a close friend. Now as a woman in ministry, I read a lot of books about leadership and how to grow and develop spirituality so I can be the best person possible. These books are great, but sometimes I just need something else to fill the bank.

Last summer I re-read my favorite book series that I read as a teenager. The characters have always meant a great deal to me and it was almost like a reunion and reconnection with myself and with the things I love. Over the last month, I have read the Anne of Green Gables novel series. While these books might not be solving world peace , they made me laugh and they made me cry. They were perfect escapes into another time and another place. Sometimes I’m tired of walking in my own shoes. I thrill at the chance to slip into a book and see the world from someone else’s perspective.

Now I love doing book reviews and I thought about reviewing the Anne books and posting them here on my blog. For a while I really debated this idea, because I thought it was silly.  I pondered the purpose of reviewing a book series that had nothing to do with ministry. So here is a my review in a roundabout kind of way – I loved these books because they took me away from Lewis County, WA for a while. I knew that I needed to invest in my bank account before I ran dry and went into the red.

My challenge to you is – how is your checkbook balancing? Are you are withdrawing more than you are depositing? Is your checkbook close to going into the red? We are different and have our own things that spark our interest. I have learned to put aside my pride of looking like I’m always reading for a divine purpose and I have opened myself to things that make me happy – even they seem childish. The simple things in life and the things we have loved since we were a kid are often the ones that fill us up the most. Don’t put off reading that book  or doing that project or planning that hike. Choose to invest in yourself – not selfishly, but with the intent of refilling the bank so you can freely give to others.

 

Major God Moment June 16, 2011

Filed under: Recollections,Simply Me — Amy Scott @ 5:53 pm

As I mentioned in my last blog, “Most Tenacious”, I’ve been struggling with moving past my current place and moving forward with the dreams that God has for me. Part of this moving forward involved me going through my childhood memory boxes to find my old journals. While I was searching for my journals, I found so many things that truly reminded me that my dream of being a writer has been with me for a long time. I laughed as I read a description I wrote about myself during my freshmen year of high school that says I love to write and dream to have a book published. Some things don’t change in 10 years! I still feel that way today and the desire to be published is growing even stronger with me and pushing me towards to new dreams.

Okay, here is the kicker – I found my “Most Tenacious” award!!! I couldn’t believe it! Just yesterday I was wondering if it was thrown away in childhood haste and yet no, it is preciously tucked away and well preserved! I feel like God gave me these items to remind me of who I am and really who I’ve always been! He made me this way and He knows how much I want see my dream come true – the dreams He gave me! I was so excited about finding the award that I had to take a picture of it and post it on my blog! I’m just as proud of that award now as I was then! The crazy thing is it dated June 11th, 1996 – almost exactly 15 years from the day I started to ponder my award and be challenged yet again by it’s meaning!

God has a way of confirming things to us and it is so unique to who we are and how He loves us! He is so creative in speaking to my heart and reminding me that He has heard my prayers and has good things in store for my future!

 

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.

 

Wacky Wednesdays June 9, 2011

Filed under: Children's Ministry — Amy Scott @ 2:38 pm

I have the joy of teaching a midweek class at my church to 4th-6th grade girls. The night we meet is Wednesday so thus the title Wacky Wednesdays. This is a special night once a month.  We do something out of the ordinary and give the kids something to get excited about. It could be a dress up day or bring your favorite “chose an item” to class night. This gives the girls a way to express themselves and we all get to know each better as a result. For example, on bring your favorite stuffed animal to class night, I get to know the stories why that toy is their favorite. It gives background on their family and on what they treasure. This sharing time works great in a small group environment. If your group is too large to have everyone share, try having the kids pair up in groups of two or three to share their stories. The dress up days are the ones my girls look forward to the most. We have had red carpet night where they dress up in their fanciest outfit. I even put red craft paper on the floor to make the red carpet feel. Once the girls arrive we take glamour shots on the red carpet.  Another favored dress up day is pajama day. Honestly, who doesn’t want to wear pajamas more often! When my class dresses up, it draws the attention of others about the fun we’re having and I have great conversations with parents and other congregation members about the exciting things going on in our classroom. The nice thing is it’s only once a month so you only need a couple of creative ideas to get you going. Listed below are some of the Wacky Wednesdays I’ve done before:

  • Red Carpet Dress Up Day
  • Pajama Day
  • Backwards Day (wear as much of your clothing backwards)
  • Mismatch Day (a day where clashing is okay)
  • Bring your favorite stuffed animal to class
  • Bring your favorite book to class
  • Smurf Night (dress in all blue)
  • Crazy Scarf Night
  • Crazy Hat Night
  • Bed Head Night (see who comes with the worst hairdo)

The great thing about Wacky Wednesdays is they can be adapted to any group.  Different ages and genders like different things so capitalize on who your group is. There is a shared identity when we do something silly or out of the ordinary together. I find that kids ask about these special days all the time. Even older students who are out of my classroom still talk to me about them. So make a memory and so something wacky every once and a while!

 

From the Heart June 6, 2011

Filed under: Simply Me — Amy Scott @ 2:20 pm

As promised, here is my after road trip blog. *Insert sigh here* I’m not even sure where to begin. This last month has been a hard one for me for various reasons. I have found myself spending a lot of a emotional energy. I’m learning that the more emotional energy I spend the less energy I have for other things… this includes my blog.

I started off this writing adventure with great hopes. I had an opportunity for publication (nothing major) and it sent my spirit soaring and dreaming of the heights I could reach as a writer. Every time I was home alone I would work on a piece. For a while it all seemed to flow to easily. I guess things haven’t taken off as quickly as I had hoped and coupling that with a crazy month – I feel like I have hit my first stint of writers block (I find it humorous that I am writing about my writers block).

I’m keeping my eyes open for fresh insight and new things to share with you, but for the time being all I can say is that I am trying. I’m seeking and learning, but the lessons have been hard and they are a little too fresh to put into words. I can see God’s faithfulness through every step of the journey and I trust in His ordering of steps. Sometimes I wish I had more of a say in where these steps are leading me, but I know that no experience is wasted if I look for God in it.

My natural bent is to focus on the negative and to dwell on the things that are “wrong” in my life. My exercise for today is to find the small blessings and to hold on to them as a promise of all the good that God has for me. Today I am thankful for the sunshine, for my Toby dog who is snuggling next to me as I write this, for my friends and family who make me smile and laugh, for the home I write this blog in, for the yummy hot dog my hubby grilled for me at lunch, for birds singing outside. I could make an endless list if I continued to think about it all. I am loved and that is enough!

 

Pre-Road Trip Blog May 26, 2011

Filed under: Family Time,Travels — Amy Scott @ 3:12 pm

Just wanted to type up a quick entry before I leave for Kansas in the morning. I will not be bringing my laptop on this trip, so I will write an update when I return from my road trip to Kansas. I appreciate all the prayer you can send our way as we travel. I don’t think I’ve ever been to 10 states in a month’s span of time. I will see some new places – Nebraska and Kansas. The more I travel the more I have an itch to see all 50 states. My next hope is to work New Mexico in some how… however, I would also love to see the New England states as well (preferably in the the fall).

Seems like life is in a continual season of change and this period of my life is no exception. It will be difficult to have my sister and closest friend move so far away, but I believe that God works all things for good. I anxiously await His new blessings and new mercies in this next season. He is so faithful to me in all seasons of life. Through all of the ups and downs.

I will take notes and be looking for God’s insights during this trip. I hope that I have something fresh and new to report to you when I return. The one thing I would like to leave you all with today is – God has given you the family you have for a reason. I know each family has it’s own unique situations and circumstances. Some come from positive family backgrounds and some from negative ones. I believe that God is intentional with the people He has placed in our lives. If you are close to your family, don’t take that closeness for granted.If you are not close with your family, remember that the greatest thing you can do for them is pray.  Family brings out so many different roles and emotions. Just remember that you have been placed where you are a reason and you didn’t pick your family, God did. Make the most of every opportunity!

 

The Sleepover Sensation May 24, 2011

Filed under: Children's Ministry — Amy Scott @ 8:50 pm

Who doesn’t love a good sleepover? I remember as a child sleepovers where the highlight of my friendships. There was something so fun about staying up late, doing fun activities, eating a little junk food and staying away from home. It was truly the best! Now that I’m a grown-up, I still think there is something powerful about the fun that can be had a sleepover.

Every year, our church throws a big sleepover for all our 1st-6th grade girls. We take over the whole church and spend the evening in our pajamas having a blast. Each year we have a new theme that sets the stage for the sleepover. This year’s theme was “All Around the World”.

We start the night off with dinner and door prizes (who doesn’t love getting a prize?). After we eat,the girls are divided up into different groups and are sent off to rotations with leaders. Since we had an international theme, all our rotations represented a different country. We had crafts from Japan and Australia. We played games from France and China. The highlight rotation was our snack rotation where the girls got to try foods from different countries and try to guess where it all came from.

The rotations keep the girls hopping and moving right along through the night. As it starts to get later, we need to wind things down, so they actually can get some sleep that night. We have a short devotional time which includes a gospel presentation. We use this event as an outreach for girls to invite their friends to church and show them how fun it can be. For some girls who attend, this is their first time ever hearing about Jesus and how he loves them.

Once the devotional time wraps up, we split the girls into two groups. The younger students (1st-4th grade) head to our gym to watch a 30 minute movie. The older girls (5th-6th grade) go to a different room where they get to watch a full length movie.  We’re very intentional about doing the devotion time as a “calm down” period of time but they are still alert and awake. Once we move into the movie portion of the evening most just drift off to sleep as the video plays.

After we get a less than full night of sleep, we wake up (normally to the army bugle melody) and have breakfast together and clean up the church. Both girls and leaders help us tidy up the building so it seems as if we were never there. My favorite part is when parents ask the girls if they’ve had a good time and their daughter goes off into instant stories and shows off her crafts she made.

Here are some other sleepover ideas that we’ve used over the years – for boys, throw an indoor camp out. Make your rotations “manly” or camped themed. Even serve meals that would be served out camping. Depending on the time of year, location, and your bravery level, you could even make a campfire and roast marshmallows.

For my midweek class of girls, we do our own personal class sleepover. It’s just for 5th-6th grade girls and instead of being at the church, I invite them over to my house. I love that girls can see that I care about them outside of my classroom. It shows them that I love hanging out with them. Inviting them into my home really creates that environment of investment. We have dinner together, play games (Disney Scene It is always a hit), and we watch a movie. After a not so restful night of sleep, we have breakfast together and meet up with the parents. These smaller sleepovers are every rewarding for just having a good time with the kids you teach.

Bring back the popcorn and the late nights, talk until 2:00am, run around in your pajamas! The sleepover sensation will be a hit with your group of students. You might just find that you have as much fun as the kids!

 

Every word counts May 19, 2011

Filed under: Bible,Children's Ministry — Amy Scott @ 4:11 pm

I teach 5th/6th grade girls on Wednesday nights at my church. It’s an honor to teach the next generation about God’s Word. I have moments during my class where I am teaching them, but I’m also feeling convicted by the lesson. It’s almost like an out of body experience where I am the student and the not the teacher. There are verses that just jump out at me and I am struck again by their truth. I had one of those moments last night as I taught my girls about “Taming the Tongue” (that is our current unit we’re working on). Because I have grown up in church and studied the Bible for school, I feel like I have a lot of head knowledge, but there is a connection where the head knowledge must become heart knowledge. Even the things that I might have learned many years ago, I still need to be remind of today and challenged to live them out better.

Last night we were talking about how our words flow out from our heart. If our hearts are full of goodness than good things will come out. If they are filled with evil, bad things will come out. The focus verse was Matthew 12:33-37. Here is a portion of that passage from the Message: “It’s your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words. A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard. Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation.(Mt.12:35-37).” The NIV puts verse 36 this way, “But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.”

Even though I’ve known this truth for some time, I was deeply reminded how important my words are. Each one is acounted for. Nothing slips pass God. If I said, He hears it. If I think it, He hears it. I don’t want to be careless with my words. I don’t want to talk just to talk and hear the sound of my own voice. I’m not sure I think enough about the purpose of my words. One of the activities the girls had to do in response to the lesson was create a mission statement for how they wanted their words to reflect them. Here is my mission statement for my words – I want my words to reflect the love of my Savior and be used for His purpose and His glory. I want my words to be encouraging to all who hear. I want my words to strengthen the body of Christ. I want my words to be gentle and humble; may they point to Christ and not to myself.

Today’s reminder is that every word counts… So make the most of them!