Amy Scott's Thoughts

Sharing the thoughts that bounce around in my brain!

Time for moving on May 18, 2011

Filed under: Simply Me — Amy Scott @ 9:23 pm

I know that is a loaded title for a blog – for those of you worried about me moving or major life change – don’t worry! This is more of a “mental” moving than a physical one. Let me explain!

I have the best times with Jesus when I’m driving alone in my car. This may seem silly but the same Switchfoot CD is playing in my car and it just keeps hitting me with reflections and insights. Today’s insight was about moving on. One of the songs talks about holding on to things too tightly and being ready to move on when we’re called. I love to sing along to this song, but it’s probably something I have the hardest time living out.

I don’t like change. I wish I did, but I don’t. Even good change upsets me because it throws off my balance and flow. I am the kind of person that sinks into a routine and sticks with it. I love knowing what is expected of me and what’s coming next. No surprises. Well, sadly, life doesn’t really agree with what I “like.” Change happens all the time.

Here is the beautiful insight that hit me tonight – I keep telling myself that things will go back to normal as a way of coping. Once I get through “this” than it will go back to the way it was. I am learning that things never really go back to the way they were. Change happens and I need to deal with it. There is no going backwards, only forwards. I have often idealized the past and how things used to be or the way I like them to be. I have been holding on to what I want my life to look like. I’m holding on to ideals that are no longer reality. By holding on to things that are no more, I’m inhibiting my success as I go forwards.

Obviously, I’m not perfect. This reflection and insight does not mean I’m cured. I just know that I have been telling myself what sounds good, but is impossible. There really is no normal. Each new season brings new changes and I must adapt and move on. To sum it all up – don’t hold to things so tightly that you can’t move forward.

 

Tribute to my Sister May 16, 2011

Filed under: Family Time,Recollections — Amy Scott @ 6:12 pm

 

photo-2I almost told April today at lunch that I was going to write a blog about her, but I didn’t, because I thought she would try to talk me out of it. I know this will probably be super cheesy. The blog is titled Amy Scotts Thoughts, so I figured sharing this is true to the purpose of the blog. Anyway, here I go, with an entry unlike any that I have written thus far… don’t gag, or if you do – just don’t tell me you did!

Let’s start off with where this is all coming from, my sister – April Lynn Gallaway, will be moving to Kansas in less than two weeks (10 full days away). Now April and I have lived apart before but the farthest distance was only 2 ½ hours away. With this context mind, I have been thinking a lot about my little sister and what she means to me.

April was born two weeks before my second birthday. I was told that at first I found her quite boring. I was expecting an instant playmate. Wasn’t that was sisters were meant to do? As April grew, I found that she became a captive audience (only because she was immobile and had no choice). My mom would set April in front of me and I would “entertain” her.  I guess that is when being a sister became fun for me.

April and I have always had a unique relationship. When she was very young, I could translate what she was saying or wanted to tell my mother. She was ornery even at a young age and would lick my well organized stuffed animals just to get a rise out of me.  She knew all the right buttons to push. As we grew into elementary school aged kids, it seemed that we were always getting into some kind of trouble. I would come up with a scheme that would seem fool proof and April would follow along. Somewhere along the line, we realized that the plan wasn’t working out so well and it usually ended with us being grounded. That was a season of life where we were grounded a lot!

During our high school years, we certainly had our “teenage girl” moments when we had dramatic fights, but most of the time, we were best friends. We didn’t look a lot alike so people would just think we were friends instead of sisters. Some of my favorite memories from that time period were the “sleepovers” we had at our house. April would often sleep in my room or we would inhabit the guestroom for the whole weekend.

Especially now that we are grown, I still find my friendship with April to be one of the closest in my life. We share so much history together. She can make me laugh and I can be my weird, silly self with her. She loves my oddities and I love hers. We are so different and always have been. Somehow that doesn’t matter all that much when we are together. True friends are a gift and they are even more treasured when they are a family member.

I know that God has big things in store for April and Andrew. I’m praying that their new life in Kansas will be an awesome one and that April may one day get the corgi of her dreams (Frankie the Fluffy).  I guess I just wanted to the world to know I love my sister dearly and that I am going miss her.

So, April, if you’re reading this – you’re the most awesome sister anyone could ask for! You make me smile and you are the best friend I could ever have! I love you and I know that God has good things for you in Kansas. I have thought of about a million inside jokes to place in this blog, but I was worried about the length and losing people. Here a few though, just for fun – April Ducky, Life and Love and Why, The Switchfoot Quote Board, breaking your leg, documenting your room before cleaning it, meeting in Longview, our Las Vegas adventure – were all we did was walk – a lot, slamming my finger in the locker, teasing Josh about Alabama, annoying mom by always singing and love comes softly!

 

Worthless Idols May 12, 2011

Filed under: Bible — Amy Scott @ 3:38 pm

Sometimes the shortest verses of the Bible seem to pack the most punch! Currently I’m reading through 2 Kings in my Bible reading plan. I find that the book of Kings to be a sad section of scripture. There are a few good kings that get your hopes up, but for the most part it’s about one bad king after another. This is very depressing to me. Because I have the clear vision of hindsight, I want to shout at the characters, “What do you think you’re doing?”, “That didn’t work so well for your grandpa!”, “Oh yeah, ignore the prophet… good idea!” Sadly, I can’t change the story line. I must continue reading through all the messed up stories of screwed up kings.

Towards the end of 2 Kings there is a verse that hit me so hard as I read it. 2 Kings 17:15, “They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors and the statutes he had warned them to keep. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the LORD had ordered them, ‘Do not do as they do.’” Did you get that? They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. Wow! Talk about a slap in the face!

Following worthless things led to the Israelites becoming worthless and rejected by God. This made me stop and wonder what the worthless idols in my life are. What are the things that I place above my relationship with God that hold no purpose? The truth is that following worthless things leads to us becoming worthless ourselves. It’s a harsh truth and one that I have a hard time swallowing. I don’t want to become worthless. As a minister and a mentor, my biggest prayer is to be used of God, not sidelined by worthless things.

These worthless idols and convent-breaking habits were formed by imitating the nations around them. This also speaks loudly to me because I can see a similar cultural dynamic today. As Americans, we have the habit of comparing lifestyles. We’re concerned with who has what and what the next latest and greatest thing is. As Christ followers, we are not called to imitate the culture around us. We are called to change it – we are meant to have an effect on it, not let it have an effect on us. Imitation is easy because you blend in and go with the flow. Imitation makes you feel like one of the crowd. Imitation leads to worthless idols.

My take away from this passage of Scripture is this – what or who has the most influence in my life? Are the things that I’m investing myself in going to grow me closer to God or farther way? Even in the small things, I want to do my life on purpose. I don’t want to be worthless. I’m so struck how simple the path to worthless can be. It is an easy road to follow because it seems like everyone is doing it. The Israelites decided to not be counter-cultural and they became sidelined by God. They are important to Him, but He did call them worthless. Ouch! My prayer is that I will be intentional about the influences in my life and not fall in with the masses. It’s not about being like everyone else. It’s about being like Jesus.

 

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!

 

Take a Deep Breath May 4, 2011

Filed under: Bible,Simply Me — Amy Scott @ 10:16 am

Many of you know how much of a worrier I can be. I’m practically a pro at it! My life verse for the last few years has been Philippians 4: 4-7 – “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

I need this reminder daily, hourly, minute-by-minute! I have a bit of an adventure ahead of me this weekend and of course, I’m nervous and a little worried. As I was getting ready this morning, this verse flooded over me and I took a deep breath. I know that God is in control! I know that my worrying won’t help anyone, most of all myself! I know that when I pray and thank the Lord, His peace will flow into my mind and heart! My prayer for today and this weekend is that I will be a joyful and gentle presence to those around me and that I will prayerfully give every anxiety to God! AMEN!

 

Economy of Mercy May 2, 2011

Filed under: Recollections,Simply Me — Amy Scott @ 4:27 pm

Over the last week I’ve been listening to a CD that was very dear to my heart during high school. I find that when I listen to these “old school” songs, I feel peace. They have spoken to me many times in the past and still continue to speak to my heart today. As of late, “Economy of Mercy” by Switchfoot has been the song I play on repeat in my car. I thought I would share it with you.

“Economy Of Mercy”

There’s just two ways to lose yourself in this life
And neither way is safe
In my dreams I see visions of the future
But today we have today
And where will I find You?

In the economy of mercy
I am a poor and begging man
In the currency of Grace
Is where my song begins
In the colors of Your goodness
In the scars that mark your skin
In the currency of Grace
Is where my song begins

These carbon shells
These fragile dusty frames
House canvases of souls
We are bruised and broken masterpieces
But we did not paint ourselves
And where will I find You?

Where was I when the world was made?
Where was I?

I’m lost without You here
Yes, I’m lost without You near me
I’m lost without You here
You knew my name when the world was made

My favorite part of the song is the chorus and second verse. I need to remember that I am poor and begging in an economy of mercy, that I have been shown amazing grace because of the scars that my Savior took for me.  I love the line about not painting ourselves. I’ve felt a little bruised and broken this week, but it’s so good to remember that I am not the Creator. My life isn’t my own and it is in better hands than my own. Even if I am a little battered, I am still a masterpiece. Praise the Lord!

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the song, listen to it – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=690DKM7RrM4. It’s a great song for quiet reflection and contemplation!

 

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.