Live With Urgency Pt 3Posted by Patrick Scott on December 8th, 2008

I admit I do not live with urgency in my personal prayer life.  I should but it is something that I neglect.  I really admire those of you that are prayer warriors.  Jackson screamed all weekend because of an ear infection that we discovered last night after taking him to the doctor.  I finally reached a point of “I cant do it, please help him”.  I am saddened to say that it takes me reaching this point before I turn to Him.  Even after hearing my pastor preach a message on prayer this weekend I did not realize how pathetic I am in communicating to my Provider.  If I am to live a life of passion, in this hard world, then I should probably talk to Him more.  Don’t get me wrong I pray but I don’t pray with urgency.  I don’t pray like my life depends on it.  I don’t pray with openness.  In the small things , in the big things, my God is sufficient for them all.  He knows me better than anyone.  I also need to learn to just listen.  “Please forgive me”.

Psalms 139: 1-18

1 O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. 2 You know when I sit down or stand up.  You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. 3 You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do.  4 You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. 5 You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!  7 I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave,^[a] you are there. 9 If I ride the wings of the morning,  if I dwell by the farthest oceans, 10 even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. 11 I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— 12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you. 13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. 15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. 16 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.  17 How precious are your thoughts about me,^[b] O God. They cannot be numbered! 18 I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!

Are you where you would like to be in your prayer life?  What do you implement in your life to keep you disciplined in your conversations with God? How has prayer effected your life?

ObservancePosted by Patrick Scott on October 20th, 2008

I was reminded, the other day, about how incomplete I am.  As I have pursued, and will continue to pursue my Creator, I should never forget where He has brought me and where I deserved for Him to leave me.

If it were not for Him in my life I would not be able to think clearly, wait patiently, or have the courage it takes to keep on going.
I am not capable of anything but blessed with everything that God sees fit to allow.
For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.
There may be days that are harder to walk than others and moments more challenging than some , but I know you are God.

I want to be complete.  I do not want to falter.  I want to be the good and faithful servant.  I owe you everything.
You don’t need me but want me.  I turn and you chase after me. You remind me you are all I need.

Thank you for sustaining me, speaking with me, and lifting me because I am weak.  I do not deserve you and you deserve more than me.  Your love is.

Wonderful MusicPosted by Patrick Scott on October 17th, 2008

When you play guitar, the first month is hard on the fingers.  You develop callouses but you have to play on in pain.  The more you play through pain the more focused, dedicated, and skilled you become.  Then one day you forget about the pain and enjoy the music you can now play.

Many of us are facing battles right now.  Some our spiritual, emotional, and physical.  In our pursuit of Christ we will face many of these battles and the only way to not lose ones mind is to remember His promises.  Things of this world are going to pass away, and He will be victorious.  We who are with Him will also be victorious.  I know this may not lessen the pain one may encounter during a battle.  Continue on, persevere, and know that the pain you encounter now is preparing you for the victory that lies ahead.

I am developing callouses right now and am anticipating the amazing music that lies ahead.

Here are two verses to encourage you.

Isaiah 40:31 and II Timothy 4:7

Stepping OutPosted by Patrick Scott on September 22nd, 2008

I am so excited about what is going on and ask for prayers from all of you that read this.  Sometimes God asks us to do something that we are not comfortable doing.  Many of the adventureous things we are able to be a part of in this life are not initially something we feel comfortable doing.  I am preparing to take this journey to the community.  God has been working on me as well as some brothers in Christ over the last couple of months, to do more.  

I currently volunteer full time in student ministry and have come to the realization that there is more that needs to be done.  We minister to an average of 350 to 400 middle school and high school students weekly and many of them come from tough environments.  As I have been a part of following up with these students I see a strong desire in many of these students to discover God and they want change.  We see them one night during the week and then they go back to an environment that does not promote the necessary foundation for them to lead lives for God.  I asked myself, “How can we become more instrumental in adding value or encouragement for these students to succeed?”.  After talking with some people I felt God leading us to leave the comfort zone of our church and go into their community.  I have to admit I am a little fearful of this, but I know that where God leads has already been prepared.   We have made a decision to go into communities and reach out.  Before Jesus left this earth He told his followers to “Go”.  We know that we need to go, by stepping out.  As we head into these communities we will be focused on building relationships with the families in these communities.  By ministering to their needs we will be able to minister to their hearts.  Our prayer is to create a viral outbreak of God’s love in these communities.  

God is already ahead of us paving the way and is now asking us to join Him in this journey.  Over the upcoming months we hope to develop some small groups of believers that will help create a foundation that will be impactful in these students lives.  We will also be looking for people that are led to serve in this ministry, either prayerfully, financially, actively participating with us, or providing resources.  The resources that we will be looking for are family counseling, financial counseling, drug or alcohol counseling.  Some of these families may need help with clothing, food, or employment.   The next few months of listening will help to determine what areas we need to resource.  Please pray that we continue to seek God’s will and the we have wisdom and discernment.  I am excited to see what God will do and look forward to being a part of this amazing adventure.  

Whoever finds God finds life!!!!  

My JourneyPosted by Patrick Scott on June 4th, 2008

No matter how great a person is at something, if God wants you somewhere else you will never be happy.  I have always been great at influencing people to buy something.  I say it that way because I dont like salespeople either.  Since I was 18 I have always focused on ways that I can become more successfully monetarily.  If I made more money the happier I would be.  About three months ago I left an amazing position with a company that was, more than likely, going to be my final stop before retirement.  I had three things that most people never find in their career; great employers, great opportunity, and I loved what I did.  The area that changed three months ago was the area of loving what I did.  Over a year ago I had started volunteering at my church working with students.  God changed my desire and passion towards full time youth ministry.

I battled long and hard about this for months before reaching the decision I needed to reach.  I stepped away from my job to commit fully to God’s direction.   Do I worry about finances sometime?  Sure I do, but I also realize that Satan will do everything he can to throw up distractions to pull me away.  Do I know what lies ahead?  No, I dont but with the full support of my family, in this decision, I can take it a day at a time.  Yes, I have gotten frustrated waiting but God has given me many opportunities to learn things during this waiting time.  My journey is not complete but just started and I am excited to see where God has me in a year or tomorrow!!!!