Current Readings

It's Christmas break, and I finally found myself at a computer. First off, I freakin love Christmas.(enough said) But my favorite part about Christmas is 2 things, Jesus & Christmas morning breakfast...my Nana knows how to fill a lonely stomach on a joyful morning. Did I mention the elf? If you don't like the Elf, something is wrong with you.

OKAY! to the good stuff....

I finally have a chance to catch up with some reading, like most of you I am sure, I try to read one book at a time but somehow end up with 3? Go figure... Well I just finished one book but I am currently reading 3 books(set aside the Bible, which is always in use)

The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence.

I have read this book before but, rereading it has been a whole new experience and I would highly suggested it if you want to better understand how to enjoy the Lord's presence.  One of my favorite passages from it so far (considering I am only on pg 30)

"That the most excellent method he had found of going to God was that of doing our common business without any view of pleasing men and purely for the love of God. That it was a great delusion to think that the times of prayer ought to differ from other times; that we are as strictly obliged to adhere to God by action in the time of action as by prayer in the time of prayer. That his prayer waws nothing else but a sense of the presence of God, his soul being at that time insensible to everything but divine love; and that when the appointed times of prayer were past, he found no difference, because he still continued with God, praising and blessing Him with all his might, so that he passed his life in continual joy."

The book is all of 110 pages long and is a to the point, encouraging, but challenging book by a monk.

The other I am reading is Sex Is Not The Problem, Lust Is by Joshua Harris, this book is highly recommened for all the men out there, in terms of understanding the obvious title and understanding the true intentions that God has placed inside of us.  And also how much God is after our hearts and how much he wants our undivided passions. 

 

So I know I said I am reading three books, but the third is a devotional, in which i'll always be reading but the third is a book called Radical, which a friend gave me and I REALLY REALLY want to start reading it but I know I have to finish these two first!

I would recommend these both and if you read this and have any books to recommend I am always in need of stocking my book shelf, coming from a guy who hated reading up until my first year of college, go figure! If you could also be praying for two friends.  One is in Africa and has been the last 5 months and is on a mission trip that was totally a God thing.  And the other is in Haiti for a week, just be praying that there times there are blessed and especially safety.

Psalm 139:23-24 "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life."

He anticipates our needs

"Thou, O God, has prepared of Thy goodness for the poor."

I read this a couple nights ago and i finally get it now that i went through it...let me elaborate....
This weekend my bank account went...lets just say.... Low! ha, But it wasn't until after I threw a pity party for myself that I realized why it happened.  Asking questions such as where is my true identity? Who am I trusting? and what is coming about from this?  It is so easy to compare ourselves to the world and when we don't measure up, we lose focus on God, we allow our Joy to be stripped away and seem to be lost.  I was upset nonetheless, but that was the last thing God wanted me to do.... I ended up talking with my pastor and he went on to explain.... That I should have Joy in this situation for the fact that God brought this up in my life, and that my identity isn't in this world, it is not in my money or who supports me financially.  But trusting in Him..(provers 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, don't lean on your own understanding.") It was a perspective that is hard to look at in times of need and struggle but...God is good.  After our talk, God blessed me in a way that was by His timing and His alone.  My pastor and good friend, Kenny, reached for a sticky note on his desk, pulled it off and shook it like a polaroid pitch and told me someone named Jim needed some yard work done and that I could have it if I wanted.  How could I have ever doubted Him? Isn't it funny how we as humans think we are in the right more often than not? that we see ourselves better than we really are?  Thank goodness for His Grace.

All God's gifts are prepared gifts laid up in store for wants foreseen. He anticipates our needs; and out of the fulness which He has treasure up in Christ Jesus, He provides of His goodness for the poor. You may trust Him for all the necessities that can occur, for He has infallibly foreknown every one of them. He can say in all conditions, 'I knew that thou wouldst be this and that.' A man goes on a journey across the desert, and when he has made a day's advance, and pitched his tent, he discovers that he wants many comforts and necessaries which he has not brought in his baggage. "AH!" he says, "I did not foresee this: if I had this journey to go again, I should bring these things with me, so necessary to my comfort." But God has marked with prescient eye all the requirements of His poor wandering children, when those needs occur, supplies are ready. It is goodness which He has prepared for the poor in heart, goodness and goodness only. "My grace is sufficient for thee." "As thy days, so shall thy strength be."

To-Do lists

Well, today I counted and I have 9 days of studying left and 4 days of class... including finals.  The things that need to be done in my life have officially exceeded the length of my to-do list.  As I start my Monday(with so much enthusiasm) I am already feeling weighed down by the stress of the things that need to be done from...white elephant gifts, to grocery shopping, to studying(big one) to getting ready for Christmas, Oh did I mention bible studies? I don't know where I would be without a To-Do list....

I am sure you are reading this and saying, Scott, really? that is ALL you have to do? ....Yes, but everyones gauge is a little different in terms of being overwhelmed.  Today before I even look at my list or start my day in terms of the things on that list, I wanted to post something that is mostly for me and may help you today as well....

The realization of how self we all are....for instance, my "To-Do" list is MY! list, not yours or yours or his.... Today I am making it my goal to put at least 1 thing on my list that doesn't involve what I have to do... whether it be serving someone, being a listening ear, I am waiting for the Lord to show me, but I would encourage you to find something on your list or in your day that isn't involving you.

Romans 15:3 "For even Christ didn't live to please Himself....."

Excuse me, may I ask you a question?

If you were to die within 24 hours, where would you be Heaven or Hell?

Jesus says in John 5:24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life, and will not be condemned, he has crossed over from death to life."

John 11:25 "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying."

You're worth it to Him

"I am my Beloved's and His desire is for Me."

Song of Solomon 7:10

In this moment do you believe that Jesus Christ loves you? That He loves you beyond fidelity and infidelity that He loves you in the morning sun and the evening rain, without caution or regret, boundary, limit, no matter what has gone down, He can't stop loving you, this is the Jesus of the Gospels, the Gospels of my own journey, this is the Christ who I've met in my own life.

1 thing.....

Psalm 27:4-5
"One thing I ask from the Lord,
  This only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
  all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
  and to seek Him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble
  He will keep me safe in His dwelling;
He will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
  and set me high upon the rock."

If you had only 1 wish, 1 thing you could ask God for what would it be? Seriously think of one thing you want more than anything in this life, what would you ask for? Would it be wealth? Fame? Health? How would you answer the question?

If I am honest before reading this passage I am not sure how I would have answer this myself, but in reading this I am reminded that all other things in our life except our relationship with God are temporary. Think about it... name one thing that you could ask for that could not be taken away from you except what David describes above?

Name one thing that will fill the void in your heart that exits when we don't live in relationship with our Lord? The old saying that our hearts were made with a God sized hole that nothing else can fill is true to each and everyone one of us.

So dear friends if you could ask our Heavenly Father for one thing what would it be? Take time today to pray as David did for one thing that will set you free and lead you to the abundant life (Peace, Joy, Restoration, etc...) Jesus promises.

Be blessed today.

Here I am

Ello! So I have had a crazy last week or so and thought I would fill everyone in a little bit about what is going on in my life and what He is doing.

So this weekend I was able to go to Northridge for a speech and debate tournament.  We left early Friday morning and the long weekend began, first going to Sac Airport then into Burbank then to the hotel.  Now the thing about these tournaments is that you wake up at 6am and go talk infront of people on and off until 6pm.  You then go to award ceremonies for 1- 1 1/2hr and then out to dinner and get in by 11pm.  So that schedule consisted of my Saturday.  Sunday was the same thing but a little bit different.  I was able to reconnect with an old friend who goes to Northridge.  Our families are very good friends and he has always looked up to me and we have never had a spiritual conversation, but this day was different.....I shared with him what it meant to follow Jesus, how to be in community and it was such a blessed conversation, praise God.  So after that around 7, we drove to the airport, got on the flight and got into Sac and drove back to Chico.  At this point I was extremely tired, worn out, physically, mentally and spiritually.  Isn't it interesting though how God knows your abilities, just like a coach, he pushes you just a little farther then you are used to.
Romans 5:4 "And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope in salvation"
So it was about 12 at night and I am in the back of the van with another teammate.  He knows I am a Christian and he asked something along the lines, "I heard you're a Christian, what does your faith mean to you?" Man did I not see that one coming! We spent the next hour talking about Faith in Jesus, I was able to share my testimony and he told me that he would love to check out church and even grab coffee to talk more.  Even when you have no gas left in the tank, as Peter says in 1 Peter 3:15 "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have, but do this with gentleness and respect."
I thought the weekend would be over! I got in at 1:30am and woke up to a roommate who needed to be driven to Sac to buy a truck.... at this point I was beyond exhausted, but I wasn't going to Him who was waiting to give me rest! It was a 4 hour round trip, I got back around 3 and just had so much on my mind.  I attempted to do homework for several hours but nothing was getting done.  I ended up being told by a good friend that I just needed to rest and spend time before God in silence, regardless the time... even if it was 7pm....I did just that and spent time with Him until I fell asleep.... I never knew what 10 hours could do!!!! Man!

Where ever you are in your life...school, job, church, etc....God doesn't need your sets of gifts and talents (He does take pleasure in utilizing you though with them and enjoys seeing you use them...) He just needs & wants people who are willing vessels, who present themselves to Him, a living sacrifice, and just allow His Grace and His Mercy to make us Holy, acceptable and pleasing to Him.  He is a God who is good and able to meet us where we are, despite or junk and garbage.

This is what I learned over the weekend... to be ready to share Jesus, and be bold, regardless of if you think you are "in the mood" or beaten down....He just wants you and all of you, tell Him where you are..Exodus 3:4 "....God called to him from the middle of the bush, "Moses! Moses! ....Moses replied, "Here I am!"  Listen for the Lord's voice.... be bold in your actions, you never know who is watching, but always be gentle in all you do..

F stands for Forgraceness

It isn't until we find ourselves falling short of perfection and of holiness until we realize how stuck we are in sin, how ugly and wretched sin makes us.  We always seem to slipping up here or there. No matter how hard we try to live this life sinless, we find ourselves filled with guilt and shame. Do you have ever those moments in life, where this Grace&Forgiveness give you a nice, stiff arm to the chest? This weekend has been one where I have been hit hard with this question & feeling. But in Ephesians 1:7 it says.... "The forgiveness of sins, accord to the riches of His grace."

From the words of the late great C.H. Spurgeon "Could there be a sweeter word in any language than that word 'forgiveness' when it sounds in a guilty sinner's ear, like the beautiful harps playing at heaven's door.  Blessed, for ever be the pardon which shines into the condemned cell, and gives the perishing sinner a gleam of hope amid the midnight hour.  Can it be possible that sin, such sin as mine, can be forgiven, forgiven altogether and forever? Hell is my portion as a sinner - there is no possibility of my escaping from it while sin remains upon me - can the load of guilt be uplifted, this crimson stain removed? Can these prison doors be lifted from their hinges? Jesus tells me....Yes....forever blessed be the revelation of this atoning love which only tells me that forgiveness is possible, but that it is secure to all who rest in Jesus. What joy is this! What bliss to be a perfectly pardoned soul! My soul dedicates all its power to Him who of His own unpurchased love became my surety, and has produced for me redemption through His blood. What riches of grace does free forgiveness exhibit! To forgive at all, to forgive fully, to forgive freely, to forgive forever! When I think of how great my sins were, how dear were the precious drops which cleansed me from them, and how gracious was the method by which forgiveness & pardon was sealed to me, I am in a maze of wondering worshipping affect. I bow before the throne which absolves me, I clasp the cross which delivers me, I serve henceforth all my days the God who I am this night a pardoned soul.'

Accord to the RICHES.... Jesus has endless amounts of grace&forgiveness for you.... so whatever it is that is holding you back, know that you cannot do this life alone, that you will always fall short, but oh blessed is they who looks upon the loving gaze of Jesus asking for forgiveness&grace from Him who was and is and is to come. (He will never turn you down) 

Blindfold me Lord

Blindfold me Lord
Blindfold me Lord, because I no longer want to see with my eyes. I want to see with yours
Blindfold me Lord, because I want to have to trust
Blindfold me Lord, I want you to lead.
Blindfold me Lord, so that I won't rationalize things.
Blindfold me Lord, because I want to follow.
Blindfold me Lord, because I want you to hold my hand.
Blindfold me Lord, so that my faith continues to grow.
Blindfold me Lord, because I want to please you
Blindfold me Lord

Jesus, let me learn by paradox
The way down is up,
That to be low is to be high,
That the broken heart is the healed heart,
That the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
That the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
That to have nothing is to possess all,
That to bear the cross is the wear the crown,
That to give is to receive,
That the valley is the place of vision
Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from the deepest wells,
Let me find thy light in my darkness,
Thy life in my death,
Thy joy in my sorrow,
Thy grace in my sin,
Thy riches in my poverty,
Thy glory in my valley.

Sanctify them by the Truth, your Word is Truth

Romans 11:33 "Oh, how great are God's riches and wisdom & knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!"

Psalm 17:8 "Keep me as the apple of your eye; Hide me in the shadow of your wings."

Psalm 13:5-6 "But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because He is good to me."

Psalm 37:4 "Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart's desires."

Colossians 2:7 "Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness."

John 10:28 "I will give them eternal life, no one can snatch them out of my hand."

Faith

The definition of faith is believing in things unseen. If you have seen The Santa Claus with Tim Allen, in the movie his kid is asked if he believes in Santa and he says of course, and the step father asks him, how do you know? Because he hasn't ever seen him.  Then this is the best part.... the kid goes....have you ever seen a million dollars? He goes...no... then the kid says well how do you know it is real? Just because you haven't ever seen it doesn't mean it isn't real. LOVE IT!!!

After Jesus' resurrection, He shows up to the Disciples but Thomas isn't there.....The Disciples tell Thomas later....THEY SAW JESUS!!! Thomas doubts, he doesn't believe it UNTIL! he sees Jesus with his own eyes.... What does Jesus do....John 20:29 "Then Jesus said to him, because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who haven't seen and still believe." Oh man! Aren't we like that so many times? Say a prayer ....thinking in the back of our heads, I'm not sure this will happen but hey I prayed! Wheres the Faith?
The reason I write this is because I am guilty of this all to many times, where is this Faith that can move a mountain?  Well let's look at a passage in the Word that shows us where the Faith is....
Luke 7:1-10 "When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, He entered Capernaum. There is a centurion's servant, who his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to Him, asking him to come and heal his servant. When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, "This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue. So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion(Roman Officer) sent friends to say to him: "Lord don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you.  But say that word and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, "God," and he goes and that one, "come," and he comes. I say to my servant, "Do this," and he does it. When Jesus heard this, he was AMAZED at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have no found such a great faith even in Israel." Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well."

Just like Thomas and many others in the Gospel, they felt they needed to touch Jesus, or see Him, or talk to Him! If only I could see Him! then I will be healed! If only we can touch his clothes then I will be healed! Just like Thomas, If I see Him then I will believed....This isn't Faith, Thomas trusted in his own eyes and no in Christ's power!!!  But this officer got it, he didn't need to see Jesus, or touch Him, or hear his words of healing...He had Faith that all Jesus had to do was say the word and His servant would be healed, he understood who Jesus was. He placed his faith in Christ not in his own abilities.

How are you trusting Christ with your Faith?  What is your sick servant?

A little bit about yours truly

Lately I have been blogging a lot about what the Lord is teaching me and wanting to be an encouragement for those who read this, but I realized for those who follow me (not sure who) that you don't really know much about who I am and I thought I would share a little bit about myself.

I love cookies'n'cream ice cream, Breyers! (the stomach is a way to a man's heart... ice cream is the key to my stomach)

I believed Santa was real until 4th grade

I dislike tomatoes

I secretly think I can sing decently

I Love the movie Elf

I am an only child & have no first cousins

I can't stand when people call me "Buddy"

I am obsessed with Fantasy Football

I am 22

I have an amazing family

I have all of my Pokemon cards still

I love clouds.... every kind

I play Mario Kart everyday

I Love playing the game of Basketball

I was held back in 2nd grade

I am a die hard University of Iowa Hawkeye fan

I recently got my hunting license and can't wait to kill something(animal)

I think it is hilarious when people wear sunglasses inside or on cloudy days
I have a deep desire to be a man after God's own heart
My Nana & Grandad are like my second parents, they are amazing!
I have a love/hate relationship with the game of golf (thanks for teaching me Grandad!)
I love the ocean

I enjoy rainy days

I like making cool sound effects
I have a huge crush on Norah Jones

I play the Ukulele

I am a momma's boy (proud of it) - Love you Mama!

I go to school at Chico State University & study Communication
Last but not least, and if you can't tell.... I have been saved by Grace & Love Jesus Christ more than words.

Here is a picture of my pops and I when I was a youngin, He has been the man in my life to show me Jesus, who Jesus is and what a man of God looks like, Thank you Dad for your example.

UGH

This life overwhelms so easily, with life running faster than Usain Bolt, it is hard to keep a focus on all that is within your individual life, not to mention being involved in others lives.  Life comes fast and we struggle to manage all that is in it, if you never have problems with life and manage it well, well extra brownie point for you.  But, for the rest of us, life gets out of hand, messy, ugly, overwhelming, and most of all inconsistent on many different levels, so whatever is going on right now in your life that is under this, that you don't think will end or your day is off to an awful start or lastly you have yourself worried to the core about a test, job or deadline.... just listen to the inspired words of David from God.

Psalm 37:3-8 "Trust in the Lord, and do good; you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him and he will help you.  He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. Stop being angry, turn from your rage.  Do not fret for it only causes harm."

So stop and take a second if you know the Lord and ask Him to help you trust in Him and that He may show you how to take delight in the situation He has you. Sometimes we get caught up in telling Him everything, but He knows, just go to Him with a few simple words and He will know exactly what you mean. Wait for Him, because He has his best intentions for you, He's got your back!  So hand them over.... He is waiting.....

Psalm 55:22 "Give your burdens to the Lord. and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall."


Trust

Knowing vs. KNOWING

Now I know that I am, this second, being used for the Kingdom,  "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven." Matthew 6:10, as Jesus put it.  I know that He is doing this in and through me and in you, according to His perfect Will. But, it is something about KNOWING and actually seeing with your own eyes His will being worked out.

Let me explain what I'm talking about, do you ever look back on a prayer you might have lifted up to the Lord and may have said to yourself, "oh! I totally forgot about that, that's why this is happening?" Well that is just the case, this summer I prayed that the Lord would place me somewhere new and different, doing something that I love and is a place where I can witness to those around me, and He did just that.  This weekend was just that, seeing the Lord move in and through you, is one of the sweetest feelings ever, a sense of Love comes over you and you know that you are far from worthy to serve Him, but being counted as a child of the Father leaves you in "Awe."

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." So knowing that the Lord has his best intentions for you and that His Will is being worked out through you is one thing, but to actually see Heaven on earth in your own life, witnessing the Spirit move is, well it, it leaves me speechless, indescribable.
My encouragement today is to ask Him what He wants for your life, and if you have, ask Him to show you, to reveal it to you.  Use the gifts He has given you, and He will show you Heaven in a brand new way, a new light..... just wait on Him.... He will place people in your life.

Smile, our God is Faithful and will never leave us.

"Happy storm that wrecks a man on such a rock as this"

I want to start off by saying, this is not my work, a good friend sent this to me and thought that everyone needs to read this.....

"On mine arm shall they trust."Isaiah 51:5

In seasons of severe trial, the Christian has nothing on earth that he can trust to, and is therefore compelled to cast himself on his God alone. When his vessel is on its beam-ends, and no human deliverance can avail, he must simply and entirely trust himself to the providence and care of God. Happy storm that wrecks a man on such a rock as this! O blessed hurricane that drives the soul to God and God alone! There is no getting at our God sometimes because of the multitude of our friends; but when a man is so poor, so friendless, so helpless that he has nowhere else to turn, he flies into his Father's arms, and is blessedly clasped therein! When he is burdened with troubles so pressing and so peculiar, that he cannot tell them to any but his God, he may be thankful for them; for he will learn more of his Lord then than at any other time. Oh, tempest-tossed believer, it is a happy trouble that drives thee to thy Father! Now that thou hast only thy God to trust to, see that thou puttest thy full confidence in him.

Dishonour not thy Lord and Master by unworthy doubts and fears; but be strong in faith, giving glory to God. Show the world that thy God is worth ten thousand worlds to thee. Show rich men how rich thou art in thy poverty when the Lord God is thy helper. Show the strong man how strong thou art in thy weakness when underneath thee are the everlasting arms. Now is the time for feats of faith and valiant exploits. Be strong and very courageous, and the Lord thy God shall certainly, as surely as he built the heavens and the earth, glorify himself in thy weakness, and magnify his might in the midst of thy distress. The grandeur of the arch of heaven would be spoiled if the sky were supported by a single visible column, and your faith would lose its glory if it rested on anything discernible by the carnal eye. May the Holy Spirit give you to rest in Jesus this closing day of the month.

-Feel free to comment, have a blessed day and know that we all go through struggles, trials and tough times but Jesus says..... John 16:20-22  "You will grieve, btu your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor.  When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world.  So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice and no one can rob you of that joy."

"Now I say to you, a new commandment I give to you"

John 13:34-35 "A new commandment I give to you, that you Love one another; as I have Loved you, that you also Love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have Love for one another."
  How many times have you caught yourself experiencing the Love Christ has for you, in a moment of weakness, a moment of sin, falling into temptation, you name it? When we know we have messed up, stepped out of line in our obedience.  Or even times that you experience His presence and Love in worship or reading the word, or sharing the gospel to someone who is broken?  Whenever or where ever you have experienced Christ's Love, you know the feeling, the warmth, the joy, the feeling of no condemnation, disappointment is turned into compassion, as you hear "it's okay, it is okay, I Love you no matter what."

And now I ask you and myself, do we have that Love towards others? Do we Love them as Christ has Loved us? I know that I can honestly say, not even close.  I am so quick to judge, and so quick to assume.  The reason why I am writing about this is because I don't Love others the way Christ has Loved me.  Here I am thanking Jesus for His Love in my life, for His warm smile, His kind touch, and His joy.  How am I loving others with that same Love? 

My challenge to you as you read this, is to recognize how Christ has shown you Love, and take those and Love others how He has Loved you.  If Christ has Loved you in all your hard heartedness, Love those who have a hard heart.  If Christ has Loved you through the pain, Love others through their pains!  Christ has show each one of us Love that surpasses all knowledge and understanding, but you understand it and He is calling you and myself to Love others in the specific ways He has shown you.  

Ephesians 3:19 "You will know Christ's love, which goes far beyond any knowledge. I am praying this so that you may be completely filled with God."

CHICO, I MADE IT!

Hey everyone, it's been a while, but I finally made it to Chico.  For all of you that don't know I just transfered up here to Chico which in about 1 1/2 hour north of Sacramento.  I had a hectic first week moving in and getting situated with a new life up here and at a "Big Boy School" since I have been at a community college for the past 3 years.  So to update you all, I am taking 5 classes, Tuesday and Thursday and I am getting involved at the local church called EV Free and also with CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ)  Everything is going well for the most part, I am living with my roommate from last year, he was one of 10 other roommates I had last year, in which all of whom I miss.  Two sundays ago one of my roommates, Greg, got married and it was one of the best weddings I ever went to.  The reception was in a barn which was awesome, and it was such a blessing to see my roommate marry the girl of his dreams.

So I ran across this the other day and wanted to share it with you guys, it gave me a pretty good laugh but also made me realize that it is so true..... If you know me, and even if you don't, now you know this about me, I love to watch kids(not in a creepy way) but with the perspective of how the Father views us as HIS children.

Things that kids have taught me....
1. It's more fun to color outside the lines.
2. If you're gonna draw on the wall, do it behind the couch.
3. Ask why until you understand
4. Hang on tight
5. Even if you've been fishing for 3 hours and haven't gotten anything except poison ivy and a sunburn, you're still better off than the worm.
6. Make up the rules as you go along.
7. It doesn't matter who started it.
8. Ask for sprinkles
9. If the horse you're drawing looks more like a dog, make it a dog.
10. Save a place in line for your friends.
11. Sometimes you have to take the test before you've finished studying.
12. If you want a kitten, start out asking for a horse.
13. Picking your nose when no one is looking is still picking your nose.
14. Just keep banging until someone opens the door (My favorite)
15. Making your bed is a waste of time.
16. There is no good reason why clothes have to match.
17. Even Popeye didn't eat his spinach until he absolutely had to.
18. You work so hard peddling up the hill that you hate to brake on the way down.
19 You can't ask to start over just because you're losing the game.


Think about them, they will make ur day brighter
-God Bless

2 weeks left & Catching up with a best friend

I have a little under 2 weeks left here in San Diego and running Student Venture ministry.  I can't believe it is almost over.  This week will look the same, Big Monday tonight where all the kids gather and then we will be having small groups tomorrow, dodgeball and bible study with the boys.  Also, this week will be the last week of me meeting up and mentoring with the guys 1 on 1.  The director of Student Venture, Shawn Faulkner, has asked me to write up and article of what the summer contains for followers and supports of 'SV' so keep your eyes out for that, I will most likely post it on here.  

This past weekend I was able to visit a very close friend of mine up at UCLA.  He is living in the frat he is in and is involved in CRU.  It was such a blessing getting to hang with him, and also to see his ministry in the frat and the relationships he has built with the guys and just the witnessing his life is to so many.  I got in late afternoon Saturday and we hung out and played basketball like old times then grabbed some Chipotle in Santa Monica on 3rd Street Promenade, which was awesome I have never been, so many street performers, and also got to see a lot of his friends as well as some people that I went on Summer Project with in New Jersey, which was great. 

 Yesterday we were able to just continue to catch up on our lives and dig into one another's over coffee and then got to run the courts some more playing ball.  There is just something about competition that just gets my blood pumping, especially basketball.  But anyways, we played and ended up driving with some friends to Reality LA which is a church in West Hollywood, and man I was blown away.  The worship, the message, I was so challenged.  The pastor went through Ruth 2 and how Boaz is an example of Christ allowing us to sit at his table, even though we are so undeserving as well as serving us.  The pastor said it like this..... "The CEO of the UNIVERSE has allowed us to sit at HIS table and serve us." I felt so blessed to see Tyler and just catch up, I consider him a close friend in the Lord and cannot wait to worship the King for eternity with Him.

People That Come Into Your Life

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be (possibly your roommate, neighbor, co-worker, longest friend, lover, or even a complete stranger) but when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment that they will affect your life in some profound way, knowing He is behind everything.

Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some people move our souls to dance. 
They awaken us to new understanding with the passing whisper of their wisdom. 
Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon. 
They stay in our lives for awhile, leave footprints in our hearts, 
and we are never, ever the same.

And sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection you find that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower, or heart.  Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things happen for the good of those who Love God and are called according to His purpose.” Everything happens for a reason, nothing happens by chance or by means of luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless. The people you meet who affect your life, and the success and downfalls you experience help to create who you become.

Even the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones.

If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious when you open your heart. If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because in a way, they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things.

Make every day count!! Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything that you possibly can for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people that you have never talked to before, and actually listen, the way Christ listened. Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to, you are considered God’s child, Holy and blameless. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, because Christ believes in you from the beginning of the day to the end, no matter what you do, for if you don't believe in yourself; it will be hard for others to believe in you.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understand, acknowledge Him in all that you do and He will direct your paths.”

Update time!

Sooo I know it has been a while since I last posted on here, my life has been hectic, but i'm back and here to update you all on life.  The summer has been rolling with Summer Venture.  I spoke two Mondays ago and continued our theme from Getaway, First Things First, and I focused my talk on putting Jesus first and the world last, and what it looks like when we put the world first and all that comes with it.  I really felt the Spirit speak through me, and felt super blessed by even being allowed to speak in front of them!  I am sure you are wondering what my weeks look like, we have Big Mondays where all the students meet up and then we have Tuesdays, where its guys and girls bible studies.  I help lead the guys, and we usually play intense games of dodgeball for an hour or so then get in the word and hear about what's going on in the kids lives, and then meeting up with the guys one on one throughout the week to disciple/mentor them.  Another update, me and a couple of the guy leaders have been taking the kids surfing every Saturday and teaching them and just having a good time.  We have done it the last two Saturdays and it has been a hit, we have had about 8-10 guys show up, it's been really fun.  I never thought at the age of 22 I would be fighting the forces of nature by combatting the largest sand castle the beaches of Del Mar has ever seen!

If you are familiar with the rap artist Lecrae, I was listening to one of his songs titled, "Just Like You" and was really into the lyrics and toward the end of the song, Lecrae says this, which really hit my heart hard and instead of something funny the Lord always shows me, He revealed something of His serious side.

But God sees through my foolish pride, an how I'm weak like Adam, another victim of lucifer's lies. Then in steps Jesus. All men were created to lead, but we needed somebody to lead us. More than a teacher, but somebody to buy us back from the darkness, you can say He redeemed us. Taught us that real leaders follow God, finish the work cause we on our job. Taught us not to rob, but give life. Love a wife like He loved the Church, without seein' how many hearts we can break first. I wanna be like you in every way. So if I gotta die every day, unworthy sacrifice, but the least I can do is give the most to me. Cause bein' just ike you is what I'm supposed to be. They say you came for the lame, I'm the lamest. I made a mess, but you say you'll erase it. I'll take it. They say you came for the lame, I'm the lamest. I broke my life, but you say you'll replace it. I'll take it. 


God Bless everyone!  Thanks again for all your prayers and the support!
-Scott

Updates on Getaway and my life!

The rockies were ABSOLUTELY breathtaking!

I got back on thursday night from Getaway and I am currently back up in SLO for a wedding and also to get the rest of my stuff from my house.  

Thank you so much for your prayers, they were totally answered as about 98% of the kids rededicated or gave their lives to Christ, He drove a stake deep inside their hearts for change and they experienced true communion with our King.  I forgot how much energy high school students have, they left me so tired, but I was able to connect with all of them and the Lord really allowed me to get close to them, and now I am stoked to be able to build into their lives by the Grace of God this summer as I lead them in Summer Venture.

So I always love to share the stories that the Lord reveals to me.  I was sitting on a porch overlooking the rockies in an old rocking chair and I saw a father and daughter walking as she held his hand on the path, but she changed her mind and wanted to go in the field of dandelions, so he let her run into the field as she bent down and picked the perfect dandelion for her dad as she handed it to him.  They then proceeded back to the path and right before they got back to it, she lifted up her hands(like we do in worship) for him to pick her up, so he then picked her up and put her on his shoulders as they walked into the distance.  That was such an amazing picture of how the Lord wants us to walk with Him.

We will be starting our first Summer Venture meeting on Monday and it will be an awesome way to kick off the summer and continue the theme of Getaway which is "First Things First."  Until next time though!

God Bless!

Rocky Mountain Getaway!

I am heading off to Colorado for a week with Student Venture and this is really the first time I will be with the high schoolers, getting to know them and building relationships that I can take back to San Diego for the summer.  I am pretty stoked, I have never been to Colorado and I hear its B-E-A-utiful! (bruce almighty quote)  But this verse was put on my heart for the trip, because I will be a leader there, the verse is Colossia 4: 5-6 "Walk in wisdom toward those who are on the outside, redeeming the time.  Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how to answer."  My prayer is that this verse speaks to you as much as it did for me!

The Lord is a God who is filled with laughter and humor and He always seems to show me one thing that makes Him laugh throughout the day, yesterday I was driving and saw a perfect banana peel on the road and i always heard that they would spin your car out, so i said to myself, why not, I ran over the banana peel and nothing happened.... Dissapointment turned into laughter.