Psalms 33
9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.
10 The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.
13 From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind;
14 from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth-
15 he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
I haven't written in a while
Busy Busy Busy. I'll come up with something soon.
Read Habakkuk, God is killing me with it right now. It parallels well with Philippians too if you get that far. Have fun, read your Bible, check out Crosswinds this week (new building same God).
Scott
Read Habakkuk, God is killing me with it right now. It parallels well with Philippians too if you get that far. Have fun, read your Bible, check out Crosswinds this week (new building same God).
Scott
Monday, April 20, 2009
I Will Praise You In The Storm
Habakkuk 1:2-4, 3:17-19
Last Wednesday the Crosswinds worship team began work on a song called "You're Never Giving Up" by Jonathan David Helser (you can listen to it at http://www.aplacefortheheart.org/, click on music player) and the next morning I left for my yearly camping trip with my two best friends. Every year we plan a trip to Cape Lookout on our kayaks. It's about a 4.5 mile paddle out in fairly open waters, which is not that big of a deal...usually. When we got to the launch site on Thursday it was about 20 mile an hour winds at our backs, but the waters looked calm. They looked calm because the white caps were on the back side of the swells due to wind direction. We were set on going out so we set out. It's about .6 mile to the first small island that we can break at. Roughly half way my friend John and I had a serious conversation about life and death and turning back. Turns out the swells were about 3-4 feet with 35-40 mile winds, and we were in 14 foot kayaks with 70 pounds of camping gear...yeah leaning on God came on strong. I began to sing "You're Never Giving Up" over and over. I was literally terrified. 4 hours later we landed safely on Shacklford Banks, ran into a very nice equestrian biologist were thought we were crazy for crossing in the rough seas. That night I read over all 6 passages were Jesus calmed seas. Long story short the trip was great fun playing with wild horses, kayaking about 13 miles total, sleeping on a beach, and watching the sunset over the Atlantic, except for the first 4 hours. I learned in my pitiful state on the seas that I need to learn to lean on God when times are good and terrifying. The real painful part is that we prayed for safety and it only took 10 minutes to forget the promise of peace, painful arrogance in stress and worry. The Word says to praise Him in all circumstances (1 Thess) good and bad. Forgive me Lord for only turning to You in times of terror!! But, thank You for calming to seas!! I will praise You at the peaks of the swells and in the valleys!
Blessings,
Scott
Last Wednesday the Crosswinds worship team began work on a song called "You're Never Giving Up" by Jonathan David Helser (you can listen to it at http://www.aplacefortheheart.org/, click on music player) and the next morning I left for my yearly camping trip with my two best friends. Every year we plan a trip to Cape Lookout on our kayaks. It's about a 4.5 mile paddle out in fairly open waters, which is not that big of a deal...usually. When we got to the launch site on Thursday it was about 20 mile an hour winds at our backs, but the waters looked calm. They looked calm because the white caps were on the back side of the swells due to wind direction. We were set on going out so we set out. It's about .6 mile to the first small island that we can break at. Roughly half way my friend John and I had a serious conversation about life and death and turning back. Turns out the swells were about 3-4 feet with 35-40 mile winds, and we were in 14 foot kayaks with 70 pounds of camping gear...yeah leaning on God came on strong. I began to sing "You're Never Giving Up" over and over. I was literally terrified. 4 hours later we landed safely on Shacklford Banks, ran into a very nice equestrian biologist were thought we were crazy for crossing in the rough seas. That night I read over all 6 passages were Jesus calmed seas. Long story short the trip was great fun playing with wild horses, kayaking about 13 miles total, sleeping on a beach, and watching the sunset over the Atlantic, except for the first 4 hours. I learned in my pitiful state on the seas that I need to learn to lean on God when times are good and terrifying. The real painful part is that we prayed for safety and it only took 10 minutes to forget the promise of peace, painful arrogance in stress and worry. The Word says to praise Him in all circumstances (1 Thess) good and bad. Forgive me Lord for only turning to You in times of terror!! But, thank You for calming to seas!! I will praise You at the peaks of the swells and in the valleys!
Blessings,
Scott
Monday, April 13, 2009
Weekend in Review
Ok, so obviously this weekend was Easter and it was exhausting in the best of ways. Here is a rundown.
-Friday-the day Jesus was beaten and murdered for my sins. We shopped for a stove, and I worked on Easter music.
-Saturday-the day Jesus was busy defeating sin and death. We went to Scott's Hill Baptist Church for an awesome Easter celebration for the kids. I was the parent who made my daughter cry by rushing to what I thought was a special silver egg, when all she wanted was the one with flowers on it...father of the year. Long story short we got both eggs!! Later we had an egg hunt for all who live on our street and their families. It was an awesome time to meet new friends, and Jesse and my wife did a great job putting it together. That night we ate at Port City Chop House, and I woke up with the same tummy ache I would have had with McDonalds...I'm just sayin'.
-Sunday-the day Jesus rolled away the stone!! We got up at 4:30am to get ready for a sunrise service on the beach. It was an amazing time! First off we got to see our old friends from Life who were doing a service right beside us. We got to play 5 songs as the sun came up over our shoulders. It was awesome watching the Easter morning sun come up just as the women and disciples did on the first Easter morning. Later we had two great services at Crosswinds. The first one had low attendance but was still a great service. The second was standing room only!! People really celebrated victory in salvation!! After that we went and had some family time at my sisters house. She's a great host!! And one more Easter egg hunt. Last night I went to bed too late, but exhaustion from Easter celebration is an awesome feeling!!
THE VEIL HAS BEEN TORN!!
Blessings,
Scott
-Friday-the day Jesus was beaten and murdered for my sins. We shopped for a stove, and I worked on Easter music.
-Saturday-the day Jesus was busy defeating sin and death. We went to Scott's Hill Baptist Church for an awesome Easter celebration for the kids. I was the parent who made my daughter cry by rushing to what I thought was a special silver egg, when all she wanted was the one with flowers on it...father of the year. Long story short we got both eggs!! Later we had an egg hunt for all who live on our street and their families. It was an awesome time to meet new friends, and Jesse and my wife did a great job putting it together. That night we ate at Port City Chop House, and I woke up with the same tummy ache I would have had with McDonalds...I'm just sayin'.
-Sunday-the day Jesus rolled away the stone!! We got up at 4:30am to get ready for a sunrise service on the beach. It was an amazing time! First off we got to see our old friends from Life who were doing a service right beside us. We got to play 5 songs as the sun came up over our shoulders. It was awesome watching the Easter morning sun come up just as the women and disciples did on the first Easter morning. Later we had two great services at Crosswinds. The first one had low attendance but was still a great service. The second was standing room only!! People really celebrated victory in salvation!! After that we went and had some family time at my sisters house. She's a great host!! And one more Easter egg hunt. Last night I went to bed too late, but exhaustion from Easter celebration is an awesome feeling!!
THE VEIL HAS BEEN TORN!!
Blessings,
Scott
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The Veil Has Been Torn!!
Mark 15: 38, "The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom."
As I have been preparing for my first Easter as a staff worship leader I have been wrecked by this one little verse in Mark. I have been a Christian since I was 9, I have been active in church for 20 years, I have lead worship for 9 years, and I have been through Liberty University so I at times get lost in being saved because I have been for so long. Christians have a problem with forgetting their past at times and I am one of those. So this Easter, being secure in my salvation, this verse has killed me. In Old Testament times the veil was used to seal off God from people, and only those deemed perfect enough could go past the veil to visit with God, and with Jesus God got sick of that system!! At the moment of Jesus' last breathe the veil tore, making way for all of us imperfect folks to come to His alter and just be with Him, face to Face one on One. It doesn't matter if you are a prostitute, adulterer, drug dealer, murderer, or just one who has a small gambling problem, you are welcome in His presence and salvation can be yours. Now, He will change you and doesn't want you to remain in you sin, but you are welcome to His as you are. The veil has been torn. What an awesome thought! When you go to church these weekend, whether it's to lead others or simply to punch in your yearly Christian time card I hope you feel welcome because you are. Have a great Easter and go beyond the veil.
Blessings,
Scott
As I have been preparing for my first Easter as a staff worship leader I have been wrecked by this one little verse in Mark. I have been a Christian since I was 9, I have been active in church for 20 years, I have lead worship for 9 years, and I have been through Liberty University so I at times get lost in being saved because I have been for so long. Christians have a problem with forgetting their past at times and I am one of those. So this Easter, being secure in my salvation, this verse has killed me. In Old Testament times the veil was used to seal off God from people, and only those deemed perfect enough could go past the veil to visit with God, and with Jesus God got sick of that system!! At the moment of Jesus' last breathe the veil tore, making way for all of us imperfect folks to come to His alter and just be with Him, face to Face one on One. It doesn't matter if you are a prostitute, adulterer, drug dealer, murderer, or just one who has a small gambling problem, you are welcome in His presence and salvation can be yours. Now, He will change you and doesn't want you to remain in you sin, but you are welcome to His as you are. The veil has been torn. What an awesome thought! When you go to church these weekend, whether it's to lead others or simply to punch in your yearly Christian time card I hope you feel welcome because you are. Have a great Easter and go beyond the veil.
Blessings,
Scott
Thursday, April 2, 2009
tired
I never thought I could be this tired and still be kicking. I've learned over the last month that the illusion of part-time ministry is folly, but I love it. I keep telling myself, "when we are in the building things will calm down". hahahaha. And I laugh. Anyway, I know this is not at all insightful, and doesn't really tie into anything else I have written, and maybe this sounds more like a diary entry, but well I'm tired.
On a side note; we had an awesome time of prayer last night after worship team rehearsal (which was awesome by the by) for the leaders of the town of Belville. We are having some issues with them about our new building, but more to the point we want to see them all saved if they are not, and we want them to rule in a godly manner irregardless how that effects us. We want and pray for acceptance of God's will and not souly our personal needs, though we do ask for those also. Town of Belville we stand with you, and we pray for you!!
Blessings,
Scott
On a side note; we had an awesome time of prayer last night after worship team rehearsal (which was awesome by the by) for the leaders of the town of Belville. We are having some issues with them about our new building, but more to the point we want to see them all saved if they are not, and we want them to rule in a godly manner irregardless how that effects us. We want and pray for acceptance of God's will and not souly our personal needs, though we do ask for those also. Town of Belville we stand with you, and we pray for you!!
Blessings,
Scott
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