Mile 3 Moments

I am not sure if the title of this post means something else or has been the name of other things, events or concepts as I have not copyrighted this, but let me explain to you what I mean when I use the term "Mile 3 Moments".

Recently I have taken up the hobby of running.  (Sort of)  Truth be told I am actually enjoying this somewhat and I have let a particular individual in my church invite me to run in a 5k race that is happening early November in Nackawic.  The really crazy part of this proposition???  I accepted!!! What is wrong with me?   Ah well, I think I will survive and truth be told at the age of half way to 70 it is probably time I took getting in/staying shape a little more seriously.

I have discovered a bit of a pattern though when I am running.  I tend to start strong and feel very good and usually as I end my run I feel good, but there is a point in the middle of the run that my body begins to crash a bit or perhaps second guess my sanity for embarking on such a venture.  Typically at this point it would be much easier to find a bench, a rock or a squirrel to sit on and call it a day as it pertains to my run.  This is what I call my "Mile 3 Moment" in each run.

It is at this point when I am faced with a choice.  Do I wrap it up and walk home or do I press on and finish my run.  I would like to say that I get this right every time and just the right song comes on and launches me to the finish line in my record time, but that isn't true.  The journey to being in shape is not an easy one for me, but I feel the most fulfilled when I do press on and finish strong even if that means I limp to the finish.  :)

Isn't this how it happens in life?  We can be cruising along feel really good about our surroundings and how things are going and then "WHAM" it feels like we are hit right between the eyes with life and it's trials and the wind is taken out of our sails.  Mile 3 tells us it would be easier to give up, (it is) complain (it is) and to quit (it is).  Truth be told what is easy isn't the most beneficial.  In the moments when my stubbornness kicks in and I continue to waddle my little legs along the trail are the moments when my run feels the most complete and most fulfilling.  I don't break any land speed records, but finishing and not quitting makes the task so rewarding and is ultimately is the most beneficial for my body I'm sure.

Let me simply encourage you with this thought and challenge:
When your "Mile 3 Moments" come, keep going.  Don't freeze and continue to put one foot in front of the other until you cross that line.  Mile 3 passes, but only if we keep moving forward and the reward is at the end of the race.  No matter what you are facing today, keep going and trust God to give you the strength to get you through.  I believe it was Winston Churchill who said, "When you are going through hell, keep going.  Don't stay where you are."


Paul says it this way, 
"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me."  Philippians 3:12  (emphasis mine)

Mile 3's come and go.  My choice is do I stop and let them end my journey or do I face the resistance they provide and celebrate as I grow stronger each time I pass them by. 

Press on my friends.  Press on. 

Seasons

King Solomon spoke of the seasons of life and how everything has a "time".  Life has seasons and it ebbs and flows and ultimately it is up to us if we flow with it or resist and try to swim up current.  Some have also described this as the rhythms of life.  I am not sure if you've heard a drummer, percussionist or someone with a tambourine or clapping their hands off beat, but if you have you know how distracting it can be.

I also think of the picture of someone on a canoe or kayak.  If they are paddling upstream against the current instead of paddling in the direction the water is flowing things are much more difficult.  Simple truth, but I think it illustrates a valuable life lesson.

Life has seasons.  A time for everything.  Do we flow with it or try and control things the way we feel like we need to do it ourselves?

As of late I have been enjoying some transitions of life and changing of seasons.  Having a new marriage, new home to rent, new step children has definitely shown me the value of appreciating change and going with the flow.  As a male in a new home filled with ladies, life is not the same and this is not a bad thing.

So I ask, in these transitions (personally, professionally, etc) do I "go with the flow" or do I get freaked out, out of my comfort zone and lose focus on the one who controls the seasons.  Reality is that in the transition He is there with us in it and knows what we are feeling better than we are.  Truth is that what we may have just gone through has given us experiences (good or bad) that can prepare and equip us for what is next to come so transition is not a bad thing.

As I am going through this season of transition and seeking God in it I want to briefly challenge you to join me.  Perhaps God has been taking you through a season of change or challenging you to a deeper depth with Him in some areas.  Embrace that and seek Him in those seasons of change.

Are there some relationships that you need to cut out... or pursue?
Is there a ministry that you need to join on with and become a part of to change someone's story?
How are you using your finances??? nuff said.. lol

As Solomon said, there is a time for everything and I want to ask you, "What time is it for you?"
We don't often like change or transition, but if we are going with the flow, paddling with the current or clapping on beat it can be a beautiful, uplifting thing.
Seek Him first and go for it!!!

Blessings,
Scottie

Reflections, Ponderings, Process

It seems the theme "de jour" for me as of late is process and the test dummy for this theme is yours truly.  As I have been walking this beautiful thing called life and stepping into some new adventures I've realized how easy it is too fool myself into believing that I've got it together when the reality is that I am still a lump of clay being molded just like every other human being sucking air in their lungs. 

This is not a topic that is exclusive to one area in my life, but seems to be something that I struggle with as a whole.  I go along being a nice guy and convince myself the world is a better place because of me.  I can do this in my walk with God and the titles I give myself that way.  I can do it as a dad or a husband and convince myself that my family is blessed to have me and yet my actions show that Scottie is still very much a "Scottie centric" individual. 

Yet in all of this God reminds me that I am to daily seek Him for wisdom and learning.  I have to believe that with that comes growth.  Oh goodness, I hope that with that comes growth.  LOL.
I am NOT content with being the picture boy for insanity.  (You know?  Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result?) 

As much as I have great disdain for my wife and step daughters being over an hour away from me during the week until June, I can say that perhaps there is a purpose in it.  Perhaps God needed some extra time to work this process in me and I needed some one on one teaching without the distraction of the beautiful ladies of my life.  It's all process and the question is, "Am I willing to learn?  Am I willing to be changed?"

In all areas in life I need wisdom to change, grow and be molded into the image of my Savior.  To follow Jesus as His disciple means that ultimately I am going to become more like Him.  This gives me hope.  Though I think I can be a nice guy I get what Paul was saying about, "doing what he does not want to do and not doing what he wants to do."  This tends to be my pattern as well.  I do stuff, speak hastily or get into situations that make me think, "uh oh, how did I get in this mess???"

So what's the neat and tidy conclusion for this blog post?  Um? I'm not sure, but I do know this... I am grateful for the love of my Savior and the patience and love of my friends and family as I know I am not an easy person to be around, talk to or love at times.  Grateful might be an understatement.  I might not be so patient with ole Scottie boy.  LOL.

My blog has been called "Clay Sharpening Clay" since day one and it's because I honestly don't feel strong enough most days to be called iron.  So here's my challenge and I will say that since I am putting it on the interweb for all to see, those of you who know, love and support me have the right to call me on this and see how moldable I am being during my process called life. 

My life's agenda is very simple and I want to continue to grow, learn and become more like Christ so that I may more fully achieve these goals:

1) Love/Serve God
2) Love/Serve my wife/kid/step kids
3) Love/Serve my community (local/globally)

Lord help me to be more teachable, more loving and more like you so that those around may be more blessed by You in me...
Love y'all,
Blessings!!!

Whatcha Got?

Whatcha got?  Strange title.  Strange way to start a blog post  I admit, but it seems to be what is resonating within me.  The more I dive into ministry the more I see people with wonderful gifts wondering how God could possibly use them for His purposes.  As someone who loves diving into peoples lives and seeing the change happening that only God can do, I am daily reminded of how exciting it is to see people get (understand) what they got (gifts) and beginning to tap into them.  The excitement that people feel as they realise that they can be used for God is such a cool experience.

An experience that I was able to have many years ago illustrates this.
In the summer of 1998 I was given the opportunity to go on a sports missions trip to the British Isles where we used sports as an opportunity to meet people and then share with them about what God has done in our lives.  After one particular game of basketball I was particularly bummed out as I had a really poor game and was very annoyed with my performance.  As I wore this on my face/body language one of the other ball players approached me and we talked about my attitude.  He then told a story of a boy who had a very close relationship with his dad as his father attended every basketball game.  The story went on to tell of how this kids father passed away before his championship game and how he was not sure if he would play in this game or not.  As he considered this further he was approached by someone who gave him this thought;  "Play every game for your father as it was his work that gave you this gift."

He then said to me, "Scottie, use your gift as if it's for your (Heavenly) Father who has given you the gift no matter how great or small.  If you have a good game or a bad game, give your Father glory."

So my question is this... "Whatcha got and how are you using it?  How are you using your gifts to give your Father glory?  Don't have any gifts you say?  I call false on that and say let's sit for coffee and figure out what your gifts are because the reality is that we all have something and they all have a purpose.  My gifts are not your gifts and yours probably aren't mine, but we all have something.

One of our ministry locations for Boaz is seeing this happen in a small degree, but it's been an amazing thing.  Some of the mom's love to cook and have a talent for finding the best deals in the grocery store.  So we made the trek and they made some incredible food.  Reality is that was them using their gifts to bring our Heavenly Father praise.  It's an awesome experience when people see what they have as a gift and that there is a purpose for it no matter how great or small.

So once more I ask... Whatcha got cuz we don't got to do anything for God as if He needs us, but we get to  use our gifts for God in changing this world as He allows us to be a part of His story.

Feel free to connect with me and message me at anytime if this strikes a chord with you and you want to tap into your gifts and be used.  I'd love to help in that process.

"I've Got To Do Something..."

This is a line that I've had running through my head for a few weeks now.  As I've connected with people through various ministry opportunities, I've noticed that there is a stirring in people to help out in some way.  I know that sounded like a vague statement, but that is the statement I've been hearing.  They see needs everywhere they look, their heart is stirred and they feel like they need to do something .

I've heard it said this way.. They have their firestorm of frustration moment or their moment of Holy discontent.  It's kind of like Popeye.  You remember Popeye right?  That spinach eating sailor who had the incredible privilege of dating the incredibly attractive Olive Oil.  Each time that Bluto would come in and try to steal away Popeye's love, he would say that classic line that stated, "That's all I can stands and I can't stands no more."  Many people seem to be seeing the world around them and have that same mind set and feel the need to "do something".

This is where my heart comes in.  As God has been increasing my "vision" of big picture stuff and stirring my heart for the lost and broken in our community and of the world, God has been giving me a passion to connect people with opportunities to fuel their fire.  As people say, "I've just got to do something" I want to say, "Let sit down and see how this plays out for you. What is it that you want to do?  What is your thing that you can't stands..."

There are needs all around us and many different ways to serve and bless those who need to be blessed.  For those who feel like they just have to do something there are needs in many local churches for people to step up and be a blessing to many areas of ministry.  For others there are local para church and non church opportunities to bless those in need all around our city and any community that they may be a part of.  For others still there is a global need that we as super blessed and often spoiled North Americans can dive into and find areas to invest.  The reality is that there is always something to be done, always areas to serve and always opportunity to change someones world.

The question is, "What is that something you've got to do?"
Don't worry, It's a question I must also ask myself.

For opportunities to serve with Boaz or otherwise connect with me and let's chat.  It's a big world with lots of need and people need your help in many ways.

Blessings all,
~Scottie~

Life Updatey-ness... (Life of Leighton)

So not a whole lot to post about, but as it's been a while I figured it was time for an update for the 2 people who read this blog. Ok, maybe 3. Ok fine, there is also lots going on... Pitter patter, let's get at 'er...

Over Christmas I had the incredible opportunity to ask for the hand of a beautiful lady that I am crazy about and she said yes. On June 22nd Miss Alisha Horsman and I will begin our lives together as husband and wife and my life will never be the same. I go from a single dude that has his son every other weekend to a married guy with 2 full time girls in my home, also with two guys that I expect to have on a part time, but hopefully frequent basis as well. Full House episode much??? For those that know me you know that for me to say that I can't wait for this is a major understatement. Never a dull moment is about to take on a whole new meaning.

Another update that is happening in the Life of Leighton is that I'm feeling God is expecting me to "STEP UP" regarding my role with BOAZ. A couple areas that I'm feeling lead to do this through potentially leading and directing the Mentoring Program which includes overseeing the current mentor/mentee relationships and the administration of that while also recruiting and training new potential mentors.
Another area of increase I am feeling is in the area of running sports camps for the children that we are blessed to work with. Some of these camps will be run by me and other Boaz volunteers. Other camps will need to be lead by others. To more fully dive into this I will need to dedicate more time into program planning and starting to take some steps in that direction. Also included in my vision of the sports ministry is raising funds and collecting equipment so that our families can more fully have their children participate in local sports programs with no restrictions.

It's also been given to me to be dreaming and overseeing the ministries of our Hawkins/Neville location.

So again to say that 2013 is a year full of incredible potential is a major understatement, but I am very excited to really dive in and see what God has in store for me. It's a process to learn to ignore the voices of practicality and attempt to FULLY serve as Jesus would have me serve, but it's where my heart truly is fulfilled. Funny how obedience to HIS plan will do that eh?

Here's how I need your help. If I am to more fully dive into these incredible avenues of ministry with BOAZ (especially with a family on the way) I need a big increase in my support raising. Currently I am expected to raise $400 monthly and Boaz pays me in faith trusting that I'll raise it. So far I have met that goal, but have been challenged to step out into the increase that God desires to provide for me in this ministry.

So here is my challenge I have been presented with by our director.
20 people @ $100/month = $2000/month in support for my increased opportunities with Boaz ministries. Can you do this?

Will you allow God to increase your faith by diving into this ministry this way. Some people are called to dive in on the ground level and believe that God will provide the finances. Some people are called to give and support and trust that God will provide in their obedience. To be honest this is a very stretching thing for me to ask for, but I just want to be obedient. Will you join me?

First 10 people to be willing to explore this and join me I will take to Second Cup and buy coffee and share the vision of what God is doing in the Life of Leighton as well as how your support helps increase the ministry of Boaz in specific ways.

Please pray and thank you in advance for believing in Gods calling in my life.
Connect with me anytime and I'd love to share coffee/life/stories with you...


Blessings,
Scottie