One Prayer Can Change EVERYTHING!

In March of 2015, while on tour with Thorn Productions, John Bolin Executive Producer for the Thorn, challenged the team to pray the dangerous prayer that Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane; "Not my will but your will be done." He warned us not to pray the prayer unless we truly meant it. There was a stirring within my spirit and I felt compelled to pray the prayer.  When I had finished praying there was just something within me that felt like God was saying; "Get Ready!"

After that first week of the tour was over and I was boarding the plane for my flight home I was talking with God. I asked what His will for me was. I heard God say; "Tell My Story!" To which I replied; "I'm a Children's Pastor, I tell your story every week!" God said; "No, you manage people! I want you to tell my story." So I asked how to do that? Then God went silent. The whole time on my flight home I kept asking God; What do you mean? but I heard nothing.

After returning to work I was continuing to try and figure out what God was saying to me, what did he mean by telling his story? How was I to do that? Did I really hear that from God? I had so many questions. There was a prayer meeting one night at the church and so I decided to go, reluctantly. As I sat listening to beautiful music and reading scriptures in my heart I kept asking God to send someone to me to tell me that I really heard from God, that I was to tell His Story and how that was to happen.  All night I sat there and as folks approached me there was a little excitement inside of me thinking they were the one, they would tell me what I wanted to hear. And although everyone who prayed over me had great things to say, and most of them on target for what I was going through and dealing with in life, no one told me what I wanted to hear.
 
At the end of the night, as I was about to leave the building, one lady grab ahold of my arm and asked me if I was ready to get serious with God? I just knew she was the one who was going to confirm what I had heard from God, she was the one God was going to use to tell me what it means to tell his story! We walked away from the crowd and she shared a vision with me (something to be shared at another time, in another post) then she said to me something that chilled me to the bone. She said; "All night you have been asking God to send man to tell you what you want to hear but He wants to tell you himself  but you are too busy to listen. God loves you Scott and he is jealous for you. He is jealous for your time, are you willing to spend time with him?"

Wow! Talk about getting hit in the head between the eyes with a Holy 2x4! I was guilty of not spending the time with God I needed to. I did morning devotions, I listen to Christian music, I felt I was constantly in prayer - but I wasn't really spending time WITH God! So I cleared off my schedule and made it happen. (and if truth be told, I probably need to do it more often!)

My time with God was amazing, as it always is when I spend time with just him! And a string of events started to happen that day. Although I never really understood what He meant by tell his story, I did relearn a lot of things about God and myself that day.

So fast forward to August 2016 - so much has changed. But one thing that hasn't changed is God! Again I have felt this stirring in my heart about "Tell My Story!" So again I spent time with God asking about what he means, and I think I might have heard from him. Around the same time I prayed Thy will be done, God gave me the idea of opening a Christian Arts Center - a place where Christian artist can come and perform, give lessons, sell their art work... It is a vision I feel has come from God. He gave me a scripture that I always felt told what the Thorn was all about - but as I read it again recently I felt like it was the verse for the Christian Arts Center - what I feel like I want to call "Tell My Story!" and dedicate to the memory of my talented friend Dan Chritton.

In my mind the arts center would have a large lobby with a gift shop (to sell local artists art) and cafe, along with a grand piano in the middle for folks to come and play and sing.  In the center of the building would be an auditorium, somewhere between the size of the Performing Arts Center and a small high school auditorium. This Auditorium would be used for concerts, shows, recitals...the possibilities are endless. Around the outside of the auditorium would be classrooms for vocal, instrumental, dance, painting, ceramics lessons - all would be available to rent to hold classes at a minimal cost. I feel like one of the best ways to Tell God's Story is through the arts - so why not offer a place for people to be able to do that - for people to use their gifts and talents to tell the story of God's Love, of God's Redemption!

This dream/vision is bigger than anything I could think up myself! It is going to take a God size miracle to make it happen and it is going to take people with more knowledge about the business world, people with time and resources much greater than I could do on my own. I really feel this is from God because I can't do it on my own, I'm relying on Him to make it happen. And I'm asking those of you reading this blog to commit to praying for me and the vision. I'm asking you to pray and ask God to provide the resources needed to make it happen. I'm asking for you to pray about how you might be involved or effected by such a place. I'm asking you to pray that I will stay the course on this vision because I can get very overwhelmed and give up easily. I believe in the power of prayer! If the "Tell My Story!" Christian Arts Center is going to ever get off the ground it is going to be because people like yourself committed it to prayer! If you have any suggestions or ideas please feel free to email me at scottdkinney@gmail.com - One prayer started this dream, but it will take the prayers of many and so much more to see it through! Thanks in advance for the prayers, love and support as we move forward on this dream!

What A Difference A Year Makes!

On April 24^th  it will have been one year since I left my position as Children’s Pastor at Seacoast Church and what a year it has been. The emotional roller coaster has been more than I thought it would be.  I never would have made it through this past year if it wasn’t for the support of my loving wife who encouraged me when I was down, kicked me in the pants and got me motivated when I didn’t feel like getting out of bed. And loved me when I was unlovable! I am so thankful that God shared her with me and that she is in my life!

I’m thankful for my friend and brother in Christ, Greg Jones who was not only a huge support but ended up walking through a very similar situation in life. He was a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear and a prayer partner. It’s always good to have someone who understands your feelings even when you don’t know how to put them into words.

For Pastor Ernest Smith of Front Range Church who was a great support. He introduced me to the beauty of Colorado and just loved on my family and me when we needed it the most. Who gave me hope that one day I would be working in full-time ministry once again. And was just a great friend through and through.

For Life Park Church and Pastor Chad Moore who allowed us to sit in on services and be fed and not pressure us into joining or serving in the church but to just be cared for during this time.

And for the many others who I could never name all of them because I would miss someone – thank you for all the cards, messages and hugs over this past year. Your kind words and support for my family and me has been a huge blessing.

I miss my work at Seacoast. I miss the wonderful staff I had the pleasure of serving next to each and every day for the past 15 years. And I really miss the kids and the families. I always thought I would retire from Children’s Ministry when I was old and ready for the grave, but God had other plans for me.  I love seeing the Facebook posts of my kids (yes I still refer to the kids I had in ministry as my kids) and watching them grow up and living their lives. I love seeing them get married, have children of there own, go off to college, graduate and get jobs. I like knowing I played a little part in their lives and them in mine!

I do hope that one day God will return me to ministry, not sure it will be Children’s Ministry and not sure it will be in a church setting, but I do hope and pray for that opportunity again. For now I’m happy for the ministry he has me in at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore and I am so thankful for the new friends I have made at the ReStore. Every day they become more and more like family to me. (No matter how dysfunctional they might be!)

I’m not going to lie, this past year was rough, but I am glad I went through it – it drew me closer to God, deepened my faith in Him and taught me to Trust Him like never before.  I’m really looking forward to what God has in store in this next year and for my family.

Thank you for the prayers and support and I ask that you would continue to keep me in your prayers.

Was It a Morning Like This?

Great way to start the morning! Christ has Risen, the grave could not hold the King of all Kings! Celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior!

Holy Week Song - Four

The Via Dolorosa is believed to be the path that Jesus walked on Good Friday on the way to Golgotha, the place of the skulls where he would be nailed to a cross and give up his life for us. I picked this song because I think it is a great way to see and hear what God did for us through his son Jesus.

So thankful for the sacrifice Jesus made for me so that I could spend eternity with him in heaven one day.

1Peter 2:24 - "He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed."

Holy Week -Song Three

As we remember the events of the last days of Christ's life we have to start with remembering his last meal with his disciples. As I said before, this is my most favorite time of year. I like to sit and think about all that Christ did for me, to put myself in the events that took place in that last week of his life. This song I feel captures what God did for us! How Beautiful! How Beautiful! The love God had for us is so far beyond anything we could ever imagine. To know what Jesus was going to go through, the betrayal, the trials, the beatings and the suffering on the cross - and yet God did this for us! Why? Because he loves us. Think about that for a minute. God allowed all this to happen to His Son, because he loved us. Maybe you can't understand that kind of love because you never really felt love from anyone. Or maybe you've been hurt by love. That my friend is human love - it is limited. But God's Love is Agape Love - it has no limits, it is perfect love! I look forward to the day when I get to be in heaven with God the Father and Jesus the Son and all those who have gone before me. To talk with Peter and the disciples and hear how it truly was to be there in the last week of Jesus' life.

And to thank Jesus face to face for all he has done for me.  How Beautiful that will be!

Listen to the words and imagine how much God loves you - no matter how much you can imagine I promise it is even more!

Today is Maundy Thursday in the church - a day to remember what Christ did for us. The taking of the last supper - the bread, remembering his body that was beaten and nailed to a cross for your sins - and the cup, the blood that was shed for the forgiveness of sins - not just my sins, all sins! I still mess up and walk in my flesh, I still say and do things that are not Christ-like. That is why I must remember what God has done and once again ask for forgiveness. How Beautiful!

Let me leave you with this line from the song -

And as he laid down his life we offer this sacrifice,

 that we will live, just as he died willing to pay the price! 

Holy Week Song 3

This is another song that I just love! I love how it tells the story of what Christ did for us on the cross. It tells how Christ defeated death and rose again. My favorite line for this song is;

No Power of Hell, No Scheme of Man

Could ever pluck me from His Hand.

Till He Returns or Calls me Home

Here In the Power of Christ I'll Stand!

For it is in Christ Alone and not by anything we have done that we can boast of our salvation.  Take a minute to listen to this song and may the words of this song be your prayer today and every day!

Holy Week - Song Two

One of my favorite parts of the Thorn is response time. After seeing Christ die on the cross the audience has the opportunity to respond to what God did for them through the death of His Son.  The pastor leads the audience in a time of prayer and there are crosses set up throughout the auditorium and the audience has an opportunity to go to a cross, write down on paper or a magnet whatever they want to leave at the cross. (see picture below) During that time someone is singing the song Redeemed. What a powerful moment to see hundreds of people leaving their sins at the cross. I've heard stories of people pinning their sins, their marriages, health issues, jobs...you name it they leave it at the cross, asking for forgiveness, for healing, for new beginnings - it is a very emotional time for the people at the crosses. It is an emotional time for me as well as I just sit back and pray for all those folks with tears running down my face.  We are all redeemed by what Christ did on the cross for us! No longer who we were, but changed and made new!

Listen to the words and remember that you are Redeemed!

Holy Week - Song One

This is my most favorite time of the year. I just love Holy Week. I love the events leading up to the last days of Jesus' life and His resurrection. I love the songs that tell the story of Easter and all that surrounds it.  I wanted to share some of those songs with you. Please do me a favor and listen to the words - you might need to listen more than once.

This first song is by Ray Boltz - I believe Ray's songs are prophetic (I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb) and theologically powerful if you actually listen to the words. Yes I know they are oldies, but there is a reason they call them oldies but goodies!

The first time I heard his song, Watch the Lamb, I was on my way to visit a friend and I remember pulling into her driveway and just sitting in my car crying listening to the words of this song.  You see I can picture myself in the story. I can imagine being the person singing this song and the emotions he must have felt as the event unfolded before his eyes. To this day I can't listen to this song without tearing up.  Today as I was driving to work listening to this song I had a realization. The song talks about a father taking his two sons to Jerusalem with their lamb to make a sacrifice. As they enter the city there is riot taking place. The streets are filled with angry people - it is the procession of Christ heading to calvary. At the end of the song the children meet back up with their father and tell him that the lamb they brought to sacrifice had run away.  The realization is that the lamb was no longer needed. You see Jesus paid the price for our sins once and for all. We never need to sacrifice another living thing because Jesus was the sacrificial lamb that paid it all. So the lamb running away makes sense, because it is no longer needed. The final line says; (the father speaking about his two boys) So I took them in my arms and we turned and faced the cross and I said; dear children watch the Lamb!

I hope you enjoy this song and that it speaks to your heart and that you will take the time to listen to the words and imagine yourself there in Jerusalem on the day that Christ was crucified.

And remember what Christ did - He did for you and for me!

Don't be Afraid - Just Believe!

Wow it has been a while since I posted - hadn't realized how much time has passed. I wanted to share a little about what God has been teaching me. God is so good and when we take time to spend with Him you change. Your situation may not change, but how you look at your situation changes for the better!

When I left my position in Children's Ministry I was heart broken because I loved what I got to do. I loved the team I got to work with, but in the end, I knew it was God who was taking me away. (more on all of that at a later date).  I didn't completely know why God was moving me but I knew it was Him. I tried to look past the hurt and look to the future. Since I wasn't working a full-time job I could do the Thorn Tour, the whole thing. Teaching kids about the Love of God is great but to be able to use my love of theater and the love of teaching the Gospel through something as wonderful as the Thorn, God certainly had to bless that! Guess what - He took that away too. I have to be honest with you, I was mad, at God! It was short lived but I cried out to God; Why did you take from me the two things I loved to do for you?

Everyone kept telling me; "God has something BIG in store for you" but I could not believe that. I finally got to the point where I would respond, "How do you know? Has God told you something He's not telling me?" I just could not believe that God has something better in store for me.  Until now! I'm not mad at God anymore, I know He has a plan and a purpose for me and I'm learning to wait on Him. Learning to Lean on Him!

Like all good pastors I have several Bibles! My favorite Bible is my Worship Bible! It has songs, quotes and prayers throughout the Bible but it also has one of my favorite things - Love Letters from God called My Beloved.  Before leaving my position in Children's Ministry I had prayed the dangerous prayer Jesus prayed in the garden; "Father not my will, but Your will be done." I knew right away something was about to happen. I didn't know what, and I never thought it was going to be what I'm walking through, but I am so thankful for God's will and not mine.
I want to share one of the My Beloved love letters that I read after praying that prayer and before I left Seacoast Church. God lead me back to it recently and I'm so thankful for His Word, His Plan and most importantly His Will in my life! Remember to read this as a letter from God himself...

"I have something important for you to understand. Our relationship is based on My faithfulness. Your faith may wax and wane, but My faithfulness endures forever! I will never let you go. So put your trust in me. In every situation, remember these words; Don't be afraid, Just believe!

I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you, not to harm you; plans to give you hope and a future. But this will only happen if you put your hope in me, and live according to my Word.

Don't be afraid, just believe. That is your responsibility in our relationship. Believe that My love for you is unfailing, believe and trust in My goodness. And when you get discouraged, quickly turn to me; call out to Me for help and I will deliver you from trouble. 

My faithfulness will be your shield and your fortress. I will fill you with joy and peace as you trust in Me, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of My spirit.

Don't be afraid, just believe. Be strong and courageous, for I am with you. I will not fail you nor forsake you. I will never betray My faithfulness. I am the Lord; when you hope in me you will not be disappointed! 

Don't be afraid - Just Believe!"

I hope you find a nugget in this and remember not to be afraid, but to believe in the One who holds you in the palm of His hand! Be blessed today and always!