I can do it by myself...

I've heard those words so many times they ring in my ears now... 

I'll try and help my children tie their shoes, swing a bat, put a puzzle together, 

zip their jacket, buckle the seatbelt... you name it... I've heard the reply -

"I CAN DO IT MYSELF".

And I let them try, it's the only way they will learn. But there are so many things they are not ready to attempt yet.  But they think they are able to do it... by themselves.

I wonder where they get it?

Oh... I know... ME

I know I've done this a million times in my life, my marriage and my ministry... I'm good enough, talented enough, gifted enough (which actually means it's not me) ... to do it BY MYSELF.

And usually i can... to some degree.  Oh it'll get done - but is that really the way it was intended to look in the end, was that really how it was going to turn out, was that the maximum impact?

And today... here is what smacked me in the face this morning...

Colossians 1:28-29

"So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us.  We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ.  That's why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ's mighty power that works within me."

Ok... so did you catch it?  Here is our life's goal summed up as Christ followers...I want to reach other people for Christ.  YES SIR.  Who wouldn't agree with that.  And we want them to become mature followers of Christ.. YEP.. That is why I work and struggle hard... YEP here all night, late hours, sacrifice... cause I have to get it done... i have to do it... I have to make it happen.

and we leave it there... or I do many times.  But the verse doesn't stop there in fact the most important line is next... DEPENDING ON... oops left that out... It's not me, I have to depend on, lean on, trust in someone else.  Yes I have to work hard and do my part... but there is something bigger happening here.   "depending on Christ's mighty power" - cause last time I checked he's more powerful than me.  

Now here is what is really cool... that power is at work within ME.

So don't do it BY YOURSELF... you'll have to work way harder, way longer, with less results than if we were just to depend on DAD to help out.

Scott

Oh Good... Oh No!

Well the last few days have had some exciting circumstances.  My Kids have been praying for snow since Christmas.  They assumed that since it was Christmas time that it would snow.  I mean half of the Christmas songs they would sing had to do with snow... so naturally they think Christmas has to have snow.

So they have been praying for snow for weeks.  Being the faith believing dad that I am, I've been trying to tell them that just because they pray for it doesn't mean that they are going to get it. And we don't always get snow... ya know, just trying to help God out...

But yesterday we got some cool news... Winter Mix was coming our way.  It was cool to hear my kids talk about the possibility of snow... and honestly I'm a little kid too... I love it when it snows.

So we heard of snow - and hear it was coming. 

That was the OH GOOD...

Now the OH NO!

So last night was to start a new series at THRIVE... our student ministry service.

Well we didn't want students driving here and then having to drive home in those conditions...

so we had to cancel the evening...

OH NO... how do you let 150 students know that there is no THRIVE?

Leave it up to text messages, emails, and small group leaders... and with much success - the word got out and the evening was ok...

OH GOOD - It works... connecting I mean... it's amazing how well word can spread.

Here is the cool part - students have an amazing ability to network and communicate... and so does God... he wants us to communicate, network, develop relationships - they are important to him.

So enjoy the snow... stay warm and stay in touch!

We'll see you next week!

I'm a sinner too!

Ok, 

incase you didn't know ... which you probably did... I'm a sinner too!

there now it's out in the open. At least I got that off my chest.

I said I was going to blog more... but I haven't.

You see I had some complications... some very unexpected complications.

There was this thing that hit me from out of nowhere it was called CHRISTMAS.

I didn't see it coming and well... I didn't blog during the Christmas holiday.

"well Christmas has been over for a few weeks now"... you say...

I know... then the most unexpected thing in the world happened - 

MY MAC CRASHED!

These things aren't supposed to do that... and it took me a good bit of time to format the HD and then reinstall all my programs and get to the point where things are running normal again.

Even though it crashed I still would rather have my mac than a PC.

So why do I tell you all of this... 

Well it's a new year and I though we'd start off the new year getting the air clean.

So when the unexpected comes your way this year - just remember we have a God that is ready to reformat the HD and start all over... a clean slate for you and for me, and the cool thing is we don't have to wait for a CRASH or the start of a new year, we can start over clean everyday.

Now that doesn't mean there won't be some complications and problems - cause I know that wiping my HD clean has caused me some heartache, but I got a CLEAN HD to start with.

So here is what I'm doing this new year.... I'm starting clean today... God wipe my HD clean and let me know you more.

Scott

I'm sick of it...

It was Tuesday morning... I dropped off the girls at the "nanny's" house like normal, then off to the gym to workout...  after an exhausting workout, I got back in the car and checked my phone. I found out rather quickly that the nanny was trying to get ahold of me.  Brooklyn (my youngest was throwing up).  I raced over to get her, took her home and camped out with my daughters all day. We had fun, even though she was sick.  Wednesday was a good day, everyone was feeling better, until Brynn (the middle one) complained of a stomach ache, only to hurl all over me and the her as we were cuddled on the couch.  We got her cleaned up in time for her to puke yet again.  

It was a beautiful night.

Thursday was a good day again... all was well in the house .... until ... that night one more in the Chatfield home went down... It was me.  4 am this morning I was up throwing up... I wasn't real excited for a couple of reasons...

#1 - I was throwing up - who gets excited about that.

#2 - I was only an hour away from getting up to play basketball.... and I enjoy playing.

So now I'm at home - stomach churning and not feeling the greatest, but I still have so much that needs to be done for the weekend.

So.... I'm sick of the sickness....  Only two more in house - 

Who's next.

New Page, New Thoughts

Ok.... So I've had my own blog for a while hosted on the student ministry sight. But it wasn't updated all that often.  Why? cause I don't like blogging? Na... Cause I don't have much to say?  Nope... Cause I was to lazy to publish the sight each time I updated my blog.... YEP!

So I've switched to what seems to be a much easier way to get my thoughts out of me and on to the web.  So here it is the new and improved me.

Hope this goes well.