Purpose
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The Problem With “Let Me First….”
Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”– Luke 9:61 It’s easy for us to read this and think, “What’s so wrong with saying goodbye?” But the crux of the matter is priority, isn’t it. Jesus was calling this man to follow Him… Continue reading
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A Man With a Plan
As [Jesus] approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If… Continue reading
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If Fig Trees Could Talk
Some thoughts on fruit, faith, and what God is really looking for. If trees could preach sermons, the fig tree would be one of Israel’s best pastors. It grows where life seems unlikely – rocky ground and thin soil. Not exactly prime real estate! And yet the fig tree thrives there. That alone should catch… Continue reading
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A Nation at a Crossroads, Then, and Now
“Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” – John F. Kennedy When John Fitzgerald Kennedy said these words, he had just been sworn into office as the 35th President of the United States, the youngest to ever have been elected. They were words that rose into… Continue reading
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The Urgent Matter of Prayer
“Prayer is beyond any question the highest activity of the human soul. Man is at his greatest and highest when upon his knees he comes face to face with God.” – Martin Lloyd Jones I’ve been thinking a lot about prayer lately… particularly how routine my prayers have become, especially this season. I’m finding that… Continue reading
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The One-Talent Servant
Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. “Master,” he said, “I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs… Continue reading
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From Battleground to Holy Ground
Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples. – John 11:54 During Old Testament times, Ephraim was a symbol of rebellion and instability. Situated in the central part of Israel, its territory… Continue reading
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In Old Testament News: Nation Rejoices as Forty-Year-Old King Dies; No Funeral Planned
Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He passed away, to no one’s regret, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings. – 2 Chronicles 21:20 Obituary for Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat It is with a distinct lack… Continue reading
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They Didn’t Get Wet
Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.” – Joshua 3:5 Imagine someone coming up to you today and saying to you, “Get ready and be prepared! Tomorrow the Lord is going to do amazing things right in front of your very eyes!” Well, that’s precisely what… Continue reading
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The Divine Intersection Where Our Stories Meet
I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. – Ephesians 3:7 Logging over 10,000 miles of missionary journeys, authoring 13 New Testament letters, planting 15-20 churches, enduring imprisonments, shipwrecks, and relentless persecution and suffering – the apostle Paul’s ministry shaped the foundation… Continue reading
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The Old Man Had to Go
Many years ago before giving my life to Christ, I went fishing with an old army buddy. It was a Saturday (I think) and as we sat on his boat on the lake, the conversation turned to his plans for the next day. He mentioned going to church with his wife, then invited me to… Continue reading
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Your Past Doesn’t Equal Your Future
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. – Isaiah 43:18-19 Have you ever thought about how God might be using you? If not,… Continue reading
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A Higher Perspective
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. – Colossians 3:2 Not everything earthly is evil. Many aspects of our daily lives, things like our work, our relationships, and even our hobbies can be good and God-honoring. Yet, even the harmless things can become harmful when they overshadow what truly matters: our relationship… Continue reading
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Thankful For The Pain
It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. – Psalm 119:71 Life has a way of knocking us down sometimes, doesn’t it? When things get tough, it’s easy to feel like we’re stuck in a mess we can’t get out of. But Psalm 119:71 tells us something powerful:… Continue reading
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Small Things, Big Reminders
Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin… – Zechariah 4:10 (NLT) The old woman chuckled softly, “Have you been snooping around in my purse, young lady?” Her granddaughter looked up, wide-eyed, holding a tiny, rusted nail in her hand. “I just wanted a piece of gum.” The… Continue reading
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What is Your “Field”?
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.– Matthew 13:44 There’s something about a treasure hunt that captures the imagination. We picture maps, riddles, and the thrill of… Continue reading
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“My Name is Scott, and I’m….”
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.– Romans 1:16 As a recovering alcoholic, I’ve been actively involved in a 12-Step recovery program for several years now. This program has been an incredible… Continue reading
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Created For His Purpose
Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. – Ephesians 5:17 God placed each of us on this earth for a purpose. Yet many people drift through life unsure of what God’s will is for them. Instead of seeking His direction, they remain caught up in their own plans, wasting valuable… Continue reading
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Do Not Be Afraid!
One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.” So Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching… Continue reading
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An Awesome, Humbling Business, Indeed…
I can hide my heart, and my past, and my future plans, from those around me, but I cannot hide anything from God. I can talk in a way that deceives my fellow creatures as to what I really am, but nothing I say or do can deceive God. He sees through all my reserve… Continue reading
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A Lasting Impact
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. – Ephesians 2:10 Today marks the 95th anniversary of the death of Elisha Hoffman. Very few would recognize his name, but many Christians today still enjoy the fruit of his work all these… Continue reading
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Do You Embrace God’s Discipline?
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.– Hebrews 12:11 Recently I began a new journey to improve my health. I’ve slowly started swapping out junk foods for more vegetables, sugary drinks for water, and… Continue reading
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What Defines You?
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. – Colossians 3:3-4 When people describe someone, we often hear phrases like, “Sports is his life,” or “Music is her life.” We naturally connect people with… Continue reading
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Finding Hidden Treasure
I seek you with all my heart;do not let me stray from your commands.I have hidden your word in my heartthat I might not sin against you. – Ps. 119:10-11 Reading these passages challenges me to think about whether I’m truly giving God my everything. They cause me to consider if I’m truly pursuing Him… Continue reading
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Making the Most of Our Days
“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 It’s easy to lose track of time. We get caught up in work, chores, the needs of our families, and our routines, often forgetting how quickly the days pass. Psalm 90:12, which is attributed to Moses, encourages us to… Continue reading
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A Transformed Perspective
I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.… Continue reading
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How do you spend it?
“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” – Psalm 90:12 Imagine there is a bank account that credits your account each morning with $86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day. Every evening the bank deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during… Continue reading
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There Will Be Opposition
When Satan sees the advancement of God’s plans, he responds by immediately going on the offensive. He actively searches for willing instruments to discourage, distract, and disrupt God’s will from being carried out. If we’re not careful, we can fall right into the enemy’s trap. After the Exile, Nehemiah had tasked the remaining Jews in… Continue reading
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The Most Valuable Thing Seldom Measured
“Try to imagine a life without timekeeping. You probably can’t. You know the month, the year, the day of the week. There is a clock on your wall or the dashboard of your car. You have a schedule, a calendar, a time for dinner or a movie. Yet all around you, timekeeping is ignored. Birds… Continue reading
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When Belated Rewards are the Greatest Rewards
That night the king had trouble sleeping, so he ordered an attendant to bring the book of the history of his reign so it could be read to him. In those records he discovered an account of how Mordecai had exposed the plot of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the eunuchs who guarded the door… Continue reading
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Thinking of Ourselves Less
“Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others.… Continue reading
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The Unity and Joy of Fellowship
“So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. God knows how much I love you… Continue reading
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Holy Tuesday: Faith that Produces Good Fruit
“The next morning as they passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered from the roots up. Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree you cursed has withered and died!” – Mark 11:20-21 Fig trees were… Continue reading
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Plans, Schemes, and Godly Dreams
“To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.” – Proverbs 16:1 Years ago I went shopping for a basic, inexpensive computer desk. So I went to K-mart and bought the cheapest model they sold, brought it home, and began assembling it. Things were going… Continue reading
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Keep Moving Forward
“I, Daniel, was worn out. I lay exhausted for several days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding. ~ Daniel 8:27 Are you tired and weary from the busyness of life? Have you been besieged, day after day, by problems and bad… Continue reading
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A Limitless Attitude
“Then Daniel (Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you.” Daniel answered, “My lord, if only the dream applied to your adversaries!” ~ Daniel 4:19 As I read this passage in the book of Daniel, I… Continue reading
About Me
Welcome! I’m Scott (aka Former Blackout Artist), and I’m so happy you decided to drop in! I hope you find the content here spiritually enlightening and uplifting. Most of all, I hope that my love of Christ is revealed through my writing and that it encourages you in some way today. Thanks for stopping by!
Former Blackout Artist 