Preparing the Site

   These pictures came in this morning from Southern Mexico where work is in progress on the foundation for a new church building in Emiliano Zapata.
    Many truckloads of fill dirt are being brought in and heavy equipment is being used to prepare the site for the next phase of work.

   The congregation has outgrown the home where they are meeting (a really good problem!), and will need to move to this location as soon as the roof is constructed.
  Please keep Pastor Roberto and the ministry team in your prayers as they work and oversee this project.  
  We also ask that you would prayerfully consider supporting the work there.  In addition to simultaneously overseeing other building projects, the team is carrying the Gospel to 4-5 villages per week.  Most of the time they use public transportation because the ministry trucks have worn completely out.
  Even with real hardships, the church is thriving and seeing a very real move of God on a daily basis.
  We will be sharing more testimonies over the next few days.

Blessings,  Scott and Emma

This past week in Emiliano Zapata

Tax-deductible gifts can be made online at www.thesowerinc.org

Bored...

  We hear it all the time, especially from children.. "I'm bored"    Now we hear it all the time from adults "I'm bored".  We live in an ultra-stimulated world.  Sights and sounds constantly bombard our senses.  Too many things to do saps our strength day and night.  Movies that were cutting edge and exciting in the 50's are boring to todays generation.
   Bigger screens, high-def, surround sound, social networking, cell phones, text messaging... always having to do something.  10 places to be, 5 parties to go to this week, sometimes we wish we could clone ourselves just to get everything "done".
   When that stimuli is suddenly taken away, or we drive through an area with no phone service.. suddenly we have "nothing to do".
  I visited a home in the middle of an ice storm and the entire family was freaking out, they were literally pacing the floor, kids screaming, the Dad told me they were bored out of their minds because they lost power and had been almost 24 hours without TV, video games or internet!  It can even get to the point that during the distractions with a million things going on, we can get bored.
   Constant distractions keep us from spending time with God, it keeps people who don't know God from thinking about eternity.  It teaches us to always "do something" rather than to simply sit in His presence.  

   It is my personal opinion that it is impossible for a true follower of Jesus to ever be truly "bored"


   Yes I may fall into that trap for a few seconds until I shake myself and think...


  I am a child of God!  A servant of the King of the universe!  I'm here to fulfill His will!  I am bought and paid for!  My life is not my own!  I'm here to bless others!  One of my jobs is to bring peace into my house!  The list goes on and on!

  Here's a simple test.  Go, sit down without your Bible, journal or computer, set a timer for 10 minutes, let your mind be at rest, let Scriptures flow through your thoughts and see if in those 10 minutes you can rest in Him or if your minds wanders in 50 directions or you check the timer 50 times... yes..we all need more practice waiting on Him.


   Resting...  -Scott


PS.. No, I did not say to do a phone and facebook fast..

Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!    Ps 27:14

www.thesowerinc.org
 

Foundation Progress in Emiliano Zapata

We have received word that the City of Emiliano Zapata has now donated 33 truckloads of fill dirt to help fill in so we can build a church building.  We are praying for more favor and increase to push forward and get this work finished in a timely manner.  This is in deep Southern Mexico in the lowlands near the Northwest corner of Guatemala.
-Scott

Finding the Key

  Last week in downtown Fort worth...A man walks up, asks for money.  I say "Your Mom introduced you to Jesus"  he said "yes".. He asks for money again, I tell him, "You never knew your father"  He says, dude, are you psychic?  He said "yes, my father died before I was born, my Mom prayed with me when I was a boy to accept Jesus, I got free from drugs two years ago and I just need money to get to a mission".  I said, sir, now you are lying to me, you haven't gotten free from alcoholism...finally, tears welled up in his eyes and I was able to pray with him and introduce him to a God that was real and wanted a relationship with him...

  Three weeks ago, on our way home from church...we drove under a bridge on the freeway and saw a man walking above us carrying a big pack, I felt moved to talk to him, we made a U turn and found him, I shared with him that he was called to be a preacher as a young man, and that he knew that.  He literally yelled at me "Who told you that!  I never told anyone!"  I shared with him that Jesus loved and cared for him and had not forgotten him.  It was not too late, He can restore the years that looked like had been lost.  The man broke down and wept, I prayed with him as well.

  Walmart..., a lady is ringing up our groceries, Emma asks to pray for her arm as she is working, the woman has tears running down her face as Emma prays and tells her how valuable she is and how God sees His daughter, that she has Hope.  I can't tell you how many times I have seen this happen.

  Last week...I picked up a Hispanic guy off the street, as I took him home, God gave me visions of his childhood, of abuse, of a father hitting him with no reason.  I shared with him that his perception of God was affected by his perception of his own father.  That Jesus loved him, unconditionally, and was a true Father.  He broke really fast and I was able to pray with him.

   Last month I told a Hispanic guy (I love Hispanics) that he had a dream the night before.  He shared it with me and I explained what God was speaking to him through it.  It really touched him, he was already a believer but it brought an encouraging word about his family that was separated from him.

  It wasn't always like this....

  At the tender age of 4 I told my Grandmother that Santa Claus is "Of the Devil".  At 6 I told two Jehovah's Witnesses that they needed to "get saved or they would burn in hell.."  We've held up signs by the road... passed out tens of thousands of Gospel Tracts, Door to door to thousands of homes...

Yes, there was a little bit of fruit.....But not all of that was effective evangelism.

   It is possible to use the Gospel and Scripture in a way that drives people away from God and hardens their hearts.

  I know, I have had to repent of that...

  As our understanding of the nature of God grows, we began to see people the way God sees them.

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power
     I Cor 2:4


  When people see the lame walk, the blind see, incurable cancers healed, or if they get prophetic word spoken over their life, a dream interpreted, or a person just loves on them with a genuine, pure love, they will almost surely walk away with a lasting influence lingering over their life.  A Holy Spirit touch that they will not soon be able to shake off!
 
   There are many forms of evangelism, some are very basic, some are much more effective, but at its very core, it's really all about introducing people to the true nature of God, finding the key to unlock that individual's heart, showing them that the God of the universe, loves and cares for them deeply.
   Sometimes, I don't say anything about Jesus for a while until I really have their attention and they have been touched by something tangible.  Then we revel to them ....hey, that was Jesus...that was the Master's touch.

   Jesus kept it pretty simple...to the woman at the well He said, "Go get your husband"  She said, I don't have one.....Jesus replied, you have had 5 husbands....and oh, by the way...the one you're with....he's not your husband....
  Wow!  Out of that conversation....He found the key to unlock that one heart and it unlocked an entire city!! Jesus ministered to people out of a heart of deep compassion and love.  So many times Jesus would say, go in peace, your faith has saved you, and, oh, by the way.....quit sinning....

-Scott

  Update:  ..the Jehovah's Witnesses no longer send "normal" door knockers to our house... we now just get visits from big shots.... someday, we will find the key to THEIR hearts......and I promise I won't yell at them anymore....






Feel free to share this post or any other we have published.

Land Purchased in Tabasco

We have officially purchased land in Emiliano Zapata to build a church.  The group has been meeting in a home for the last 9 years and has outgrown it's current location.  

  The Mexican government required us to stay in one location for 5 years after we applied for church papers, but that has now been taken care of.

  We only lack $4,000 US dollars to have it completely paid for.

  Thank you for your continued prayers and support, it has made victories like this possible!

  -Scott 

A Daily Confession

I AM….

A Child of God    Romans 8:16
  The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,


Redeemed from the Hand of the Enemy    Psalm 107:2

  Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,
Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,

Forgiven    Colossians 1:13,14
   He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

Saved by Grace through Faith    Ephesians 2:8

  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

Justified     Romans 5:1
  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

A New Creature    2 Corinthians 5:17

   Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Partaker of His Divine Nature    2 Peter 1:4
   Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Redeemed from the Curse of the Law    Galatians 3:13
   Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),

Led by the Spirit of God    Romans 8:14

   For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Kept in Safety Wherever I Go    Psalm 91:11
   For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.

Getting all My Needs met by Jesus    Philippians 4:19
   And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Casting all My Cares on Jesus    1 Peter 5:7
   casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Strong in the Lord and in the Power of His Might   Ephesians 6:10

   Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Doing all things through Christ who Strengthens Me    Philippians 4:13

   I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

An Heir of God and Joint Heir with Jesus    Romans 8:17
   and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

Heir to the Blessings of Abraham    Galatians 3:13,14
   Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Blessed Coming in and Blessed Going Out    Deuteronomy 28:6
   “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.

An Heir of Eternal Life    1 John 5:11,12

   And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Blessed with all Spiritual Blessings    Ephesians 1:3
   Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ

Healed by His Stripes   1 Peter 2:24

   who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

Exercising my Authority over the Enemy    Luke 10:19

   Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Above Only and Not Beneath    Deuteronomy 28:13
   And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them.

More than a Conqueror    Romans 8:37
   Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Establishing God’s Word Here on Earth    Matthew 16:19
  And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

An Overcomer    Revelation 12:11

   And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

Daily Overcoming the Devil    1 John 4:4

   You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Not Moved by what I See     2 Corinthians 4:18

  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Walking by Faith and not by Sight    2 Corinthians 5:7
   For we walk by faith, not by sight

Casting down Vain Imaginations    2 Corinthians 10:4,5
   For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

Being Transformed by Renewing My Mind    Romans 12:1,2
   I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

A Laborer Together with God   1 Corinthians 3:9
   For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.

The Righteousness of God in Christ   2 Corinthians 5:21

   For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

An Imitator of Jesus     Ephesians 5:1

  Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

The Light of the World    Matthew 5:14

   “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Continually Blessing and Praising the Lord with My Mouth    Psalm 34:1
I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.


Declarations and Confessions available for download @ www.thesowerinc.org

The Pen in My Pocket

  A first-time experience for me just a few years ago was to purchase gas in Mexico with a debit card. For years, I only used cash to avoid credit card fraud.
   I should note that all gas stations in Mexico are Government-run full service, whether or not you wanted full service.
  On this very rare occasion, I was not carrying a pen, so I borrowed one from the attendant, when I finished, just out of pure habit, without another thought I stuck the man's pen into my shirt pocket.     About halfway to the town we were holding meetings that night, I realized my mistake.  I began to think about the pen and how much it was worth to that man.  All things being equal, if inflation were the same in America as in Mexico, that pen would be worth around 7-8 dollars.  I made a mental note about it and decided to stop by the station the next day and find the man to return his pen.
   A couple minutes later, I picked up some members of our ministry team that were headed to the meetings.  As soon as one of the young ladies got into the truck, she said, "The Lord knows what you have in your possession that does not belong to you"
  These simple words came to be some of the most profound prophetic words ever spoken to me.
   He cares so much for the "little things".  He sees all the "little things".  There is no such thing as a small problem that He doesn't want to be involved in.  There's no such thing as something little and seemingly insignificant that He is not aware of.

Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Luke 12:6-7

   This speaks of our worth to God, He knows our tears, our sighs, our hurts, our victories, everything about us.  He knows us better than we know ourselves!
   Here I was alone in Southern Mexico, away from my family, and God brought this gentle reminder that He was with me, He sees everything, He wants to be at work in every part of my life.
  Allow Him to be involved in every little detail... It will change everything!

visit us at    www.thesowerinc.org 

Land in Southern Mexico!!

The leadership team in Southern Mexico reports that they have purchased
a piece of property in Emiliano Zapata, Tabasco, Mexico.
The property is not completely paid for yet, but we are applying for free
help with the City to fill-in and level the property. Pray with us for favour
with the City Government and funds to finish paying for the property and
to build a church in Emiliano Zapata.
This is a huge step for us. We have met in homes for many years and
have prayed for a property to open up for us in this City!
Thank you Jesus!
visit www.thesowerinc.org for more info

Major Flooding in Southern Mexico

Dear Friends,
   We would appreciate your prayers for our brothers and sisters that we work with in deep Southern Mexico.  I received a report this week indicating that in Eastern Tabasco State, they are experiencing the worse flooding in memory.

"He's With Me"

The day after my Dad's funeral, just 19 months after 9/11, I was riding the massive subway system in Mexico City, passing the time, praying for the country, trying to keep my sanity during a brutal 9 hour layover.
 About 15 miles from the airport, I decided to change trains at one of the massive elevated stations close to the center of town and head in the direction of the airport.  Needless to say, the digital list of incoming and outbound trains in this city of twenty million was very confusing to this American boy who wasn't in any shape to be reasoning and figuring out things!

  Suddenly, a middle-aged man in a dark suit walked up beside me and asked where I was going, I said "to the Airport", he was going there as well and said that's where he worked, and added, "if I wanted to", I could ride with him and hang out until my next flight.  I felt good about it and agreed.
  As we entered the airport, I noticed everyone knew him, everyone was calling him "sir" and "can I help you with anything".
   This was a very large airport with flights landing every 90 seconds, so I took note of this!
   This gentleman takes me to security, I tell him I have no boarding pass yet because it's still 5 hours to my flight.  He just smiles and says don't worry about it!  We walk up to the Federal Agents and this man simply says, "he's with me".
  No bag check, no ID check, nothing.  The security agents say, "yes sir".
   The gentleman tells me, "We should check the weather forecast", so now he leads me down countless halls deep in the bowels of the Mexico City International Airport and we come to a Mexican Federal Police checkpoint and they are armed with machine guns!  Again, "He's with me" and I hear a, "Yes sir"!  The next door leads to the Mexican National Weather Service Office where I am introduced to the head of the Meteorological Services of Mexico and they let me sit down with them as they plan the evening forecast for the entire nation.  They allow me to see their charts, computers, everything!
  I swallow the huge knot in my throat, then work up my courage and ask if I can take a couple of pictures.

  My main thought was, "NOBODY IN TEXAS WILL EVER BELIEVE THIS STORY UNLESS I BRING PROOF!!!"

  Next, through more security, again hearing that now-familiar, "He's with me" this man brings me to the airport executive lounge where I am given access to all the food, drinks and desserts I want for free.  I sit with the airport managers and executives, and here I am, a Texas boy dressed like a tourist with my head spinning.
  It gets better....again, must....force...myself to ask if I can take pictures!
  After an hour of eating and visiting with these executives, we pass one last heavy line of security, same story, same words.  I find myself now almost getting dizzy as I am being led into the control tower.  They introduce me to the controllers and sit me in front of the radar and tell me to watch the airplanes come in.
  They treated me like a king, let me sit with the air traffic controllers and let me watch as they did everything from controlling the in and outbound flights, to the section on the side where they are setting up flight plans and lining up flights to land from hundreds of miles away.
  Just before my flight was to board, I was escorted to the Mexicana Airlines desk, given my boarding pass, again bypassing all security and put on my flight.  An experience I will never forget.

  Two days later, in the swampy lowlands of deep Southern Mexico I preached a message in a crusade and the title was "He's with Me".
  It's been burned in my heart ever since!

   I now stand more amazed than ever before at the access we have through Jesus.  The whole sermon was about coming into the Holiest place before God, having access to the Throne Room, having the ability to stand or bow in the presence of the most Supreme Being in the universe!

  All because Jesus is saying, "He's with me, he doesn't have to pass through security, my Blood broke down the full body scanners and pushed back the security guards and removed the religious people that make you bring access cards and credentials".   He removed the thousand miles of red tape that says you have to clean up the outside and dress a certain way to get in.  He gave us free, unlimited access.

  The only access card we need is the one that says we have accepted Him as out Savior and His blood covers us.  When we come into that glory, into the presence of the One who created us, then we will be the one who changes and grows and becomes who we are called to be.

He wants us to take advantage of this access.

"He's with Me"

visit our website at www.thesowerinc.org for more information about our ministry