Another day older…

Wanted to look into a few lines from that great Praise & Worship (?) song….Sixteen Tons by Tennessee Ernie Ford…

You load sixteen tons, what do you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter don’t you call me ’cause I can’t go
I owe my soul to the company store

My thought for this morning was about how truly blessed I am…

I have a great family. My wife is a strong, independent woman who is an incredible mother and supportive wife. She challenges me, supports me, and loves me. Not sure I could want anything more.

My children are fun to be with, very smart, and love me very much. They are thoughtful of others feelings and pray for their friends regularly. God is already is doing great things in them and He is going to do even greater things as their faith continues to grow.

My youth group, friends, and church family are such a vital part of my life. I have enjoyed and been blessed by all of the friendships I have made both here in this time and place and with those I’ve walked this life journey with in the past! You guys have made me feel both special (lots of jokes there) and important in our times together.

Now, to the “Sixteen Tons” reference above…I don’t think I could have a better calling and vocation in life than serving others in Ministry. I am not always faithful and my failings are plentiful and don’t appropriately show my love for my Savior. My prayer is and has been that God would use the lessons He is teaching me to be teaching moments for others. I pray that as trials and tough situations come my way that I would be transparent enough for those around me to see me PRAISE HIM in both my successes and my failures! I do “owe my soul to the company store” but it isn’t a harsh reality, it is a welcomed opportunity!

Ministry IS difficult at times but it is also a blessing! I wanted to mention some situations, without naming names, that stick out in my mind as fun, hard, difficult, happy, and memorable times throughout these eighteen years of ministry…if you have any other memories to mention, COMMENT them here! Help me celebrate my birthday today with some great memories…would you?

*called into ministry on youth trip in Gulf Shores at 16! Great trip! *Preached first sermon, incredible 10 minutes! *Church league volleyball, AWESOME! *Superman, Leethal, and so many others at Christians! *Basketball and pool at Stephenson (?) *First ministry position at Southside *Children’s Choir at Central *Max’s huge heart for others *Fellow Youth Workers in T’dega *Shockwave *High Calling *Trip to Savannah & SC with High Calling *Blowing speakers at Mt.View *Working with abused teenagers *Called to the school for counseling after teen school shooting and car deaths *Community Fathers *AIDB Super Bowl Parties *Wedding & Married Life *Move out of state *Awesome church experience *Alyssa is born *She gets second and third sets of parents (great friends) **worked with first Praise Band *Really watched God move *worked with Katrina victims *Huntsville big city life *More lifelong friendships *More movie quotes and song lines than anyone should know *Seeing many teens come to Christ *One workout *KK is born! *Someone let our balloons go! *Horton’s Child Care *Second calling to same church *Judgment Houses *Mission Trips *Camp Happy Days *Gulf Shores Beach Retreats *Bran-Fuge *Let’s welcome Erin! *Weaver! *10 yr old softball *Road Rulz *Rescue Mission *Committed kids *Good friends! *Catching up with old friends *Severe enema *Great ministry opportunities @ FBC Weaver *more?

Thanks you guys, I love you all.

My thoughts for you all…

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:3-11

This entry was posted on February 24, 2010 at February 24, 2010 and is filed under Devotion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

Amy
April 23, 2010 at 5:27 AM

I would have to say a couple. The entire summer in MS the youth spent up at the church with you. We were there like everyday. That’s probably when I really got to know the fam. That was also during the time that I was not old enough to go to CHD so I got to spend the week at the Prater house watching the girls while Heather worked. Good times. The Spelo Box(not sure how to spell) was another memory. Not sure how you made it through or how Jarred even got in there. Also, Winter Camp. I loved winter camp. And finally, I will never forget the Coop Camp. I thought that that was going to be the worst week of my life when we pulled up to chicken houses but I ended up loving it. There are plenty more but i’ll hold up there and i’m sure there will be several more in the future. Happy B’Day. Love you!

Marty
February 25, 2010 at 3:26 PM

Scott, first of all, happy birthday, Brother. Secondly, I consider it a blessing to have been a small cog in your wheel of life. I’ve always looked up to you and admired you for your strength and conviction. You deserve all that God has bestowed upon you.

Aaron
February 24, 2010 at 9:07 PM

My favorite thing I’ve done with you, man, are definitely the Tuesday night praise band practices. Every week i look forward to them not just for the worship, but because it’s just stinkin’ fun.

Amy Warner
February 24, 2010 at 9:06 PM

Among many other quotes, I will always remember this one from Mrs Amy; although, then, she was just Ms Amy. “SCOTT PRATER!!! SCOTT PRATER!!!” Haha! Good times at the coop! I think that was my first trip to take with the youth group. I will never forget any of the trips we took or the moments I got to spend with your wonderful family. Thank you so much for the summer intership. I learned and grew so much during that time. Thank you for allowing me to take care of your children from time to time.(I am still so thankful that children heal quickly!) I love you and your family so much! You have made such a tremendous impact on my life! I can’t say thank you enough for being a part of my life. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BRO SCOTT!!!!

Vickey
February 24, 2010 at 2:05 PM

Scott, I absloutly loved serving with you at FBC Weaver. We had so many great discussions regarding ministry, the Bible and life in general. You are a very godly man and FBC is truly blessed to have someone with your sincere passion for the Lord.

You introduced me to some great preachers, Chan, Gigglio, etc. and some great music…you helped me get over my praise and worship phobia…sounds funny to say.

Thank you for sharing those precious daughters with me from time to time. They truly are very special. And you do have an AWESOME wife in Heather. I miss you all a lot.

Keep being real! Love in Christ and Happy Birthday!!!

Brittany
February 24, 2010 at 1:03 PM

Greg
February 24, 2010 at 12:01 PM

One of my favorite memories of you (and your family of course) is Christmas 2007. That was a tough time for me because it was the first year that I was unable to make it back to LA for christmas with my family. You and your family welcomed me into you home and into your Christmas celebrations without hesitating. Yall let me be a part of your Christmas eve stuff and getting excited about Santa’s visit. And then again put up with me Christmas day. Thank you. I love yall. Oh….and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!