Stopwatch arduino

Hi everyone

I'm trying to make a stopwatch in arduino using a MAX7219 driver chip and a 7segment display. I'm having trouble with the code and have managed to get so far using my own skills (i'm a total begginer) and by copying other codes that are kicking around. I can get one of the digits on a 7 segment display to count up the way, but i'm struggling to get it to act like a stopwatch. I'm not looking for someone to do this for me but perhaps to steer me in the right direction with the arduino code.

here is the code i have so far
#include "LedControl.h"
/*
Now we need a LedControl to work with.
***** These pin numbers will probably not work with your hardware *****
pin 12 is connected to the DataIn
pin 11 is connected to the CLK
pin 10 is connected to LOAD
We have only a single MAX72XX.
*/
LedControl lc=LedControl (int 12, int 11, int 10, int 1);
/* we always wait a bit between updates of the display */
unsigned long delaytime=250;
void setup() {
__ /__
** The MAX72XX is in power-saving mode on startup,**
** we have to do a wakeup call**
__ /__
** lc.shutdown(0,false);
*
__ /
Set the brightness to a medium values /__
** lc.setIntensity(0,8);
*
__ /* and clear the display /__
** lc.clearDisplay(0);
*
}
/*
This method will display the characters for the
word "Arduino" one after the other on digit 0.
*/
void writeArduinoOn7Segment() {
** lc.setChar(0,0,'a',false);**
** delay(delaytime);**
** lc.setRow(0,0,0x05);**
** delay(delaytime);**
** lc.setChar(0,0,'d',false);**
** delay(delaytime);**
** lc.setRow(0,0,0x1c);**
** delay(delaytime);**
** lc.setRow(0,0,B00010000);**
** delay(delaytime);**
** lc.setRow(0,0,0x15);**
** delay(delaytime);**
** lc.setRow(0,0,0x1D);**
** delay(delaytime);**
** lc.clearDisplay(0);**
** delay(delaytime);**
}
/*
** This method will scroll all the hexa-decimal**
numbers and letters on the display. You will need at least
four 7-Segment digits. otherwise it won't really look that good.
*/
void scrollDigits() {
** for(int i=0;i<13;i++) {**
** lc.setDigit(0,3,i,false);**
** lc.setDigit(0,2,i+1,false);**
** lc.setDigit(0,1,i+2,false);**
** lc.setDigit(0,0,i+3,false);**
** delay(delaytime);**
** }**
** lc.clearDisplay(0);**
** delay(delaytime);**
}
void loop() {
** writeArduinoOn7Segment();**
** scrollDigits();**
}

thank's for any help