Praying the Psalms

My church is going through a series on the Book of Psalms, preaching on emotions and how it is okay to experience them. I like to think that I'm usually in tune with my emotions...however, I'm not so sure that is true.

Before the Psalm series, I think I was having great big mood swings. Some days, I would come into work really excited and my work would be great. Sometimes within 24 hours, I would just hit the bottom and not know why everything around me was pressing in on me. On those days, my work and attitude would mirror that emotion.

During the first sermon Di preached in this series, she proposed that if we felt led...that we should agree to pray the Psalms every day. I've done it about 5 days out of each week, and usually if I miss a day, it's because of my workaholic tendencies.

I have also been waking up each day asking God to help me be a servant to my boss, coworkers and most definitely to Jesus. Both of these things have led to a visible difference in my attitude at work. I've also been enjoying my time with other people a lot more. I don't get as annoyed with people who are putting up a front to look like something they're not. I'm not gonna lie. It still bugs me when people aren't honest with who they are, but I don't simply cut them off.

Yesterday after work, I played the piano and sang my heart out to God. I hadn't done that in a while. It was well worth it. I had enough time to prepare my heart and just wait for God to show up. I kept singing the verse:

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord

And then today, I was reading Psalm 27 and the last lines read:

Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

Sanctuary for Immigrants

Yesterday, I was listening to NPR, and they were discussing a group of faith-based organizations in Chicago which are joining together to provide sanctuary for illegal immigrants from Mexico.

Even though the US law has no such thing as sanctuary, I'd find it awfully hard to go into a church and physically remove someone. These Christians are hoping that this will spur reformation of the immigration procedures.

I'm all about updating and lightening the immigration procedures. I even think it would great to kick off new legislation with a big bang by offering citizenship to thousands of undocumented immigrants. I could just be living in my own Eutopia...but I like it there. ;)

This morning, I was praying this Psalm...

Psalm 9:15-20
They're trapped, those godless countries,
in the very snares they set,
Their feet all tangled
in the net they spread.
They have no excuse;
the way God works is well-known.
The cunning machinery made by the wicked
has maimed their own hands.

The wicked bought a one-way
ticket to hell.
No longer will the poor be nameless—
no more humiliation for the humble.
Up, God! Aren't you fed up with their empty strutting?
Expose these grand pretensions!
Shake them up, God!
Show them how silly they look.

That last portion about the nameless seemed like it fit right alongside the illegal immigration discussion. It could just be coincidence that I listened to NPR yesterday and this passage jumped out to me today...But I think there's more to it than that. Maybe we are supposed to only help the poor as long as it follows our overly strict legislation...Maybe we're supposed to follow man's laws over God's laws... (I kid. I kid.)

I don't know...I can see both sides of the issue, but right now, I'm feeling like the US could really benefit from being shaken up and shown how silly we look. ;)

On a Tight Leash

I will begin a pastoral internship in September, which lasts for two years. In that time frame, I will be taking seminary classes through the Vineyard Leadership Institute, which will prepare me for full-time ministry in a variety of forms. Since I first began thinking about doing the Vineyard Church's internship program, I have been trying to figure out what my calling is for this next phase of my life. I feel as if I am great at a lot of things I put my heart to...

That tends to be the problem. If I was solely great at one thing in life, I think my calling would be simple to figure out. Instead, I think we all have a variety of characteristics and opportunities that boggle our life plan. I mean, if I only stellar at working with kids, I would be a kids' pastor. However, I think it's a good thing that I'm not just gifted with children. I am musically inclined, humorous, youth-savvy, able to relate to people of all ages and cultures, able to speak publicly, and up-to-date with media/tech.

Over the past few months, I have considered being a church planter, but I'm feeling more and more like that is not something to which God has called me. I'm feeling more at a place of assisting other ministries, rather than the whole church, that would take the form of a worship/media/arts, kids, or youth pastor...or even a combination of any of those.

Needless to say, these next two years will be interesting and full of growth. I believe I'll be starting off the internship with a year devoted to worship (music) pastoring. That may change, halfway through the year... I also hope to post more to this account. I used to have a LiveJournal account, but I felt like I needed a change...thus, this blog has been created.

Enjoy.