Art vs. Minsitry: Part 4

It's been a while since I last blogged. Not sure why. Maybe I've been busy. OK, yeah, I've been busy. There I said it. Catherine has gone back to work so our days are fairly busy trying to get the baby ready in the morning to making sure he goes down for bed for a full night's sleep. Work has finally picked up and my days are pretty full at work (where I usually blog from anyway) so I guess that explains my lack of blogness. I just realized I hate the word BLOG. The again, an "online journal" sounds mega-gay, so I'll steer away from that one. I'll also steer about from using the word "mega-gay" too much.

I had lunch with my father-in-law and we sat down to talk about the possibility of me pursuing a Local Minister's License through our church. In most cases, the Local Minister's License (LML) is a predecessor to ordination in the Church of the Nazarene. The process takes a few years and some further studies beyond my B.A. in Biblical Studies, but certainly some learning I’m willing to take in for sure. During Pastor Dale/Dad’s explanation of the LML process, he reminded me of something that resonates with the “Art vs. Ministry” debate I’m always having. He reminded me of biblical characters like Moses and Joseph who God used to do extraordinary things despite the fact that they were average people who were ok with their circumstances. Between the time of the Prince of Egypt episode and the Mountain Experience, Moses was a simple shepherd who was content with his situation and place in his world. When confronted by God via a burning bush, Moses was humbled by not only God’s presence, but God’s willingness to use him for an even more extraordinary plan to rescue the Hebrews from Pharaoh. And then there’s Joseph who, the youngest of 12 boys, was put in many different situations to which he escaped with god’s providence. From being stuck in a well and left for dead, to being a travelling gypsy, to escaping Potiphar’s house (and wife), to his struggles in jail; God used Joseph and what he had to offer no matter the circumstance.

In both these examples, I drew parallels of my art/ministry debacle. In Moses's story, God called Moses out from his situation into something extraordinary; something that Moses was unaware he could do. Moses meager abilities to shepherd sheep was turned into an awesome display of God's grace and power as Moses ended up shepherding a large group of unruly and belligerent and grumbling Hebrews across desert for 40 years. Not only this, but between confronting the Pharaoh and rescuing his people, God taught Moses patience. Moses sat idle while God waited for the perfect time to use him. This is wheree I am now. I am between the Pharaoh and the Mountain, waiting on God to put me in the right position at the right time with the right people. Like Moses, I don't know what to expect and I don't know what kind of journey he wants me to experience. While my patience wears thin, I also have time to really search out God's will for my life. I don't believe the right situation will jump out and bite me; I believe I have to seek God's will and purpose for me and then He will open the doors.

In Joseph's case, God used in him in the kind of positions he didn't want to be in. Joseph's gift of dreams got him out of some tough spots and that gift propelled him to bigger and greater things. I reflect on this thought as well. Joseph had certain gifts that were used in the right place and time, even when he though this circumstance was terminal. Yet, God lifted Joseph up even higher when he realized his circumstance was not in vain and his gifts were used to give glory to God.

So anyway... my own journey continues. I believe that God is making some progress in my own heart as I discern God's place for me. I've always wrestled with the phrase
...He will give you the desires of you heart. sure, that sounds great and dandy but it feels as though I've never seen the result of the desires of my heart. But, after reading what's before it, "Delight yourself in the Lord..." I realized something. I don't appreciate or praise God for where I am right now. Whether it's making a few dollars playing guitar for a musician passing-by or leading worship at my church on Sunday mornings, I am not delighting in what I am doing now. God doesn't want to bless somebody with their dreams and desires if they're not appreciative or giving their whole abilities/gifts/heart/etc. into what they're doing now; at least for me. I need to enjoy and give my all to what I am doing now.

Like Moses, I will be patient and wait for the Lord to use me in the "next big thing"
Like Joseph, I will use my gifts and abilities to do His work no matter what the situation
Like the Psalmist, I will delight in Him and enjoy what He has me do now