All I Want To Do

I'm back in the saddle. Is that the right phrase? I have a tendency to bungle cliches, just ask my Tri Delta family (lick of flame, anyone? I've got your card). Anyway, let me tell you of which saddle I am referring (that is actually a very applicable phrase for my life right now...)

Last semester, I went to a great church. The pastor was wonderful. I really liked his sermons, his passion for what he was preaching, and his style. The only problem was the music. It was very traditional, and there was no praise team, only the worship director leading. I decided last year that I loved the preaching so much that I could give up the music area. But then I went home for the summer, where I sang every Sunday at my church. And oh my gosh, leading worship felt a little like home. I get the opportunity to praise God so uniquely when I'm leading others. I'm very aware of my responsibility as a member of the praise team - I am responsible to do all I can to lead Believers into worship - and that causes me to praise God in such a different way. I am forced to think on Him, on what He has done, on what He is DOING, on Who He is, on why I even WANT to praise Him, and because of that, I truly worship the Lord. Not that I don't worship Him when I'm not leading. But it is a privilege that I don't want to have to give up. And at the last church I went to, I didn't even know a lot of the songs, so the singing part of worship wasn't really going on anywhere in my life that semester (I didn't have my car, so there weren't really times for me to drive and praise, etc). So I decided upon my return to school that I was going to look for a new church.

Of course, that was before I remembered how much I hate "church shopping." And I do, I hate it. Because I always feel like I have such a critical spirit (which is obviously something I need to pray about). I mean, I want it all. Challenging pastor, engaging music, a mix in ages, families!!!, opportunities for me to serve...And I also want to open to where God is leading me. Its difficult. I don't really enjoy it. But I'm determined to go into these next Sundays with a different attitude. I want to cherish the experience of seeing how the people at these churches praise the Lord. In Hungary, it was amazing to see Believers praising the Lord in their own way, and while churches here do speak English and are American, I'm going to view it with that same perspective. They are Believers and they want to praise God. Even if its not where I fit in, I'm going to appreciate that. Because its not everywhere where I'd even get to go (without fear) to church, or get to choose from a wide array of churches where I want to attend. What a blessing!

So I'm back in the saddle, getting back up on the horse, but this time with a different perspective. I'll post on the other ways I'm getting "back in the saddle" at a later point.  Happy Sunday!