The Search for Internship & Trust

Notion...

I have a notion that Sunday is going to be very good.

I've been church hopping with the Assemblies of God for a few weeks here, and I see that each church has its definite strengths. One isn't thoroughly deep in its teaching, but its worship is decent, and it definitely allows the Holy Spirit to do His proper work to a definite degree. Another is exegetically-sound. The teaching is very solid. However, the fixed structure of leadership there makes me lean toward it not being the right place for an internship, as they would not really welcome me as one there.

But I just really have a notion that Sunday is going to be very good. :)

Internship Structure

I'm trying to work out a deal with one of the Supervised Ministries professors as to trying this setup for an internship --

Two mentors put together...
(1) Pastoral Internship - Local church setting, pastor as a mentor
(2) Book Internship - Working on a ministry-angle book on grief (sermons & poems to those grieving). The mentor would be someone from Trinity's Pastoral Counseling department.

This would be a huge plus since it would allow me flex time to work around my schedule where possible, but also would allow me a good amount of time devoted to pastoral ministry at the local church setting. Hours per week would probably be split 20/10 or 25/15 if I get really ambitious and my schedule isn't deadly.

I plan to take the following classes next semester:

Pastoral Duties
Pastoral Leadership
Ethics in Counseling
Preaching Old Testament
Foundation of Missions [Quad A]
Preaching Narrative [Quad B]

This is 11 hours of coursework. Do you think it's (1) possible or (2) wise to do a full internship with that load of courses? I honestly figure that the practical fuller-time ministry will be refreshing, though wearing, but welcome.

Another option with the internship would be to do it exclusively as a pastoral internship and just work on a book on the side. That's less realistic.

I. can't. wait. to. be. done. and. to. be. doing. full. time. ministry. ug.

Looking at the Past

Sometimes the key to trusting God now is to remember His faithful provision in the past. Even regardless, Jesus told his disciples in Mark 11, "HAVE FAITH IN GOD!" (yes, emphasis added)

In thinking about my age, I'm not the youngest, but on a large scale, I think at times why any church would want me to be a pastor there. It's what God has strongly called and gifted me to do, and faithful is He who calls me who actually will do it (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:24). It's a deep desire God has placed on my heart, just as a few other things new as of this year.

I think back to my childhood. I grew up in a cult. One of my prayers through that messy time was an innocent prayer, "Lord, I pray that you will make me a man of God when I grow up." Thinking about where God has taken me, and now being a very devoted man of God, His work in the past brings me hope that He will Provide now and forever.

Has He brought me here to just drop me and not use me at all?
No, He's brought me here to refine me, to mold me, and to prepare me. He has given me a vision in life, and He will bring it to pass.

He will open up the right internship, He will open up the right church for me to be a servant. He will provide everything that He's placed upon my heart in His perfect timing. But do we really pray expectantly? It's key!

So what do you make of Mark 11:22-24?

22 And Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God.
23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.
24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Obviously from James 4, we see also that people don't receive when they ask of their own sinful (contra-God) desires.

But do we actually believe that God will provide? How many limits are we placing on Him today that we haven't even discovered?

So think about the past, but as Jesus said, "Have faith in God."

WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT! TRUST HIM FULLY!

Poems Ahoy!

After praying through a lot of things tonight, the Lord showed me that I needed just to write and get focused on some issues. So here are a few of the things I wrote tonight, followed by a final poem that was from about 5 years ago. I hope you are encouraged or blessed by these. Writing is definitely helpful to me.

We are Nothing
(C) Sterling C. Franklin

I am the Vine,
And yes, You are.
You’re the root of existence,
And the Bright Morning Star.
All was made for You,
And by You, and through You,
You’re the reason for life,
Let our worship be true.

You are the branches,
We represent You, Lord,
We stem from our Vine,
And draw Your Life with one accord,
You command us to Go,
And truly Go we must,
For we are your servants,
And in your Truth do we trust,

Apart from Me,
Life makes no sense,
Are we just to live nicely,
With a white picket fence?
Just to have fun,
Or just to get by?
Without you, Lord Jesus,
We’re destined to die.

You can do nothing,
But through our deep weakness,
Your strength is made perfect,
And life loses bleakness,
We can do all things through You,
But without You, we’re shot,
Let us realize we are nothing,
And that You are all that we’ve got.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5 [ESV]


Desire
(C) Sterling C. Franklin

The desire of a man seeking a wife,
The desire to cherish a woman for life,
The desire for love in a mutual way,
The desire to be there for her every day,
The desire to bless and be blessed through and through,
The desire in a marriage to honor You,
The desire for commitment to a woman for life,
I commit my desire to You, my Lord.

The desire of a man seeking a Call,
The desire to be loving and caring toward all,
The desire to pastor a flock of your sheep,
The desire to help them grow spiritually deep,
The desire to listen and be there for them,
The desire to preach my heart out and never condemn,
The desire to proclaim the Cross that You bore,
I commit my desire to You, my Lord.

The desire of a man to have many a child,
The desire to raise them up to be humble and mild,
The desire to raise them up to honor You,
The desire to be a loving parent, faithful and true,
The desire to enjoy them with a wonderful wife,
The desire to be there for them throughout length of life,
The desire to be such a God-honoring father,
I commit my desire to You, my Lord.

Psalm 37:4 - Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.


What things?
(C) Sterling C. Franklin

What things seem so distant?
What things seem so far away?
The Lord has always,
Provided a Way.

What things seem impossible?
What things seem so dim?
The Lord provides,
When at first you seek Him.

What things seem important,
Though hard to obtain?
The Lord will prosper you,
And grant you the gain.

What things are hopeless?
What things seem so odd?
The Lord is merciful,
And Nothing is impossible with God.

Luke 1:37 - For nothing will be impossible with God.


Empty and Dry
(C) Sterling C. Franklin

The cares of this world, and the matters of this age,
The pursuits of our flesh, the plans of our own,
The advances of mankind, the wisdom of the sage,
The desire to be young, the desire to be grown,
While all is left to search for, while the Lord hears our cry,
While the depth of our being leaves us hungry inside,
While we want and we lust and we all seek to thrive,
How much do we seek that is empty and dry?

The dreams of our future, the hopes of our lives,
The beauty of things, the wonders of time,
The pleasures of fun, the pursuit of our drives,
The plans to succeed, the ladder to climb,
While the world has its offers, while it promises lie,
While it offers us riches, though we hunger and die,
While we seek for it emptily, though the Lord hears our cry,
How much do we seek that is empty and dry?

Matthew 6:19-21 - Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.


All Things
(C) Sterling C. Franklin

Through Him who gives me strength, I am more than a conqueror,
With my God, I can jump over a wall, and I am a mighty warrior,
I am part of a spiritual battle, and the battle has already been won,
And all things are possible through Him – Jesus the Son.

Through Him who gives me strength, I am a gifted child of God,
I have been blessed and not cursed, I am persecuted but not abandoned,
I go through trials, though I rejoice, and when the trials are done,
I can agree that all things are possible through Jesus the Son.

Through Him who gives me strength, I mount up with wings like eagles,
And though I grow tired and weary and frazzled, I wait upon my Lord, my Savior,
I rely on Him, and He is my fortress, and He orders my steps as a chosen one,
And truly all things are possible through Jesus the Son.

Through Him who gives me strength, I am blessed to follow His ways,
I strive as in a race vigorously, giving my all for the prize to which He’s called me,
I am blessed both in this life and the next, and through Him, I can do a ton,
I can do all things through Him who gives me strength – Jesus the Son.

Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through him who strengthens me.


Everything (A Haiku)
(C) Sterling C. Franklin

My Lord and my God,
Everything is possible,
Through You and not me.


Lord, Let me Serve You
(C) Sterling Franklin

Lord, let me serve You,
How Faithful Thou art,
Let me praise you forever
With all of my heart.

I need You more each day,
You are awesome indeed,
You water my spirit
After planting Your seed.

I have found I am nothing,
But You are Everything,
Lord, I want to exalt You,
To lift my hands to You and sing.

You take care of my sickness,
And You heal my disease,
Oh, the Love that I get
When I fall to my knees.

You comfort me to smiles,
And you wipe away my tears,
And have set me on Your Path
For all of my Years.

How Glorious You Are,
And I will truly serve You,
For the harvest is large,
But the workers are few.

Lord, You hear all my prayers,
But just grant me this plea,
I want to give you everything I have
And give You all the Glory.

I will worship You, Lord,
My Infinite King,
For You have Power over darkness
And over death's bitter sting.

Psalm 84:2 - My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.