Understanding...

So today is January 1st, the first day of the year of course and we seem to celebrate a time that allows the past year to be the past and a new year that brings new hope. The question is, can we not do that throughout the year when we decide to make a change and forget what happened yesterday? Can we not make resolutions for change throughout the year and try to keep them? We know that God has plans for us so says Jeremiah 29:11 but we do not always understand why the plans take us certain places or why they allow us to meet certain people. Sure some things will be insignificant and some people will not have any impact on your life whatsoever, but unless we take a risk and make the most of the opportunities given. For example, you cannot say that you never ministered to a person because you did not feel like it, but the fact that they died and are punished with eternal death happened for a reason. The reason is that you did not do anything, there is no higher meaning to it. You cannot say that you met someone who can do so much for you but when you force an outcome, come back to it and say that it happened for a reason because "everything happens for a reason." My reasoning is that everything out of our control happens for a reason, sure it might be the cause of someone else but for the most part, the choice we make dictate the outcomes of things. Sure I can say that when I sin, it is happening for a reason and that in the end God will make it all okay, but in reality, it only happens because I made the choice to and I am disobeying. I guess what I am trying to say is that though we do not know the exact plans God has for us or how long it will take for an outcome to arrive, God does not make us wait any longer than we need to and he does not just allow things to happen because there is necessarily a bigger purpose, it just so happens that the decisions of others, affects others intentionally or unintentionally. There are lessons learned but unless we stop trying to live the safe life and get by, we will never know what truly could have been our life.

I seem to have lost my devotional book and my bible is in the car but I just wanted to say that we look up to a higher power and we are reminded in Genesis 1:1 that "God created the heavens and the Earth." Nobody else except God. He is supreme and ruler over all, he gives us grace and mercy and as the song says, "there's only mercy and  believe me, it's enough. Your sins are gone without a trace, there is nothing left now, there is only grace" When hope is lost and when things seem to not be able to go your way and you do not know what the future holds, when you are told that one day you will meet that special person but you believe you have already met them, remember that God will take care of you and that person might just be being selfish and not be following the sign right in front of them that is pointing "right here, dummy." There is only one life, one God, and one way. I know I said going to the cages helps me clear my head but praying tonight really pulled some stuff of my heart and even when I want to let things go in the cages, it is much easier through prayer. I know that I need to step up and be the person that people need in their lives and I know that I need to let a few go in my life. Jesus left us here saying that one day he would be back and they had the instruction they needed until his return and I think there are people I need to give instruction to and let them go on their way and wish them the best. 

This might seem more like a rant, let me know your thoughts. IF it was more of a rant, I am sorry, this will not be a normal occurrence because I hope to find my devotional book, but I wanted to post because I know it is healthy for me and will help me grow. Take the new year with a grain of salt and make the best of it, because you never know who's dreams you may shatter or who's dreams you will make come true. You could be the angel someone is looking for but you need to take a risk and you are too afraid to. Do not be stupid but go to God and ask for guidance and maybe people do not agree with what you have but just let them have their opinion and live your life to the fullest, do not let others dictate the outcome to your story. Once again, what will people remember you for and how do you want to be remembered? As someone who gave it all? or someone who played it safe to get by? Just because you think you are giving it all, are you? or is that just what YOU want to believe?

Have a blessed night and Happy New year to all. Pray for me as I go to work and make a decision on a school (which is not looking to good, but it just means that God is narrowing down where I should be at).

God Bless,

Joseph Robinson

Day 59

I think that after today I am no longer going to post my titles as days, the days were meant to be part of the original 30 days but now I think original titles from here on out would have much more meaning. I have had a hard time the past week coping with things but tonight I went and hit and was able to clear my head. I know that is not the best way to take care of my mind but it does help and then when I settled down I started doing this so I think I will be able to get more out of my time with God rather than fuming the whole time. Looking back at a year with many ups and downs, I know this year has changed me so much from start to finish. I realized that I need to depend on myself and look to others for advice and sometimes i need to take it and other times I need to disregard it. People will disappoint and people will surprise you but you always have those you can rely on. Things will change everyday and situations will get better or worse but how we respond is what truly shows us who we are. As individuals we need to stop looking for who we are and ask God to reveal who we are to ourselves, then we can embrace ourselves and make the most of every opportunity. No matter what happens, he is always there and will help us through any tough time and will show us stuff we never knew was possible. Then he will show us stuff we do not want to see and we will make other plans for ourselves but in the end his ideas are so much better than ours and we have to make the most of it.

Today's devotional is called "Taking Time to Pray" and the text is found in Matthew 6:6 which states, "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen." Pretty much this is telling us that we need to make time available to God other than when it is convenient for ourselves and not when we feel like it is time to give God his due. I know that I find myself praying right before bed every night and I know it is not the best time to pray because I fall asleep most of the time mid prayer and I am not allowing God to speak to me. I have addressed this before but it is still sort of a problem and I know the change needs to be made. Giving God time to communicate with us is important because it is our time to grow  and his time to invest in us so that we can become who he wants us to be. All God asks of me is my best and if I cannot give him my best than what can I expect from him in return? My prayers cannot be answered if I am not listening. My walk cannot be complete without his guidance. My life cannot be complete without him. Distractions are Satan's unintentional way of keeping us away from God. The only reason I say unintentional is because we create and eliminate distractions and it is our choice as to whether to invest quality time or to give the bare minimum. Our prayer on this should be "I know I can pray when I ____ (drive, am falling asleep, eating, etc...) but there are too many distractions to make it my prayer room. My life includes time to spend with You. Show me when it is. " That will be my prayer and I hope you can make it yours. Corrie ten Boom "Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?" This means are you relying on prayer or are you just using it when you are in desperate need? Can you make God an everyday priority or is it just when all else fails and you know you have nowhere else to go? Sure he wants you to come to him regardless but it is much easier to do it from the start rather than to make up for it in the end.

I hope you are all having a great holiday season and that you all enjoy the last day of 2008. Follow your dreams for the next year and do not hold back because you could be missing the best time you have ever had. Let God be the steering wheel and just go along for the ride. He will take you to places you could never imagine and it all starts now. Have a good night and God Bless.

Joseph Robinson