Gifts

So before I go into what my post is about, have you ever just sat back and listened to music through earphones? Sure we listen to music in earphones all the time, but have you thought and appreciated that we have hearing?  Have you noticed where the music sounds like it is when you have both earphones in? Well, tonight I experienced something totally amazing and it made me think of just how amazing our creator is for designing us the way in which we are. As I listened to a song, I noticed that the music seemed as if it were playing in the middle of my brain. Almost like I could hear little voices in my head or if the band were having a live concert in my brain. I know this might seem a little weird but just go with it. Especially since it was a worship, it seemed as though this whole song was consuming my thought and it touched deep into my soul. God is great and he shows us his greatness in such small ways everyday, we just have to take the time to recognize it and thank him for being so great and we can learn something new everyday. I guess you could call that a gift, which would go along with my title but that is not where I was going. What we need to understand is that God gives us all gifts to utilize and it is our job to find where out gifts best fit and use them to the best of our abilities. As a strong baseball player, it would be foolish for me to devote my sports focus to soccer or a sport in which I am not very good at. In the same way, God calls us each to be a part of something special in regards to his plan and we all work collectively for his Kingdom. Do not get discouraged if you are not good at something because God created you perfect for who he wants you to be and if you seek that, you will never go wrong.  

God has also created spiritual gifts and I know that sometimes I get discouraged if I have not yet been able to receive some of those but I know that this is based on my lifestyle sometimes and not based on my desire. God reserves his gifts for those who are giving everything to him and are filled with Him and the Spirit.  We are told in 1st Corinthians 12:4, "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit." Not everyone receives the same gifts in Christ because each one is unique, we all can have similar gifts but no two people have identical gifts. For example, all prayer languages are different, they have similarities between them but they are not the same. If you want to get technical, I am sure somewhere along the line there might be but this is not theology and a FULL examination of speaking in tongues so for that purpose we will not go into it. In 1st Corinthians 12:8-11 we see, "To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines." See, we are all special and we can receive many of these gifts but it is ultimately the Spirit who gives us this gifts according to what we are supposed to do and what we are supposed to do. Take pastors for example, there are different ones for different age groups, they have a certain group to reach, they are led to different areas, and they all have a common but different message. I believe this goes back to Ephesians 4:11-12 where it is stated, "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up."

Even though our gifts vary, that does not make any one person better than another. It just means that they have a different calling and different talents. God made us all perfect in his eyes and no person is more superior than others. Of course we have leaders but leaders are there to guide us, not control us. It is beneficial to us to have people that are there to lead otherwise we would be lost because God would be unable to reach people without having people in place that can be his physical hand. I said the other day that I would answer some questions and it slipped my mind and so I will answer them now. Do you base your daily discussion on Christ's commitment to you? I know that God has chosen me and I have an idea of what he wants to do with me so I try to follow where he is leading me everyday and my discussions come from that so my answer would be yes., How can His devotion to you inspire devotion from you? His devotion to me inspires me to want to give back to him because it is the least I can do and I want to do it. I am so far behind that I feel like I have forever to go in order to catch up to what he is doing but I need to follow his pace and he will give me what I need to take care of when the time arises. What does it feel like to be chosen by God? Well, I do not want to seem cocky but knowing that God has a plan and to have an idea of what he has called me to do is a very special feeling and I advise everyone to keep searching for what God has called them to do because it is such an amazing feeling.

I hope you all had a great Saturday and I hope that everything is well. If anyone needs prayer about anything, please let me know. My number is 480-292-1754 and you can always leave a comment or message me. 

God Bless,

Joseph Robinson

Lifeline

As I have sat in class the past few weeks, I have learned that Athletic Trainers are not just there to hydrate a player and to tape the players before a game or practice, but they are the first ones on the scene when there is an injury, they make an initial assessment and then send a player off to the hospital if the injury is serious enough. Trainers work with the athletes around the clock in the offseason in order to make sure the athletes are 100% when the season rolls around. When the true test of their health comes, they are ready to perform and when they are unsure about something, they come to the trainers for advice. In the same way, when we have problems, God is the first one to respond to our needs but the question is will we call on him? He has his door open continuously so that we can come in and be check out. God wants us to be 100% when Satan decides that now is the time to try and tear us down. Spiritually our walls get torn don throughout the day and over time they become completely bare unless we seek Christ and let him assist in building us back up. The cool thing about God is that he is more than a trainer, he is the doctor, the physician, and the savior. We do not have to ever leave when we are unsure or when we think that everything is just too troubled for him to take care of. God will protect and he will provide for everything we need and as long as we keep him as our lifeline, we will succeed. 

Psalm 5:1-3 is helpful in reminding us that God is there and all we need to do is call on him. David was so confident in the ability of the Lord that he said, "Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation" Now we know that God will hear us when he calls (he says so) but David is pretty much begging God to listen to all he has to say. David is pretty much saying that he is praying everyday and he is waiting on the Lord to answer, he is patient and he wants to know that his efforts are for something. All he wants is for someone to listen and he wants God to be for him. David does not want to be alone because he is seeking after God but if God is not listening, then who is? I have a feeling that David was not doubting whether or not God would listen, he just wanted God to know that he does care and that he relies on him to take care of all of his worries. It is written in Psalm 55:22, "Cast all your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall." God will not let us fall and if we are loyal to him then he will be loyal to us. You know, it is said that respect is earned and not given and in the case of God the same is true. God commands our respect and reverence but that is because he has already earned it by creating us and sending his Son to die for our sins.  He has already done so much for us that he CAN demand our respect. On the other hand, we have done nothing to deserve the respect that he gives us sometimes. But the more that we are loyal to him and the more we respect him, the more he will respect us and respond to our call. David knew this and David feared God so he begged the Lord to hear him because he knew he had nowhere else to go. In the same way, we find ourselves in situations everyday in which our only option is to pray to God because there is no one else to do so. As long as we show that we are willing to come to him on a consistent basis, your loyalty will be shown and God will be pleased with that. Remember that God is our lifeline and he sustains all things by his powerful word.

Continue to seek his grace and his plan for your life and do not give up if things seem grim. We are people who have to grind it out even when things do not seem to be going our way and God will help us through the storm. God is good and he is the same today, tomorrow, and forever. The sooner we realize that, the better off we will be. I hope you all had a great day and I hope God is doing amazing things in and around you.

God Bless,

Joseph Robinson

Where do you want to be?

Well, today was a very busy day and I was running around pretty much from 8:30 to about 6 and then I did some studying and then headed off to club baseball practice. I like being busy because it helps me set up my priorities better. I know I should have found time for my devotional earlier in the day but I knew that I would get to it not because I was putting it off but because I was going to make time for God this evening before bed. I did not feel that I needed to do this but I wanted to be in the word and see what God had for me today. I learned quite a bit today and finally got to see a little into the life of an Athletic Trainer and I can say that it is pretty much everything I have imagined. It is the same way with God as we first get introduced to him and start seeking him, we begin to realize what we have been missing out on and I guess that is part of the reason why I felt I needed to start doing a daily devotional. I know it was something that God laid on my heart but I had to make the choice to follow what he was calling me to do. Was I going to continue to keep living the way I was living or was I really ready to start living for him and living a life of integrity. I should not be ashamed when I go hang out with my Christian friends because I think they are going to find out that I sinned or that I am just not a good person to be around because I sinned. I like to know that I am walking with God and can talk to them and be honest about what God is doing and I do not have to be like "well, I sinned today and I am a big screw up" instead I can say "God is doing amazing things and teaching me new things each day and I have stood strong.

As someone who has been trying to figure out where I am at in God and what he wants me to do, I always ask what I need to do and what choices I need to make in order to follow him and his plan. Tonight I was brought to John 15:16 which states, "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name." I am almost positive I have used this verse before but I used the whole paragraph instead of just one verse and so I did not concentrate just on this verse. It is awesome to know that God has chosen us and if we choose to walk away, he will not leave us but we get to choose where we want to be at. Are we going to be whatever he wants us to be or are we going to walk away and join the side of the devil? See he can tell when we are going through the motions and being "lukewarm" and he wants us to pick a side. If we do not want to be on his team then he can only wait and hope we make the decision. He has picked everyone to be on his team but sometimes we are stubborn and tell him that we would rather play for the other team. The only problem is that the other team is not going to win, sure they might have more fun but they are not effective in winning the championship. When we work to be a part of God's team, we are collectively working for one goal and following the only way to that goal. God wants us to choose him but he cannot make the decision for us, he has called us to him and we just ignore the call (sometimes). The cool thing is that if we hit a rough time or we walk away, he will come looking for us and try to find a way back in. We find this truth in Luke 15:4, "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?" Now God might not come looking for us personally but he is going to send people into our lives to try and help guide us back and build us up because it means more for him to have one person enter or return than it is to have 99 who already know, enter. I know that I have picked my side and I know where I am headed, can you say the same about yourself? Or are you just standing no God's side and are unsure about the pick, you might want to switch sides because you think the other side is better but you do not know what to do?

Some things to ponder, "Do you base your daily discussion on Christ's commitment to you?, How can His devotion to you inspire devotion from you?, What does it feel like to be chosen by God?" I will definitely be answering some of these tomorrow. Hope to hear some feedback from you guys! Discuss, don't be bashful!

Hope you all had an amazing day, I am praying for all of you. Let me know if you need anything.

God Bless,

Joseph Robinson

Canceling out the Negative

Is it not strange how one person can be so down at one point but something you do or something you say immediately changes the way they think and they are instantly brought to a point in which they experience a high. It is a thing called encouragement and I know that encouragement is something that gets me through just about everyday. It does not necessarily come from other people but it comes from God and what he his doing through me. However, there are times when we need to encourage others because they just do not know what to do and they just want a sense of hope. Sometimes all they are clinging to is the hope that someone will bring them hope and that is a dangerous place to let people fall to. Then there are other times when people get discouraged because of others who tear them down and tell them they are not good enough or they just yell at them because they screwed up. This is when someone needs to step in and say "hey. do not worry about it, you will get it next time." or "Learn from what you did and do not make the same mistake next time, you will get it done." We do not know exactly how much our words of encouragement affect other people but there are times when you can see a change in them and sometimes they do tell you that you have had a profound impact on their situation and other times even their life. This world spends so much time telling us that we have an equal opportunity to do something but when it comes down to it, it is only an equal opportunity to do things their way, any other way is not valid and should be disregarded by ALL. Pretty much, some of us are told that we are not good enough and that our work is not appreciated because we left out one minor detail but we still did the job right and got it done. We are not robots and we do not have to conform based on what people tell us and we feel the only way to regain that hope and be happy again is just to accept what we are told and beat ourselves up. Think for yourself and let yourself (guided by God) dictate who you become and how you get there. Yes, we do have to follow procedure but we can also learn and think on a higher level than we are expected. Everything has to be dumbed down and there is no room for innovation if you do not do it right. This causes people to become discouraged and when you have a support group that can sympathize with you and who is willing to back you, then you know that you are doing what you are supposed to. Quite simply, do not ever let anyone tell you that you cannot do anything because there are ways to do it (usually) but some people are too stubborn to allow for change. 

We see in Hebrews 10:24 that encouragement is encouraged when it states, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." Do not let someone go through life being down on themselves all the time, consider how they can be helped and put it into action. Sometimes just being there for a friend when they need someone to talk to is enough to encourage them and if they ask for advice, make sure you give them God given advice and help them through their rough time as God guides you. Sit down and talk to someone who seems like they have been having a rough day and just let them know that you notice them and that you care about how they feel. It is the little things that can be most rewarding for us who can help. Take time to consider what you can do. Another thing that can be done if you are close enough to a person is to give them a hug. Hugs can be so comforting and they are one of the best ways to show that you care and want to help. Hugs are heartwarming and they provide a sense of security for someone who is unsure about what is going on. We do not have to wait for people to be happy to talk to them, especially if we have God on our side. God tells us that he will meet us where we are at and he is with us no matter how tough things get. If one of your friends just lost a friend or a family member, they might not want to talk but just send them a card or leave a message to show that you care but do it because you want to, not because you feel obligated. Some people are able to tell when you are doing stuff out of pity and they do not want that, they want someone who genuinely cares and will encourage them throughout their tough time. 

The same holds true for Christians, do not always point out what people are doing wrong if they know they are doing wrong. Build them up and encourage them to change and let them know that they can get through it. Trust me, I know that when I have been caught in sin, it is not that I do not want out, it is that I feel that I am better off there because I have let Satan get ahold and he is telling me I am already in so why not just stay a while? Knowing that one can overcome is one of the best things to hear and it is reassurance that we can make the change and we can be happy. Like I said, it just takes one person to make a difference and who is that person going to be? Are you going to wait for someone else to come along like in the story about the good samaritan? Someone is crying out to you to notice them and you pass them every day because you are too busy or selfish to notice (myself included).

Hope you all have a great day and you continue to seek him. Do not let up and go 100%. I am praying continually for all of you.

God Bless,

Joseph Robinson

P.S. I just found a new song by Kutless called "I Do Not Belong" I think it is a powerful song and it depicts exactly what God has showed me over the past few months and where I am going. I think it is encouragement for Christians and Non-Christians alike. Here is the song and the lyrics,

"I look around and I feel like, thing's changed and I don't know why

And everyday that passes by I feel so far away
I can see in the distance, You have the rest of me
I put my trust in you, as I look beyond today
It's all becoming clear. 

I do not belong in a world of broken pieces
I was meant to be in the arms of Your redemption
I am moving on to the place of Your perfection
Cause I do not belong 

When the world is behind me on the day that I breathe my last
In the face of enternity there's hope cause' I believe
When I look to the heavens and the future that you hold
It makes it easier to see beyond today
Now I'm looking to the sky 

I do not belong in a world of broken pieces
I was meant to be in the arms of Your redemption
I am moving on to the place of Your perfection
Cause I do not belong 

This world is not my home
I'm a stranger in this land
But I am not alone
When I do not belong: 

I do not belong in a world of broken pieces
I was meant to be in the arms of Your redemption
I am moving on to the place of Your perfection
Cause I do not belong
No, I do not belong
I do not belong"

Fear

I would not say that today has been one of the best days I have had in recent memory but I guess I cannot complain too much. I got quite a bit done today and it was rather productive. Something did not go my way in one of my classes and I have been ready to fight it all day and I have been trying desperately but I realized tonight that it was not worth it and I know God is going to teach me from this and help me understand why it happened so I am okay with it and I will move on. There are times when it just seems to feel like you cannot get a break your way but God is right there and we have nothing to worry about. I begin my training rotation on Thursday and I get to observe trainers in the training room and I will get to understand what they do and learn. I am a very visual learner so I think this will be rather beneficial to me and I think it will be a good learning experience. God is preparing me for something big very soon and I am excited to get going on it when I realize exactly what it is he is doing. For all I know, he is waiting on me and I need to jump on it but if I have not taken ahold of it yet, I think it is because I have just been blind to the fact that he is working (not uncommon for me) and all it is going to take is for me to step out and say that I am ready and willing.

I have just been scared lately of what has been going on in me and I think there are things I have not been wanting to accept but I am trusting God, the problem I think is that I have not been truly loving him and there has been something that has risen from that lack of love and that is fear. Lucky for me, I have a verse that has a remedy and I can overcome this. 1st John 4:18 states But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." I am usually a pretty confident person because I know that confidence leads to a positive attitude and that keeps me happy. My classes are fairly easy but I have just been stressing a lot lately and I guess I feel like I could be doing more and I am worried that I am not doing enough to prepare for tests and whatnot. That is fear I can control and I can help myself by just studying a little each day so I do not feel like I wasted a day when I do not study.  The other stuff has just been career wise, I know I am doing what I am supposed to be doing but I am just worried that I will not make it or that I will not be good enough. I know this is the work of Satan and I cannot let it get to me but sometimes I lose sight of that and it is easy to get down. I do not know what I would do if I was not in the word everyday. God reveals so much to me everyday and I learn so much from posting and talking to a few of you. I am stronger than this and I will overcome, in 2nd Timothy 1:6-7, it states, "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline." Such a great encouragement, being able to know that he has given me everything I need to get through this and all I need to do is believe in myself and believe that he can help me through. I know this weight would be lifted if I just gave it to him. When we try to do it on our own, it seems as if the weight of the world is on our shoulders and we do not know where to turn, the only answer is to God.

Have you ever though about what it would be like to be completely stress free for the rest of your life? Some of us are able to escape from things for a little while but most of the time it is just a temporary escape and then things seem to build and everything seems worse when we come back to it all. God has an answer to this if we seek him and allow him to have complete control. I know it is hard to listen to me when I say this because I struggle with it too, but trust me when i say he is speaking to me and he is speaking to you. If you think you stumbled upon this blog by chance and you just kept reading it because you want to see how many times I screw up or you just wanted to see how long I would go, that is not the real reason why you stayed. I believe that God is speaking to you every time you read a post and he is molding you into a great person and he is enacting the plan he has for your life. If you do not think this is true, ask me about it and we can talk. I would love to talk to someone about something.

I keep praying and I keep standing strong, I have built so much from my low point last week and I know I am getting near a high. God is just waiting to overflow in my life and I am seeking him so that it will be easy for him to do. Keep standing strong and step out in faith. Do not wait for the answers because they might not come for a while.

God Bless,

Joseph Robinson

Leading, not controlling

Well, today has been a fairly good day. My classes went pretty well and I got some stuff done this afternoon that I know will make the next week or so go rather well. I kinda got teary eyed this afternoon in a bookstore and I had to walk around a little bit before I went to the counter because I almost broke out in full out tears.  All I can say to that is that God is amazing and he knows how to reach me when things seem so lost. I have been so humbled by some of my experiences in recent weeks and I know I have become a better person because of it. God has opened my eyes to so many things unseen in the past week or so and I am growing rapidly but I know not to let my high be too high and not to let my lows be too low. It is good to understand what God is doing around you and to join him but it is not good to get arrogant because things are getting better. That is usually when I think I am untouchable and then I get pulled down again because I let my guard down. I do not think that is going to happen this time around because I have learned from my mistakes and I will not let Satan infiltrate the structure that God is building. He is working from the inside out and now the inside is stronger than ever. There are times in which I feel like I have people always looking to me and I tend to like the spotlight but there are times when I try to take over and I do not do what God wants me to do. I can be very controlling and in sports and such that can be good (as far as being a leader) but when it comes to what Christ is doing, it is best to let him do the controlling and let us follow and help him.

We see in 1st Peter 5:2-4 how God calls us to be leaders but he wants us to be willing and have the right attitude as leaders. We are here to guide those that are around us and help them grow in Christ and he gives us the way in which we need to do it. It is stated, "Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away." As a leader or as a Christian, we are overseeing all of God's flock, more so if we are a leader but he wants us to be in the ministry for the right reasons and maybe that is one reason why most pastors do not make a great deal of money. This verse right here says that it is not about the money but it is about providing good examples to those who look up to us. We all have people who look up to us and whether you know it or not, they are watching all the time. But, we see here that if we do what God has asked us to do, we will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. I do not know about all of you but I would love to get that crown. Unlike winning a championship or a tournament, this crown that we receive will last for while those things will only last for the time that you spend on this earth and then it will mean nothing. I think God has called me to be a student leader somewhere and as I have previously stated, a youth pastor and I know that he is going to do great things in me. I am not ready to get carried away though, all I can do is take one day at a time and let God guide me until I get to that point. I know that when he returns or when I die, he will be pleased with what I have done and I will hear those magical words when he says, "well done my servant, you may enter my Kingdom." He has been so faithful to me even when I have left him behind and I am truly a testament to his grace. I have finally found something that clicks for me and I am glad because I am truly happier now that I have him in my life everyday.

I hope that all of you are growing in knowledge and depth of insight by reading this blog and that you are also doing what ever you can to better yourselves. If you are not a Christian, it is no big deal, just keep doing the little things and hopefully you will see what God can do in you. If you feel you are a good person and you do not need Christ, he does not look for "good" people, he wants to have a relationship with you and he does not need you to run 1000 miles to get to him, he will meet you where you are at if you are willing. Keep seeking and keep praying! Hope you all have an amazing night and I hope to hear from some of you!

God Bless,

Joseph Robinson

Commit

Every year we commit ourselves to something new, weather it is our job, our family, a diet plan, sports teams, actually following a devotional pattern, some might go down the road of drinking, smoking, marriage is another commitment that people make, and some of us it just my be school. I know for me, I committed to school and baseball every year I was in high school because I wanted to be the best student athlete that I could be. I made sure that I showed up to every practice, every class, and that I would excel at what I was becoming. Making a commitment is pretty much the same as a promise if not the same; this is because you are saying that you will give what ever it takes to fulfill that commitment. I know that I need to step up my commitment to school so that I can give my all and do well this semester and I intend to start doing that. I know there are commitments that I have made that I have not seen all the way through and I know that is not a good thing but I am admitting that I made mistakes. I sometimes over commit myself and that tends to be a problem for me and it is something that I need to work on. I am sure all of you have made commitments at one point or another and you know that when you break them, it can be one of the worst feelings in the world but when you repeatedly follow it you have a sense of accomplishment and you should. I have made some commitments to Christ in my life and I do not think I have sincerely made the ones that I have said I was going to make and I end up breaking them in the end. When we make a commitment, there should not be a doubt in our mind that we are not going to go through with it because a commitment means giving 100% to that thing.

We see a good example of commitment in 1st Kings 19:19-21 when Elijah approaches Elisha to make him his successor as a prophet. It is stated, "So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. 'Let me kiss my father and mother good-by.' He said . 'and then I will come with you.' 'Go back,' Elijah replied. 'What have I done to you?' So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant. " What a great example we see of commitment to God and to the call on which has been brought upon Elisha. He burned everything he had for farming and he killed all of his oxen so that he could not return even if he wanted to. He gave up everything to answer the call and he did not want to look back. All he asked was that he say goodbye to his family because he loved them dearly but after that he was all business. I know that God has called me and he has told me I need to leave some things behind me but there are times when I just do not want to because I am scared to let go. I am trying desperately to go all out 100% but I cannot do that until I let go of some things. We are bombarded with images, language, and actions everyday that try to pull us in and break our commitment to God, our partner, our friends, our family, or just any other thing we have committed to. God does not like to have to battle for attention because he deserves more than that. He deserves attention and he should not have to compete with the world in order to gain it. He wants everything from us or nothing. His cause is a higher cause and will give us more than we could ever imagine if we just give it all up for his Kingdom and let him take over. He has thrown his cloak around us and said here is your position but he will not wait around forever for us to make an answer, we either will go or we will not.

I hope you all had a great day and that you continue to seek God with everything you have. If you are not a Christian and you are looking for something, I am not going to push anything on you but just keep searching because He is out there waiting to meet you. If you have questions about what I write and what I believe, do not be afraid to ask because I would be more than happy to discuss with you. I am praying for all of you and I know that God is going to continue to do great things.

God Bless,

Joseph Robinson