Washed Clean

I can say for certain that I have had one of the most interesting weekends in recent memory. I learned that I can still have fun no matter what is going on and that no matter what other people think, God is ultimately going to bring me joy because to him our circumstances just bring him more reason to love on us. It has certainly been a long time coming but I think I am finally getting the hang of the idea of clinging to God even when things seem to be falling down. I have talked about it a lot but all it has been is talk. I feel like that is what my baseball team does a lot and until changes are made, nothing will change. When I begin to let God work then I see what He is doing, but when I try to do all the work, I sometimes pull in the opposite direction and not only am I not seeing what He is doing, but I am also making things more difficult. When you can get to a point where you understand that only God can judge you (rightfully), then you have nothing to be afraid of from this world. That is not to say that people will not look down on you for things you have done but if you move on from them and you move in the right direction, they need to let it go and hold you accountable for what you have done. It is so easy for us to say, "look at what he/she has done or is doing" and then we go and do something similar in nature in that we are doing something we should not be. We all have mistakes in our lives and when we tell people what we have done and then we move on, it is at that point in which our sin no longer binds us. In a video blog, TenthAvenueNorth addresses this and I agree that sometimes when we confess to God we feel like it is not real because it is easy to whisper to yourself and imagine you are telling God what you have done. On the other hand, when one has to tell another person what they have done, then it all the sudden becomes real and it is one of the toughest things to do. God has put people in place to help us grow and we need to utilize those people because sooner or later they will be gone and we will be left standing and wishing that we had done something sooner.

In my time reflecting on the troubled times I have faced over the last year, I have been continuing to look for comfort because I know that God will restore me and he will provide me a way to stand up on this and move into something greater than I could have ever imagined. Titus 3:3-8 states, "At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived, and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone." I think many times we focus on specific verses for atonement when some of the letters to the churches have their own forgiveness message and are just as powerful as those found in the Gospels. Let us stress the idea of moving forward and giving up our past because what other people think is trivial when it comes to what God thinks. I am at the point where I could care less what happened in the last 14 months because God is right here with me NOW and he has something new for me just around the corner and I cannot wait to see where he is leading me. I took a path and fell down but there was a hand right next to me telling me to get up and switch paths because the road would be easier traveled but still require the dedication and hard work of the other road. All I can say is do not try to stop me right now because God is at work and I will not give up what he has for me. I did that a little over a year ago and I am so upset that I did because he was right there telling me to just keep holding on a little longer.

Back to this weekend, we played baseball on Friday and I messed up my ankle and have been trying to take it easy, should be ready to go on Tuesday though. Took an 8 1/2 van ride back from Chicago area and then went and watched a movie with some of the craziest people ever and then spent 4 hours just talking about life and it was funny but at the same time one of the greatest moments that you know you will never forget. God is truly at work and I am so excited for the results to start showing up soon.

I am praying for all of you, I hope that you continue to do the same thing for me. Pray for my ankle and for my summer as I am deciding on where to go this summer over the next few days. God is great and I am giving it up to him.

God Bless,

Joseph Robinson