Day 10

Today was nice to get back into the swing of things. I had all my classes but we had a much needed day off from practice. Being able to rest a little bit and allow my body to catch up on sleep and recover from the weekend. It will be a crazy last half of the semester but I am ready to take it on and I feel like I am better equipped this semester for just getting through it. I have battled through many tough things while I have been here at NCU and I am stronger because of it. I am so glad that I have this opportunity and I am ready to make the most of it. Having a pessimistic view on life makes it easy to get through things for a little while but in the end it makes things more difficult and prevents you from taking chances because all you expect is disappointment/failure from people. If I take a more optimistic approach to things then I have something to look forward to and something to fight for. Ultimately I think this is the reason as to why I have had success in the past and am currently doing what I am doing. I feel like I have wasted a lot of time just sitting around and letting things pass me by in just the past few months/semesters but I can make the change and allow for God to renew things and provide new opportunities for me. I have been knocked out for quite a while but as I come to, I see the fight is not over and I have a chance to get back in the ring and battle to the end.

I find that the more I search after God, the better I feel and I am able to distance myself from sin much easier. Ecclesiastes 2:26 states, "To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind." I read this and I find it to be so true. When I am living in the world and sinning, I feel like nothing I ever do is good enough to please people but when God is in the midst of my work, then I know that I am doing is pleasing to him and it is building his kingdom. People may recognize me and my work but usually it is just because I have done them a service, it never usually is helpful for me except that it humbles me but at the same time it causes anger and pride to come to the forefront. I feel like I do not want to just be recognized, I want to receive something in return but I have nothing to receive unless I have God working in it with me. When everything I do is pleasing to God, then I can truly say that I am living for him to the best of my ability and that I am ready to receive everything that he has promised me. Jim Elliot said, "It is His business to lead, command, impel, send, call, or whatever you want to call it. It is your business to obey, follow, move, respond, or what have you." I could not agree more with this statement. God has laid down the guidelines and given us a practical manual for how to live and be obedient to Him. It is our choice as to whether or not we are going to obey or disobey, whatever the outcome, it is ultimately our decision and he can do nothing about it (aside from divine intervention).

I hope that you all had a good Monday. God is continuing to do awesome things and I could not be happier with my situation right now. I am growing stronger each day and I am so excited to keep moving forward! Thank you for your prayers, please keep praying! I will be praying for all of you.

God Bless,

Joseph Robinson