Listy Things v2.0

It's been a couple weeks, I'm sorry.

It might be longer than that before the next one...so many changes are about to happen in this drrtyworld:

1. I'm moving in 2 weeks.

2. I am going to San Diego with Katrina after I move.

3. I am going to find a job when I get back.

4. I am going to spend more regular time with Katrina.

5. Apartment Shopping.

6. Wedding!

I came to some conclusions this week.

1. I don't really like 100 degree weather...so if I said that to anyone at any time in my life prior to now, I apologize and hereby retract my heat-loving comment.

1a) Weather forecasters are truely ignorant.

2. The more I learn about my fiance', the more I love her. (Bless that book!)

3. The more about myself I learn, the more I can love myself and let God use me for big things. (More on this later.)

4. This debut by the Bravery is kind of cool, now that I've had a moment to sufficiently crank it.

5. Salad. Who knew?

Okay, tough things.

We're all sinners, saved by Grace. God doesn't see sins when he sees His children, rather that we've accepted His son's sacrifice.

I've had a horrible time letting go and forgiving myself for stuff I did during my "dark period." It was a stretch of time where I was focused on taking care of my own needs, ignoring God's hand in my life, and pretty much blocking out all communication with Him. Without His influence, life can be really not-good.

Over the course of the last few months, I feel like I've reconnected and begun to seek more Christ-centered attitudes and habits.

What is forgiveness? I've seen it put this way: God can't punish you for sin if He's forgiven you. I've been punishing myself. I haven't forgiven myself.

I think I've figured out how, though.

1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Ah-ha!

Confessing!

I have to admit to sins! THEN comes the cleansing. Wow. What a revelation. God will forgive, but I have to own up to my shortcomings.

Thus endeth Joe's "truth discovery" moment. For today, that is.