Author: Michael Robinson

I’m guessing everyone else feels the same way about their Sabbatical, but I’ll say it any way…This Was Awesome!

Words can’t describe how grateful I am for this last month! Amazing time with the Lord, forever memories with my family, times of refreshing and rest, serving others, growing in my faith and as a man of God and husband/father, getting things done around the house and much more.

This last week I was able to spend a few days with my son at his Boy Scouts camp. I’m so excited about the time I had bonding with him and getting to experience new things. I made more head way on our garage. Still can’t get my car in there but we’re closer. I also finished the Wild At Heart book. It was a good one! I plan on reading the follow up books called Fathered By God.

I go back to work on Monday. I’m prepared and excited to get going again. A big thanks to Kris for this wonderful month! I’m so grateful to work at FD and am truly a blessed man!

Oh, I decided to shave this morning since I had let my beard grow out this month. It’s all gone now.

Blessings!

Michael

For months I’ve needed to organize/clean/throw out stuff in my garage. We can only park one car in it now and I’ve vowed to remedy this. This week I’ve managed to de-clutter some and make some extra room for my car. However, I’ve got a long way to go.

I have also needed to removed several tree branches in the back yard (particularly some that were hanging on our roof and over our fence). I’m happy to report that I finished that task. I did cut my hand pretty badly but nothing too damaging. I guess this is what I get for doing manly stuff 😉

I’ve most enjoyed waking up late and taking my time each morning with a good cup of coffee in hand. I’m learning this month that I rarely, if ever, slow down. This is something I must learn to do. It’s been refreshing to simply relax and enjoy my day, whether I did something or not.

Another highlight from this past week has been what I’ve been learning and convicted of from my time reading “Wild At Heart”. I’m super glad I chose this book and have been blessed and challenged from it. God is using it in ways I never expected. Thankful!

I’m so enjoying this time!

Michael

This past week I had the great opportunity to partner with Eastridge Baptist Church. They are a congregation that ministers to the most diverse and one of the poorest areas of Amarillo. The church offers ESL classes, helps refugees fill out any needed paperwork, they offer services in other languages and much more. They have a kids program after school and in the afternoons in the summer. It’s an open gym time where kids can play in a safe environment. They also serve a hot meal each and every day.

The program is run by the senior pastor, Mike Garmin. I was thankful to help him this past week. My help was simple yet was something I believe blessed him. I put together a tool bin, vacuumed their artificial turf, helped prep the meal time, swept floors and hung out with the kids.

On Thursday and Friday I was able to open up the gym and oversee the days program. Pastor Mike was sick and asked me to cover it for him. This turned out to be a blessing because if I was unable to help those days he would have had to cancel. I was happy to help out.

The church is doing some great things for their neighborhood and I look forward to working with them in the future. Pastor Mike definitely needs help taking care of the program and I will be a voice for him and what they’re doing in hopes more people will get involved.

I’m so grateful for the opportunity to help them and serve a different community.

Michael

Last night my family and I made it home from an amazing week of 2300 miles through beautiful New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado. We saw 5 National Parks in two states. We drove over the Colorado River more times than I can remember in a total of three different states. We drove down the road that Forrest Gump ended his famous run on. My son and I walked (yes, walked) down a river in Zion National Park (which was probably the best park of all of them-yes, more so than the Grand Canyon-which was amazing as well!). We saw lots of snow. We saw lots of sand. We saw HUGE rocks! We saw Arches! We saw canyons! We walked and walked and walked!! We ate and ate and ate! We stood in four states at one time! We experienced life together as a family! It was wonderful!

It might have been my all time favorite trip (at least top 5). I can’t wait to go on another trip like this one.

My friends and co-workers, I want to encourage you to take a trip like this one day. Go outside! Experience God’s beautiful creation! Take the back roads! Look down 5000 feet to the river below! Climb hills! Walk down trails! Walk in rivers with your kids! Put lots of sunscreen on! Stop at lookout points! Take pictures!

Take it all in!

I’m so thankful for my family and our trip!

Tomorrow my family and I will embark on a vacation like one we’ve never taken.

We’re heading out to simply see some of the most beautiful and fascinating things in our country. We’re first going to see ShipRock, then stand on the four corners area and drive through Monument Valley of southern Utah. Then on to Antelope Canyon near Page, Arizona and off to see the amazing Grand Canyon.

The remainder of our trip will be enjoying the beauty of God’s Creation at all five national parks of Utah (Zion, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Arches).

I can’t wait to see these marvelous sights and enjoy it with my family! I’m ready to soak it all in!

Michael

That verse will be my prayer during the Sabbatical month. It’s simple yet super important and potentially life changing.

Jesus had just begun His earthly ministry. For some time John the Baptist had been preparing the way for Jesus to enter the scene. Now that He had, John said these words…

“He must become greater; I must become less.”

This is it my friends: Jesus must increase in my life. I must decrease.

I pray this will happen during this time of rest, reflection, service and growth.

I pray this will happen for the rest of my life!

Michael