Choose This Day

"But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15

In Chapters 23 and 24 we read Joshua's final instructions and farewell messages to the people he had led for so long. He was now one-hundred-ten-years-old and approaching death. It was his last chance to encourage them to "get it right." He reminded them God chose them even before Abram followed Him from Haran.

"The LORD had said to Abram, 'Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you." Genesis 12:1-3

He rehearsed for them the history of the nation's relationship with the LORD their God. He implored them to be faithful to the One who had always been faithful to keep His promises.

"So be very careful to follow everything Moses wrote in the Book of Instruction. Do not deviate from it, turning either to the right or to the left. Make sure you do not associate with the other people still remaining in the land. Do not even mention the names of their gods, much less swear by them or serve them or worship them. Rather, cling tightly to the LORD your God as you have done until now."
Joshua 23:6-8

The people listened to Joshua warn them of the consequences of turning away from God. Twice, the people vowed they would follow the LORD and serve Him only.

"You are a witness to your own decision,' Joshua said. 'You have chosen to serve the LORD.' 'Yes,' they replied, 'we are witnesses to what we have said.' 'All right then,' Joshua said, 'destroy the idols among you, and turn your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.' Joshua 24:22-23

Sin was already drawing them away. They had begun intermarrying with the inhabitants of the land, bringing their idols into their tents and worshiping them. The sin nature has a tenacious hold over mankind.

Until Jesus offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin at Calvary, we were captives to the reign of the sinful nature over us. The apostle Paul wrote to the Romans:

"...The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can't. I want to do what is good, but I don't. I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway." Romans 7:14b-19

Can you relate? I know I can.

"I have discovered this principle of life--that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God's law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 7:21-25a

Caught between wanting to do good yet bowing to sin--what a miserable, depressing condition. But, when Jesus came into our lives, He not only set us free from the hold of sin over each one of us, He gave us His Holy Spirit to make us able to follow through on our choice to live righteously.

"But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)" Romans 8:9

So, dear sisters, we, too have a choice to make. Whose nature will we follow? The righteous nature of Jesus living within us or the nature of sin inherited from Adam? The choice is ours. Who will we serve? May we all, with the help of the Holy Spirit, proclaim...

"But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15b

by Marilyn Allison

 

 

Preschool Preparation in Japan--My Part Time Job

"Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Editor's Note: Our missionary family to Japan, the Alvarados, recently enrolled their four year-old daughter, Rosalyn, in the education system in Japan. This is a reminder of what our missionaries face when living and serving in another culture. Please continue to lift them up in prayer. So much that we take for granted can be a major hurdle in another country.

I stood in front of the rack of plastic-wrapped packages, one hand on my forehead, one holding the open book in front of me.  I glanced up and studied the rack.  I looked back down and studied the book.

Five minutes later, the scene was the same, only my kiddos were nearing the end of their patience.  I looked around and spotted a lady with an elementary-aged kid.

“Excuse me.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t work here.”

“I know, but you have a kid."  [awkward pause] "Can you help me?”

I had a whole list of things to buy. Some of the packages looked like they might match the pictures in my book, but without labels, I couldn’t confirm. Everything made sense to all the Japanese moms, who knew instinctively what they were, but I was at a loss as to why I needed so many separate bags.  On some of them, the measurements and shapes mattered.  Some didn’t.

I bought what I could confirm I needed and texted my neighbor on the walk home.  A few days later, she helped me figure out all I would need, what fabrics were used for what types of bags, and where I could pinch pennies and just get supplies at the dollar store.

Gee whiz!  The next couple of weeks were spent at the sewing machine we borrowed, sewing labels onto my kid’s uniforms. Even her socks, shoes and undergarments needed her name written on them.  The socks (I was advised to go with dark colors) needed a special white oil pen and were best written on the arch of the foot. Because the writing wears off easily, I was warned I’d be doing this forever.

After adjusting the sleeves on her uniform jacket multiple times, I finally called it a season and started to put away the pile that had become “school stuff”.

I began to look to the Entrance Ceremony.  I was expected to wear a 'first-lady looking suit,' with a corsage.   Spring colors are chic for entrance ceremonies while black is better for graduations.  (Store that somewhere in my mental file cabinet of pertinent particulars.) My husband would need a suit and tie for the occasion.  I added these things to my checklist.  Incidentally, I just learned that the corsage is not a real flower but a fake flowery thing--most of them too phoo-phoo for me.

I sat with a lady from church who went through our instruction booklet with me--every single page.

“On Mondays, you’ll take all these bags.  You put this, this, and that in this bag and the rest go in that bag.  On Wednesdays, the towels (with the little loop you sewed to the center) will come home; wash it and send another back on Thursdays. 

School lunch is Monday, Wednesday and Fridays; you pack a lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Still, go ahead and send the cup/bag each day because the kids get thirsty.

Notes home from the teacher will come in this pocket.  Check it everyday. You can send notes to the teacher in the same pocket on this type of paper. Don’t call the school except for X, Y or Z reasons. 

The school will withdraw the money from your account right around the first of the month, so make sure it’s deposited.”

The specifications went on and on.

Thankfully, in all this process, it’s been so wonderful to have a lady from our church and my next-door neighbor to help answer the many questions I come up with.

This morning, I spent 30 minutes searching in near panic for one of the pins I’m supposed to put on her jacket. I stopped, prayed, and happened to look down at the book and read right at the spot where it said I would receive this pin at the entrance ceremony.

Whew.  Did I mention I had a dream--sometime in February--that it was the first day of school and I had done none of these preparations and my kid was the only one standing out completely unprepared?

Yeah, I had that dream.  It was occasioned by a note in the instruction booklet which said kids experience a terrible shock when they realize they don’t have what they need and everyone else does--so please be careful to make sure you prepare your child well.

Yeah.

Well, I think we are all ready for tomorrow.  Rosalyn certainly is, and I think that’s the main point.  After months of preparation, I think we’re ready to embark on this first leg of the journey that is full-time school life in Japan.

by Janine Alvarado, CCEA Missionary to Japan

Unity

"But while they were still in Canaan and when they came to a place called Geliloth near the Jordan River, the men of Reuben, Gad, and half-tribe of Manasseh stopped to build a large and imposing altar. The rest of Israel heard that the people of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had built an altar at Geliloth at the edge of the land of Canaan, on the west side of the Jordan River. So the whole community of Israel gathered at Shiloh and prepared to go to war against them." Joshua 22:10-12

The warriors of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh had received Joshua's blessing for a job well done (their seven-plus-year commitment to assist the other tribes in claiming their land of promise). They were on their way home--to the east side of the Jordan. Before they reached the river, it was decided to erect a huge monument they called "Ed." The Hebrew meaning is witness, testimony, evidence. 

The motivation for building the altar was fear. As they marched toward the Jordan, a gnawing doubt, a "what if," began to build. What if someday the children of Israel forget our joint lineage to Jacob and deny us the right to come back and take part in the sacrifices and offerings to our LORD God? They weren't even out of Canaan before fear and doubt began to divide the nation. They doubted their brethren and feared they'd be excluded. And the rest of the tribes? They heard a rumor and believed the worst of their kinsmen.

What bothers me most about this development is that, after all they've gone through--all the years of learning the blessings of the LORD for seeking Him and the consequences for doing what was right in their own eyes--neither side sought the LORD before acting. We shake our heads and think, "tsk-tsk, they should have known better."

But, are we any different? Do we jump to conclusions and act on what we've heard without bothering to check it out with the LORD? Do we follow what we think is a good idea, without getting wisdom and guidance from the Holy Spirit? Are we quick to see a lack in a sister's attitude and excuse any lack in our own lives? Has someone hurt our feelings, or--worse yet--have we hurt someone by repeating a piece of information to someone else that should have been offered in prayer for the Father's ears only?

We all have the same Savior, Jesus Christ. He paid the same price for each one of us. The number and degree of our sins doesn't determine the price. He paid everything for all of us with His life. The same Savior paying the same price makes us one. We have all been loved with the same love by this same Jesus.

"But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!) For He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:4-6

The unity in the body of Christ should be our "Ed." The motive for our witness, our testimony, is Love.

"This is real love--not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and His love is brought to full expression in us." 1 John 4:10-12

His love brought to full expression in us...love toward one another.

"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance...love will last forever!." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

This is the love that should be our testimony, our witness to the world. Yet, how many times do we see Christians condemning other believers for something they have said--for an opinion they hold that might be controversial? Do you read comments on Facebook, especially in Christian Groups? Have you taken note of the comments flinging back and forth about the latest rumor from the White House? About the First Family? Did any of you watch the Royal Wedding and hear the sermon about love? The ceremony was barely over when the first negative comments appeared. It made me wonder, did anyone listen to the truth presented in the hymns? The sermon? Unfortunately, this is no longer the exception. Tearing down someone else, even a believer, has become the new normal.

What are we to do? I suggest we ask the LORD to turn His spotlight on our hearts. Ask Him to expose any hypocrisy in our heart attitudes, then repent and ask the Holy Spirit to guide us in the ways that please and glorify God. Let's take a bath in the Word of God for it is...

"...alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires." Hebrews 4:12

When we hear something and we are tempted to take on the heavy weight of a negative response, let's consult God and learn what He would have us do.

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." Philippians 4:8

These are the guidelines we should follow. It takes the power of the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with love and virtue. When we consult Him first, we won't fall prey to rumors, doubts and fear. We won't start a civil war in the body of Christ. We'll build each other up in His most Holy Love...and the world will see that we are united.

by Marilyn Allison

Offer What You Have

"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him." Colossians 3:17

The night before Micah’s class party, I noticed an unread message in my Inbox.  The Class Mom was thanking me for volunteering to bring the Carrot and Celery Turkey Cups…

Turkey Cups? UGH! I thought I’d signed up for carrot and celery sticks.

Apparently, I didn’t scroll down to the bottom of her previous email. I’d missed the Pinterest example she’d attached. How could I make such a rookie mistake?!

If having elementary school kiddos has taught me anything, it’s ALWAYS scroll to the END of email messages. For real. Read. The. Whole. Thing.

If you don’t, you’ll miss crucial sentences:

"Please have your child dress like his/her favorite super hero." 
"RSVP yesterday or your kids won’t get a party favor." 
"Shhhhh! It’s a surprise!"

It was too late to make a frantic Michael’s run. A crazy-lady-mental-inventory would have to suffice:

Plastic cups...
Brown paper...
I THINK I have orange paper...
But those eyes…no way was I cutting teensy-tiny circles this late.
I’m pretty sure I have sticky googly eyes in the closet. Although, I’m not sure why…
Ah, yes…I had googly eyes. But not one was the same size!

I was at a Mamma crossroads: Do I use what I have, or just throw in the towel?

Isn’t life like that? We don’t have the ‘perfect’ thing to offer, so we’re tempted to offer nothing.

If it’s not mismatched googly eyes, it’s... 
a house that’s too small for gatherings...
only an hour a week to write...
or lasagna that’s not as good as mom’s.

So why help in the classroom?
Why invite people over?
Why write a blog?

It’s hard to give from areas we feel "less than." The enemy hisses in these shallow spaces, "God can’t use this, don’t even bother."

"Really, Satan?"

 Because, I remember a boy who offered five small loaves and two small fish. Jesus used them to feed multitudes. (John 6:9)

I know a story about a widow who offered a little oil and a handful of flour. God never allowed her jars to run dry. (1 Kings 17:7-16)

There once was a man slow of speech and tongue. He was hesitant to offer his voice. God used him to stand against Pharaoh and set his people free. (Exodus 4:10)

As a Mamma, sometimes all I can offer is a pile of dirty dishes, never-ending laundry, sick kiddos and pets I forget to feed. We all have moments like Moses saying to God,  Are you sure you want this? I don’t have much to offer you.

Offer it anyway.

He sees every scrap of bread, shaky insecurity, dirty sock and mismatched googly eye we raise up to him.  He’ll use it!

He delights in making small things significant.

God gives us joy when we give from our shortage, rather than our supply. 

This creates space for God to show up, not only in our lives, but in the lives of others. Jesus fed hungry masses in response to a boy’s meager offering. He provided security for the widow’s child when she presented a handful of flour. Moses set people free, laying bare his shortcomings, trusting God to use them.

The kiddos and I giggled late into the evening finishing those silly cups.  Life isn’t always dramatic. Those awful turkeys didn’t set any captives free, but God handed us back layers of laughter that overflowed into the classroom the next morning.

We used what we had. It was enough for God to turn into joy.

by Jenna Masters

Prone To Wander

"But be very careful to obey all the commands and the instructions that Moses gave to you. Love the LORD your God, walk in all His ways, obey His commands, hold firmly to Him, and serve Him with all your heart and all your soul." Joshua 22:5

The fighting was over. The land had rest. Now Joshua was sending the warriors from the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh "home"--not to the land God had promised the descendants of Abraham. They were going to the land they thought was a better fit for them. God's best for them would have been within the boundaries of the land He had chosen for them. However, He allowed, through Moses, their choice of the land east of the Jordan River.

Until now they had followed a commander they could see face to face. As he said goodbye, Joshua reminded them what they needed to do to remain in fellowship with the LORD their God. It required commitment and effort. It wouldn't come easy, but there was a reward for their obedience.

"...if you obey all His decrees and commands, you will enjoy a long life. Listen closely, Israel, and be careful to obey. Then all will go well with you and you will have many children in the land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD the God of your ancestors promised you." Deuteronomy 6:2b-3

Think of it. No more moving. No more marching to someone else's orders. All their lives they had either been wandering in the wilderness or fighting alongside their brothers to establish the borders for each tribe. For the first time they were going home to work their land and raise their families--in peace. 

After seven plus years, did their families even know them? Would they accept the authority of these strangers who were coming home to take over? The Bible doesn't speak to it, so we have no way of knowing the answer, but I wonder if Joshua provided opportunities for these men to go home once in awhile and reacquaint with their families. 

What about the spiritual condition of those who had stayed behind to tend their flocks and the land? It wasn't until the fighting was over that Levitical cities along with the cities of refuge were established. Had it been up to the women to raise the children in the knowledge of the LORD without a place to gather for worship?

Joshua has a valid concern for their spiritual well-being. God spoke to the warriors through Moses and Joshua. The High Priest had also been with them every day and God's will was made known through the casting of the sacred lots. They were every day reminders of their relationship with God.

When they arrived home they would need to make the effort to be diligent in worship, and remember the commandments so they could obey them. Without individual diligence, a lax attitude toward God could (and did) develop.

We have similarities to them. Like them we are raising families, seeing to their needs, engaging them in activities, perhaps working outside the home as well. However, we are so fortunate to be under the covenant of Grace.

We have the Holy Spirit indwelling us and leading us into truth. We have our Bibles and Bible Apps we can take with us wherever we go. We have moment by moment access to Bible teaching and Praise music. We live (fairly) close to our churches and we can initiate fellowship when we want to. 

Maintaining a close relationship and fellowship with God wasn't easy in Old Testament times. Every time God gave them rest, they wandered away from Him. Their rest came mostly from peace and prosperity. They were still subject to sin and needed to return to the altar for forgiveness.

The rest we have is internal--spiritual--given us when Jesus said "It is finished." The work was done. A single, perfect sacrifice provided once-and-for-all forgiveness. It's ours to accept and remain in His rest.

"God's promise of entering His rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it...only we who believe can enter His rest...For all who have entered into God's rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest...since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe...let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." Hebrews 4:1, 3a, 10-11a, 14, 16

Let us not wander, but come boldly to the throne. Let us worship the LORD our God through His Son, Jesus Christ. His promises of mercy and grace are ours. He provides rest.

by Marilyn Allison