Joshua 24

Since hearing a sermon on Joshua 24 last week, my thoughts have been nearly consumed with messages and reminders of God's faithfulness.  Our God is good - so so so good.  In Joshua 24, Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says..." and Joshua continues to share a message with the Israelites, reminding them what God had done.  Joshua reminds God's people of His covenant with their ancestor, Abraham; how God split the Red Sea and brought the Israelites from captivity in Egypt; how He provided for them in the Wilderness; how He gave them victory over their enemies, saying, "You did not do it with your own sword and bow;" how He gave them possession of their enemies land, etc.

Verse 13 reads: "So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant."

Everyday, the sun rises and I take it for granted. Everyday, I have the strength to get out of bed and walk and I never think differently.  Everyday, I have the opportunity to read the Bible - a book that men gave their lives to make accessible to common people - and I have not been grateful enough for their work.

If I wrote a chapter on how God has proven faithful in my life, Psalm 103:1-5 would be a suitable introduction:

1 Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

I would write about how God opened the door to Honduras when the door to Mexico was closed. I would write about how God always places the right people in my life at the right time. I would write about how He healed Grandmom. I would write about how God provided the opportunity for me to go to Africa. I would write about how He has provided financially so that I could attend a private Christian school k-12, and a wonderful Christian university. I could write pages and pages...

In conclusion, Joshua calls the Israelites to "fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness."  How could I do any less?

Love love love, Jewel