1st Cold, and Joshua

Sweet baby

Hanging out with his pal, Lucy while I type up this blog on a warm (30 degrees!) Sunday morning in February. They are both sleeping, although Peter's starting to wake up now...

Peter has successfully gotten his first cold. I am staying home for the first Sunday of my life with a sick child - my child. :) I hope to not have too many of these days in my lifetime. Tiny little babies aren't supposed to get sick, right? Poor guy...first I noticed he had a cough, then a stuffy/congested nose. Last night we were up quite a bit, doing some good bonding. :) I steamed up the bathroom really well and moved his little bassinet into it. I think the steam did good for his lungs - it helped him sleep better, I think. At any rate, I'm hoping it will not last too long.

Since it is a Sunday, and I'm at home...I thought I'd share what I've been reading and studying lately. I just started reading the book of Joshua. Having consistent daily devotions has always been something that I struggle with. Of course I know I should, it's good for me, that's mainly how the Lord will direct me and teach me; I know that I absolutely LOVE spending time reading my Bible and learning...but somehow the joy and passion and drive slowly fades. Just like that new song says, "It's a slow fade...people never crumble in a day...it's a slow fade." Other things get in the way and there just doesn't seem to be enough time in a day. However, now that I'm not only a wife, but a mother as well, there is even more responsibility weighing on my shoulders than ever. How will I effectively pray for, encourage, support and respect my husband if I do not first allow the Lord to encourage and support me with His Word? And how will I effectively teach my son God's truth if I do not take the time to learn all I can first? These are big questions, and very sobering thoughts. And so I begin, again. :) It's nice to know God doesn't give up on us when we stray, isn't it?

I chose the book of Joshua for the following reasons:

1. My favorite study from my BSF years (I would like to join again someday...such a powerful study - look it up online if you don't know what it is...Bible Study Fellowship International) was the life of Moses. We studied Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. We watched as Moses was hidden in the bulrushes in a basket to be found and rescued by a princess while all other Israelite boy babies were being drowned in the river at the Pharaoh's whim. We watched him grow up, kill someone and bury him in the sand, wander in the desert, get married, be called by God, lead the Israelites (with the help of his brother Aaron) out of Egypt and wander in the desert until his death.



2. Now what? The Israelites are sitting at the door of the Promised Land...just waiting. It's time to watch as the Lord leads them and calls them to action once again. And, so I've chosen to read Joshua. Where the story picks up and continues with a new leader - Joshua!

In the first chapter, God calls Joshua to lead. Wouldn't that be incredible to hear God actually say your name and tell you what to do? How many times have I wasted so much time and energy not knowing what to do? We won't try to count. Although, maybe it was hard physically having God call you - there was no mistaking what He wanted you to do. If he wanted you to lead over 2 million people into battles to claim a new land, YOU had to do it. Even if you didn't want to, like Moses. Wow.

In the second chapter, Joshua tells the men what they were to do, and takes a small group of them into Jericho to spy out the city. Where do they hide out overnight? In the home of a harlot! I wonder how on earth they got into her house and how she reacted when they didn't want what she offered...but then she hid them. Or was she tired of her new life and was looking for change, for something better? Either way, God used her to hide them...she knew who they were as the rumors and stories about this group of wandering people were flying like crazy. Amazing how the stories were able to travel like that...no Internet, no phones, no snail mail. And yet, she KNEW and she knew their God was real and true.

Well, on that note, I need to wrap up now. Time to go see what happens next.

Oh, and since this blog is supposed to be for Peter, not for my own personal journaling :), he's sleeping. Quite soundly, actually, and has been for almost two hours. This is good. It will help him fend off this cold he has rattling around in his head and chest.