JOS 24:15, MAKE YOUR CHOICE

We have several things on our dance card this weekend and as it draws near, we have begun to discuss which of those things we might actually attend. A couple of our options involved travel and were easy to eliminate because they could cause C to miss a much anticipated field trip on Monday.

Even though our travel options could bring about a "near miss," at best, for an event that C has long looked forward to, he had a little trouble understanding why we couldn't just do everything. His confusion led to a rather long discussion and a fun exercise on making choices. Pretty quickly, he was up to speed and was even able to give Dad a simple definition of "choice," at dinner this evening - "you just pick one thing."

As I marveled at how quickly he "got it," I thought about the life filled with choices awaiting both C and B. For sure, it won't always be as easy as it was tonight. I would say it's never too early to start practicing and never to early to pray. I'm thankful we had the chance to start tonight. This is my prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for the gifts you have given us in C and B. Help us to train them in your WORD, so when they are older - and must make choices independent of our input - they will not depart from it. Give us strength as we live out your teachings before them. Help us guide them not just "with word or tounge; but in deed and truth." Mold C and B in your image. Lord. When they find themselves at the crossroads of life (right versus wrong, good versus evil, moral versus immoral) I pray that the Holy Spirit bring back to their remembrance all that they have been taught, and they make the choice that represents YOU!

Afterwards, I gave myself a refresher course on CHOICES. I felt the need to review scripture and reaffirm the importance of HIS word when we reach that frequent point of "DECIDE." Here are few of my favorites:

Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good but the good of others (1 Corinthians 10:23-24, NIV)

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you, do not turn from it right or left, that you may be successful wherever you go. (Joshua 1:7, NIV)

Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil (Proverbs 4:26-27, NIV)

But you man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness (1 Timothy 6:11, NIV)

...Then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve .... But as for me and my house we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:15, NIV)