Single Mom’s Spa Day

On Sunday, August 29, Cottonwood Women’s Ministry will host our 5th annual Spa Day for single mothers. This is one of our favorite events every year.

 

We provide a free hair cut and style,

  manicure,  pedicure,

massage, and facial for every single mom who signs up. We serve wonderful refreshments beautifully arranged.

While the single mom’s are treated like princesses, volunteers take care of their children.

  I love this time. I am not good at doing many of the services, so I usually “float”… help wash hair, do a couple of pedicures, but mostly just help the women get from place to place, help serve refreshments, and visit. While I do those things, I hear conversations. A volunteer will be sitting on the floor rubbing lotion on a mom’s feet and just visiting with her, asking questions, showing concern. Another volunteer will be cutting a mom’s hair, working very hard to make it just like she wants it. Another volunteer is going around taking punch to women who are having pedicures, visiting with each one as she does.  We usually have about 15 volunteers, just pouring out love on some weary women. We have had up to 40 single mom’s , some of them lonely and feeling rejected. Many hurting and struggling. None of them would have spent the money to have a special “spa day”.  Every one of them are thrilled and moved by what we are doing. Every one of them feel special and loved, and that is what the day is for.

The call to fight

I finished reading the book of Joshua last week, and one thing I noticed was that the people did a lot of fighting.  God immediately told Joshua that He would give the Israelites the land He had promised, and that Joshua would lead them.

Josh 1:1-4 , 9  After the death of Moses the Lord's servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' assistant. He said, 2 "Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. 3 I promise you what I promised Moses: 'Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you—9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

But God did not say it would be easy.

Remember Jericho? When we think about the battle of Jericho, we usually remember that the Israelite army marched around the city every day for 7 days, then blew their horns and shouted and the walls came down. That is right, but, that just gave the warriors the opportunity to fight.

Chapter 8 tells the story of the defeat of Ai. According to God’s plan, Joshua sent a portion of the army to sneak around behind the city. Joshua led an attack on the city, then pulled away in retreat and drew the army to follow them. The Israelite army in hiding went into the city and set it on fie, then all the army joined in defeating Ai. That battle was won by military strategy.

In chapter 10, the Israelites fought against an alliance of several kings in the south. The battle was going so well that Joshua prayed that the sun would stand still so that they could complete the victory.  As the enemy ran away, God sent hail that killed more than the fighting did. The story continues as Joshua leads his army to defeat the enemy in the North, the East, and the West.  Even after Joshua died, the fighting continued. God promised the land to the Israelites. He promised them victory over all of their enemies, and He helped them with strategy, with strength, even with miracles, but the army still had to fight.

I was impressed by this because I realize that I have a battle to fight. God has promised me victory.

Rom 8:37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
1 Cor 15:57  But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 John 5:4-5  For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

Like Joshua, I have that promise of victory, but God says that I still have to fight. I cannot sit back and wait for God to do it all. God is SO faithful to do what He promised, but He tells me to do my part.

1 Tim 6:12  Fight the good fight of faith;
2 Tim 2:3-5 Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 Soldiers don't get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them.
1 Peter 5:8-9  Be of sober spirit,  be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9  But resist him, firm in your faith,

One person's impact

As I read in Joshua this morning, I was so impressed with the sad story of Achan.
Joshua chapter 6 recounts the wonderful story of the Israelites miraculous defeat of the city of Jericho. The people were instructed to utterly destroy everything in the city; every person, every animal, every item. Only silver, gold, and bronze would be saved, and those things would all be given to the Lord's treasury.
When the wall of Jericho tumbled, the warriors went in and destroyed the city, killing everyone but Rahab's family. But Achan saw some things that he wanted. He took them and hid them in his tent.
The next town the Israelites were to attack was Ai, a tiny village that would be easy to defeat.
Joshua 7:4 "So approximately 3,000 warriors were sent, but they were soundly defeated. The men of Ai 5 chased the Israelites from the town gate as far as the quarries, and they killed about thirty-six who were retreating down the slope. The Israelites were paralyzed with fear at this turn of events, and their courage melted away."
Joshua went before God in desperation, and eventually, God led him to Achan, who admitted that while fighting in Jericho, he saw a beautiful robe imported from Babylon, two hundred silver coins, and a bar of gold weighing more than a pound. "I wanted them so much that I took them" was his explanation. After finding the stolen items hidden in his tent, the leaders took them, along with Achan, his sons, his daughters, cattle, donkeys, sheep, tent, and everything he had. All of the Israelites stoned Achan and his family, then burned their bodies and all of his belongings.
This story really sobers me, as I begin to consider how much my actions may have on my family, and on God's people. Look at all the negative impact Achan's action had.
1. His sin brought defeat to the Israelites.
2. His sin caused the death of 36 innocent warriors.
3. His sin caused the people to be afraid, to lose faith in God.
4. His sin brought shame to the Lord. After He had done so many great things for the Israelites, brought them so far, given them a great victory over Jericho, now He deserted them. Because of Achan, God looked either weak or unfaithful to the nations.
5. His sin brought death to his sons and daughters.

When I see something that I want, and I am tempted, I want to remember that my sin will have serious consequences, not only for me, but for the people that I love.