Run, Joseph, I mean, Joshua, Run!

I know this isn't the greatest picture, but it's the closest picture I could find of him running. And the story I have to tell you today is of my young man running...running from a situation that he found himself in...and it's a testimony of hiding God's Word in his heart so that he might not sin against Him.

Joshua has been homeschooled since he was in the 4th grade. His gifts were never in the athletic department. He was more musically gifted and definitely academically gifted. However, when we moved to our new home a year ago, he came to his father and I and said he wanted to play football. We honestly could not understand where that desire was coming from but asked him to pray about it and we would do our due diligence in prayer and contact the local school officials for information, etc.

He began weight training with the team in the spring, and for the most part, he was accepted by the guys. By the girls who are always around the locker room and who do weight training also, he was a mystery and very accepted. Can you see where this is beginning to go?

Joshua will walk into weight training and a group of girls will run up to him with hugs galore. "Do you play football?" "You have the prettiest blue eyes." These are the main two statements he hears over and over again. And yes, he has been flattered. And one girl, in particular, has begun to stand out to him. Ashley.

Ashley has begun to hug him a little longer. She has somehow found out where he works and she and her mother go to see him when he is working. She has invited him to her volleyball games. He has gone twice. They are school functions and he goes there and back so we have allowed it.

It is what Jason and I haven't heard that has had us prayerful and in discussions with our son.

"Is Ashley a Christian?" we have asked him. He didn't know.

"How does Ashley know your work schedule?" He didn't know.

"Does Ashley have a boyfriend that might get mad at you coming to her volleyball games?"

He couldn't believe a girl would invite him to her games if she had a boyfriend!

See, there wasn't a lot of talking going on ... just seemed like there was a lot of hugging going on and a lot of flattery. Jason and I were praying for his discernment and wisdom and continuing to pump into him biblical truths. Last night he came in and asked to speak to us..asking for counsel.

After practice, Ashley and some of the volleyball girls came up to him. Ashley was hugging all over him again and was telling the other girls "This is why I love him so much..look at his beautiful blue eyes...!" Then one of the other girls jumped in and grabbed ahold of Joshua and said to Ashley "You have a boyfriend, I want him". Needless to say, the comment did not go unnoticed by Joshua and he felt like the girls were all acting ...well, not like young ladies should, and he heard the voice of the Lord...RUN JOSEPH RUN (yes, I'm crying again)!

How awesome is our God, ladies! We have just finished up 2 Timothy 2:22 "Flee youthful lusts" and here was this young man being ambushed by a whole volleyball squad and he stiffarmed them and left. Praise you, Jesus! The story does not end here. Joshua wanted permission from his father and I to go and talk to Ashley at the volleyball game. He felt like her actions warranted a discussion, at the very least. And he wanted to apologize for allowing what he had allowed. He was not innocent in this either. He should have stood stronger!

We gave him permission and after the game, he confronted her. He said she came up to hug him and he put his arm out and said "no". He asked her why she was inviting him to her volleyball games and running up to him and hugging him and giving him compliments and being very forward with him when she had a boyfriend? He also asked her why she was would put him in such a compromising position? Her explanation...her boyfriend doesn't like to come to her games and Joshua is cute and nice and polite and makes her feel "special".

Joshua talked to her about Jesus and explained to her that he is different because of who is inside of him. He told her that her actions show that she doesn't care too much about herself or others and she told him that she had been told she "comes on strong before". He encouraged her to consider herself respect worthy and then he left. He also told her that he was wrong to allow her to come up and hug him. He wants to have that type of relationship with a girl he plans to marry one day.

When he came home, he talked with Jay and I about the experience and told us..."you guys were making me mad with all the questions and stuff but I'm so glad you did. God's Word is so true and I'm glad you love me enough to make sure I don't go down a wrong road"

Ready for today's scripture Hebrews 12:11 "Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it" Hallalujah