bobinfaith
Well-known member
Good morning, everyone;
How many months has Biblical Truth Forum been teaching and sharing Jesus? 8 Months? Soon it will be 1 year in May. If I go back 15 years to 2011 I remember my life condition was not what it is today.
Just like BTF, it was a new beginning.
If anyone has heard the expression, "a three ring circus" I was in the thick of that and it was all good, but I wasn't exactly gleeful. There were trials, challenges and people, people, challenges and trials. Instead of allowing the Lord to guide and mature me, I was complaining and this didn't set the best example in front of my wife.
The endeavors were good goals but the trials endured to achieve them was like pushing back at God. I didn't know it at the time but He was building me up. Should all this had been His calling or not, He always gets His Way.
We accomplished what we set out to do, slowly but surely, but lessons had to be learned, mostly on my part. Not worldly lessons but Biblical lessons.
One of my favorite books in the Bible is Joshua. He was not only Moses' assistant, but everyone man or woman's "right hand man" before he was raised to lead God's people in Deuteronomy 34:9, 9 Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses. - NIV
And in Joshua 1:1-7, 1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. - NIV
Joshua would not merely "cruise" to get there. Early on in Joshua 7:6-7, 6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the Lord, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads. 7 And Joshua said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? - NIV
Joshua was faced down with devastation before the Lord after they were routed by the men of Ai. What Joshua didn't know was Israel had sinned for violating His covenant. God scolded and told him to "get up!" but made a way through discipline to redeem Joshua and bring glory to the Lord.
Joshua had his own appointment by God just as each of us who follow Jesus. I tell you the truth. None of us go through new directions no matter who we are or what they are without the difficulties to get there. At the time we don't see that God is with us through it all.
The setbacks, failures, successes that "affect our attitude" around our closest loved ones and others, and more have an impact in maturing and growing us in Christ.
Joshua chose God, in Joshua 24:15, 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” - NIV
As a result God strengthened Joshua's trust, hope and faith in Him, but most of all, Joshua loved God so much to choose Him, first, in all things. Do we love the Lord enough to choose Him in all things? And if we do, we will endure the trials and lessons knowing He is with us through it all.
In 2026 I am grateful where the Lord has me, exactly where He wants me to be. But there is still work to be done.
My hope for each one of us in dealing with our past lessons, that we are prepared with a grateful heart and attitude to go forth; we're all a work in progress no matter what the Lord's plan is.
Truth is, I was led to this new site BTF because of the Lord's ongoing plan for my wife and me. I need to remain steady in my study of the Bible and learning and this is one source where I am growing.
God bless you all and your families.
Bob and Hazel
How many months has Biblical Truth Forum been teaching and sharing Jesus? 8 Months? Soon it will be 1 year in May. If I go back 15 years to 2011 I remember my life condition was not what it is today.
Just like BTF, it was a new beginning.
If anyone has heard the expression, "a three ring circus" I was in the thick of that and it was all good, but I wasn't exactly gleeful. There were trials, challenges and people, people, challenges and trials. Instead of allowing the Lord to guide and mature me, I was complaining and this didn't set the best example in front of my wife.
The endeavors were good goals but the trials endured to achieve them was like pushing back at God. I didn't know it at the time but He was building me up. Should all this had been His calling or not, He always gets His Way.
We accomplished what we set out to do, slowly but surely, but lessons had to be learned, mostly on my part. Not worldly lessons but Biblical lessons.
One of my favorite books in the Bible is Joshua. He was not only Moses' assistant, but everyone man or woman's "right hand man" before he was raised to lead God's people in Deuteronomy 34:9, 9 Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses. - NIV
And in Joshua 1:1-7, 1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. - NIV
Joshua would not merely "cruise" to get there. Early on in Joshua 7:6-7, 6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the Lord, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads. 7 And Joshua said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? - NIV
Joshua was faced down with devastation before the Lord after they were routed by the men of Ai. What Joshua didn't know was Israel had sinned for violating His covenant. God scolded and told him to "get up!" but made a way through discipline to redeem Joshua and bring glory to the Lord.
Joshua had his own appointment by God just as each of us who follow Jesus. I tell you the truth. None of us go through new directions no matter who we are or what they are without the difficulties to get there. At the time we don't see that God is with us through it all.
The setbacks, failures, successes that "affect our attitude" around our closest loved ones and others, and more have an impact in maturing and growing us in Christ.
Joshua chose God, in Joshua 24:15, 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” - NIV
As a result God strengthened Joshua's trust, hope and faith in Him, but most of all, Joshua loved God so much to choose Him, first, in all things. Do we love the Lord enough to choose Him in all things? And if we do, we will endure the trials and lessons knowing He is with us through it all.
In 2026 I am grateful where the Lord has me, exactly where He wants me to be. But there is still work to be done.
My hope for each one of us in dealing with our past lessons, that we are prepared with a grateful heart and attitude to go forth; we're all a work in progress no matter what the Lord's plan is.
Truth is, I was led to this new site BTF because of the Lord's ongoing plan for my wife and me. I need to remain steady in my study of the Bible and learning and this is one source where I am growing.
God bless you all and your families.
Bob and Hazel
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