Joshua 12:1

Joshua takes possession of the land beyond the Jordan.

Joshua Commanding the Sun to Stand Still.
Doré Bible Illustration. 19th century. Coloured.

Joshua 10:12-13

The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day.
There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel.

John Martin - Joshua Commanding the Sun to Stand Still upon Gibeon, 1816, oil on canvas, 150x231 cm (59 1/16 x 90 15/16 in.) National Gallery of Art.

Joshua 9:22-23

Joshua called together the Gibeonites and said, "Why did you lie to us? Why did you say that you live in a distant land when you live right here among us? May you be cursed! From now on you will always be servants who cut wood and carry water for the house of my God."

Léon-Adolphe Belly (1827-1877)
Fellaheen Women by the Nile, 1856
Oil on canvas, H. 0.98 m; W. 1.3 m

Joshua 6:2-3

And the Lord said to Joshua, "See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days."

Joshua 3:17

Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.

Israelites In Canaan. After 40 Years Of Wandering, The Israelites Cross The Jordan River Into Canaan Under The Leadership Of Joshua.
Wood Engraving, 19th Century, after Gustave Doré

Joshua 2:16

Rahab's bravery and faith saves Joshua's spies.and secures her salvation.

"Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way."

The Flight of the Spies, James Tissot, c. 1896-1902
gouache on board, 11 9/16 x 6 7/8 in

Joshua 1:2-3

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. I promise you what I promised Moses: 'Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you.'

Deuteronomy 32:4

He is the Rock,
his works are perfect,
and all his ways are just.
A faithful God who does no wrong,
upright and just is he.

Deuteronomy 32:2

Let my teaching fall like rain
and my words descend like dew,
like showers on new grass,
like abundant rain on tender plants.

I came to Christ in my late 40's, just over two years ago.

My salvation and my yearning for Christ is not shared by my wife.

I'm not sure if this is a rare scenario or just one that people in my position are ashamed to speak about, but it is one of the hardest things to handle when you are committed to your spouse and understand how your marriage must model Christ's love for and commitment to the Church.

The article below is the first I've come across which seems to understand this situation, even at all biblically. I mean I wish it was just that my wife just didn't take my faith seriously, but the truth is that it is a massive bone of contention; something where we are diametrically opposed.

But Almighty God did not give up on Israel despite it's hardness of heart. Christ gave himself whilst we were still sinners. Ephesians 5 doesn't come with caveats: Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

I am convinced that God placed me in this situation for a reason. If it were His will He would bring my wife to Him. I have tried. And there is time. Just because my prayers are not being answered now does not mean they will not be answered. And I know that we are going through other trials which are not lending themselves to the opening of her heart to the Holy Spirit, right now.

But can you imagine having to make a choice between going to Church and honouring your commitment as a husband? Or baptism and your marriage? It is that fundamental. I want to give myself to the Kingdom. But in a word, it ain't that simple.

You may be asking why I don't just put my foot down. I'd ask what kind of marriage would that be.

Yahweh had 400 years to bring Israel round; I don't have that long. There is also childhood trauma and hurt playing into her anger at God. Perhaps I was placed here, now, knowing that it would take time.

When Peter wrote his first letter and addressed wives in the early Church (1 Peter 3:1-2), I believe he was considering the situation where wives were coming to Christ first. He didn't tell them to get indignant, he told them to win their husbands by their behaviour, 'without words'.

And he ended with a note to Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. (1 Peter 3:7)

As I finish writing, I'd appreciate your prayers. It is my fervent wish that God works a wonder in our lives and brings my wife to Him. In His time is fine, but it would be nice if it were sooner rather than later 🙂

In Jesus' name.

[www.americasfamilycoaches.com/blog/2020...](https://www.americasfamilycoaches.com/blog/2020/3/27/ani0idyaa68uoajwev4hqjyp4fm3sn)

Psalm 116:12-14

What can I offer the Lord
for all he has done for me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation
and praise the Lords name for saving me.
I will keep my promises to the Lord
in the presence of all his people.

Deuteronomy 31:8

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

Deuteronomy 18:21-22

If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed.

Doña Juana la Loca (Queen Joanna the Mad), 1877,
oil on canvas painting by Spanish painter Francisco Pradilla.

Joanna of Castile is shown watching over the casket of her dead husband, Philip I of Castile. Philip died suddenly of typhoid fever, and it was said she carried his casket around with her everywhere, believing one day he would wake from sleep. This was a common ritual for her.

Deuteronomy 14:9-10

Seafood that isn't fish, is just weird.

Deuteronomy 13:1-3

A warning against idolatry.

Suppose there are prophets among you or those who dream dreams about the future, and they promise you signs or miracles, and the predicted signs or miracles occur. If they then say, ‘Come, let us worship other gods’—gods you have not known before— do not listen to them.

The Lord your God is testing you to see if you truly love him with all your heart and soul.

Deuteronomy 8:3

Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

Deuteronomy 7:9

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.

Deuteronomy 6:6

These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.

Deuteronomy 5:29

Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!

Deuteronomy 5:21

Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, nor his bondman, nor his handmaid, his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is thy neighbour's.

Deuteronomy 5:13-14

Six days you shall labour and do all your work,
but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.

Wigmore Church near Ludlow (panel in the Everitt Cabinet)
Samuel Henry Baker (1824-1909)
Birmingham Museums Trust

Deuteronomy 5:11

Thou shalt not idly utter the name of Jehovah thy God for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that idly uttereth his name.

Image from a 1889 oil sketch of Friedrich Nietzsche on his sick bed by Hans Johann Wilhelm Olde. Goethe-Nationalmuseum, Stiftung Weimarer Klassik und Kunstsammlungen, Weimar, Germany.

Deuteronomy 4:39

Know therefore today,
and take it to your heart,
that the Lord,
He is God in heaven above and on the earth below;
there is no other.

This beautiful painting is by American landscape artist Albert Bierstadt.
Rocky Mountains, "Lander's Peak", 1863
Bierstadt had an extraordinary ability to capture the majesty of wild America - and painting with light.

Deuteronomy 4:30-31

When you are in tribulation, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, you will return to the Lord your God and obey his voice. For the Lord your God is a merciful God.

'Despair' by Frank Holl. 1881. Oil on canvas. Courtesy of the Southampton City Art Gallery. Catalogue no. 21 in the 2013 Watts Gallery exhibition, Frank Holl: Emerging from the Shadows.

Deuteronomy 4:11-13

And you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, while the mountain burned with fire to the heart of heaven, wrapped in darkness, cloud, and gloom. Then the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire...

'The Giving of the Law from Mt. Sinai', drawing by W. G. Phillips, engraving by Alonzo Chappel. My own colorisation.