The Armor of God: Introduction, Written by my Husband and Me

 

 

 

The Armor of God: Introduction

Written by my Husband (Mel) and Me

Just as I reshared the Fruits of the Spirit series my husband and I wrote for the book of Galatians, I will now reshare our Armor of God series for the book of Ephesians.

(Ephesians 6:10) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

If you find it difficult to successfully battle the "wiles of the devil" it could be because you have not put on the "whole armor of God," but just one or two pieces.  This is why we feel it is so important to study each article of armor individually and how it relates to our walk with the Lord. This will be a series written by my husband and me as we look at each individual piece of armor.

(Ephesians 6:11) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

In order to understand the importance of the armor of God, you need to understand that spiritual warfare is very real, and not just an allegorical term created by the apostle Paul. Although we are not to become obsessed with them, demons and angels are real, and they are in a continual battle for your soul.  In Luke 22:31, Jesus told Simon Peter that Satan, "desired to have [him], that he may sift [him] as wheat."  Just as with each of us, Satan wanted Peter's soul and was fighting against him. However, the good news is, just as with Peter, God is also with us and for us! Jesus assures His disciple in Luke 22:32, "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." The Lord and His angels fight for us, but we must daily do our part and actively put on the whole armor of God. 

(Romans 13:11-14) And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.  

Romans 13 describes the armor of God as an "armor of light."  Such a beautiful description and such a perfect way to explain why it is so important to us as Christians and what we must do to stay clothed in God's armor.  

Because there will be much more to say about the full armor of God, I will end with an excerpt from my husband Mel's blog, "Understanding Spiritual Warfare" https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2022/10/spiritual-warfare-written-by-my-husband.html

"It is very important for the Christian to understand spiritual warfare, since we have an adversary seeking our destruction. God’s Word tells us that Satan is like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Satan is also referred to as the thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy. One of Satan’s tactics is to stir people up in anger towards God. Many people blame God for the problems that they experience in this life, and they are oblivious to the fact, that there are two opposing kingdoms at work in the earth.... The truth is that we live in a war zone, and the battle is over the souls of men. If you belong to Christ, then you are in the Lord’s army, and Satan’s kingdom has declared all-out war against you. But the good news is, greater is He that is within you than he that is in the world, and if you remain in Christ until the end, you will inherit eternal life. If you have received the baptism in the Holy Spirit, then you have the power to live an overcoming life, as well as the authority to put the devil to flight. In these last days, it is crucial that all Christians receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, in order to be able to stand firm in Christ, against the many snares of the devil."      

(Ephesians 6:12-18) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. 

Ephesians 5:22-33: The Keys to Unlock a Successful Marriage

 Ephesians 5:22-33: The Keys to Unlock a Successful Marriage 

I know that this passage is considered old-fashioned to some.  But for a Biblical perspective, feel free to read my writing on these verses from the other blog I write, "The ABCs of a Joyful Marriage," from week 21. ( https://abcsofajoyfulmarriage.blogspot.com/ ).  Here is an excerpt from that week: ( https://abcsofajoyfulmarriage.blogspot.com/2025/05/week-21-keep-holding-on-keys-to-success.html ) : 

If you want the keys to unlock a successful marriage, the number one rule is to let God be at the center of your marriage, and the number two is to learn to let the husband be the leader.  I can guarantee that if you follow these two principles, your marriage will be romantic, loving, and joyful.

I once had a woman ask me how (I think she meant why) she could (or should) submit to her husband who insisted on making every decision.  First, not all husbands know how to be leaders in a marriage and women do not know how to be led.  Our society has become so brainwashed, and roles are often reversed in the media.  Men are over-the-top bullies or too passive.  Women are too independent and aggressive.  There needs to be a good balance.  There needs to be love, respect, and communication. 

Men know how to be leaders in a job, but not necessarily in their own home. A good boss allows his employees to have their opinions, but he is ultimately the boss and his final decision stands.  This is true also in a marriage.  Spouses should be free to debate issues when they disagree, and the husband does not automatically make every decision as a dictator.  However, if it comes to a point where no compromise can be made, the husband gets the final word, and his decision ultimately stands.  Genesis 2:24 states that the two become one flesh, which means marriage is a partnership and the two of you make decisions as a team.  God meant for Eve to be Adam’s helper as a part of him, not as his servant. 

A good husband will never be a bully and refuse to listen to his wife’s opinion on any matter.  Of course, not every husband operates this way.  It does not mean he is a bad man, just improperly "trained."  I worked in law enforcement (as a civilian) for seven years, and cops do not become chief overnight.  It takes many years of training and experience to reach your way to the top. You must learn to be a good leader and that takes studying and learning from others.  No one becomes an expert spouse overnight.  Reading marriage books (not just this one, of course) is an excellent way to learn as well as talking to others that have successful marriages.  There is never any shame in asking for help from a spiritual leader or counselor if no solutions can be reached on your own.  It is better to seek help from a neutral party rather than a family member or friend who will be sure to take sides. 

We all learn by example and not all men come from homes where the father was the leader.  I have seen far too many homes where the wife rebelled against the husband and refused to let him lead because she was too set in her ways or did not want to be, what she considered, controlled.  For example, I knew a husband who did not want his wife wearing cleavage-bearing tops or short skirts.  Rather than respect her husband (or the Lord) and dress modestly, she rebelled because she felt he was being too controlling, not respecting that as a wife, and especially as a Christian, she should dress modestly, and not to attempt to attract other men.

In addition, some wives are the leaders because the man is too passive.  I knew a family with thirteen children where the mother ruled the home.  Each son married an aggressive woman who also ruled their home, and their daughters married men they could control.  I spoke with one of the daughters that confided in me that she had been given a bad example by her parents. She and her husband were learning he was to be the head of the home.  She said they now believed in the principles of Ephesians 5:22-33 and were beginning to apply them to their family.  She said it made for a much happier marriage and things naturally fell in place, as it was more natural to let the husband be the leader.  They both had to learn to change their patterns and make adjustments, but it proved to me that it could be done.  The passive husband had become a loving leader.  The aggressive wife was still a very strong woman, but now much more respectful of her husband’s role and enjoyed it more that way.  She said their marriage finally now felt more like a partnership for the first time in almost twenty years. 

The absence of a mother or father in the home will also make it very difficult for a man to know how to lead if he has never seen it in action.  You cannot fault a man or woman who does not know the proper Biblical roles if they have never seen how it is supposed to look.  One or both of them may not have grown up in Godly homes. 

The only way to deal with all these issues is through Biblical guidance, communication with each other, and outside counseling if necessary.

(Ephesians 5:22-33) Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her… So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.  For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church…  “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh...” let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Heaven & Hell Series, Part 6: How to Choose Heaven over Hell

Heaven & Hell Series, Part 6: How to Choose Heaven over Hell

There is so much to say on the topics of heaven and hell that this series could easily go on for another month.  I had even originally planned on writing one or two more posts after this one that were more "technical" and "theological" but after praying for several days, I have decided to make this post the conclusion of this series. In my humble opinion, I feel this is the most important information in matters of heaven and hell.  Terrifying reports of hell and beautiful heavenly descriptions beyond measure are all fascinating and get people to really think about where they want to spend eternity.  But if all one does is think they would love to go to heaven as casually as they would love to visit the castles in Germany, then what good is that information in reference to your soul?  What we really need to understand is how to choose heaven over hell.  

This writing is not based on my arrogant or self-righteous opinions but taken directly from Jesus himself and from other godly men who wrote the inspired Word of God.  I pray you carefully read all these scriptures and let them seep into your soul. 

Let me just start by saying, yes, I believe salvation through Jesus Christ is a free gift we do not have to earn.  But we still have rules to follow if we want to keep this precious gift and not lose it.  Being a Christian is so much more than just being a kind person, it is becoming a new creation in Christ, which means giving up sin and choosing paths of righteousness.

You may believe that we do not need to follow the ten commandments because we are no longer under the old laws.  However, the facts are this: Jesus Christ abolished manmade laws when He died on the cross and shed His blood for our sins, but this does not mean we quit following the laws of God.  Jesus Christ said it Himself. (You can read more about the new covenant here: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-parallel-between-new-covenant-and.html )

(Matthew 19:16-21) And, behold, one came and said unto Him, "Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?" And [Jesus] said unto him, ".. if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments... Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself... give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me."

No, we cannot earn our salvation through our good works, but we will absolutely be judged according to our works and that's what this series has been all about.  Waking people up that there are indeed consequences to all of our actions that are in opposition to what the Bible teaches.

Satan wants you to believe that the rules are not there to rob you of joy, but Jesus says following Him brings us true freedom.  (John 10:10 - The thief [Satan] cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.) The rules protect us from hurting ourselves and others.  Jesus loves us and wants us all in heaven with Him.  He longs for all of us to obey His rules not because we want to live in paradise, but because forever would not be paradise without Jesus.  Not because we want a mansion and a crown, but because we want to lay our crown at the nail-scarred feet Jesus. The sacrifice of God and Jesus should be enough for us to want to be with Him. (John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.)  His love, mercy, grace, patience, protection, and holiness should be enough for us to want to do the right things. (Romans 2:4 - The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.) 

Jesus said in Matthew 16:27 "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works."  But if you think you have fallen too far from grace and the works you will be judged for can never be forgiven, think again! 2 Peter 3:9 tells us that "The Lord... is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."  And 1 John 1:9 promises us that "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." And Lamentations 3:22-23 reminds us just how gracious God is when it says, "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."

Once you truly claim Jesus as your Savior, and repent of your sins, the sins you repent of will be under the blood of Jesus and will be remembered no more.  Psalm 103:11-12 says, "For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us." 

After we accept the free gift of salvation, we cannot then just do whatever we want and stay saved. The Bible tells us we must daily choose to crucify our flesh and not sin (Luke 9:23 - Jesus said, "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.")  The Bible also makes it very clear that we are not to abuse the grace of God (Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?) because, yes, we can lose our salvation if we chose to live in rebellion against the Lord.

Whether for the first time, second, or more time, it is never too late to turn your life over to Jesus and choose heaven over hell. (You can read my writings on the hope for the backslider here: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2025/09/what-bribes-have-we-taken-to-crucify.html & https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2025/07/hosea-141-9-hope-for-backslider.html & https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2025/07/ezekiel-1823-33-when-righteous-turn.html .

I know this has been a lot to read, so I will leave you with just a few more verses that help you better understand how to make the choice of heaven over hell.  Again, these are not my theories, but from God's Holy Word.

(2 Corinthians 5:10-11 & 15-17) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 

(Revelation 20:11-12 & 21:7-8) And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

(Galatians 5:16-26) This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. 

Heaven & Hell Series, Part 5: How to Spot the Fake Accounts

Heaven & Hell Series, Part 5: How to Spot the Fake Accounts

This is little tricky to write because I would certainly never want to call someone a liar so I will not mention the people I believe to be fakes by name.  And I am not claiming to be any kind of expert on heaven or hell so I am not saying what sounds fake to me is always false but could be my misunderstanding of the heavenly realm. However, the number of real versus fake accounts of a heaven or hell usually trends more toward fictional reports than factual.  This may be because the person wants to appear more spiritual than they actually are and also because they want to seek a lot of attention either through a book deal or even just through social media.  

I am not saying that all the false heaven and hell accounts that are out there are all purposefully fabricated as some of these people have themselves been deceived by Satan.  Therefore, not everyone who claims to have either died or had a vision but has not truly seen anything from God is being purposefully deceitful.  Some are themselves deceived by Satan.  Satan loves to imitate the things of God and offer counterfeit experiences because he is the father of lies, the great deceiver, and loves to create chaos and confusion.  If they truly read, understood, and obeyed their Bible however, they would not be such an easy target.

(2 Corinthians 11:13-14) For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

The obvious ways to spot the fake accounts are just as I mentioned above, we too must read, understand, and obey the Bible.  We can then measure all we hear against the Word of God.  Some reports I have seen that are obvious are people who see false spiritual leaders in heaven such Mohammad, Buddha, etc.  Another red flag is when people claim they are given unbiblical messages and are told such things like they do not need to worry about right and wrong but just be kind to one another. There are even some that report sexually perverted experiences I will not repeat, but those are obviously not from God! 

There are also some things that are plain strange such as a man saying he had to give a drop of blood to Peter at heaven's gate, or man saying he see through and floated around like an apparition. 

I admit, I have been fooled by some thinking they were genuine, but they debunked themselves in interviews.  One woman I sort of believed but was also somewhat skeptical of because she said she was asked if she wanted to stay in heaven and "accidentally" said she wanted to leave so she was escorted out (which seemed unlikely), admitted in an interview that she has always been fascinated with witchcraft.  She also said we need to learn to be one with nature, a very new age concept. And a man I almost believed revealed his false spirit when he described coming back from the dead as hocus pocus. He also said other strange things I will not waste your time on.  How many times do I have to say exactly what the Bible repeatedly says: God hates witchcraft. If someone fascinated by or practicing the occult really had a near-death experience and was not sent to hell for honoring Satan over God, then you can be sure that Jesus or his angels would have given that person a sound lesson on why the occult is so evil.

If a person's lifestyle has not changed after their experience, then you can also be skeptical that what they are reporting is fake.  Yes, many have seen hell and due to the terror of it, they repented and became devout followers of Jesus.  Or have seen heaven and Jesus changed them before sending them back. But if this person is still living like the world or following a false religion, they the likelihood is that they are not being truthful.

Bottom line here is that if what they are saying does not line up with the Word of God, do not believe what they are telling you! Their confused, deceitful tales are designed either to glorify themselves or deceive you and possibly even send you to hell if you fall for a false message of salvation.  Anything saying there is more than one way to heaven other than through the blood of Jesus Christ or saying it is okay to live in sin as long as you are a nice person is a lie from Satan.

In part 6 I will give you scriptures that will help you better understand what keeps us from heaven and could send us to hell. 

I will leave you with this advice when hearing a testimony of someone seeing heaven or hell, pray that Holy Spirit gives you discernment so that you will not be deceived and take their bad advice that very well could keep you from heaven.

(1 Corinthians 2:13-14) Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

(1 John 4:1-2) Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

(2 Timothy 2:15) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Heaven & Hell Series, Part 4: Visions and Dreams of the Father and the Afterlife, Written by my Husband

Heaven & Hell Series, Part 4: Visions and Dreams of the Father and the Afterlife

Written by my Husband (Mel)

Father God has visited me in around a dozen dreams. Each dream contained a personal message about my future. God the Father is Spirit, and light, and does not necessarily have a bodily form. However, he appeared to me in the form of a very kind older man. Jesus is the bodily form of God who sits upon the throne in Heaven. In a dream, I saw Christ upon the throne seated on the right side of a great light (The Father).

In a dream, the Father approached me to remind me of his protection. I looked up into his eyes and saw love, compassion, kindness, and tenderness. He kissed me on the forehead as the dream ended. He has kissed me on the forehead in two dreams now.

Around twenty-one years ago I had a very profound experience. I was in a hotel room going to bed for the night and saying my prayers, when I felt like my spirit was pulled upward towards the ceiling of the room. I passed through the ceiling and was enveloped in a soft, but bright, white light. I was floating on my back within this light. The Father spoke to me about the apostasy within Christianity. He sounded very sad as he was describing the leaders who were wolves in sheep's clothing. He told me that he was calling me to expose them and warn his children to not listen to them. The Father named some prominent television evangelists and told me that they were not of his Spirit. The Father was very kind, and I felt embraced in perfect love. I felt secure, like a babe in a parent's arms. This experience lasted for five to six hours, and much was conveyed. Whether I was in my body experiencing a vision, or out of the body, I do not know.

Shortly after the death of my first wife, I had a dream of Paradise. I saw her standing on a cliff looking out onto a beautiful sea, smooth as glass. The sky was radiant bright colors. I looked to my right and saw my father who died when I was eleven years old. He looked like he was around twenty years old. I saw other loved ones who had passed on, and everyone was clothed in white robes and looked to be around twenty. I saw a large amphitheater made of white stone. It seemed like people were gathered there for some unknown reason.

In another dream, I was standing in Heaven, and I saw very bright, lush, green grass full of flowers of all types. I could hear angels playing harps and singing praises to God above me. I could not see them, only hear their gentle voices. The angels were singing, “holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come”. I then woke up from this experience wishing that I could remain in this place forever. I understood in the vision that this was the abode of the departed spirits, awaiting their resurrection. 

Heaven & Hell Series, Part 3B: The Unfathomable Beauty of Heaven

Heaven & Hell Series, Part 3B: The Unfathomable Beauty of Heaven 

There are many more accounts I could share, but I will share just one more.

I had originally planned to do a writing on the vision of Rebecca Springer, but because her account is so extensive, I have decided to instead just share with you a YouTube video of her experience. I highly encourage you to listen to her amazing eye-opening vision. It is almost 3.5 hours long, but you can listen to it as you have time. My husband and I had borrowed this same version of her story from the library a few weeks ago. It would have been better if a woman read this audio book since it is a woman's vision, but it is still worth your time.  If you can't play the video below, here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7uuVqvaChQ

Heaven & Hell Series, Part 3A: The Unfathomable Beauty of Heaven

Heaven & Hell Series, Part 3: The Unfathomable Beauty of Heaven

In part 2A I began with Jim Woodford's story of dying and nearly being dragged to hell before he called out for God to save him.  I will now continue with what happened next.  Again, my short retelling is taken both from an interview I watched and from his book, "Heaven, an Unexpected Journey." 

Jim Woodford was clinically dead for 11 hours. In the account of his near-death experience, he says it was 6 words that saved him from hell.  Fist, right before he died, he said, "Jesus, forgive me."  After he had died and was about to be taken to hell by either a demon or Satan himself, he cried out, "Jesus, save me!" It was after his plea for help that three angels came and sent the demon away and Mr. Woodford experienced the unfathomable beauty of heaven. 

I know we all wonder what angels look like.  My husband has seen them while awake, and we have both seen them in numerous dreams.  In all of my experiences, except for one, the angels appear just as humans, but because Mr. Woodford was actually in some kind of heavenly realm, he saw the angels as they would be there.  They ranged from 10-15 feet tall, had violet-colored eyes, and in place of feathered wings as we would expect to see, they had wings made of light (if I am interpreting his description of the wings correctly).  

Mr. Woodford describes heaven as pretty much everyone who has either died or had a vision of heaven has, but it makes his story no less remarkable.  He saw every blade of grass and details much clearer than we see here.  He saw the most beautiful and vivid colors that do not even exist on earth and could not be accurately described. There was no sun, but everything was glowing with the light of Jesus.  He could see both far and near at the same time.  He felt no pain and only felt pure joy and peace.   

If I were to mention all Mr. Woodford saw, this blog would be much too long, so I am going to continue to keep this as brief as possible.  Again, I read his above-mentioned book on my Kindle with a digital loan from my library, so I recommend seeing if your library has a copy or you can look him up on Youtube (just type in Jim Woodford and you will receive multiple results). He mentioned seeing numerous buildings such as for music, a place for spiritual healing, and a nursery for babies/children.  Mr. Woodford said aborted and miscarried babies and children arrive in heaven at the age they were when they died and are cared for by others and are taught the ways of Jesus as they grow up.  Others have reported the same. Everyone else in heaven appeared to be no older than 33, except for the prophets.  While others have seen mansions, Mr. Woodford saw only small houses that did not seem to be used much. And yes, Mr. Woodford saw animals in heaven.  He interacted with horses and saw a lot of dogs and cats there that had once been pets.  Others have reported seeing and hearing many birds.  

Although I am leaving a lot out, I do not want to omit the most important aspect of his experience in heaven, the second part of the Holy Trinity, Jesus. He did indeed see Jesus face to face!  While Jesus remained at a distance from him, Mr. Woodford clearly saw and felt the life altering love, peace and joy of Jesus.  He described Jesus as radiating light that was like flowing water. Jesus had brown hair curling just above the collar of a white gown.  Mr. Woodford described the eyes in more than one way, which could mean they reflected a variety of colors, but he also said they were eyes filled with intense love and forgiveness.

Quite understandably, no one who has been to or had a vision of heaven wants to come back to earth, and Mr. Woodford was no exception to that rule.  Since we have his book to read, we know he was sent back into his earthly body, and he said it was a very difficult adjustment.  One we could never relate to but can surely imagine why.  Everything here seemed so gray, heavy, and one dimensional that he suffered depression for a time. He was, however, miraculously healed.  His bloodwork still confirms he has Guillain-Barré syndrome, yet he has been freed from all the debilitating symptoms.  By surrendering his life to Jesus and sharing his testimony, he has been able to better tolerate being back.  

Through his unique experience, Mr. Woodford desires that all we know and understand is that both heaven and hell are very real places, but that Jesus is gracious, kind, and full of love that will quickly forgive us when we ask.     

I will share Rebecca Springer's story in part 3B.

(1 Corinthians 2:9) But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Heaven & Hell Series, Part 2B: The Reality of Hell

Heaven & Hell Series, Part 2B: The Reality of Hell

When people believe there is no heaven or hell, this means they do not believe there are any consequences for their actions.  They can do whatever they so choose, and then they will simply cease to exist. A free license to sin, however, is not reality.

While there are many more accounts of people seeing hell I could explore, some are credible and others are questionable. The accounts vary based on what God wants that person to see and based on what they can spiritually and mentally handle.  If you choose to search for such stories of heaven and hell, please pray for discernment to know what is real and fake, and what is from God and what is confusion from Satan, who masquerades as an angel of light and loves to trick people (2 Corinthians 11:14 - For Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.) I will list two more that I feel are the on credible side. 

Ronald Reagan (NOT the former US president), was admittedly a very rebellious man.  He had suffered abuse from his alcoholic father which turned him to also abuse drugs and alcohol and end up in jail for manslaughter (caused by an automobile accident) by the time he was 15.  His marriage was one the verge of divorce, and he revealed he was abusive with his children as his father had been.  He had a very hot temper, and one day he took his son to the convenience store when he got into a verbal confrontation with a man walking out of the store.  Mr. Reagan shoved the other man who fell onto a pile of glass bottles.  The man than took one of the broken bottles and began attacking Mr. Reagan.  The artery under his arm was cut so severely, he was about to bleed to death.  The store owner took Mr. Reagan to the hospital but the ER could not help and put him in an ambulance to another hospital.  He was sure he would have his arm amputated.  

While Mr. Reagan lay in the ambulance, his wife now by his side, the driver, sensing Mr. Reagan was close to death, urgently told him more than once, "Sir, you need Jesus Christ!"  I fully admire the boldness of that driver!  

Mr. Reagan did not actually die but had a vision.  What happened next was that it appeared to him as if the ambulance had exploded into flames and he was surrounded by smoke.  He was then in a tunnel filled with smoke where a multitude of voices could be heard warning Mr. Reagan not to come to where they were. Their voices were full of agony, pain, and frustration.  He knew if he went where the voices were, he would be there forever.  A tsunami of loneliness and heavy depression washed over him.  It was as if he was looking down a volcano and he could see fire, smoke, and people inside; they were being burned but not consumed by the flames. He realized he recognized some of the people as his former party buddies who had died due to their reckless and rebellious actions.  The smell of sulfur was the most horrible stench he had ever smelled, and he felt a terror he never knew existed.  His wife later told him he was thrashing about in the back of the ambulance, and she could tell he was experiencing extreme fear.

He awoke in the hospital where he was covered in wounds, but they operated and had saved his arm.

In spite of seeing that hell was a very real place full of the consequences of people's rebellion against God, he still fled from God and had not yet repented.  However, sometime later (I am not sure how much time had passed), his wife gave her life to Jesus.  Her once angry face was so full of joy and peace that he agreed to go to church.  It was there he heard the pastor speak about Jesus as the lamb of God.  Due to the love he had had for a pet lamb as a child (that his father had cruelly killed and thus ignited his spiral into a rebellious lifestyle), Mr. Reagan was very sensitive to the idea of Jesus being the perfect lamb who loved him and died for his sins.  God knew Mr. Reagan would be there that day and had planned the perfect message just for him.  He gave his life to Jesus and never looked back as he now lives for Jesus and shares his testimony in order encourage others to repent of their sinful lifestyles and to keep others from hell.

The last account I will share is from a man named Howard Storm, a strong atheist that did not believe in life after death.  Mr. Storm was what you would consider a good man, not living a criminal life by any means.  He had been married for 20 years and had a good marriage.  He did, however, admit that he lived a life that was all about himself. He and his wife were vacationing in Paris when he experienced a perforation in his stomach. He spent 8-10 hours in agony in an ER hallway because the hospital was short staffed.  After the long wait, he was informed that the hospital could not find anyone to operate and they had no idea how much longer he would have to wait.  It was then he gave up fighting to stay alive, and he and his wife tearfully said their goodbyes.

I am not sure if Mr. Storm then died or if like Mr. Regan what he experienced was a vision, but this is a brief version of what he reported.  He saw himself standing outside his own body and heard sweet and gentle voices outside the hospital room calling, "Howard, come out here."  He said they used very "syrupy" tones to entice him out. He exited the room into a grey hallway where about a dozen people waited that he thought might be medical personnel.  They kindly encouraged him to follow them, and he thought maybe he was about to have his operation.  However, they walked for an unknown amount of time because time suddenly had no meaning.  He compared the length of the walk as if they walked from Nashville, TN to Louisville, KY (about 175 miles or about a 4-hour walk).  The longer they walked the more hostile the others became.  They began telling him to hurry and to shut up if he asked any questions.  They eventually ended up in complete darkness, and he refused to go any farther. 

Mr. Storm says that what he experienced next was "too ugly" to fully describe as the dozens of people became 100s or maybe even 1000s.  They tore, bit, scratched, ripped, and gouged his flesh until he was covered in painful wounds.  He was unable to fight them, and it went on for an unknown amount of time.  When they stopped for a time, he lay in the dark in physical pain, but the emotional trauma was many times worse.

He heard his own voice say to him, "Pray to God."  Although he had attended church as a child, he could not remember how to pray.  He quoted what he remembered and every time he said the name of God or Jesus, his abusers would scream and yell the worst profanity he had ever heard, but it kept them away from him.  He kept saying prayers and he was soon alone for what felt like an eternity.  He reflected on his life and realized the only god he had served was himself.  He then remembered singing "Jesus loves me" as a child and that he had once believed that God was good and loved him.  He desperately wanted back what he had thrown away.  He called out, "Jesus please save me!" and Jesus was instantly there.

Although I am saving Jim Woodford's heaven experience for part 3, I will continue with Mr. Storm's account because he did not actually see Heaven.  Jesus took Mr. Storm into His arms and carried him out of the pit and took him to where he called a place in between, neither heaven nor hell. He felt dirty and unworthy, but Jesus cleaned him up, healed the wounds caused by the demons, and filled him with a pure sense of Jesus' love. (Amen! Hallelujah!) He was taken to a different room and shown his life by angels (he did not provide any descriptions of Jesus or the angels) In a nutshell, they made it clear to him that all his kind actions pleased God, but his cruel ones made God unhappy.  Mr. Storm did not want to go back to earth, but Jesus and the angels assured him that they would always be with him as long as he prayed, confessed his sins to God, and gave all his cares, hopes, and dreams to God.

I do not know how long he was dead or unconscious, but as soon as he reentered his body, a doctor miraculously showed up to perform the lifesaving surgery.  

Mr. Storm fully believes he was given the soul changing experience to share so he could help save others.  Which, as I stated at the beginning of this blog, I want the same thing.  If I can convince even one person that there are indeed consequences for living in active rebellion against a holy God because we our soul does indeed continue after we die, then these blogs are worth writing.

(Psalm 9:16-17) The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

Please come back for more in this series tomorrow as there is so much hope and beauty of God's goodness and grace still to be revealed!

(Psalm 86:13) For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

Heaven & Hell Series, Part 2A: The Reality of Hell

Heaven & Hell Series, Part 2A: The Reality of Hell

You may wonder if one of the purposes for me to write this series is to scare people.  The answer would be yes, it is. I don't believe we should choose to accept Jesus' free gift of salvation based on fear of hell, but out of love for a gracious, compassionate, and forgiving Savior. However, if fear of hellish torment prompts you to open your Bible and start seeking Jesus and living for Him, then I will absolutely be happy to share the experiences of what other people saw of hell.  Make no mistake, heaven and hell are both very real places, and if you have actively chosen to live in rebellion against God, you will go there the moment you die.

This will be an eight or nine-part series, and before it is concluded, I will absolutely share with you more scriptures on how you can choose where you spend eternity.  In the meantime, please read the Bible on you own, especially the words of Jesus Christ.

One of the things all the people who have seen heaven, hell, or both have in common are that they feel they were sent back here for the sole purpose of sharing what they saw.  If their stories keep even one person from going to hell, even the terror they experienced was worth it. It is their stories that have inspired me to write this series.  To help further their missions to share the truths that heaven and hell are real.   

Rather than taking the time to write this series, I could simply give you links to YouTube videos to watch, but I know some people prefer to read, some watch videos, or like me, do both.  You can always search each of the people I mention for their testimonies.  Also, the main reason I do not share an entire video is because sometimes there are false testimonies on the same video as the true experiences, and I do not want to confuse anyone.  I will expose some of the frauds I am aware of in a later writing.  

For the sake of not making these blogs the lengths of novels, the stories I am retelling are very much shortened versions.  I am only going to share three stories as they take a while to recount. One in this blog, and two in part 2B.  I will start with the man I mentioned part 1, Jim Woodford.  I will tell more of his story about heaven in part 3. This retelling is taken both from an interview I watched and from his book, "Heaven, an Unexpected Journey." 

Jim Woodford lived a very selfish life where he only cared about his own pleasures and his success as a pilot and businessman.  His marriage was not a happy one, and he was facing debilitating pain due to having Guillain-Barré syndrome.  He was in so much pain he was taking large amounts of pain killers.  One day, desperate just to function, he took an unknown number of prescribed pain pills.  He had unintentionally taken a fatal dose (he said he was not suicidal) and quickly experienced a searing pain throughout his whole body.  Feeling he was dying, he cried out, "Jesus, forgive me." He then suddenly found himself standing outside his truck looking in at his own dead body inside the vehicle.  He was lifted faster and higher than any airplane he had flown and was speeding through a tunnel.  When he finally reached the end, he could see a dark door right next to the beautiful grass (I will save his description of heaven for part 3).  

This was a surprise to me to realize that the entrance to hell was literally next to heaven.  However, if you read the account of a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus (not the one Jesus raised from the dead) in Luke 16:19-31 (posted at the end), the rich man in hell can see the beggar in heaven from his place in the flames.  

Anyway, back to Mr. Woodford's account.  He heard the screeching doors of hell open, and either a demon or Satan himself (he was not sure which it was) was next to him with hideous, grotesque and twisted features.  He said he could feel utter despair in this creature as if he had swallowed and carried tormented souls with him.  He says the voice was as if a snake was speaking.  He told Jim it was his time to go to hell, and Jim was shocked at how well the evil being knew him.  He turned his back to the demon and felt a sharp talon scrape down his back.  In his terror, he called out, "God, save me!"  Suddenly three angels were at his side, and...  I will continue his story in part 3.

In order to keep this reading from being so long no one will read it, I will continue 2 more testimonies of hell in part 2B.

All these accounts as well as the below verse show not only how terrifying real hell is, but also that we do not go to sleep when we die.  We are either immediately ushed to heaven or hell.

(Luke 16:19-31) There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Heaven & Hell Series, Part 1: Introduction

Heaven & Hell Series, Part 1: Introduction

Before I move on to the book of Ephesians, I want to interrupt my posts going through the Bible as I feel the need to write a series on a specific topic: heaven and hell. I do not know yet how many parts there will be to this series.

Based on the Christian content I watch on YouTube, a video was recommended for me to watch on the near-death experience of a man named Jim Woodford.  I have seen and read quite a few reports of people who have visions of both heaven and hell, some of them have literally died, while others, like my husband, have had dreams and visions without being near death.  However, I am always skeptical that what the person has to say is legitimate, because quite often these reports are made up for the sake of gaining attention, to appear spiritual, or to gain fame, and/or the visions were influenced by demons and not from God at all in order to confuse and mislead people about what heaven and hell are really like.  I felt that Mr. Woodoford's story was real.  I also read his book titled "Heaven, an Unexpected Journey" where he goes into greater detail of his experience. 

Mr. Woodford's story prompted me to reread Rebecca Springer's book, "Within the Gates" (Their books were checked out from my library's digital selection for free, so you can also read these at no cost.)  I also watched a few more stories on YouTube.

I am going to give a brief synopsis of each of the above people's stories, will be sharing other experiences, as well as give warnings on what not to believe. Before I do that, however, I always tend to overexplain myself, I will do so now!  The reason I feel so compelled to write about this topic is based on an interview I watched where people were asked about their views on heaven and hell.  The large majority of them said they did not believe either place existed or felt that heaven and hell were what we create in our own minds.  It really saddened me that so many people are so blind and callus about what waits for them after time on this earth is over. Our time here is so very very teeny tiny compared to eternity, and yet the way we choose to live our life here will depend on where we spend forever.  That should be a sobering fact to all of us, not something to shrug off so lightly. I pray this series reaches at least one person and helps them to think seriously about eternity.

Although I will share more scriptures as we journey through this series, here are just a few to start things off:

The word "heaven" is found in the Bible 691 times (KJV), 55 of those references are in the book of Revelation alone.  The word hell is only listed 54 times KJV). Hell is not always mentioned by name but as a place with fire and/or brimstone, so technically hell is mentioned more than 54 times, just not by name. For today, I am only going to reference both Revelation 20 & 21 as they mention both places.

(Revelation 20:12-15) And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

(Revelation 21:1-27) And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

And He that sat upon the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new... It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son."

"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."

And there came unto me one of the seven angels... And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal...And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.

And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

 

Pursuing the Fruits of the Spirit, Part 8: Temperance (Self-Control)

 

Pursuing the Fruits of the Spirit, Part 8: Temperance (Self-Control)

Note: Although there are 9 fruits of the Spirit, this is only an 8-part series as part 1 covered both love and long suffering.

(Galatians 5:22-23) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (self-control).

There are countless ways in which we can choose to exhibit self-control, most of which are obvious. It is also apparent that pursing self-control is indeed an active choice. When you drink alcohol, smoke, take drugs, swear, have sex outside of marriage, cheat, lie, steal, gamble, read/watch immoral images, glorify witchcraft/the occult etc., you must first make the conscious decision to go against God’s laws.

Let’s look at the verses directly before the above scripture that speaks of the fruits of the Spirit:

(Galatians 5:16-21) I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish... Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Can it be any clearer that our works do indeed matter? And, no, we are not saved by our works (salvation is a free gift), but, yes, our works are being judged! If you do not exercise self-control and “practice such things [you] will not inherit the kingdom of God.” When we pursue the Holy Spirit and His purity, when we make a daily choice to “walk in the Spirit,” it is so much easier to live a life of righteousness than when we try to rely on our own strength. Human nature is carnal and wants to please only itself. But when we remember that there are consequences to our actions, including repercussions that will affect others, it is easier to say “no” to the sins of the flesh.

God does not expect us to live a dull life, He specifically designed us to enjoy pleasure, but we must do so within the laws He designed to protect not only us, but others as well. For example, sex outside of marriage creates diseases, unwanted pregnancies (which often leads to the murder of an innocent baby), broken marriages, etc. Yet, sex within marriage is a beautiful bonding experience that enhances married life. Before you choose not to exhibit self-control, stop and think of how your actions will most likely hurt someone else and remind yourself of how you would feel if you were on the other side of an affair, a theft, a lie, gossip, etc.

We are all faced with many temptations throughout our lives. There are too many to name, some of which I am sure I am not even aware. God, however, knows our weaknesses and The Bible promises that He will always give us many opportunities to escape all temptations, and thus exercise self-control.

(1 Corinthians 10:13) No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

All one needs to do is walk away. It really is that simple. Better yet, do not even get to the place where you need an escape. You would not intentionally walk across four lanes of heavy traffic at night in a big city wearing all black, so why would you put your walk with the Lord at risk. For example, if you are addicted to pornography, turn off the Internet and television and do not pick up filthy magazines. If you are so tempted that you cannot even turn on the Internet without going to the ungodly sites, cancel your Internet service.

(2 Timothy 2:22) Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Other than simply walking away from the things and people that tempt us, we need to pray a wall of protection against our family and ourselves. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He told them they should ask to be kept far away from unholy enticements. Remember to ask God to keep you from evil every day and be proactive by pursing self-control and walking away when you know it is the best course of action.

(Matthew 6:8-9 & 13) For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray: And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

(Matthew 26:41) Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

(2 Timothy 3:3-7) But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

(2 Peter 1:5-11) But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; or so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.