When you Believe God has not Been Good to You

In my videos I often quote Romans 2:4, "The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance."  Yet as I was thinking about that verse today, I realized that when people believe God has not been good to them, is why they refuse to change their ways and repent of their sins.  They turn this verse upside-down by justifying their actions believing God is not good, so why repent.

People who believe God will prevent all bad things from happening to them or their loved ones end up hating God. They cannot find joy in the midst of suffering or trust in their hearts God is always good.  They have difficulty trusting in the love of God. (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. John 3:16)  

Not only does God grieve with us, He intercedes for us (Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25 & Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Romans 8:26). God is fighting for us, but we tend to sabotage our own lives by living in rebellion. 

Yes, sometimes God uses negative circumstances to test our love for Him, but in general, God does not intend for bad things to happen to His children.  Jeremiah 29:11 states, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” God wants only the best for us. Does that mean God does not have any control? No, this means we will never fully know why bad things are allowed to happen because there is a war going on we cannot comprehend.  “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.  I Corinthians 13:12  (my favorite verse) reminds us that we cannot understand why things happen as they do because we cannot see the big, eternal picture, but when we get to heaven, it will all be crystal clear.  This senseless world will make sense.

If we cry out to God, He will hear our pleas.  He wants to protect us and save us.  It may seem like evil is winning, and I do not believe that this world will ever improve.  In fact, I know it will only get worse.  Man’s desire for independence corrupts him more and more.  The mentality of not wanting to be told what to do is only getting worse. It is up to you to surrender yourself to God as well as your independence.  It is up to you to choose to live right and separate yourself from this world.  

People love to quote Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”  Yet they fail to pay attention to the part that says "to those who love God." Do you really love God or are you just demanding He fulfill your every prayer request? Jesus said in John 14:15," If ye love me, keep my commandments." If you refuse to turn off your ungodly entertainment, give up drinking, cheating, stealing, backbiting, etc. then why do you say you love Jesus?  Just so you can use the title of "Christian" to try to get what you want and then turn you back on God when things do not go your way?  

I Peter 1:16 says, "Be holy, for I am holy."  Besides this being an excellent verse to remind us to live righteous lives, it also reminds us that a holy God cannot tolerate sin.  If you are asking God to bless you in any way, be it a health, spiritual, financial, emotional, or mental issue, you cannot be wallowing in sin and expect Him to answer your prayers.  If you feel your prayers are being blocked, it may be that God wants to help you, but your ungodly actions are hindering His blessings. 

If we are honest, we can all admit that there have been numerous times in our lives we purposely chose to disobey God’s voice. Myself included.  In essence, we are making an active choice to separate ourselves from God and hinder our prayer life. Would you expect a boss to keep you on the job if you kept stealing or refusing to show up?  No; nor should you expect a holy God to turn the other way when you willfully choose to do the wrong thing.

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. II Chronicles 7:14

The key words there are “if,” and “humble themselves.”

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. Psalm 34:18

Humble yourself and admit you have done wrong.  The free gift of salvation begins with repentance and admittance of sin.  Then you must begin to and continually walk in holiness to please God (I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1). 

Romans 6:1-2 tells us God's free gift of grace is not to be manipulated and abused for our own selfish will, "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?" Grace is not an excuse to live however you want because you are a “Christian.” The opposite is true. We need to have a holy desire to please our Creator and live a truly Christian lifestyle. We need daily self-evaluation and repentance.  

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. Luke 9:23 

I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.  I Corinthians 15:31  

Daily very simply means we must crucify our flesh every day not just once.   Psalm 139: 23-24 should be a daily prayer: Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

Bottom line here is to quit using the difficult circumstances of life as an excuse to refuse to do what you know goes against the Word of God. First evaluate your heart and actions to see if you are going against His will so He cannot help you. Then learn to focus on the eternal picture and see how much God loves you and  allow "The goodness of God" to "leadeth thee to repentance."

Five Good Reasons to Give up Secular Entertainment

I always hesitate to repost this again because I know it will make some people angry. But please know I am merely being obedient to God by posting what He asks of me. If you feel convicted to give up TV and movies, it is not me trying to change you, it is the Holy Spirit. Also, as I always say in my videos. I do NOT  think I am any better than anyone else just because I gave up specular entertainment in 2015. I am still a work in progress allowing God to change me in many areas of my life.  The number one reason I encourage people to purge Hollywood from their lives is because of what the Bible says about it, but also because I know the demonic bondages it can cause and I want all of you to be set free!  

Five Good Reasons to Give up Secular Entertainment

I know it may seem I over-preach on the issue of watching television and movies, but I feel God has called me to continually warn my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ just how dangerous secular entertainment is to your soul. I preach the Truth because I love each of you. Although there are more than five verses that easily fit this blog topic, I will limit it today.  This is not my theology, but the Lord's. 

Philippians 4:8 instructs us on where we should place our focus. We are encouraged not to think on (or watch or listen to) anything that is false, dishonorable, unjust, filthy, ugly, unvirtuous, and that which does not praise the Lord.  How many of those negative adjectives describe the movies or television shows you ae watching? 

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8

Ephesians 4:8-11 reminds us that we are not to dwell in darkness, but to walk in  the Lord's light. We are to dwell in and focus on the fruits of the Spirit and to know what is acceptable in the eyes of the Lord and then to abstain from fellowshipping with the dark things of the world. Hollywood is full of darkness.  https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2020/07/pedophilia-in-hollywood.html  

For you were once darkness,  but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.  Ephesians 4:8-11

Both Galatians 5:19-21 and Revelation 21:8 give us a list of the issues that will keep us out of God's Kingdom.  How many of these sinful behaviors are depicted in movies?  Again, Philippians 4 tells us we are not to focus on such things. This includes not-so-innocent cartoons: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-real-walt-disney.html

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. Galatians 5:19-21

But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8

I quote II Corinthians 6:14-18-7:1 a lot because it is the heart of my ministry.  If you call yourself a Christian and say you walk in the Light, you have no business entertaining yourselves with the dark things of Hollywood, or even with secular book, games, or music.  We must not touch, watch, or listen to the things God considers unclean.  Look at all the above verses to determine what is unclean. Wouldn't you much rather be called a son or daughter of God by choosing to walk away from the evil, dark, immoral things of the world than to be cast into the lake of fire just for the sake of entertainment?  

For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said, “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” Therefore, “Come out from among them And be separate," says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters," Says the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. II Corinthians 6:14-18-7:1

Visions of God in Heaven

The title of this blog is not about visions or dreams my husband or I have had of God or heaven (although we have both had them), but is a Biblical list of the times the prophets have seen God/Jesus in heaven.  When praying about what God wanted me to write next, this topic came to me repeatedly for more than a week so knew it was important.  I pray these verses will be a comfort of God's presence as well as a moral compass to remember that God is always watching. 

I am not going to list every detail in scripture, and encourage you to read the full passages on your own. I may miss some verses from the Bible, so please do your own research to locate others.  I believe the reason God wanted me to post these visions is so you can see how they are similar.  It is proof these visions were not man's over-active imagination, but that God truly showed Himself to those who loved and served Him with a righteous heart. It is a lot of reading, but those who are hungry and thirsty for God, I encourage you to read it all and allow the Holy Spirit to let the words from scripture touch your heart in whatever way He so chooses.  May they inspire you to sing in worship, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory."

I will list these chronologically, beginning with Isaiah. I love how God cleaned His lips so Isaiah cold be used for God's glory.

 

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.  And one cried unto another, and said, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory." And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, "Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts." Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then said I, "Here am I; send me." Isaiah 6:1-8

From Ezekiel:

And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies. And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings. And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings. And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.

And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake. Ezekiel 1:23-28

Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne. And he spake unto the man clothed with linen... Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court. Then the glory of the Lord went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the Lord's glory. And the sound of the cherubims' wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh. Ezekiel 10:1-5

From Daniel: 

I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.  I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.  And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. Daniel 7:9-10 & 13-14 

From Revelation. CHAPTERS 20 & 21 ARE TWO OF THE MANY KEYS TO UNDERSTANDING HOLY LIVING:

I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, "I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last..." His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, "Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." Revelation 1:10-11 & 14-18

I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come." And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Revelation 4:2-6 & 8-11

And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.  And I we much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, "Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof." And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, "Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing." And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, "Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever." And the four beasts said, "Amen." And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. Revelation 5:1-14

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb." And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, "Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen."  Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in hi temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.Revelation 7:9-12 & 15-17

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. 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 20:11-15

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. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful." And he said unto me, "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 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 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. Revelation 21:1-8 & 23-24, 27

"I just realized I don't know God at all."

This post was inspired by a dream I had a few nights ago. I dreamt I was observing a young woman. She was dressed, not overly proactive, but immodestly.  She was sitting alone on a small balcony reading a large book that was just the Book of Psalms.  She had only intended on reading a little bit before bedtime, more out of obligation than hunger for the Word of God.  However, the longer she read, the more the Holy Spirit began to soften her heart and the harder it was for her to put the book down.  The sun set around her and the night disappeared into day as she slowly read and solidly absorbed all 150 chapters.  After she had finished, her eyes were full of tears and she said aloud, "I just realized I don't know God at all."  She then looked down at her skin tight jeans and midriff-bearing top.  "I say I love Him and I call myself a Christian, but I see now I haven't been living in a Godly manner that would please the Lord." A deep desire had been stirred in her to get to know God and understand His ways of holiness and joy.  A burden was lifted off her shoulders as she wept in repentance but also in the freedom she felt in choosing to truly live for the Lord as a Biblical Christian, not as one the world defined as "spiritual." Psalm 139 really struck a chord with her: Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (verses 23-24), and she became determined from that point forward to truly live for Jesus! 

Do you ever feel yourself realizing you do not know God?  On this side of heaven we can never fully comprehend the mind of God (For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9). What I am referring to is what this woman in my dream suddenly realized.  Do you know what God desires of you? Do you really understand what is good and what is evil? (Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20) Have you been confused by the world's lies instead of reading and obeying what the word of God says?

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1

Time 0n this planet is very short, I encourage you even more strongly than before to seek to know what the Bible says concerning holiness. 2 Timothy 2:15 encourages us to "Study to shew thyself approved unto God," so that we can, be "a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." In  other words, the more you read the Word of God, the more you will understand God's Truths versus Satan's lies.

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear. 1 Peter 1:13-17

The more you delve into the Word of God, the more you will understand what pleases and displeases the Lord. You will lean how corrupt most "Christian" pastor's sermons are (For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude, v. 4 & Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Matthew 7:15). You will learn for yourself what God considers good and bad fruit (read Galatians 5:16-26). God will begin to set you on fire for His holy ways and the Holy Spirit will enable you to live apart from the world.

Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55:6-7

Seek God's face now, before it's too late, or instead of you saying, "I just realized I don't know God at all," He will say He never knew you.

"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matthew 7:22-23