Note: I had a vision this morning (08/31/24) of an impending judgment ready to come on every state in this country. While I do not know when it will occur, God is very strongly urging me to share this post again written by husband a few years ago. Before I share my husband’s post, I would like to add a few words.
Thank you for journeying through the Bible with me! May we continue to grow through God's Word together!
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Saturday, August 31, 2024
Dreams of the Coming Judgments, Written by my Husband
Note: I had a vision this morning (08/31/24) of an impending judgment ready to come on every state in this country. While I do not know when it will occur, God is very strongly urging me to share this post again written by husband a few years ago. Before I share my husband’s post, I would like to add a few words.
Monday, August 19, 2024
How was I able to find a spiritual message while making dog bones?
In 2020, we rescued a white German Shepherd from a very irresponsible breeder. To keep a very long story much shorter, Sierra has not been the healthiest dog, and we have only just now figured out that food allergies may be what is contributing to her hair and weight loss. Because the commercially made foods for pets with allergies are way beyond our budget, I have begun cooking food for her and our other two dogs every day. Although we have seen some improvement in Sierra, she is still very skinny. Therefore, I decided to make her some high-protein dog bones to help supplement her diet. I researched what foods were best (and safest) for my dog to improve. I have a neurological condition that causes extreme fatigue, weakness, and pain, yet I was willing to stand on my feet for close to two hours making this special recipe I created and rolled out 113 dog bones! I didn't give up, but I kept going until all the bones were baked!
Wow, what commitment, right? Now maybe you are starting to understand how I became inspired to write this blog. While I worked hard researching, formulating, and executing the perfect recipe, I found myself doing some serious self-examination and asked myself if I put forth that much effort in my walk with the Lord.
2 Timothy 2:15 says, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." This means that God is very pleased with us when we study His Holy Word and learn what is right and wrong in the eyes of Jesus, not in the eyes of man. Just as I studied up on my dog's condition and what foods would be the most beneficial to her, it is even more important that I study all that God commands of me in my walk with Him in order to please Him. The more I read my Bible and know what it says, the more I will be able to be able to distinguish between the false teachers and the ones telling me exactly what the Bible says. I will be able to "divide the truth" from fiction.
Just as I wanted to know what was healthy for my dog, if I want to know what is healthy for my spiritual walk, one place to start is Galatians 5:19-25. It is a great list of what I should and should not do to stay thriving in the Lord. " 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."
As I chose not to give into my physical pain and fatigue while I rolled out and baked all those bones, I need to maintain vitality as a seek to walk down paths of righteousness. 2 Thessalonians 3:13 reminds me to "be not weary in well doing." With apathy, opposition, and even mocking words from others, it can be exhausting standing up for holiness. It can be tempting to give up. But God's Words encourage us to keep going strong for Him. He will be all the physical, emotional, mental, and especially spiritual strength we will ever need.
Just as I mentioned my dad in the beginning of his blog, I will end with a verse he loved to quote. Isaiah 40:29-31 were his favorite scripture verses and they very much apply here as a reminder that God will be our strength in all things, which especially includes working for the Lord: "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
Tuesday, August 13, 2024
Satan's Throne in your Home, Written by my Husband
Satan's Throne in your Home, Written by my Husband Mel
Most people are unaware that Satan has a throne in their home. Many people desire to be healed of sickness, delivered from demonic oppression or possession, or to hear from God, but they are being blocked. Quite often the programs that people watch on television are robbing them of God's blessings, as well as bringing demons into their homes. The television set is Satan's throne in most homes. The Lord showed me that music, video games, as well as television programs are blocking prayers from being answered, as well as keeping his children in bondage. Many Christians are receiving visions and dreams from familiar spirits, instead of the Lord because of the compromise of television. Throw out your television set and you will open yourself up to the blessings that God desires for his children.
Saturday, August 10, 2024
A House Divided
You may think it was during the Civil War that Abraham Lincoln that coined the phrase, "A house divided against itself will fall", but Lincoln was quoting Luke 11:17. Jesus said these words after he had just cast out an evil spirit and had been accused of being demon-possessed (see Luke 11:14-20). Jesus was making the point that a demon would not and could not cast out one of its own. I am writing along these same lines, and yet a bit different. My lesson today is to show that one cannot serve God and something else that contradicts God's Word. If we try to serve Christ while worshipping something other than Christ, our heart becomes a house divided. We are certain to fall spiritually, emotionally and/or physically.
In Joshua 24, Joshua is challenging the Israelites to choose whom they will serve: the false gods or the True God. "Now fear the Lord and serve the Lord with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshipped... and serve the Lord... Choose for yourself this day whom will you serve... but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:14-15 This is my challenge to you today as well. Will you throw away your false idols and serve the one True God?
One of the biggest idols in people's lives is money. Television evangelists are obsessed with it. They are not doing the Lord's work; they are heaping riches upon themselves while very little money goes to help the poor. Their messages are watered-down feel-good sermons that never make one uncomfortable because they want happy listeners to write big checks. If they told you the Truth that one must remain grafted in the vine (Jesus) lest they risk losing their salvation (see John 15:1-10), they would lose viewers who do not want to be condemned for their sins. More importantly, they would not be able to afford their material possessions. Why do they deceive the masses? Simple: money. They worship money, not God. There are a lot of verses in the bible warning about the love of money. Jesus clearly tells us, "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." Matthew 6:24 & Luke 16:13 Could it be more clear? If one loves money, he will hate God because God wants us to give money to the poor, not keep it all for ourselves. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a beautiful home, nice vehicle, nice clothes, etc.; God often blesses those that genuinely serve Him with wealth and the good things in life. The problem is not being wealthy, but when we ignore the needs of those literally and spiritually starving, we are not using that money to glorify God. When one compromises their beliefs or goes against the principals of the bible to earn that money, it is also an affront to God. (I am not just speaking of false evangelists, but also of people who embezzle, steal, run business that sell immoral products, cheat, etc.) I am currently far from wealthy, but if I was ever to obtain wealth, I would donate to charity before buying the things I wanted. Yes, I would also have some nice things, but materialism will never prevent me doing my best to honor God with a clean lifestyle, and I would still work for God. The balance is not to become obsessed with inanimate objects over people's souls.
When you worship money while attempting to serve God, your heart is divided between God and greed. Paul says it so much better than I do, so remember his words, not mine. In 1 Timothy 3, when Paul lists the qualities of a deacon, he says that he "must not [be] a lover of money." (verse 3) That goes for all wanting to be leaders but is also great advice for non-leaders as well. Paul goes on in 1 Timothy 6:9-10 to warn, "People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds if evil. Some people eager for money have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." And for those who are wealthy, Paul says in verse 17 of the same chapter, "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth which is uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything."
Hebrews 13:5 says, "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have." And in 1 Peter 5:2, Peter says that the "shepherds of God's flock" should "not [be] greedy for money, but eager to serve." Additionally, Solomon, the wisest man that ever lived says in Ecclesiastes 5:10, "Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income." I would go on to add that loving God may cause you to feel like you can never be in His presence enough, and yet loving and serving God will always leave you satisfied.
Enough about money! There are other ways we serve the wrong master. Isaiah 5:2 warns," Woe to those who call evil good and good evil. Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness." For modern times I would say this warning is for those who call themselves Christians but have no problem watching or reading things that have to do with the occult. Jesus clearly says in John 8:12, "I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life." Just entertainment may be animated, that does not make it harmless. There is nothing innocent about witchcraft. It is no wonder so many of today's children raised in Christian families grow up confused and fall away from the Truth. When mommy and daddy say God is good and the devil is bad, but then watch movies and television shows glorifying hexes, spells, and curses, the children cannot quite figure out what is right and wrong, the lines get blurred and black and white turn grey. Dressing up like a witch or reading a book with magic in it right after going to church absolutely makes one's house divided, and it will surely topple and fall. I am not saying all children will grow up rebellious when raised in homes where the parents say worshipping the devil is detrimental, but then turn on Sleeping Beauty, Harry Potter, or even Star Wars, but they will be spiritually confused. Nightmares manifest for a reason. Watching or reading about characters in stories casting spells will bring evil spirits in your home. Period. The same goes for rock music and watching violent programs. (You can read a list of scriptures that show us how much God hates witchcraft here: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2023/10/should-christians-celebrate-halloween.html )
There are many, many other idols and/or Godless principals we can follow that will divide us from God such as fame, physical pleasures (especially dangerous are those that harm others), other people, and even your own vanity, but I will leave off with just one more issue. You cannot serve God and religion. Think that did not make sense? I am not trying to insult any one's beliefs, but there are many into traditions rather than into God. Remember the blog I wrote a short while ago about placing God in a box? https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2024/07/dont-place-god-in-box.html Well, that's what I am talking about. When we serve the rituals, we are not serving God, we are serving the motions. When we worship a certain country or race of people that represent a religious belief, we are not honoring God. When we want to be just like Pastor, Priest, or Rabbi So-and-So or love any article that represents a certain religion, rather than focusing on wanting to be like Jesus, our heart is divided and we are not serving God, but man and/or manmade religion. When we love and serve the attributes of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, with a desire to imitate those characteristics, our hearts are in the right place.
Hopefully this all makes sense. I want to close by repeating my second paragraph. Please really think about it. In Joshua 24, Joshua is challenging the Israelites to choose whom they will serve: the false gods or the True God. "Now fear the Lord and serve the Lord with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshipped... and serve the Lord... Choose for yourself this day whom will you serve... but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:14-15 This is my challenge to you today as well. Will you throw away your false idols and serve the one True God?