Skeleton Song

Everyone has a past of some sort. It could be anything... something you're not proud of whether the situation be big or small. But whatever the case, there is no reason at all to go looking for your past. What's done is done and we can only learn from it.

If you've dealt with your past, great! But for those who still have skeletons in the closet, this is for you.

If you don't deal with your past, your past will deal with you. You must pray and ask for forgiveness. But do not stay in the same place... don't go back to the same old things that God forgave you of and delivered you from.

Things of your past may be dragging you down. If that's the case, get those things out of your life! The enemy will try to throw your past mistakes in your face; but, 'Resist the devil and he will flee from you' (Ja 4:7) You don't have to stay in your current condition. Let it go and move forward!

How do we get bad things out of our lives and move on? Prayer. How do we get prayers answered? II Chr 7:14 - If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

To get prayers answered, we must..
1. have a humble spirit. God puts us in situations so we have to look to Him for help... to humble us.
2. Pray...pretty self explanatory. Talk to God about your problems. He will talk to you if you talk to Him.
3. Seek the face of God. Not just His hands and what He can do... but His face.
4. (this is vital) Turn from wicked ways. We can't keep on doing the same old things. We've got to get the bad things out of our lives. THEN God will hear us, forgive us, and heal us.

Stop letting the skeletons in the closet of your past sing their song and have rule. Bury your past, leave it behind, and MOVE FORWARD!

J.H.

Friends In High Places

In my experience in job searching, I've come to know certain people that have authority to make things happen. I would always call on these people to help me find a good job or in the job, make something happen for me. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't using them to hand me everything I needed. I was, however, leaning on them for help because I knew that they could make things happen.
The same principle applies with our spiritual walk, wouldn't you say? We all have mentors, role models, etc. I have people I look up to and are always there when I need them. It's all well and good to have friends that can help you, but we ALL have one friend who sticks closer than a brother... Jesus.

I look at the life of Abraham. In James it says, "And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God." Abraham's faith reposed in God Himself. He knew the God he was dealing with. It was a personal confidence in One whom he could utterly trust. The real secret of Abraham's whole life was in his friendship with God. He knew God to be his good and faithful Friend. Taking Him at His word, he stepped out from all that he knew and loved and went forth upon an unknown pathway with none but God. In addition to trusting in the Word of God, have we learned to lean our whole weight upon God, the God of infinite love and power, our covenant God and everlasting Friend?

We are told that Abraham glorified God by this life of faith. The truest way to glorify God is to let the world see what He is and what He can do. It's not about us, it's about Him... all we do must be for His glory. Not to be seen or heard, but for Him. God does not so much want us to do things as to let people see what He can do. God is not looking for extraordinary characters as His instruments, but He is looking for humble instruments through whom He can be honored throughout the ages.

A very wise evangelist once told me a quote... "God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called." We are not perfect, but we serve a perfect God. And the reason He can still use us and work with us is because we aren't perfect. A relationship with our God is the best thing that could ever happen to us. A gift from God is an offer we can't refuse!

We must be careful; we must not have a relationship with God just to get the things we want. James 4 is a great chapter in the Bible. It says in verses 3 and 4, 'Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.'

We must be close to God and listen to His voice and not our own selfish thoughts. Sometimes we can pray for the wrong things... we may think it's the best thing, but our Friend knows better... and I would hate to be the enemy of God.

Draw close to God, and He will draw closer to you. If you talk to God, He will talk back to you. Seek His direction and not what you think is the right way.

Verse 10 of James 4 says, 'Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.'
IT'S NOT ABOUT US... IT'S ABOUT HIM!!!!!!!!

J.H.

Devil's Puppet

Fingers in strings, connected to your hands... Is it good, or is it evil? Something has control. You feel it as it takes over your every move and thought... causes you to act on impulse.

Evil. It comes from the enemy. The evil one is aware of you and he seeks to destroy you and all you do. You must know you are a target. The enemy knows you and will try to confuse you and make you live in fear.

But your life cannot be controlled by fear. Fear is of the enemy. God is not the author of fear or confusion. Do not let Satan tell you lies... You are not alone, God will NEVER leave you. His promises are sure... They are yea and amen!

God is fighting for you. When the enemy comes at you like a roaring lion, God will be your shield and defense. He is our refuge and strong tower.

But what about that evil... Ever notice how evil is just 'devil' without the d?
Evil starts in the heart. Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts... (Mt 15:19) If it's in your heart it will come out in your life. To be controlled and consumed with thoughts, words and acts of evil is to be the devil's puppet... to do what he wants and not what God wants.

Legion was controlled... Did exactly what the enemy wanted. Listened to what the devil told him to do... Luke 8 says he was driven by the devil. But when Legion saw Jesus, he cried out... Personally I think he knew that he wouldn't be rid of the demons by himself...

Do NOT believe the lie that you can make it on your own and that you don't need God. You're being a puppet... doing exactly what the enemy wants and believing what he wants you to believe. He's got you strung up and he's controlling your every move. He's only using you. He poisons your mind with what he desires. He cares nothing for you or the people you may hurt!

The mind is a powerful thing. It can play tricks and cause us to think the wrong things... Is it just human reasoning or is it evil? The devil will attack your mind & try to convince you into believing his lies... but be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Rom 12:2)

Make no mistake, the devil is trying his best to steal our souls... (our love & walk with God) How much more should we hit our knees and die to our sins? What we must do is what apostle Paul said... die daily.

Our lives will have problems, troubles, etc. but give it to God! When you talk to God, He will talk back to you. When you're sure it's His voice speaking, listen immediately, lest humanistic reasoning set in.
Do not be controlled by your own thoughts or what the devil tries to tell you.

What you must want is for your carnal man to die and for the spiritual man to be alive! Crucify your flesh daily! (Ph 1:21) To live is Christ, but to die is gain.... no strings attached!

J.H.

Actions Speak Louder

How many of us have heard the term, "Actions speak louder than words"... It's a true statement. You may say that you want to do something but your actions say otherwise... How can we apply that in a spiritual sense?

Once you have God's spirit inside your heart and you're living right, the enemy will try to attack you. Anytime you take a stand for God and try to do more for Him, the devil will try to make you fall. God allows the enemy to attack us to see what we're made of; to see if we are going to stand and fight or lay down and take it... and that my friends would be a bad mistake. We can't allow our lives to be controlled by fear... don't give place to the devil (Ep 4:27)

If we fall back on old habits, God is not going to bless us with more. His word says He will not put on us more than we can handle... we all hear that and think it just applies for the bad things; but wouldn't you say it includes the good things also?

For example, God will not bless you with a better job with more money until you can handle your current one. (tithe, offering, using money wisely) God won't bless you with a marriage until you can handle a regular dating relationship. God's not going to put on us more than we can bear.
God knows your every thought and He knows your heart; but God will not honor your good intentions, He will honor (and bless) your ACTIONS.

Everyone wants to be a good person, everyone wants to be a true christian; but what separates (for lack of a better term) the men from the boys is the ACTION.

All things you do for Christ will last. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Ph 4:13) Not what you want but what you DO.

Stop wanting and waiting and do something about your situation. You have the choice, you have the power... 'save yourselves from this untoward generation' (Ac 2:40) Let your actions speak louder than your words!

J.H.

Ghost Hunter

I've always had an interest in hunting, but have never been. From what I've heard about it, hunting requires a lot of patience.

For example, if you go deer hunting, you may end up sitting in a tree waiting for a deer to come along & then take your shot. Sounds exciting I know! But sounds a little contradictary to me... A hunter is defined simply as 'one who searches for something.' So if you're sitting in a tree just waiting, are you really hunting? No offense to all you hunters out there...

But I'm thinking of a different kind of hunt. I'm talking about a ghost hunt...

It says in Matthew, 'seek and you shall find'. So if you seek (hunt) the Holy Ghost, you will find it. All throughout God's Word it talks about seeking & searching for God & after the things of Him. I believe if one seeks the face of God & the Holy Ghost, you will receive it. It is a promise!

Acts says that you shall receive power after the Holy Ghost has come upon you. 'Power to tread on scorpions and serpents and all power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.' (Luke 10:19) Sounds great right!?!

But you only have that power after you receive the Holy Ghost. So again I say, 'Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.' (Mt. 7:7-8)

Seek the Holy Ghost and you will receive it. God promised it to you & the power that comes with it. It's what will get you into heaven.

Seek the Holy Ghost like a hunter... not one sitting in a tree waiting, but rather one that goes out looking and does not stop until they find what they're hunting. Even if you already have it, you could always use more.

Are you a ghost hunter?

J.H.