The Keeper

I heard a very disturbing thing recently... A radio station played a part of a call that came in on a late show. It was a girl battling a feeling of oppression. She began talking with the host and told him about how she felt everyday. How she hears voices and just has to do what those voices tell her to do; cut herself, lash out against family and friends, etc.

When the host began to tell her about Jesus, a low, growling voice came over the airways. The young lady started crying, asking 'What's happening?' The scruffy voice started to speak... said things to the host like, 'you can't have her' and 'she is ours'.

The host happened to be a firm believer in Jesus Christ and was well prepared for this call. He asked the voice his name and it replied, 'I'm The Keeper'. As soon as the host heard what the voice called himself, he demanded in the name of Jesus that he be silet.

He rebuked the spirit and quoted scripture to the young lady... Psalm 121: 5, 7 The Lord is the keeper; the Lord is the shade on your right hand. 7: The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

When the demon heard what the Word of God said, HE HAD TO LEAVE!!! Praise God!

Verse 1-2 of that passage of scripture says, I will lift mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2: My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

Jesus will preserve your soul! Nothing formed against you shall prosper!

You may be in your darkest night, but lift up your eyes unto Him! He knows every tear you've cried, every prayer you've prayed... He never left you and He never will. When your strength is gone, when you don't know what else to do, lift your eyes and see that your help is on the way!

The Lord will preserve your going out and coming in from this moment forward, and even forever!!!

J.H.

Disguises of Sin

Some things in this world can be very appealing. Peaople, places, and things can be attractive to us and lure us into something we never wanted. It's called sin...

It wears many faces. Sin can make itself very appealing to our natural eye. If we're just looking with our human eyes, then we can see sin or even the action it involves as harmless and even want it. But there's a saying that I've heard and try to live by... Sin = DEATH!

If we could only see sin for what it really is... there are those who try to justify whatever they're doing as, 'not that bad' or 'just a little thing that doesn't really matter'. But sin is sin... there's no big or little sin in God's eyes, and again, SIN = DEATH!

Sin will take you much farther than you want to go and will keep you much longer than you want to stay. People try to justify there actions and try to make themselves feel better about it... but here is a simple statement that should clarify some things... If it's in the Bible, and you disobey it, IT'S SIN! Pretty plan and simple, but true.

Don't see whatever you're doing as something that you feel bad for a little while and then it goes away, see it as death. If we have an outlook that tells us 'sin will take us to hell' then I bet we wouldn't try to justify things as much.

The enemy has a counterfeit for almost everything... one example in the old testament, Exodus to be precise, Moses & Aaron threw down there rods and they became serpents and Pharaoh's magicians did likewise... the Bible said they did it by their enchantments... In other words, it wasn't the power of God, it was, in a sense, a disguise.

Sin wears many faces... it makes itself look harmless and can even look like the real thing. If we would only live by what the Bible says and nothing else, there would be a lot less falling into sin.

Friends, SIN = DEATH! Plain & simple. Don't fall into the devil's traps. Be on your gaurd and stand firm on the Word of God... It says in Mt 7 to beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits.

Always be on your guard... watch out of the wolves in sheeps clothing, inspect the fruits, and do not be fooled by the disguises of sin.

J.H.

Choices

Lost inside a world of sin now way to break free. You feel the pain, you think of the "what if's" you can't understand how it all came to this. A place where you don't even recognize yourself anymore... Trying to figure out who you really are, but something is blinding you to reality. You push & pull, sruggling to break free, you reach for something, anything that would help. Your friends are long gone, deserting you to live in your misery. You were done with this lifestyle long ago, but little did you know that when you had enough, it was only just beginning.

What is this, you may ask... How can a person end up in this situation... SIN! Plain simple... SIN! It takes you farther than you want to go keeps you longer than you want to stay. When you've had enough, it's only the beginning with sin.

There is a way to escape this fate. The way is straight narrow, it may not be easy at times, but has eternal rewards. Choose to follow Jesus Christ. His way is the only way to make heaven your home. Sin has absolutely nothing to offer you. You may choose to go the way of the world, but you will only enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.

When you feel like your trapped in a world of sin, your all alone left for dead, reach up grab the Father's hand. He's reaching down for you, waiting for you to make the choice to follow Him.

There's a spirit of rebellion in our world today. Our generation has closed their ears to the teachings of God. We're running out of time... Jesus is soon to return. What choice will you make?

J.H.

Infected

What is going on with our generation today?!? I see more and more people slip and fall away from God and the church. Little by little... slowly fading into the exact opposite of what God really wants them to be.

The question is, what are we putting into our lives to have this happen? It's commonly said, 'what goes into a mind, comes out in a life' A very well-said statement... what you put in your heart will come out in your everyday life. If you put bad things in your mind and in your heart, that's how you will live your life.

I sometimes wonder what people think... when Jesus is soon to return, some still choose to be infected with the things of this world and the things of sin.

An infection is a nasty thing... a cut on your hand can turn into an infection if left untreated. It starts out as a simple cut, but over time that cut can get things in it and make it worse... pretty soon you have a nasty infection, have to go see the doctor, get meds, etc...

Much like our spiritual life... one little thing that you try to justify becomes easier to do each time you do it. Just a little bad music, just a little bit of images on the internet... pretty soon, your 'little justification' turns into your life being controlled by your infection. The injection you made in your life when you chose to live away from the things of God has left you paralyzed... you hear the lies of the enemy in your head... is there a cure? Will any kind of medicine take affect?

YES! Instead of being infected with the things of the world, choose Jesus! Become infected with Him and His Word... The more you take a stand for Him and choose to live your life for Him, the better your life will be.

Pull the plug already... get bad things out of your life and become so infected with God that nothing of this world can touch you! Be like Job in the Bible... the devil could not touch him at first because God had placed a hedge about him.

You cannot do it alone... You must have Jesus in your life. He will protect you, He will lead and guide you... if you will only let Him. Do not die here in your current condition... it's not your time. It might be dark in your life, but the sun will shine again. Jesus will make everything alright in your life if you just surrender to Him... become infected with Him.

J.H.

I'll Be Waiting

Some of us run so far from God and think that He will never find us. There are those that are lost in their sin and either can't break free or don't want to. People run from their problems and all that life brings them, but somehow the burdens always seem to catch up with them.

Why would you wanna turn your back and run away from everything you face when you know it will eventually catch up to you? The smart thing to do would be to stand up and face your problems, your fears, etc.

However, you cannot do it alone. If you try to overcome things on by yourself, it will end up a mess... but there is one that can help take all your problems, fears, doubts, etc.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is waiting for you to come to Him. His Word says to cast all your burdens before Him because He cares for you. Give your troubled life, your broken heart, your unstable mind to Him. He can and will change your life if only you will let Him.

Even when you cannot see how things are going to end up, when you can't see because of the blackness of sin surrounding you, just reach up and take the hand of Jesus. He is ready with open arms to take you and your life in His hands... the hands that were pierced with nails when he died for you.

It's true that God knows all... He knows what decisions we will make and where we will be at any given time. He knows that we will be exactly in the position we're in one second from now or one year from now... but I wonder if He's up in heaven, thinking of the place we will be when we finally surrender to Him, sayin to Himself, 'I know that you'll be there, and I'll be waiting.'

J.H.

Nothing Else Matters

Lots of things in this life have meaning and value to us all. Material things that have some kind of meaning in our families, friends, etc. We are all going to be remembered for something... the question is, what will you be remembered for? What kind of legacy will you leave behind?

Whatever may happen in your life, whoever may come into your life, the thing that matters the most at the end of the day is if you know Jesus. Things happen and people come into our lives for a reason... whether we know it or not, everything happens for a reason. But the question remains... do you know Him?

Each one of us will spend eternity in one of two places... some think that this life is ours and we can live it however we want, but what you do right now will determine where you will be when time is no more. So what are you doing for your eternity? If we just surrender our lives to Jesus and let Him lead us, our lives will work out for our benefit.

As human beings, we engage in conversation and seek trust from the person we're interacting with... some people can be trusted and others will turn their backs on us. That's just life. But there's one that will never go back on his word... Jesus. Trust we seek, we can find in Him. He died just to save us... why wouldn't anyone want to serve Him?

Our lives can get pretty rough sometimes, we might feel like our prayers don't even hit the ceiling... but everyday we have a new start... because His mercies are fresh and new every morning... If we have Him, we're so close to Him no matter how far we may feel. Don't give into the lies of the enemy... even if you're in a testing time, hold onto God and do not let go!

What will matter at the end of our lives, when time is no more... do you know Jesus? Now is definitely not the time to play games with God... time is short and He is soon to return. Yeild your life to Him, forever just trust in who He is... because nothing else matters.

J.H.

Scars Remain

We all have things in our lives that have brought us pain. A past failure, the loss of loved ones, a friend that turned on us, etc. The question is, why? When we serve an Almighty all-powerful God, why is there so much hurt and pain sometimes? We ask ‘what is all this’ and ‘why me’…

Let’s go back a couple thousand years… When Jesus was first born, there was already someone trying to kill Him. Through His life we see people accusing Him of things and finally crucifying Him. They nailed him to a cross and watched him die. Later in the Bible, we read of a story about Thomas and his unbelief. He had to feel the scars of Jesus’ hands and side.

Funny thing about scars… they never go away. I think there are situations put in our lives for a specific purpose... situations that leave us broken and bruised and that leave us with scars. But every time we see those scars on our lives, we can be reminded that yes we went through something, but we came through it. The only way we get through this life and all of it’s troubles is with God.

Our lives may leave lacerations on us, we might have some cuts and bruises on us, but trials only come to make us stronger. In a way, God treats us like silver… a lot of work is put into silver. It’s put through fire and sifted until a reflection is seen in it. Much like our God that puts us through tests and trials to perfect us and make us stronger… puts us through the fire until He can see His reflection in us. Oh to be like Jesus…

The scars of our lives will always remain… but we can look at our scars in a different way now. When we see our scars, we can look to Jesus and see that He’s got scars matching ours. He knows every hurt, every pain, every scar… What we go through and what we feel, He already has… He knows exactly what we go through and He will never leave or forsake us.

I’m looking at the scars of my life differently… my scars are just another way that I look like my Father.

J.H.