About 10 years I learned a spiritual principle that I've never forgotten.

First let me give credit where credit is due.

I learned this biblical principle by listening to a series by Dr. Tony Evans of The Urban Alternative in Dallas, TX.

Dr. Evans taught, whatever it is that you need from someone, from the Lord, that is what you should give first.

I decided to apply this to my life and it works.

You are familiar with the universal principle of sowing and reaping, right?

You know that sowing and reaping is a universal principle, right?

Meaning that it, the biblical principle of sowing & reaping, is operating in your life, Christian or not, believer or not, a lot saved or not, a little saved or not.

I'll allow you to do the homework to find the scripture where this is established in the Word of God, The Bible.

When I was unemployed in 2002, I had to pay my mortgage.

If my memory is correct, at that time my mortgage was $1,007.49. Yep, I remember numbers very well.

I had about $500 of the mortgage for the upcoming month and I didn't know where the other half was coming from.

A had a friend who was also unemployed, like many Americans during that time.

Her car insurance was due and she didn't have the money either.

Well, guess how much her car insurance was, $500.

As I was backing in the garage one day, I clearly heard the Holy Spirit say, "Pay her car insurance."

She was fretting about how she was going to have to park her car and would not have a means to go look for a job.

She was used to her family coming to her financial rescue because not only did they work, they also owned companies.

Her family would not deliver the money as she was accustomed to -- this didn't sit too well with her.

Meanwhile, I'm having a major verbal spat with the Holy Spirit.

The conversation went something like this.

ME: Lord, you know I don't have all of my mortgage. I need that $500.

THE LORD: You trust me, right? After all, you've been telling people that I'm going to deliver you. Don't you believe it.

ME: Lord, I've got to figure out where the other half of my mortgage is coming from in less than two weeks. I ain't seeing how this is gonna happen.

THE LORD: Are you going to take action and demonstrate what you've been saying to people about me. Show your faith.

Well, this little verbal tennis match went on for a while between me and the Lord.

I ended up finding my friend's insurance agent and paying her car insurance.

I asked him not to tell her who made the payment, ever.

He said to me, aren't you unemployed too?

I said, yes, and walked away.

To this day, she doesn't know I paid her insurance.

She called me a few days later saying, you'll never guess how the Lord provided for me. I was mad at my family for not giving me the money. I should not have tried to determine how the Lord was going to provide.

I listened to her rejoice, smiled and rejoiced with her. She's still working and doing well to this day.

I simply wanted to share this with you to let you know I tried, in leariness, applying this biblical principle to my life --> Give, What It Is that You Need, First, To Someone Else.

Bless You in the name of Jesus and thank you for your contributions to this online Healed People, Heal People community. If you are not a member of this online community, we invite you to join for free. There are regular updates of encouragement.

Signed,

The Cross, A Place of Exchange

Psalm 118:8

It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man. Help me sweet Jesus to write this article. Okay, beloved readers, a part of this Healed People, Heal People community. Why am I stammering at the keys on my keyboard today? The Holy Spirit taught me a lesson about 10 years ago that I will never forget. It’s about s-o-m-e people, good people, Christian people, loving people, those who love you, those who surround you on a regular basis, or those who may even be in your corner.

Psalm 118:8 declares it's better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man.

Okay, here goes.

We all have churches that are headed by pastors and leadership teams.

We all have family members, some of which we love, some we don’t care for too much – and some we just can’t stand [sorry, but it’s a reality for some].

We all have confidantes.

We all have those fun-to-hang-out with partners.

We all have those let-your-hair-down with friends.

We all have those kicking-it with buddies.

And we even have those select Christian people we like being around who will not check us when we are clearly stepping outside of the boundaries and principles of the Lord.

We even have accountability people -- we still have a choice in how much we disclose to them.

We all had or have secrets, some are not-so-big secrets, some are closet secrets, some are in-the-dark secrets, some are go-to-your-grave secrets, some secrets just cripple the hell out of you.

You decide what you do with your secrets. I can tell you this, the Lord never intended for us to carry the internal weight of the secrets. Many of our illnesses come from keeping secrets. Some of our constant mind racing comes from not being able to still the secrets.

Much of depression spurs from buckling secrets that people try to keep the lid shut down on. Many of your spiraling urges come from trying to holster your secrets. Many things we do to escape, including sleep, is to not deal with the harshness of our reality -- the secrets, the impending, unnecessary, illegitimate weights.

We all have those ride-and-die friends – no matter what, these friends will be there for us. Make no mistake about it, this is an extremely short of list people – it may even be one person – it may only be the Lord Himself.

But, beloved readers, you know what our Lord taught me 10 years ago that I’ve n-e-v-e-r forgotten?

Don't ever put anyone's word, advice, counsel, approval, consent, guidance or direction above what I say, says the Lord.

This was a very hard lesson for me to learn and live by.

Why?

Because some of those Christians who loved me, then, and still love me, now, gave me advice, counsel, guidance – that didn’t line up with the Word of God.

Did they love the Lord and do they love the Lord? Yes, these Christians did and do love the Lord.

Did I own a Bible? Yes, I did own a Bible, then, and; yes, I do own several Bibles now.

Did I know the Word? Yes, I knew the Word and; yes, I know even more Word now.

Did a little flicker go off inside of me when these loving Christians told me what I wanted to hear? Yes, the Holy Spirit pushed that flicker button inside of me. But, I knew what some of the loving Christians said to me over the years did not line up with the Word. [I'm not being sarcastic when I use the words loving Christians; I'm sincere.]

They padded their advice, lined their counsel and justified it with scripture – I think the Bible calls this itching ears, on my part. And let's mention this, there are a lot of Christians, even Christians in leadership positions, who are so wounded they believe life's experiences more than they believe the Word of God. And accordingly, they give advice, counsel, approval, direction based on experience. It's your responsibility to know the Word for your life. It's your responsibility to know when scriptures are being misaligned.

Now, what each of us reading this article knows, is that we tell people, even Christians exactly what we want them to know. An ole' pastor once told me, it’s just human nature to do this – tell folk o-n-l-y what you want them to know.

Beloved reader, do you disclose every single, slither of information to the people you’re seeking input from? I’ll leave that for you to answer.

I always flinch, in particular, when Christians say, “Follow your heart.”

Excuse me, beloved readers, I am not trying to be disrespectful, but that statement above is just plain dumb.

“Follow your heart.”

Do you know when I graduated from undergrad, I did a Bible study for two years just dealing with the different conditions of the human Christian heart.

You know what’s an even better question, beloved reader, Do you know what’s in your heart?

If so, how do you know what's in your heart? What have you done about the contents of your heart?

How often do you inspect your heart?

How often do you present your heart to the Holy Spirit?

Do you know what to do once the Holy Spirit has revealed the contents of your heart?

Well – I offer several versions of the scripture below.

Jeremiah 17:9 [NIV]
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

Jeremiah 17:9 [NASB]
The heart is more deceitful than all else, And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?

Jeremiah 17:9 [KJB]
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Jeremiah 17:9 [AKJV]
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Jeremiah 17:9 [ASV]
The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it?

Jeremiah 17:9 [Bible in Basic English]
The heart is a twisted thing, not to be searched out by man: who is able to have knowledge of it?

So, beloved reader, help me understand again why so many people, especially Christians, throw out the statement so casually, “Follow your heart,” or “I just follow my heart.”

I’m choosing to believe based on the Word of God and based on my experience in integrated healing and deliverance and based on the experience of veterans in the ministry of integrated healing and deliverance – that people, Christians, are simply making this statement, “follow your heart,” out of ignorance.

I used to wrestle with the following questions when I really respected and esteemed some Christians who gave me counsel. Now keep in mind these were internal thoughts I had in my mind about these Christians. I am still in relationship with the majority of these Christians.

Thoughts I had after receiving advice, counsel, direction from some respected Christians

- but, look at their position in the community, they are so visible
- but, look at how much they study the Word of God
- but, look at their leadership position in the church
- but, look at how much influence they have
- wow, I really need to stay in their good graces, they can help me
- but, they seem to be pretty close to the Lord, do what they say
- I know they wouldn’t tell me wrong, I’ll do what they say
- but, look at their walk with the Lord [what’s visible to me]

Beloved reader, what I have painfully learned from our Lord is this scripture, It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man. Psalm 118:8

Why do I use the phrase painfully learned? Because I had to go around the darn mountain over and over – I sound like the Israelites, right? The first time I realized the advice from the respected, respective Christians landed me in hot water, why didn’t I confess to the Holy Spirit, “I’m sorry for not listening to Your whisper in my ear.”

Each time, beloved reader, I remember the Holy Spirit placing that little flicker inside of me saying, ”That’s not the way to go;” “Don’t ignore Me.” But I yielded again and again, beloved reader, because I respected Christian people more than I esteemed the Word of God. These respective, respected Christians said what I wanted to hear and what they said aligned with my desires, my will -- a recipe for impending disaster.

Now, in Psalm 118:8 the end of the scripture says, … than to put confidence in man.

Well, who is man?
Man is any human being breathing who is in your life, male or female.
Man is any human being, Christian or non-Christian.
Man is any human being in any income level.
Man is any human being on any status level.
Man is any human being in every rank of the Christian church.
Man is any human being in your family.
Man is any human being who is your friend.

The beginning of Psalm 118:8 says It is better to trust in the Lord …

Yall, I’m literally b-e-g-g-i-n-g you, trust the Lord.
If you don’t know how to trust Him, just tell Him, He already knows.
If you’re scared to trust Him in an area of your life, just tell Him, He already knows.
Wherever you’re deficient in trust, ask Him to build that in you for you since you’re not able to do so.
If you’ve not dealt with the issues preventing you from trusting the Lord, would you consider asking the Holy Spirit to reveal these things to you.
Would you consider receiving ministry for integrated approach to healing and deliverance for these issues?
Why?
So, you can experience freedom in this or these areas of your life.

Don’t have itching ears like I did; ask the Holy Spirit to remove your itching ears.
The Holy Spirit knows that we all have desires and dreams and wills.
He truly has better plans for us than we’re able to muster up for ourselves.
His plans for you don’t even involve manipulation and maneuvering and dodging.

Yall, I guess by now, you know I’m a born and breed [USA] southerner – that’s fine.
Let's ask the Holy Spirit to reveal our spiritual blind spots.
Let's ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the areas of our lives we’re in denial about.
Let's ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas in our lives where there may be self hatred.
Then when He reveals, please, please, take action to do something about it.
If you don’t know what to do, I’m willing to find a resource to help you, if I can’t.

Yall, I understand that you may not disclose everything to people, but please, don’t lie to yourself. You desire the abundant life the Lord speaks of so often in scripture, right? Well, the abundant life is short circuited when we choose to do the following things:

- pretend you don’t know the Holy Spirit is nudging you
- cut corners to try to get what you want
- only disclose so much information and purposely conceal other pertinent information to those you seek counsel from
- you choose to turn a deaf ear to the Holy Spirit
- you choose to forget that some blessings and some promises of the Lord are conditional; Have you met the
condition(s) without compromising?
- wrongly use scripture, people, situations, [conditional] prophecy to justify something you want
Please remember that satan and his demons have strategy too for your life.
And his strategy is presented very nicely, not in a questionable fashion.

Whatever word, advice, counsel, approval, consent, guidance or direction you receive, even from Christians, put it before the Lord, please, before moving forward. And wait for His confirmation or His denial and His instructions.

Now, let me share this with you. I know the respective Christians throughout the years didn’t provide advice to hurt me on purpose. Although we’re Christians, we are humans. We have good days. We have days when we’re not as sharp, when we’re not on point. Well-meaning, God-loving Christians have been and can be used strategically by demonic in your life -- even without them knowing it and you knowing it.

We all recall when Jesus spoke to Peter in Matthew 16:23. Jesus was very aware that the demonic was working through Peter. Yes Peter, a man who literally was chosen and walked with Jesus. I'll keep this brief by simply asking these questions. Are your spiritual tools keen enough to discern when God-fearing Christians are off kilter who give you advice?

Do you even know what your spiritual tools are? What do you do to improve your spiritual tools? How often do you use your spiritual tools? Spiritual tools are similar to the physical muscles in your body. They becomes stronger the more you exercise them and use them on a regular basis. Spiritual tools become stronger they more they are stretched out of their comfort zone.

People ask me and you for advice in areas that we may be weak in. When you realize that a person is asking you for advice in an area you're weak in, do you disclose that this is one of your weak areas, up front? Do you or have you chosen to do what's in the best interest of the person by stopping the conversation and sharing in integrity that this isn't an area you're strong enough and disciplined enough to provide counsel, advice, consent, approval, direction or guidance.

You and I ask people for advice in areas that they are weak in, but we don’t know that because they don’t disclose it [the majority of the time]. And even when we see -- through people’s repeated actions that they’re weak in certain areas, we sometimes still choose to seek their advice, their counsel.

This is not wise, beloved reader. So this begs the question, why do we ask them? Because they’ll tell us what we want to hear. This is a clear sign of spiritual immaturity and/or lack of exercising godly wisdom in this particular area of your life.

Psalm 118:8 reads, It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man. Please do not esteem man, woman or Christians words higher than the Word of God for your life, please.

Thank you for taking your time to read this article, beloved reader.

If you’re not a member of this Healed People, Heal People, community we invite you to join for free here. You'll receive regular updates of encouragement wrapped in biblical truths. If there are others who’d benefit from this article, please send them the link to this article.

As atrocious and inhumane as slavery was, this Senate resolution was not mentioned on one major news television outlet in America.

The U.S. Senate on Thursday, June 18, 2009, passed a resolution apologizing to African-Americans for the wrongs of slavery. The nonbinding resolution sponsored by Senator Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, is similar to a House resolution adopted in 2008 that acknowledged the wrongs of slavery but offered no reparations.

The House will have to vote on the issue again because the composition of that chamber changed after the November 2008 elections. The resolution was approved on a voice vote.

Because it is nonbinding, it does not have to be forwarded to the President of the United States for his signature. Several states have passed similar resolutions, but the House resolution was the first time a branch of the federal government did so.

Harkin's resolution acknowledges the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality and inhumanity of slavery, and Jim Crow laws, and apologizes to African-Americans on behalf of the people of the United States for the wrongs committed against them and their ancestors who suffered under slavery and Jim Crow laws.

Jim Crow laws were state and local laws enacted mostly in U.S. Southern and border states between the 1870s and 1965 that denied African-Americans the right to vote and other civil liberties, as well as legally segregated them from whites.

Some members of the African-American community have called on lawmakers to give cash payments or other financial benefits to descendants of slaves as compensation for the suffering caused by slavery.

Thank you for taking your time to read this article on Healed People, Heal People. If you are not a member of this online community, we encourage you to join for free here. You'll receive regular updates of encouragement wrapped in biblical truths.

By Redge Peifer

People everywhere carve out pumpkin faces, hang skeletons on their walls, buy costumes … getting ready for devil’s night and, of course, halloween. Do you know where halloween originated?

Halloween

The een in the word Halloween refers to the een or evening before the day known as All Saints Day. But, what kind of saints were these? The saints of the Bible. No, All Saints Day was originally a festival honoring the druid priests who were into the occult and who were priests of satan.

The Druids And Human Sacrifice

Halloween has clear connections with their primitive and savage rituals in 2 BC [the pre-Roman, pre-Christian Celtic communities of northern and western Europe, especially in France [Gaul], Britain, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. They were the builders of Stonehenge where they would bring humans to be sacrificed in Britain.

The druids worshipped pagan gods that included the sun god, the earth mother goddess and Sambain [lord of the dead]. Stonehedge was constructed to calculate the sun’s movements and then determine the most suitable day to worship the earth mother goddess – by the sacrifice of a human! The date selected was October 31, halloween! Think about it.

Reincarnation

The druids believed in reincarnation that is contrary to the teaching of the Bible. Hebrews 9:27 reads, And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. According to their religion, the god Sambain judged the souls and decreed in what form their existence was to continue whether in the body of a human or in an animal. They believed that sinful souls of those who had died during the year had been relegated to the bodies of animals and through various gifts and sacrifices, their sins could be forgiven and the souls freed to claim a heavenly reward. It was common for horses to be sacrificed, but there were also a lot of human sacrificed.

Men, mostly criminal, but not all – were imprisoned in wicker and thatch cages shaped like animals or giants. The druid priest set fire to these cages and the men were burned to death. They eventually included women and children in their horrible sacrifices.

Sacrifice Of Children

Please note from the Bible that Molech is the demon directly associated with the sacrifice of children. Molech was the Canaanite god of fire. To bring this more current, beloved reader, Molech is the demon directly associated with abortions. In the Bible, Molech was a demon god, that’s still active today, who demanded the sacrifice of living children. As Christians, we understand that children are living at the moment of conception. Thus, abortions are the killing or sacrifice of living children.

They not only sacrificed unto false gods, but the druid rituals included eventually direct human sacrifices to the devil. They acknowledged him and worshipped him and multitudes of men, women and the little children were murdered.

Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
Exodus 20:3

And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.
II Chronicles 11:15

And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom; also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.
II Chronicles 33:6

The Pumpkin

The men, women, or children to be sacrificed on halloween would simply be selected by the druids. They would leave a pumpkin on the doorstep of the house to replace the victim and to let the other members of the family know that no one else would be harmed. Now, every time you look at a pumpkin on somebody’s front porch, you’ll know what it really represents.

If you, your family, your friends or your church members have engaged in these occult practices, you should know you have opened the door to the occult. No one said that that satan or his demons play fair. If you open the door to the occult, then the respective demons enter. Demons do not leave because you come into knowledge. The Bible is very clear on how to break strongholds. The Bible is very clear about how to take of care demonic oppression in Christians. I strongly suggest you do so ... else you, your family, your friends or your church members are living with the presence of demonic influence. I'm more than pleased to answer any questions you may have. Please post your comments.

Thank you for taking your time to read this article on Healed People, Heal People. If you are not a member of this online community, we invite you to join for free. There are regular updates of encouragement wrapped in biblical truths. If you know parents who would value this information on halloween, please forward this article link to them.

The Danger of Celebrating Halloween
by Kim Daniels
CharismaMag.com
10.27.2009

Halloween—October 31—is considered a holiday in the United States. In fact, it rivals Christmas with regard to how widely celebrated it is. Stores that sell only Halloween-related paraphernalia open up a few months before the day and close shortly after it ends. But is Halloween a holiday that Christians should be observing?

The word holiday means holy day. But there is nothing holy about Halloween. The root word of Halloween is hallow, which means holy, consecrated and set apart for service. If this holiday is hallowed, whose service is it set apart for? The answer to that question is very easy—Lucifer's!

Lucifer is a part of the demonic godhead. Remember, everything God has, the devil has a counterfeit. Halloween is a counterfeit holy day that is dedicated to celebrating the demonic trinity of: the Luciferian Spirit [the false father]; the Antichrist Spirit [the false holy spirit]; and the Spirit of Belial [the false son].

The key word in discussing Halloween is dedicated. It is dedicated to darkness and is an accursed season. During Halloween, time-released curses are always loosed. A time-released curse is a period that has been set aside to release demonic activity and to ensnare souls in great measure.

You may ask, Doesn't God have more power than the devil? Yes, but He has given that power to us. If we do not walk in it, we will become the devil's prey. Witchcraft works through dirty hearts and wrong spirits.

During this period demons are assigned against those who participate in the rituals and festivities. These demons are automatically drawn to the fetishes that open doors for them to come into the lives of human beings. For example, most of the candy sold during this season has been dedicated and prayed over by witches.

I do not buy candy during the Halloween season. Curses are sent through the tricks and treats of the innocent whether they get it by going door to door or by purchasing it from the local grocery store. The demons cannot tell the difference.

Even the colors of Halloween [orange, brown and dark red] are dedicated. These colors are connected to the fall equinox, which is around the 20th or 21st of September each year and is sometimes called Mabon. During this season witches are celebrating the changing of the seasons from summer to fall. They give praise to the gods for the demonic harvest. They pray to the gods of the elements [air, fire, water and earth].

Mother earth is highly celebrated during the fall demonic harvest. Witches praise mother earth by bringing her fruits, nuts and herbs. Demons are loosed during these acts of worship. When nice church folk lay out their pumpkins on the church lawn, fill their baskets with nuts and herbs, and fire up their bonfires, the demons get busy. They have no respect for the church grounds. They respect only the sacrifice and do not care if it comes from believers or non-believers.

Gathering around bonfires is a common practice in pagan worship. As I remember, the bonfires that I attended during homecoming week when I was in high school were always in the fall. I am amazed at how we ignorantly participate in pagan, occult rituals.

The gods of harvest that the witches worship during their fall festivals are the Corn King and the Harvest Lord. The devil is too stupid to understand that Jesus is the Lord of the Harvest 365 days a year. But we cannot be ignorant of the devices of the enemy. When we pray, we bind the powers of the strong men that people involved in the occult worship.

Halloween is much more than a holiday filled with fun and tricks or treats. It is a time for the gathering of evil that masquerades behind the fictitious characters of Dracula, werewolves, mummies and witches on brooms. The truth is that these demons that have been presented as scary cartoons actually exist. I have prayed for witches who are addicted to drinking blood and howling at the moon.

While the lukewarm and ignorant think of these customs as just harmless fun, the vortexes of hell are releasing new assignments against souls. Witches take pride in laughing at the ignorance of natural men [those who ignore the spirit realm].

Decorating buildings with Halloween scenes, dressing up for parties, going door-to-door for candy, standing around bonfires and highlighting pumpkin patches are all acts rooted in entertaining familiar spirits. All these activities are demonic and have occult roots.

The word occult means secret. The danger of Halloween is not in the scary things we see but in the secret, wicked, cruel activities that go on behind the scenes. These activities include:

* Sex with demons
* Orgies between animals and humans
* Animal and human sacrifices
* Sacrificing babies to shed innocent blood
* Rape and molestation of adults, children and babies
* Revel nights
* Conjuring of demons and casting of spells
* Release of time-released curses against the innocent and the ignorant.

Another abomination that goes on behind the scenes of Halloween is necromancy, or communication with the dead. Séances and contacting spirit guides are very popular on Halloween, so there is a lot of darkness lurking in the air.

However, Ephesians 1:19-21 speaks of the authority of the believer and the exceeding greatness of God's power in us [the same power that raised Christ from the dead]. It goes on to say that that Jesus is seated in heavenly places far above all principalities, power, might, dominions and every name that is named. The good news is that because we are seated in heavenly places with Jesus, the same demonic activity that is under His feet is under our feet, too!

People who worship the devil continue to attempt to lift him up. But he has already been cast out and down! Many are blinded to this fact, but the day will come when all will know he has been defeated once and for all.

When we accept Jesus but refuse to renounce Satan and his practices, we are neither hot nor cold but lukewarm—and the Word says that God will spit us out of His mouth. The problem with lukewarm is that it attempts to mix the things of the devil with the things of God. It is God's desire that we serve Him alone.

Second Corinthians 6:15 asks the question, And what agreement has Christ with Belial? As believers, we need to answer that question in our hearts. We must avoid the very appearance of evil. I would not want a demon spirit to mistake me for an occult worshiper.

There is no doubt in my heart that God is not calling us to replace fall festivals and Halloween activities; rather, He wants us to utterly destroy the deeds of this season. If you or your family members have opened the door to any curses that are released during the demonic fall festivals, renounce them and repent. I already have. Then declare with me: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!

About the author | Kimberly Daniels is a sought-after conference speaker and preacher. She is the founder of Kimberly Daniels Ministries International [KimberlyDaniels.com], Spoken Word Ministries—the church she pastors in Jacksonville, Florida, with her husband, Ardell—A Child of the King Learning Center and Word Bible College. Kim is a recognized prophetic voice as well as the author of several books, including her most recent, Prayers that Bring Change [Charisma House].

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By Dr. David Kyle Foster

1. Masturbation can be the vehicle whereby the inhibited person maintains their propensity to remain self-contained and in need of no one. It deepens the trenches of loneliness, self-pity and self-centeredness.

2. Masturbation is a turning in on one's self -- a narcissistic neurosis that feeds introspection and other dysfunctional directions. This kind of inwardly focused life robs people of the fullness of life that Christ came to give.

3. Masturbation can become a gateway for demonic strongholds to develop. This becomes more and more likely as one delves deeper and deeper into pornography and perverse sexual fantasies.

4. This behavior serves to program the mind to focus on fantasy as the source of pleasure rather than the biblical model of union with one's spouse. People come to be seen as objects rather than real people. It is an elaborate scheme of the enemy [satan and his demons] to keep us from learning how to be intimate with our spouse and our God.

5. When someone takes up the practice of masturbation, they are programming themselves to turn to solutions that block or hide problems rather than solve them. This immature life-pattern for problem-solving is highly dysfunctional and is the foundation upon which is laid a lifetime of addictive behavior.

6. Masturbation has a physically addictive side to it that serves to block pain. The chemicals that are released into the brain serve to medicate pain much like any addictive drug. God wants us to bring our pain to Him. He wants us to grow through it and receive the blessing of sharing in the sufferings of Christ.

7. Masturbation is a task master that demands the continual plumbing of new and more perverse depths of lust. On that treadmill, the mind is programmed to more and more highly delineated sexual fantasies, which the marriage bed can never match. Normal marital relations become a disappointment and the design for sex thwarted. The body also becomes programmed to achieve release quickly, which serves to frustrate the patterns of healthy sexual intercourse between spouses.

8. A clutching at the genitals by infants is often a manifestation of separation anxiety, but that same behavior in childhood is often a sign of sexual abuse or some other cause for significant internal anxiety in the child. If the child uses a mirror during the act, that is a scenario that can result in homosexual confusion, as the child programs their mind to associate sexual pleasure with the sight of their own body. [In such cases, other factors that lead to homosexual neurosis are probably also present, such as molestation or failure to bond on an emotional level with the same-sex parent]. Adolescent experimentation at puberty is normal and not a cause for alarm unless it becomes habitual.

What does the Bible Say?

One of the most prevalent rationalizations that people use is that the Bible never mentions masturbation and that it must therefore be alright. Is that logical? Is child molestation alright then? It's not specifically forbidden in the Bible. How about shooting heroin? Or how about torturing someone? Not mentioned! You see how illogical the argument quickly becomes.

How do we know that smoking dope is against the will of God, for example? We discover the answer by uncovering the principles found in scripture - most specifically those concerning the body being the temple of the Holy Spirit and those commanding us to obey governmental authority. We also know sin by the witness of the Holy Spirit within, provided we haven't quenched that witness through ongoing rebellion.

The most obvious biblical principle that is applicable to masturbation is found in Matthew 5:28 where Jesus indicates that lusting after someone in the heart is the same as actually doing it. I am violating whomever I am picturing in my mind during the act of masturbation. It really doesn't matter whether it is a picture from a magazine, [Those are real people!], or someone I've met or a memory of some act committed in the past.

And if I can discipline my mind to think of no one, what of that?

Attainment of such focus only serves to make obvious the desperation and obsession that drives us to such lengths. The principles found in I Corinthians 6:12; II Peter 2:19; and Romans 6:14 clearly emerge as foundational to our plight -- that we are slaves to whatever masters us. When we get truly honest about the habit of masturbation, it is clear that it is a behavior that controls us -- one that we use to medicate pain, to alleviate stress or to forget rejection. In that way, it is similar to a drug habit -- just one more vehicle to avoid turning to God.

Why won't we turn to God? We may be ashamed. We may believe that He's going to judge and punish us. We may not trust Him. Or, it simply may never occur to us. We don't normally see God as being involved in the fulfillment of our sexual lives. He's a Spirit after all and we are physical creatures. And yet, He is in fact the answer to every problem. He can quench our unholy desire and He can teach us to respond to problems by working through them rather than from running from them.

Confessing the Right Things

It is important that I discover the root sin issues so that I can repent of them. If I am unaware of one or more of these strongholds, I will inevitably remain bound because my unrepented sin will continue to give Satan ground to hold me in bondage. Much of the transformation process involves discovering where Satan's ground is and removing it with the tools that God has provided. What then are some of the root sin issues that need to be confessed?

1. Unbelief

Unbelief Is the doubt that God is really good. When I sin any sin, I am in that moment doubting that God is really there for me, that He cares, and therefore, that He is good. I am re-enacting the first sin committed in the Garden of Eden, when Eve became convinced that God was keeping from her something that was good.

The truth is, God has something better than the coping mechanism of masturbation -- even for the single person. He has something higher, something that will bring completion and satisfaction to one's sexual self. It is this truth that is most effective in being persuaded to forsake the sin.

2. Idolatry

Ephesians 5:3-5 clearly teaches that sexual immorality is a form of idolatry. Often masturbation becomes a source of life and peace, especially for those who have lived through great pain. It becomes a substitute god. Should the Spirit come to offer freedom, many will recoil in terror at the realization that they are being asked to live without something that has been a primary source of peace in their lives - something that has kept them from falling apart. The behavior becomes so entrenched in their sense of being that life without it becomes unimaginable.

Like the worship of any god, masturbation has its own fetish objects and rituals -- times, places, triggers, ritual objects, and ritual patterns that draw the person into an almost trance-like progression toward the peak experience and denouement. Confessing the ritual worship and removing or renouncing its various components is key to seeing its power broken.

3. Rebellion

Sometimes we simply refuse to listen to the Holy Spirit or pretend not to hear Him. The self-care of masturbation often cloaks anger and distrust of God, who never seemed to be there when we needed Him. Often in childhood, when God doesn't rescue us or change us upon demand, we judge Him in our hearts and develop a root of anger that must be removed through confession and repentance. That means we acknowledge our rebellion and make concerted choices to love Him and to believe that given the context of human free will, God operates with complete integrity and love.

4. Love of Sin

This one is often buried under mounds of rationalizations. We pretend that we need to practice the sin, we deserve to practice it, it's the least God can do to allow it considering what we've gone through, etc. But the truth is, we love it more than we love God. In order to change this, we need to discover how to love God more. Greater love for God comes as a fruit of taking the time to know Him intimately. A lifestyle of worship is important. The demonic realm cannot stand that. Meditating on the Cross is also a major key. As we gain a deeper appreciation for our Lord's suffering, we become more willing to jettison the things that have charmed us most [as the old hymn says]. When tempted, we only need ask ourselves, Who do I love right now - the sin that is tempting me, or the One who loves me so deeply that He died on the Cross for me? Put that way, the choice becomes far easier to make.

5. Self-deception

It is a humbling thing to realize that over the years we become masters at deceiving ourselves into believing we want freedom from something that we will not give up. Like an onion, we lay down layer upon layer of self-deception, saying the right religious words and thinking the right religious thoughts, while still refusing to forsake the desire for the sin that lingers in our hearts. We need to acknowledge before God the ongoing impurity in our motivation, the depravity in our heart, and our need for Him to give us the true heartfelt desire to be holy and pure.

6. Performance-righteousness

Most of us, even those who know better, continually fall into this trap. Though we talk of grace alone and being able to do nothing without Christ, our fallen nature continuously seduces our minds into believing that we must earn God's love and acceptance and that we must develop our own righteousness. Over and over again we try to make ourselves holy and pure rather than suffer the humiliation of the flesh and truly become dependent on God for the power to live the kingdom life that He won for us on the Cross.

The Long and Winding Road to Freedom

It would be nice if God would just zap us and make us permanently free from sin and bondage. But the process of sanctification is often arduous. Through it we learn to value the end result, depend on Him, love Him, trust Him, hate evil and give all glory, praise and honor to God and God alone.

The foundational principles by which our Lord sets us free from masturbation are no different than those for any other sin and bondage. Simply put, set your focus on Him [rather than your problem] and let His Spirit guide you the rest of the way. In moments of intimacy with Him, God will lead you through a complete shift in your priorities. He will transform your affections and belief systems. He will deepen your desire and determination to be liberated. He will expose and heal the hidden emotional and sin problems that have fed your bondage. And He will strengthen your willingness to believe and to act on His promises.

1. Learn to give yourself grace. It took you a long time to develop the problem, so in moments of failure, turn and receive the love and grace of God. He is pleased with you because of Christ's sacrifice on your behalf and because deep in your heart, you loved Him enough to commit your life to His Son. God has grace to spare. In fact, it is His grace in the midst of our failure that ultimately yields the fruit of obedience [Titus 2:11-14].

2. Permanently set your heart and mind to turn to God at the first moment of temptation and with acknowledged weakness and dependency, cry out to Him for His power to quench the fiery darts of the enemy. Commit to being ruthless with temptation -- giving it no place. Let Christ answer the door when it comes knocking!

3. Remove every influence that leads you into desiring and repeating the behavior. Ask God to show you what these are. Break the ritual patterns and remove the ritual objects as God reveals them to you.

4. Practice believing that God has something better -- that He can indeed fulfill the needs that are temporarily being met through the illegitimate means of masturbation.

5. Spend significant, quality time with God in praise, worship, prayer and scripture reading. Pour out your heart to Him. Develop the same intimate relational knowing of God that you would with a spouse. Ask Him to implant within your mind a healthy view of sex and the sexuality of others. Ask Him to give you a love of purity, seeking Him passionately in the beauty of His holiness [Psalm 96:9]. Listen to Him as He unlocks for you the unique keys to your transformation. Listen with a heart set on obeying His direction no matter what He may suggest.

6. Refuse to submit to Satan's barrage of self-condemning thoughts when you fall. There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus [Romans 8:1]. Call any thought or feeling to the contrary the lie that it is and reject it. Repent and then run back into your Daddy's arms.

7. Learn what God really thinks of you by meditating on the Cross. Reject the lies of self-hatred, loathing and shame that are in actuality, elaborate challenges to the Cross of Christ and the promises of God.

Know that God has the will and the power to set anyone free from anything. Go for the free indeed promise. Seek not the maintenance program of the world, but the transformation program of the kingdom of God!

Thank you for taking your time to read this article on Healed People, Heal People. If you're not a member of this online community, we invite you to join for free here. There are regular updates of the encouragement wrapped in biblical truths.

Do you take prescription meds? Does someone you love take prescription meds? Did you know prescription meds is the number three cause of death in America according to the Journal of American Medicine?

Are birth control pills safe? Any drug that artificially manipulates the natural hormonal activity of the body will have negative implications and side effects.

What is the birth control pill? How Does it work? Is it Safe? by Paul Weckenbrock, R. Ph.

The birth control pill is any drug which uses artificial hormones to keep a woman from getting pregnant or from staying pregnant by interfering with her normal fertility.

Are all forms of the pill the same?

No. There are several types of the pill on the market, but they basically break down into two groups: combination pills and the progestin-only minipill.

The combination type contain two artificial steroids that mimic the effects of naturally occurring hormones, estrogen and progesterone. Some pills work in a monophasic way, keeping the dosage of hormones the same throughout the pill cycle. Others work in a biphasic or triphasic manner which alters the dosage of artificial hormones two or three times respectively through the cycle of pills, attempting to produce fluctuations similar to what a fertile woman would undergo naturally.

The progestin-only minipill uses only one artificial hormone, progestin, which is a steroid that has a progestational effect similar to natural progesterone.

How does the pill work?

The pill is designed to interfere with several normal functions of fertility in order to make a woman 1) unable to conceive due to temporary sterility or sperm immobility, and/or 2) unable to carry a pregnancy to term [an early abortion].

This process can be accomplished in various ways.

Suppressing ovulation: When a woman ovulates, hormones released from the pituitary , a gland located at the base of the brain, stimulate her ovaries to ripen and release an egg. The combination pill usually interrupts the release of these pituitary hormones resulting in no egg being released from the ovary, thus preventing pregnancy from occurring. With no egg available for fertilization, the woman is chemically sterile. The progestin-only pill, however, has a weaker effect. It generally does not suppress ovulation.

1. Inhibiting Implantation: Another important aspect of fertility is the process by which the lining of the uterus is replenished and maintained. After an egg is fertilized, it normally implants in this lining [endometrium], drawing nourishment and sustenance. The progestin component of the combination pill and the progestin-only minipill cause the inner lining of the uterus to become thin and shriveled, unable to support implantation of the embryo [newly fertilized egg].

2. Impeding Sperm Migration: Preceding ovulation, a woman’s cervix produces a watery mucus through which sperm swim to meet the egg. The mucus also provides nourishment to sustain the life of the sperm cells. This mucus thickens under the influence of a progestin and so impedes sperm migration.

3.There are two other factors in a woman’s fertility that may be affected by the pill.

Making changes in the Fallopian Tubes: Progestins lower the efficiency with which the fallopian tubes propel eggs from the ovaries toward the uterus. This can cause the embryo not to reach the uterus in time to implant successfully.

4. Stopping a Pregnancy: After an ovary releases an egg, the woman’s cycle is controlled by a gland that is formed from the now-empty egg sack, the corpus luteum; this normally functions long enough to give an embryo time to implant in the uterus and for the placenta to begin to support the pregnancy.

However, hormones from the pill can cause the corpus luteum to function inadequately, allowing the lining of the uterus to be shed before the embryo can successfully implant.

In summary, a woman’s natural fertility requires several systems and organs to coordinate smoothly. The synthetic chemicals in any type of birth control pill interfere with this coordination, adversely affecting her normal fertility and any accidental conceptions.

How effective is the pill?

In theory, the pill reaches an effectiveness of over 99%, but in practice the rate is much lower. Between 1.9% and 18.1% of women will experience an unplanned pregnancy in the first year of using the pill.

Surprise pregnancies with the pill are due to a number of factors. Interactions between the pill and some other medications interfere with the proper blood levels of hormones necessary for their birth control effect. These drug interactions may be significant with the commonly used low dose pill where slight alterations in hormonal blood levels can result in more frequent ovulations and hence unplanned pregnancies. Another factor in pill pregnancy rates is not following directions, sometimes due to the lack of motivation, especially in younger women [ages 15-24].

Is ovulation always suppressed?

No. Ovulation occurs in 2% to 10% of cycles of women taking the pill. If 60 million women worldwide are on the low-dose pill, there would be 1.2 to 6 million ovulations per cycle. This is known as breakthrough ovulation, and it is even more frequent with the progestin-only pill.

What happens when ovulation does occur?

When the pill fails to prevent ovulation, the other mechanisms come into play. Thickened cervical mucus may make it more difficult for the sperm to reach the egg; however, if the egg is fertilized, a new life is created. The hormones slow the transfer of the new life through the fallopian tube, and the embryo may become too old to be viable when it does enter the uterus.

If the embryo is still viable when it reaches the uterus, under-development of the uterine lining caused by the pill prevents implantation. The embryo dies and the remains are passed along in the next bleeding episode which, incidentally, is not a true menstruation even though it is usually perceived as such.

Does this mean the pill can cause an early abortion?

Yes. Preventing the newly conceived life in its embryonic stage from being transported to the uterus and preventing implantation in the wall of the uterus are the abortifacient properties of the pill.

Why haven’t I heard about this before?

The Pill manufacturers and many in organized medicine are mainly concerned about the pill’s medical side effects and its effectiveness in preventing pregnancies and are less concerned about how the drug achieves its effectiveness.

Unfortunately, many otherwise pro-life physicians and pharmacists find it hard to admit that these abortifacient properties exist because they would have to discontinue prescribing and dispensing the pill if they were to remain consistent in their respect for life at all its stages of development.

Pro-abortion organizations and their lawyers readily admit the early abortion potential of the pill. In February 1992, writing in opposition to a Louisiana law banning abortion, Ruth Colker, a Tulane Law School professor, wrote, "Because nearly all birth control devices, except the diaphragm and condom, operate between the time of conception ... and implantation ..., the statute would appear to ban most contraceptives." In 1989, attorney Frank Sussman argued before the U. S. Supreme Court that " ... IUDs [and] low dose birth control pills ... act as abortifacients."

Is It Safe? What are the common side effects of the pill?

There is a range of risks from serious or fatal to minor and trivial. The following is a list of the most common side effects experienced by women taking the pill. These effects are dose related and not every woman will experience them, but the risks still exist. The synthetic estrogens of the combination pill cause many of these; the progestin causes others and is the only risk factor in the progestin-only pill.

Heart and blood abnormalities

Blood clots can form, restricting or blocking the flow of blood to critical organs and other body systems, possibly causing permanent damage. For example, a blood clot in the heart would cause a heart attack; in the brain it would cause a stroke or brain hemorrhage; a clot which moved from elsewhere in the body and lodged in the lung would cause a pulmonary embolism; in the kidneys a clot would cause a renal artery thrombosis and kidney damage; in the retinal arteries it would cause temporary or permanent blindness.

Studies continue to indicate approximately a 2-fold increased risk of fatal heart attacks among users of the current low-dose pill when compared to non-users. This risk is lower than the risk experienced with the older high dosage pill, but it continues to be significant. Similarly, the risk of a fatal brain hemorrhage is increased 1.4 times when comparing users to non-users. Among women who smoke, there is a 12-fold increase in fatal heart attacks and a 3.1-fold increase in fatal brain hemorrhage.

High blood pressure and alterations in the blood clotting mechanisms may be seen in women on the pill. This may contribute to a 3-11 times increased risk of developing blood clots in Pill users compared to non-users. The risk is especially great for women who smoke and/or are over 35 years old.

Cancer

Breast cancer has been repeatedly associated with using the pill.

Breast cancer has been increasing at an alarming rate in recent years, especially among young women. Breast cancer will kill more than 44,000 American women this year alone, a 1991 report noted, predicting 175,000 more new cases, especially among young women.

Why is there such an increase of breast cancer among younger women? Note first that women rarely develop breast cancer shortly after they start taking artificial hormones. It is generally not until ten or more years after usage was initiated that women develop breast cancer. Then note that in the United States, since the mid-1970s, it has been common for the pill to be prescribed for girls in their teen years.

Common sense connects the link between giving the pill to young girls in the 1970s and the later increase in breast cancer 15 to 20 years later among women in their late twenties and thirties. This conclusion was demonstrated in a study which found that Swedish women who took the pill in the 1960s incurred a five times greater increase in breast cancer when compared to non-users.

The increased risk of breast cancer is seen in younger, nulliparous women [never having borne children], and in long duration groups [greater than five years] of pill users. Large tumors and a worse survival rate are associated with the pill’s use at an early age.

Will the newer formulated low-dose pills decrease the incidence of breast cancer? A consensus of understanding has not been reached, and another 10 to 20 years of experience with women using this form of the pill must be gained before more definite conclusions can be reached.

Breast tenderness, enlargement, lumps, and milk secretions also may occur in women using the pill. Doctors are warned not to prescribe the pill to women who are known or suspected to have breast cancer. It is difficult to say what aggravating effect the pill’s hormones would have over a truly random sample of women taking the pill.

Cervical cancer and cervical dysplasia increase among women who use the pill. How long the pill has been taken, how many sexual partners a woman has had, at what age she began having intercourse, whether she smokes, the hygiene of sexual partners and the transmission of the human papillomavirus [HPV] are also factors in cervical abnormalities. Because of these several factors, the connection of the pill and cervical cancer may be clouded over. However, there is no doubt that the promotion of the pill has resulted in early intercourse which may be the more direct cause of cervical cancer.

Endometrial and ovarian cancer appear to have a lower incidence in both women on the pill and in those who have been previous users of the pill. Much of this data comes from studies of women who were using the higher dose estrogen/progestin pill. Currently the low dose monophasic and triphasic pills [less than 50mcg of estrogen] are the only birth control pills available on the U.S. market. It is not known if a similar protective effect will be experienced with the currently used pill. More time is needed to study this issue, and the slight protective effect is hardly a reason to take the Pill at the risk of so many other side effects.

It should also be noted that these forms of cancer are rare and primarily occur among postmenopausal women in their fifties and sixties. Second, these cancers tend to occur in those women who had long cycles [i.e., with a prolonged estrogen-dominant phase] or those who have a family history of these types of cancer. Third, extended breastfeeding amenorrhea offers the same type of protection against these cancers since the menstrual cycle would be suppressed and therefore the exposure to estrogen suppressed.

Liver tumors in younger women [15 to 40 years] have increased as the use of oral contraceptives has increased. Almost unheard of in this age group before the use of synthetic hormones became commonplace, liver tumors usually do not occur until the sixth decade of a woman’s life.

A study by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer found a large peak in the 26-to-30-year age group which corresponds with the increased use of oral contraceptives in this age group. Liver cancer in women on the pill is typically associated with those over 30 who have used it more than four years, but cases of liver cancer in younger women have been cited.

Other cancers: Skin cancer [melanoma] has also been found to increase among women on the pill. Naturally occurring estrogen is involved with maintaining healthy skin tissue. It is reasonable to suspect that exposure to the more potent synthetic estrogen in the pill increases the risk of this type of cancer.

Cycle irregularities

Women who take the pill have been reported to experience bleeding or spotting in mid-cycle, changes in menstrual flow, and even loss of menstruation, which can lead them to wonder if they are pregnant. For some, painful menstruation [dysmenorrhea] has been reported to worsen, even though many women take these hormones in an attempt to relieve the problem.48

Although some women are given the pill for irregular cycles, it does nothing to improve the underlying problem causing the irregularity. Often the irregularity returns when the pill is discontinued, sometimes more severely.

Are there other side effects?

Yes. Some side effects are minor while some may be more severe and call for discontinuing the drug.

The following adverse effects have been experienced by women on the pill:

Headaches, migraines, mental depression [even to the point of suicide and/or suicidal tendencies], a decrease or loss of sexual drive, abdominal cramps, bloating, weight gain or loss, and water retention; nausea and vomiting [in about 10% of users]; symptoms of PMS, vaginitis and vaginal infections, changes in vision [temporary or permanent blindness, and an intolerance to contact lenses]; gall bladder disease and either temporary or permanent infertility, when discontinuing the pill, in users with previous menstrual irregularities or who began the drug before full maturity. Several of the symptoms, such as migraine headaches, contraindicate the use of the pill because of life endangering complications.

Consult the Physicians’ Desk Reference at your public library or consult your pharmacist for a more complete list of the pill’s harmful effects.

Is the pill safer than pregnancy?

No. The health risks of the pill outweigh by far the risks of pregnancy and childbirth to a woman’s health, and any claim to the contrary is based on erroneous comparisons between healthy women on the pill and women who do not receive normal care during pregnancy.

A precondition for obtaining the pill is routine medical care and checkups. For example: if such a woman on the pill is diagnosed as precancerous, or if some other side effect is exhibited, she has the advantage of early detection. However, many pregnant women do not receive routine medical care. A clearer picture of the safety of the pill compared to the safety of pregnancy would be made if healthy women receiving routine medical care during pregnancy and delivery were compared with women receiving routine medical care while taking the pill.

The mortality statistics of childbirth have continuously declined since the early part of this century, mostly due to better maternal healthcare. Most of the high risk pregnancies and deliveries occur to women who have not sought proper medical attention. This is most evident in the third world where adequate health care is sparse.

Mortality statistics of pregnancy and delivery, usually called maternal mortality, include the mortality rates due to abortion. Abortion is clearly used as birth control, preventing the birth of the child; therefore it must be included with the mortality statistics of birth control methods. In one study, 25% to 50% of the reported maternal mortality was a result of deaths from abortion.

Fifty percent of woman taking the pill discontinue it within the first year because of side effects, the development of benign breast disease, or some abnormality of the sexual organs. Studies of pill usage do not include these women, and the result is an unbalanced picture of only the healthiest of women who tolerate the pill. This is compared with the general population of women who are pregnant.

The fact is that there are 13.8 million women in the U.S. and 60 million women worldwide who use the pill [conservative numbers]. And there are 7.9 pill-related deaths per 100,000 women ages 15-44.

Therefore, one can calculate that there are over 1090 deaths each year in the U.S. alone simply due to the pill.

But I’ve heard there are no side effects with the pill I use.

All drugs, including all brands of the birth control pill, have potential side effects. There is no telling in advance how any particular woman will react to the pill, but there is a good chance of some type of reaction. It is possible that a woman will be unaware that there is any connection between the reaction and the pill especially if it takes years to manifest itself.

Aren’t there any therapeutic benefits from the pill?

The only indication, or use for the pill that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration is the prevention of pregnancy in women ... as a method of contraception. Some unapproved uses, considered experimental, include its use as a morning after pill [causing an early abortion], and for relief from the symptoms of mild endometriosis.

I’m breastfeeding my baby; can I use the pill?

No. Artificial hormones pass from breast milk to the baby; the pill also decreases both the quantity and protein content of the milk produced.

What is my alternative to using the pill?

Natural Family Planning is safe, healthy and effective and it’s also inexpensive. A woman observes and records changes in her basal body temperature, the normal flow of cervical mucus, and if she wishes, the physical changes in the cervix itself. She then cross-checks these signs of fertility to follow, day by day, the natural course of her fertility cycle. No drugs, no devices, no surgical procedures, no threat of death, no side effects, no chemical abortions!

Does NFP really work?

Yes. Married couples can achieve a 99% effectiveness if they learn the method, correctly interpret the fertility signs, and follow the rules. One positive side benefit for couples who are committed to making this method work is the potential for a healthier marriage — psychologically, physically and spiritually.

How can I find out more about Natural Family Planning?

Contact the national office of The Couple to Couple League, P. O. Box 111184, Cincinnati, OH 45211; toll-free (800) 745-8252, local (513) 471-2000.

Thank you for taking your time to read this article on Healed People, Heal People. If you are not a member of this online community, we invite you to join for free here. You'll receive  regular updates of encouragement wrapped in biblical truths.

In May on Twitter, I commented on i-n-t-e-g-r-a-t-e-d healing & deliverance. Here's what it is. Typically, when churches have deliverance service, it's either impromptu [during alter call] or it's a planned deliverance service. Both are fine because it's at the direction of the Holy Spirit.

What's been learned by those who are veterans in healing and deliverance is many times parishioners don't stay healed and delivered for a long time or permanently. You know as well as I that those services are exhausting and a lot of work.

Neither the pastor nor the parishioner wishes to continue redo-ing and redo-ing healing and deliverance on the same person for the same issue.

It's even a bit disheartening to see when the person returns back to whatever they were healed & delivered from -- even if they elect not to return for another healing and deliverance service.

Naturally, the healing and deliverance veterans within the body of Christ globally asked, "Well why isn't the healing and deliverance lasting?"

Many books, articles and even ministries have been started around the world in response to this one question.

Allow me to transition to me for a moment, please.

There's nothing like my own story.

My life bottomed out a few years back.

That's the simplest way to put it.

I went to talk to my [former] pastor, a great man of God and gifted leader to this day.

He understood, prayed with me and I left.

I told him I knew something was wrong in the spiritual realm.

One thing I like about him, still, is he'll admit when he doesn't know something.

Well remember -- my life was a wreck and I needed answers, which no one could offer.

I have a [former] church member in OH who said, "Child, when you need help, you gon' find somebody to help you, somewhere, you don't care how long it takes you, you will not stay broken."

And she's right.

If the Holy Spirit is our all-in-all, then it didn't make sense that I had to operate in such a broken state daily.

Long story short, I took about six weeks to fill out an application for integrated healing and deliverance ministry. I also completed prerequisites so I’d be prepared to go through the ministry.

Integrated means two healing and deliverance ministers, also known as my ministry team, spent one week exclusively with me. There were also intercessors and prophetic intercessors praying for me, which I didn’t know until the last day. I never met them. They were interceding for me weeks before I arrived and definitely the week I was there.

They prayed and studied over my application before I arrived in conjunction with the Holy Spirit.

There were prophetic intercessors and intercessors [that I never met] prayed specifically regarding me for insight from the Holy Spirit.

Their focus was, Holy Spirit help us, identify, show us the roots of where her issues began in her life that are still affecting her to this day.

1st - That being said, they went back four generations in my family, on both sides [this is why it took 6 weeks for me to fill out that application]. They examined, studied and co-labored with the Holy Spirit regarding my family lineage to identify active generational curses that were affecting my life; we broke all those generational curses.

It's so nice to use past tense now -- that were affecting my life. HA-LE-LU-JAH! The reality is, any person who is breathing who hasn't broken generational curses, is living actively with generational curses. It takes a good 40 minutes of simple teaching to show this reality to any Christian breathing.

Exodus 20: 1 - 17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21

2nd - They [my ministry team] identified all the ungodly things [better known as lies] I believed about myself, other people [family, friends, white people, enemies, church members] and even God [based on my earthly experience with dad]. Just about every person [even if it's subconscious] draws some conclusions about God based on their relationship with their earthly father no matter how good, great, bad, absent or devastating he was.

Women, in particular, [even if subconscious] draw conclusions about God based on relationship with men, brothers, husbands, dad, step dad, pastor, etc. [doesn't take long for me to find this by studying a person's life with the Holy Spirit]. Again, co-laboring with the Holy Spirit, we changed those many beliefs into godly beliefs.

That is, what the Lord say is true about me, my family, my friends, white people, my enemies, men, what God says about Himself and my church members. This is a lot of work; the sentences here don't do this justice, but I have to keep it moving here.

Isaiah 55:7 | Romans 12:2 | Psalm 139:17 | I Corinthians 2:16 | Proverbs 23::7 | Hebrews 11:16

3rd - Oh Lord, this is the part I don't like here. You and I both know what it's so darn hard for people to forgive. You, me, the Bible and integrated healing & deliverance ministry teams around the world, agree that forgiveness is the key to freedom. Then why so many people keep having a forgiveness problem. It's preached about every single day -- 24 hours a day, on radio, tv, internet, streaming sites, tons of Bibles, tracks, CDs, christian music.

Why? why? why? why?

Even if a person cannot articulate it, it's the pain/hurt associated with the person or situation that they can't get beyond -- that the wall blocker. This lady said to me about 10 weeks back, Christians just outta live right, they know better -- then she quoted me some scriptures. I responded to her [as I was walking my four daily miles in the mall] that nothing matters day-to-day to any person in any kind of pain except how to get through the day dealing with their pain.

Yep, folks are married and yes their families should be first, but dealing with the pain takes precedence. We both know there are tons of ways people deal with pain. This brings up to the next part of integrated healing and deliverance ministry. The ministry team co-labors with the Holy Spirit [in private] to deal with the roots of the person's pains.

Ugh - I hated this part! Much needed, but I really didn't want to do this. Thereafter, forgiveness flooded like the waters of the Niagara Falls! to this very day.

4th - The ministry team taught me in scripture my authority in dealing with the demonic activity in life. Now why I'd never learned this in church for three decades still fathoms me to this day, hell, almost makes me mad. Many churches and pastors generalize and talk about freaking freedom all the time and never gave me the tools to know how to engage daily with the warfare in my life. Can you believe this? Can you believe this?

Do you know how many seminars, conferences, conventions, counselors, years of Bible studies, institutes, books, tv programs, pamphlets, ministries ... I've gone through in three decades.

This is almost similar to the trillion-dollar pharmaceutical industry. Just give people drugs for a life time to treat the symptoms, but never the root cause -- all the while the meds are killing them daily and causing even more problems.

The church -- just tells people they need to be free, have deliverance services ever so often to deal with the surface issue temporarily [but never dismantle the spiritual roots so the symptoms will be forced to die]. Well, the ministry team taught me what demonic oppression was and we commanded the demons out.

Lastly, they showed me how to take the offense instead of always living my life in a posture of defense and reactionary mode.

The integrated approach to healing and deliverance taught me how to stop operating day-to-day in the natural with people and address the spiritual [demonic] behind people's action.

As you and I know every thing is spiritual. Let me underscore that again, e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g is spiritual. The more Christians operate day-to-day in the natural, the more they are frustrated, tired and defeated.

Yep, I know we tell people to pray, and that's very much needed. But as we know, demons do not respond to prayer, demons only respond to authority. Authority which most Christians have no idea how to use daily. And no pastor and no counseling ministry in a church has the time to deal with this level of activity in every member's life.

That changed my life!

One week being taught was fundamental biblical tools every Christian should have and use every day -- changed my life and a 180 turn was made. I went back there [two years] to the int'l school to learn integrated healing and deliverance and I graduated with a certification in integrated, biblical healing and deliverance.

I'm sharing this because I get tired of folk living in bondage.

So many leaders in the church just aren't aware, but with the use of technology and continuing to co-labor with the Holy Spirit -- the body of Christ, at-large, and by denomination will have knowledge of integrated healing and deliverance.

And you know what the benefits of integrated healing and deliverance are to a pastor.

a) Fewer visits from your parishioners for the same issue, which means more time for you and your family

b) The believer is empowered to deal with their own issues

c) Your church operates in more freedom because the members have lasting healing

d) People see the fruit of the healing and start asking the others, how'd you get like that, so multiplication begins

e) There's no way for the church not to end up having a healing and deliverance ministry team that serves the body [or even the community] which changes families and heals up the bride of Christ so she [the church] is without a spot or wrinkle

So many people are so deceived daily as you well know.
They think they are just having bad luck.
They think this is just the way it is.
They think folk just got personality problems.
They even think their common illnesses are just inherited through the family [rather than an extension of a generational curse that controlled by demons].

There are healing and deliverance teams literally all over the world.
Either people can come to us or we go to them any where in the United States or other countries.
We are equipped to come to churches to train leaders in a group setting [healing and deliverance seminars].

Pure Herbs can be applied to the infants abdomen, chest and soles of the feet. But you should only apply the Pure Herbs to one area, not all three. This will give the same effect as taking them internally. You only need apply a small amount to cover the area. Please use a little Vitamin E with Selenium along with the herbs.

Pure Herbs to Calm children | All Cells Salts, Chamomile, Fenugreek

Pure Herbs for Colic | Ginger, Fenugreek, Thyme, Papaya Mints, Indian Tobacco [externally on the abdomen]

Pure Herbs for Croup | Externally rub Oil of Cajeput, Garlic & Mullein Oil, Indian Tobacco on chest. The combination of these herbs will give relief.

Pure Herbs for Iron Source | Bilberry, Chickweed, Mullein [dark grape juice and black cherry juice], HI.I.-W

Pure Herbs for Mucus Infection | Cleansing Corrective Extract-W [can be rubbed on the chest] and Oil of Cajeput can be rubbed on chest, F.V.E-W

Pure Herbs as Liquid Multi-Vitamin | Alfalfa, Chlorella, All Cells Salts, Formula M, Vita Lixir, V.M.-W, Spirulina

Pure Herbs for Whooping Cough-Type Problems | Black Cohosh, Evening Primrose, Gravel Root, Pluerisy Root, Kava Kava Combination, Knitbone & Fenugreek, Wild Cherry Bark, Yerba Santa Combination

Children's dosage

For children 25-50 pounds, use 1/3 of the dosage given.

For children 51-75 pounds, use 1/2 of the dosage given.

For children 76-100 pounds, use 2/3 of the dosage given.

For children above 100 pounds, use full dosage given.

For infants and small babies

Usually, a practitioner works with one drop on the tongue at a time, then the affect is noted before administering more. Wait a few minutes before you give more and, in general, do not exceed 5 to 10 drops at a time.

External use for everyone

If using the herb externally, use whatever is necessary to cover the area, such as the soles of the feet, the length of the spine and back of the neck, on the chest and/or abdomen.

This information is about historical observations and historical information relating to herbs. This information is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice by licensed physicians. A person should consult a physician regularly in all matters relating to medical problems, especially in matters of diagnosing, treating or curing diseases or other physical or mental conditions. This information has not been verified by the American Medical Association or the Food and Drug Administration.

I had an unconventional business meeting late yesterday afternoon. There person and I had been trying to connect for some weeks, but you know how the schedule thing goes. So I asked the person would they be willing to try one of my unconventional meetings, and the person said yes. We did a walking meeting.

Two things were achieved. We exercised and completed our business. At the close of the walking meeting, the person asked, “How long did we walk?” I looked at my pedometer on the right side of my waist and replied, “7.25 miles.” There was silence by the other person.

One non-business thing I shared was it’s extremely difficult to identity Christians from non-Christians on any day of any week of any hour. We Christians have chosen so many times to blend in, we are now hardly, if at all, identifiable. Thus, there goes our salt, our savor, our ability to draw the unsaved. So, what are we going to do? Will we continue to choose to operate daily with no power?

II Timothy 1:7 paraphrased reads, For God gives you a spirit of power.

Are you a Christian who chooses to remain politically correct in your neighborhood – a primary place to be a light?

Are you a Christian who chooses to remain quiet at work repeatedly when others choose to be vocal repeatedly in sharing non-Christian values?

Are you a Christian who chooses to be too busy daily to learn 1 thing by studying in the Bible?

Are you a Christian who chooses to remain passive by not signing petitions that will uphold Christian values in our communities?

Are you a Christian who continues to choose to mismanage His time He allows you each day, which directly affects His kingdom business being achieved in your family, your church, your relationships, and your spheres of influence?

As Christians [who do not have children] and as Christians parents, it is our responsibility to provide safe boundaries and safe environments for our children and the children in your local church body.

John 10:10 paraphrased reads, The thief comes to steal, and to kill, and to destroy your children.

How does satan plan to steal, kill and destroy your children?

One way he strategizes on YOUR children in your home and the children in your church is he looks for open gates.

Two open gate he, satan, commonly uses are the eye gates and the ear gates of your children and the children in your church.

Taking YOUR children to see the new Harry Potter movie is a very sly, entertaining, deceptive way you can introduce your children in your home, in your community and in your church to the occult, which is directly controlled by the demonic. And the demonic is directly controlled by satan.

Many of you know that I’m certified in integrated, biblical healing and deliverance. It is my heart’s desire and my colleagues desire around the world who labor in integrated, biblical healing and deliverance to see less parents before us who weep and wail over their children.

One way we can see fewer parents pained over our children, is for parents to make better, educated, Christian choices early and repeatedly in the lives of your children and the children in your church.

John 10:10 paraphrased reads, I come that you might have life more abundantly.

Beloved reader, may I share two ways I employ as a Christian to live the more abundant life I’m entitled too.

One, I choose to live life on the offense daily.

And two, I choose to not willingly open gates in my life to invite the demonic, which are directly controlled by satan.

As a Christian, you are aware of the biblical fact that demons are active 24-hours a day just as the Holy Spirit is.

You are aware that Christ can be everywhere at the same time.
You are aware that satan cannot be everywhere at the same time.
You are aware that since satan imitates Christ, his substitute for being everywhere at the same time is his minute-by-minute use of demons.
He dispatches his demons and specifically assigns them to you, your children, your family, your community, your church, your company, your institutions and your city.

Would you consider, please beloved reader, not willingly opening the door to the occult in YOUR children’s lives in your home and in your church by taking them to see the new Harry Potter movie?

Consider, please, setting a precedence and planting a seed in the mind of your child(ren) and the children in your church of how to make godly decisions. After all, as a Christian parent you are responsible for training them up in the Lord. If you’d like them to make godly decisions later, they are watching you and learning how you make godly decisions for them as a child(ren).

Please read the two movie reviews below, beloved reader. Every time there is a reference to the occult, I’ve inserted the word [occult] in the appropriate place.

Thank you for reading this article. If you are not a member of Healed People, Heal People, I invite you to join and invite others to be a part of this online Christian community. There are weekly updates of encouragement.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – movie review no. 1
What Parents Need to Know
www.CommonSenseMedia.org

Parents need to know that this is no PG movie -- in all ways, it's very similar to the previous two movies, which were rated PG-13. This film continues the series' trend toward darker [occult] , more intense material. For young children, the death of a major beloved character could be extremely upsetting. Other characters are bloodied, kicked, and cursed in frightening [occult] ways, and a very scary scene involving scary, skeletal [occult] characters is sure to scare the pants off of little kids.

There are also some big emotional upheavals and scary [occult] attacks. And there's notably more [premarital] sexuality -- albeit playfully [plants seeds of sexual immorality in your children’s minds to premarital sex and seeds do grow] depicted -- than in the past movies. Because the characters are now teens, much of the interaction between them and their friends centers on getting a boy or girlfriend, and there's plenty of [premarital] snogging [making out]. While Harry and his friends continue as strong positive role models, other characters' motives and plans become more ambiguous.

And there are also a few scenes that include alcohol consumption [plants seeds in your child’s mind, please consider if there are generationally any alcohol drinkers on either side of your family] -- including one in which a professor serves his students [person in both and authoritative and leadership position leading children, students to engage in alcohol, it is no coincidence that liquor stores advertise signage that read SPIRITS, and this is not the spirit of the Lords, notice the word spirits is plural with an S] .

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – movie review no. 2
By Christa Banister, Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer

Cautions

Drugs/alcohol: Harry, Hermoine and Ron drink butter beer.

Language/profanity: A few uses of mild profanity including “hell,” “damn” and “piss off.”

Sex/nudity: Romance is definitely on the brain in Hogwarts this time around. There are a few kisses between different teen couples, but nothing more.

Violence: “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” has an even darker [occult] tone than any of the other “Potter” movies to date. And the first scene definitely sets the pace when the Millennium Bridge is destroyed and several civilians are thrown off. A couple of fights break out between Harry and Draco, and their faces are bloodied.

There are violent exchanges between the Weasleys and the Death Eaters, and more precarious spells [occult] are concocted than ever before, especially when one of Harry’s classmates is possessed [occult] and nearly dies. The last 20 minutes are the most violent and action-packed of them all when Dumbledore and Harry make their way to the cave. What eventually goes down is different than what actually happens in the books, so I won’t spoil it here.

Be forewarned, however, this isn’t stuff for younger children, despite the PG rating.

Please consider printing this article and doing one or several of the following.

1) Give a copy of this to people in leadership at your church.

2) Give a copy of this to parents you know.

3) Use this as a Vacation Bible School topic.

4) Use this as a topic in your youth group.

5) Place copies on the windshields of your church members.

6) Consider using this as an insert in your church bulletin.

7) Place a copy of this article on several of your church bulletin boards.

8) Tape a copy of this article on the inside door of bathroom stalls in your church.

9) Tape a copy of this article near the exit doors of your church.

Thank you, Beloved reader, for being active in your Christian walk and thank you for taking your time to read this article on Healed People, Heal People. If you are not a member of this online community, we invite you to join for free here. There are regular updates of encouragement wrapped in biblical truths.