Injecting the devil

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

Last week while preparing for group therapy at work my wife text me, our friend’s little sister had passed away. I immediately hurt for the family but what could I do? Later that afternoon I was told two young women died at a local hotel from an apparent drug overdose, I wondered if our friend was one of those young women. Later that evening as my wife and I prepared to head out to be with the family of our friend I received a phone call telling me that a friend had died in a hotel room from a drug overdose. It was then that it hit me, I knew both young women whose lives were taken so early in life by a terrible demon.

As a drug counselor I am often told about the addiction of heroin. It is unclear if that is what happened with these young women but more and more each day I hear new stats about over-dose, arrests, and deaths from this awful drug. I used drugs in my youth and never once did I have a desire for heroin, I have a thing against needles. Now that I help people with this and other addictions I have heard more than once the same statements. “Heroin gives an amazing high but the whole process of buying, cooking, setting it up, and injecting it is just as addictive.” This statement breaks my heart, what kind of demon thinks like this? Heroin destroys valuable lives, countless families, and God’s plans. The lust for those feelings is put in the heads of addicts by the devil and he needs to be stopped. I want to ask everyone who reads this to stop for a few minutes and pray for those in your community affected by this demon, pray for your neighbors, your friends, your family, and for yourself. If you have an addiction of any sort please seek help before the devil wins. I have added some help lines or you may get a hold of me directly by sending an email to brettdrawing@ymail.com

Alcohol and Drug Helpline

1-800-DRUG-HELP; 1-800-378-4435

24 hours a day/ AODA referrals

Suicide thoughts:

1-800-SUICIDE; 1-800-784-2433

24 hours a day

They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves to sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. 2 Peter 2:19

All-in?

We gamble with so much in our lives. Seriously think about it for a second… our finances, our time, our love and companionship, and our salvation. For a professional poker player to go all-in it means they have a really good hand or they believe they are really good at bluffing. Some may say this is the same way Christians live their lives. I just wanted to share this small post today because God revealed it to me, it even stung a little, but I knew I needed to share. This morning when I received my text message from Jesus, and yes I did, it is an iPhone app, it said these words; I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! Revelations 3:15-16  

I think it is pretty clear that Jesus would like us to be all-in, to hold the winning hand which is salvation in Him. But if we choose to be the bluffer, the one holding the cards but they mean something different, Jesus will take our pot and send us away. I think it is easy to make the decision when it comes to this bet. I want to be all in.  

Lets Chat

As a man I sometimes need to be reminded that a good relationship depends on quality communication. This is true if you are talking about a relationship with your wife, your children, your friends or co-workers, and most importantly God. I recently read a quote that said, “If you feel far away from God, guess who moved?” How profound is that? So how do we become closer to Him? Well it is easy, as I said above a good relationship requires quality communication. The Bible tells us how to communicate with God so it is no secret. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. John 5:16b

So how should we chat with the Big Guy? Well there are many ways suggested and if you are one of those people who need it broken down in a structured fashion you have to find one that works for you. I recommend looking at something like the A.C.T.S. method. It is simple really, start with A, start by adoring your Daddy, love Him, worship Him, and remember He created all, thus making us His treasure. God longs for us to love Him like He loves us. Next go on to C, confess to Him. God knows our sins, even before we commit them, He does not love us less but He does want us to own up to them and repent from them. This draws us closer to Him. The first part of the above bible verse suggests we confess our sins to others and pray for each other, if this is too hard at the moment start with Him. Now move on to T, thank Him. For some people this is easier than other because they see their blessings all around them. Again God created us; He breathed His breath into us. He gave us every sunrise and sunset, He raised every mountain and filled every stream, and He loves us with unconditional love and unfailing grace. That is something to be thankful for. Finally is the S, supplication, asking God to fulfill our needs and the needs of others. As I said there are many ways to structure your daily prayer life, this is just one example.

I like to have conversations with Him. I talk, He listens, I talk, He answers, and I usually miss it. This is because I often think prayer is about me. God answers every prayer and He does it in a few ways. The one everyone wants, “Yes, I think you are ready for this.” The one everyone is afraid of, “No, I know this is not good for you.” The one that everyone believes God just is not listening, “Wait, I have something so much better for you.” Finally He answers prayers sternly, reminding us that His grace is enough for us. Jesus said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Communication is the key to any successful relationship. God is the only one who gives us an infallible book on how to do it. If you have questions, read the Word of God, the answers are there within its living pages. I pray that everyone who reads this will be blessed in their day, know that Jesus died just for them, understand that God’s love is prefect and unfailing, and that they too can find peace in prayer to our Savior. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.1 Corinthians 15:57

 

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Be in the Light

A young mother holds her child for the first time. A comfort and joy comes after the pains of labor. The child, a boy, is laid to rest in a manger. After their travels there was no room in the inn, and the boy was meant to come on this day. High above the stables nestled directly above the manger where he laid shined a star so bright that it could be seen from all corners. In a time of darkness and despair God had sent a Light.

There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. John 1:9

Over 250 babies are born every minute in today’s world. On this day, a day we call Christmas there is 1440 minutes, that means 360,000 babies will be born to our world today. Born into a world where many will not make it to their first birthday. Many will die of starvation or thirst. Others will fall into the hands of darkness, sold or trained to fight wars that have no purpose or meaning. There will be some who grow up to be punching bags for abusive adults, others will not be seen or heard even though they were there all alone. A few will have what we like to call normal lives, graduate from school, maybe go on to college, and probably have a family of their own someday while working in an endless cycle of buying and selling. A select few will be seen by the world as the elite, with money and power at their every disposal, and the ability to change minds with just a simple word or two. This does not cover all who will be born this day but a vast majority. In this group of children will be men and women who devote their lives to shining God’s light, some may fall into a category above while others may choose to simply walk their own path guided by God.

So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. Hebrews 9:28

So again our world has returned to darkness. Even those who claim to walk in the light straddle a fine line between where the shadows are and where the Light of Jesus shines. We are all sinners; we all need a Savior. Christmas has become part of that fine line we walk. It is a consumer driven world where many of us spend hours of our days finding and wrapping the perfect gifts but then go to church to worship the Light.  I enjoy the presents; enjoy seeing even my oldest teenager’s face light up when getting some trivial item like pajama pants but do I spend enough time being thankful for the most important gift? The Light.

Two thousand years ago our Savior was born to us, laid in a manger, hunted, He preached and taught, He guided, and He lit the path, and died for our sins. Just as it says in Hebrews above Jesus came to our world to be the Light, to take away the sins of many. Celebrate that life not only Christmas day but every day, for soon our Light shall return and take with him those who have been waiting. May the Light shine on you and your family this day and Merry Christmas.

“Yes, I am coming soon.”

Amen, come, Lord Jesus. Revelation 22:20