There was some talk the other day on the t.v. about beautiful homes famous people own.  The one’s with  beautiful pools with a hot tubs.  The bathrooms with jacuzzi’s , the rooms for the strippers , the room where they do the “normal” partying and clubbing.  Oh yes the poker table.  The bling bling thousand dollar vehicles how many did this one guy have?  Oh yes i think about 5 mustangs.  Yes these homes were beautiful!  But what is sad is that they do not realize that these things will crumble to the ground like dirt they will fade because the Breath of the Lord will blow upon it and it will crash and fall…   Not to mention most of these people were unbelievers.  And ultimately I pray that they come to know him.  But I think of the believers that think they need all of these things.

The only thing lasting and what stands Forever is Gods word.  We can have something and want more and more and more.  Thinking we can buy happiness and joy thinking that if we just have one more shirt, one more car, one more complete outfit to match our shoes, one more dog… Maybe own a house or whatever the case may be that we will somehow be fulfilled to the max.  Is this true? If we had everything we lusted after would we then finally be happy?

The answer is no.  Why? I mean, How does someone like me know that answer. Well if you read Gods word you too will know.  Just read the verse in this blog.  These materialistic things will wither and fade.  Read the following carefully.-You decide…

Then one from the crowd said to Him, Teacher Tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.  But HE said to Him, ” Man who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?”  And he said to them, ” Take heed and beware of covetousness, for ones life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”  Then He spoke a parable to them saying: The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.  And he thought within himself saying,  What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?  So he said I will do this:  I will pull down my barns and build greater and there I will store all my crops and my goods.  And I will Say to my soul, ” Soul you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” But God said to him, ” Fool!  This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?  So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.  Luke 12.

 This speaks for its self.  Ones life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.  If you know him, your treasure is in Heaven.  Not here on earth.

There is a lie going around in churches that we need to ask God for more. That God wants us to be financially blessed out of our minds.  That The Lord Jesus wants us to be Rich.  The other false teaching we hear is GIVE !  GIVE! GIVE!  So that God will make you abundant in your house, your money your wealth! When we do give it should be out of a pure heart and a cheerful giver not selfishly so that we may recieve more!

In three of the Gospels, Jesus warns that each of his disciples may have to “deny himself” and even “take up his Cross.” In support of this alarming prediction, he “forcefully” contrasts the fleeting pleasures of today with the promise of eternity: “For what profit is it to a man,” he asks, “if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” It is one of the New Testament’s hardest teachings, yet generations of churchgoers have understood that being Christian, on some level, means being ready to sacrifice–money, autonomy or even their lives.-EXCERPT FROM TIME MAGIZINE…

True we must present our bodies as living sacrifices holy and pleasing to Christ Jesus-Rom. 12  And be willing to lay everything down for the sake of the Cross! 

This world has nothing for us.  ANd will indeed fade away.  So while I am not saying that having a pretty home, and a nice car and clothing is sin. I am saying those things will pass away and fade.  And we need not put our joy and hope in the things of this world… Let us not store up earthly treasures… 

The Lord loves us and desires us to lay our whole lives down for him.  If you find yourself with all you think you need and our caught in this despairing circle of depression.  Look up and see Christ The King standing there , arms open wide for you to come to him and rest in him and seek him and yearn for him…  He is all we need!  I could go on and on on this but I pray that the Lord speaks to your heart and we would all realize that we are nothing without him.  And also the thing we have and possess will fade one day.  The Word of God Stands forever!!!  I Love you all and pray you are encouraged!

Ephisians 2:4-10- 

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,  5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—  6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,  7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is your own doing; it is the gift of God,  9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

This is what we should desire.  To be rich in Mercy that we can be shown the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

We are His workmanship!  AMen? Ponder on these things , dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, take them to heart.

God bless you ! In His HOly Name!

-Jacqueline Keister-firefly

Hebrews 1 God who at various times ,and ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets …God spoke…And remains the same yesterday and forever. You speak to me by your son.  Every thing in the old testament points to Christ Jesus!  The new testament epistles points us back to Jesus Christ in the old testament!!!!!!!!The same HE NEVER CHANGES! There are no new prophets…

There is no point if everything we do and are and breath does not point us to Christ… You live in me dear Lord.  You are the hope in glory.Jerimiah 31 The old covenant:  God giving commands… Israel broke his commands.A new covenant with His people…Because you live in meYou have written what you desire for me upon the tablet of my heart! It is in you that I shall find everything I hold dearlyMy strength and refuge God you are indeed Just …It is amazing to me that you chose me to be your daugther I sit in the palm of your hand…

You as a believer do not stumble into sin, but walk right back into it.You called me out of the house of bondage… bitterness ,unforgiveness, anger, drugs, alchohol, porn,…. These are some examples of sin… there is freedom in Christ and He delights to set us free…In Corinthians They were not , not saved they were sinning and being corrected.What do we put in front of Christ Jesus?Is it work?is it family?is it love for others more than God?our motivation, our friends, reading music, worship , ministry our selfish ambitions? what do we put before Him?  We probably all have something… what do we idolize? 

I fail miserbaly what do I allow to be more important to me than seeking the face of God? We say he is first.. What, though, does that exactly mean?  For Christ to be first in our lives…?do you pray or play first? God, Forgive me for the times I put other things in front of you and people.. Anything dear Lord forgive me and help me to stay focused upon you and you alone Father…Anything that Is more important than you is an idol…        How do we know what is right for us? only through the revelation of him self through His word…Help me to love you Dear Lord and keep your commandments!!!!Deut24:16Ezekial 18:19 Jer 31:30This message is so simpleChrist says  Turn and live the message of the gospel is clear in these passages  we are responsible for our own actions.Repent turn and have life everlasting life in Jesus Christ our Lord !

AMEN!!!That is awesome! If you are in Christ you are a new creature! All things have been made new…Everything has become new…. Even if there was something you grew up around you don’t have to do it just because they did it… If one generation of Israel turned away from God turning to serve  idols it would take a couple of generations yet for that influence to be weeded out of their children. they were not cursed If I grow up with something all my life and that is all I know Guess what my infuelece will be?   but God can break through al of that.  AMEN !!!There is freedom in Christ… A repercussion to I doltiry.  IF I make any other thing more important than the Lord it will affect my kids.      But showing mercy to 1000thds of gerneratians to all those who love me will keep my commandments.  What are we teaching our children the most important thing is in life?    Not ministry, job anything first but Jesus First. My decision making should always be, Lord what do you desire? upon Your principle… your commandments are  not greiveianced…. Oh how I love your law dear Lord!!!!

To obey is better than sacrifice…. I know that was long but the Lord truly is amazing… THe simple message of the Gospel remains… Turn And Live!!!!Amen,

HOpe you were all encouraged!

Jacqueline HElms

I think of the people I hurt sometimes and how I could have done this thing or that thing differently.  Then that results in self-condemnation and tears…  Now I mean I also dwell upon the good things of Life and the things the Lord drew me out of as I felt as though I was drowning and i think of those things with the heart and mind of thankfulness toward Him.  But why do we, ask yourself as I ask myself why do we go back into the past and dig out the dirty and down the hill parts of our lives only to condemn us for what has been forgiven.  Its as though we move foward then throw our selves in our past and we move backwards.  When the Bible tells us to press foward toward the mark of the High calling when he says in Romans 8:1 There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ. 

Are we worthy of that?  No!  But he loves us and when we come to him with a heart that yearns for righteousness he forgives and allows us to move foward.    Is that not  awesome?  It really is.  I think we sometimes try to find something to hold onto something more to apoligize for just because we do not understand Gods Grace and Mercy and how true and faithful he is…  The bible says When We confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.

Allow me to be personal here….  For instance  year 2007 I did somethings that hurt the people I love the most and when I was a teen I was very rebellious against all over me and all who loved me.  A little while ago maybe 2 or 3 months ago I was sitting at my computer. Allow me to get sidetracked…

As you can maybe see I started this blog in 2008 and not its 2009…

I did not realize I never published this.,  I would like to just conclude with my story i was sharing… Because looking back I remember that day.  I had been sitting at my computer and started beating myself up, replaying every instance in my mind of how i hurt my family members and the harsh things i said and the way i was.  Self condemnation, all over again in that very moment.  In Christ there is forgiveness and hope and freedom.  My family forgave me The Lord forgave me!  Hallelujah.  I realized as well that we can choose to condemn ourselves , living in the past.  But the Lord does not want us to do that.  Recall with me  Psalm 103:

¹ Bless the LORD, O my soul;
         And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
 ² Bless the LORD, O my soul,
         And forget not all His benefits:
 ³ Who forgives all your iniquities,
         Who heals all your diseases,
 ⁴ Who redeems your life from destruction,
         Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
 ⁵ Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
         So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. 
         
This speaks by itself.  This is what Christ Jesus brings back to me constantly…

I pray that this encourages you heart. ANd remember, There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus!

AMen!  YOu are His and you sit in the palm of His hand!  He Is just, forgiving merciful, our redeemer and friend!  Let us together worship Him for Who he is!

Don’t dwell on that which lies in the past- your dwelling place should be Christ.  So dwell in Him!

I know , I know I have not written in forever and truly I miss it.  So much has happened.  May 10th I was married to a wonderful man, Matthew Keister. And see this means I need to change my profile because I am now Jacqueline Keister rather than Jacqueline Helms.  =)  

Today I am going to share about this mornings message.  I have titled todays blog, ” This place is not my home.”  Why?  Well the short and sweet answer to that question is this… BECAUSE ITS NOT!!! 

Okay there I am finished.  =)  No, really moving on.  Its not though.  I am just  a stranger passing through , a foreigner visitor.  I am homebound.  The bible says to set our minds on heavenly things rather than earthly things.  This world is a vapor and if you truly know what it is to have a realationship with the one and only way truth and life which is found in Christ Jesus and Him alone than you must keep him as your center focus the center of your life.  I want to mention breifly my Aunt whom I call Tia Brenda.  She has been in out of surgery for many many years, tumor after tumor some almost cancerous.  Never once have I heard a complaint out of her mouth.  All ever I hear is The Lord is good His mercy endures forever , He is in total and complete control, EVerything happens for His good will and purpose.  She is a walking miracle and testimony of someone who has true Hope and whose eyes are on things above.  Wow!

Our hope lies not in anything this world has to offer which is nothing.  Our hope if you know Him is in Him and above.  Set your mind and affections on the one who holds the key to everything.  The one that Gave His Life and spilled His blood so that we would know true hope. 

Think and ponder on this… How beautiful!  1Cor 15 talks about our bodies being sown in corruption-raised in incorruption…

Sown in dishonor-Raised in glory!   Do you not realize that our bodies will someday be perfectly suitable and fitted for heaven.. Being transformed?  Wow what a thought.  Hard to swallow.  Simple, yet so deep…

HOw will the dead be raised?  God in His infinite power and strength of his glory!

Our focus must be Jesus Christ and God the Father ALmighty!  IF one dies without the Savior  in their life they will infact be transformed unto judgement.  One must run to the arms of Christ.

To seek Christ is our motive or should be our motive and drive to seek heavenly things should be what we set our affections on….A couple of questions to ask yourself and ones for me as well.

How do we veiw things?  Our Job, spouse, activities and hobbies?  Our possesions do we give them to him and realize everything we have belongs to Christ.  How am I as an indiviual motivated to live for Christ Jesus?

Do you read Gods word because it just makes you feel good, so when some one asks you you can say you did? OR do you read HIs word because you desire to know him more and desire and seek HIm more than anything?   Because if you answer yes to the first question you are not reading or studying it at all…

As said in Luke 24:32…  ANd they said to one another,” DId our hearts not burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”

I mean, Do our hearts burn when we read or study His precious letter?  These are things to ponder on and believe I am talking to myself just as much as you all… =) 

A couple more things here…  I think about music and movies and just entertainment in general.  Would you watch what you watch, would you listen to what you listen to if Jesus was sitting with you?  Well,  I have news for you and Me He is… Wether you like it or not, wether you acknowledge it or not.  If you have Him in your life and HE is your LOrd he is watching and listening to everything you watch and everything he listens to.  And if it dishonoring to him just remember HE cannot have sin before Him…

I want to close with this…  Where is your heart?  Where is your Mind?  For where your treasure lies there your heart lies also. 

Colossians 3:1-3><>  If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on things above not things on the earth .  For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

IT cannot get any more clearer than that my friends!  My encouragment to you all.  Remember if you are a true child of God keep Him centered and know you are nothing without HIm!  All glory and honor and power belongs to Christ JEsus and HIm alone.  He is the only way truth and life No man can come to the Father but by and through Him.  John 14:6.

Praise be to The Lord Jesus Christ!  Amen!  This is not our home.  OUr home is with Him in Heaven not on earth, But as long as we are still here may we live for him, imitate Him and Serve Him to the best of our ability!! God bless,

Jacqueline Keister

This shall be short.  I encourage you all to read 2 Samuel 22 .. Lets just say Awesome and very very encouraging.  It reminds us of many attributes of our Savior Jesus CHrist.  ANd who is he truly is.

Our Rock , Refuge, horn of our salvation, our help our joy our peace , our redeemer.

He lives and is alive in me! Praise the Lord for Who he is , Our awesome all powerful God through Him Nothing is impossible.  There is so much more and I mean So much and lots and loads but LIke I said, Short indeed…

TOmorrow Morning Lord willing I will write lots more! GOd bless everyone

Read it , ponder on it, apply it.. Ask God for wisdom everytime you pick HIs Book up… For if you ask believeing he will give you wisdom , got some news for you, HE WILL!!!

Love you all!
Jacqueline

So I woke up at 5:10 and came down stairs, sat  by the fire place and started reading Gods word.  I finally finished Thessalonians, and read proverbs7, some of Ps 119 and ps 42… Amazing and very encouraging.  My eyes were a bit heavy for although I was awake my eyes desired more sleep.  HOwever I just kept on reading then prayed and must admit I think I must have dozed off once or twice… I thank the Lord I was not sitting by a window… Who knows the story in the bible?

Anyway, I was reminded this morning about how we should yearn for and desire Jesus and to know righteousness and love holiness more than anything… THis world has nothing to offer and any and everything outside of the Lord is completely and utterly meaningless…

Psalms 42 says,” As a deer Pants for water so my soul pants for you Oh Lord!”  Do we truly desire Him above EVERYTHING?  IT’s a constant putting on the new self , a working out our salvation with fear and trembling as the Word commands those who love Him to do.  

We should desire him more than life itself, more than silver or gold or any earthly pleasures.  Grant it the Lord allows and gives us things to enjoy and everything he made is good.  But are we constantly asking HIm,” Lord how can I serve you , how can I be a servant and serve others , putting them before myself…?   First of all we cannot possibly know the answers to any of these questions if we are not in constant study of HIs precious and infalible word or on our knees in prayer before The King Most High!

Do we yearn for HIm in and out of trouble and despair , Is He on the forefront of our minds and hearts…?   Seek Ye first the Kingdom of God and HIs righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. 

The LOrd is truly amazing and awesome! 

IN Proverbs it talks about the harlot , which pertains to sin and the seductiveness of it…. Which I would like to write about now as well , however work is calling my name… I shall write later though..

I pray you were all encouraged, I tend to go in several different directions when writing and even talking sometimes , so I do pray you all understood… 

IN obeying the Lord you can have joy living in peace and harmony with one another… Following HIm should never be burdensome but A bountiful Joy… FOr the Joy of the LOrd is indeed our strength!

God bless!

Jacqueline

So if you would-like to know what the Lord has pressed upon my heart this Cold December day that’s it!  Satan loves to see us become depressed and self condemning but I will tell you biblically it is not right… We have become Christs children a royal priesthood NO longer condemned ! Amen, therefore we ought to fear the Lord and keep our eyes turned toward Him always…

NO condemnation to those who are in Christ… As I sit here I encourage you to remember these things with me…

God bless you all!

Jacqueline

For we know all things work together for Good to those who Love God and are called according to HIs purpose…

I start with this because you see , this time of the year is when Ireally begin to look back over an amount of time and see the Hand of God continually everywhere!  HE is in control.  ANd He constantly reminds me of that every single day! 

I look back over this year, 2007 alone, I look back and see all the trials I may have had to endure with the help of my GOd.  For His hand was there all along.  Romans 828 became my theme verse of the entirety of my life.

I sit here, looking back, I sit here and the one tear strolling down my face should tell you alot if you know me at all as I look back…

Looking back I see the soveriengty of the Almighty His wonderful providence upholds me.  He being that of a servant, my Refuge, my Comfort My Savior, the precious Lover of my soul

Looking back I cannot help but be grateful and know He is in control and has a true and solid purpose in all things…

What is the Lord showing you?  I pray that when trials come our way we would not complain about them. But rather get down on our knees and ask HIm, “what Lord , how Lord , HOw can I use this for your glory, What do you wish I would see through this, and how may your name be magnified? 

Stay in HIs word… Use wisdom, knowledge, and prudence in all you do… God bless!

Jacqueline

I love to write poems and just random streams of Conscience So here is one at the top of my head and then it will be time to go to bed getting enough rest to get up quite early in the morning to spend time with my savior Jesus Christ the Lover of my soul.

 -Inspiration-

I close my eyes and ponder, I think I wonder about things to come.

I think back on the Life I once lived sitting in the little bubble of me.

Dark, gloomy cold alone I was isolated from the world and even the people who cared.

Sad lonely depressed sitting in the dark abyss which Trapped me I was taken.

Taken? YOu may ask.. Seduced into the stench and lust of sin and all that the world had to offer.

INspired by the world, wrapped in a cold cord of my wrarped mind.  Scarred , i thought for life i was scarred…

I closed my eyes tears strolling down my face… at the end of my rope… This is it, this is it… I am going home.. Lord take me home.

At once and finally the realization came, I was running, searching, I was scared . FIghting ..

Fighting through with my own arrogant and foolish self.

Relying on my own strength which was nothing .. I then realized my need,

MY need for a savior.  Cannot do it all alone , cannot do this on my own

There he was arms open wide asking to run to them , repent come crawling to His feet I did.

Running with all my might.  It was there I laid my life surrendering everything I was.

I was nothing but a speck of mud lying there on the ground. 

THen He came , HE being that of the son of God JEsus Christ.

The realization,  He called my name He died for my sin.

He loved me and rose again on the third day! Hallelujah HE lives He lives HE lives and He lives in Me

Alive ALive ALive …. I am a child of the King and the inspiration to write the story of my life comes from Him and HIs word and HIm alone.. For HE alone restores the weary , He alone satifies the thirsty and hungry soul… HIm alone is my peace joy love hope everything we have belongs to HIm.. HE Alone is my inspiration…

I pray you all were encouraged and I do Hope to get on here again soon.. GOd bless you all !

Jacqueline