Say to those with a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.

“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy,” Isaiah 35:4-6 states.

This promise — delivered long before Jesus’ time — speaks of a future for which many longed. People hoped for the time when oppression would cease and they could live in comfort.

Centuries later, when Jesus began preaching and healing, people wondered if he could be the Messiah. He made the blind see and the deaf hear. He healed the sick and lame. For those whose hearts were receptive, Jesus fulfilled God’s promise.

Today, this promise is available to all; the challenge comes in recognizing and accepting it.

Many individuals have imprisoned themselves through poor choices, taking chances that leave them crippled physically, mentally, financially or spiritually, lives become devastated. Disobedience, a sense of entitlement, haughtiness, ego, and more keep many from recognizing a greater authority, one that has promised to wipe out life’s aspects that weigh them down.

Still, people seek relief from those things that oppress them, that make them afraid, that cause them to doubt there is anything good in life. But one major roadblock prevents the kind of freedom they seek. It is the difficulty in saying, “I was wrong. There truly is a power greater than myself. I was foolish to think otherwise.”

Pride makes such a realization difficult, but it is necessary to acknowledge the Lord is greater than you. It is important to understand he desires your heart more than you desire his. It is necessary to recognize God has fulfilled his promise to come and relieve your fear, oppression and doubt.

When you can humble yourself, you can recognize God’s promise right before you. God simply waits for you to open your eyes, ears, heart and mind to be aware of our Lord’s presence.

He holds the key to opening the door of your self-made prison.

The Rev. Mark Broadhead is pastor at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: BROADHEAD: God holds the key to your self-made prison

We need revival in North Okaloosa County. I am not talking about a series of services designed to enhance our emotions and feelings, but rather, real soul searching. 

A true refreshing from God can come when people hunger and thirst after His righteousness.

God and His righteousness, when rightly seen through the eyes of His Word and through His sweet spirit, will show us areas where we need to do better. It is not God that needs to do more, it is us.

True revival will result in people turning from sinful habits and seeking a better relationship with Him.

Is this necessary?

I believe it is for God's perfect love to be manifested to all mankind.

We need to carefully guard our testimony. If we cannot turn from those things that cloud our testimony, God and His love cannot shine through us and you will not be the individual whom God desires for you to be. 

Perhaps you feel that your relationship with God is personal, nobody's business, and you may be happy with that relationship. While this is possible, I believe for others to see Christ in our lives, we must be willing to deepen that relationship by giving into His will. 

In the book of John, chapter 15, Jesus talks about how we are to be in Him and bear much fruit. He states in verse 5 that those who spend time with Him will bear much fruit, for we cannot do it ourselves. 

Your salvation, your relationship should be everybody's business, so we can and will bear much fruit.

If you want to gauge how you are doing, look around at those you have won. Will many stand with you in heaven? 

So many Christians have won no one to Christ in their lifetime — do not be one of those.

The Rev. Richard Helms serves at Miracle Acres Ministries, 3187 E. James Lee Blvd., in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HELMS: How many souls have you helped save?

If you only pay attention to the internet, social media or news, you might think there’s more and more going wrong in this world, and less and less going right.

True, this world has numerous problems. And if people focus only on the painful, harmful aspects, they will increase; those things that receive the greatest attention become the norm.

But when you focus on positive aspects, the negative carries less weight. You realize, for example, not all teenagers do drugs, and that many of them help others. You realize not all people of different color or religion rob stores, harm their spouse, or seek others’ destruction.

Many people in the community do great things to help the less fortunate; to care for the sick or lonely. There’s plenty of positivity in this world.

Do you look at life and remember God’s creative power? Do you praise God for the wonders of creation?

Psalm 104 states, “God, you are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty, wrapped in light as a garment .… You set the earth on its foundations … You cover it with the deep as with a garment … You make springs gush forth in the valleys… giving drink to every wild animal. By the streams the birds of the air have their habitation. …

“You cause the grass to grow for cattle, and plants for people to use, … and wine to gladden the human heart, oil to make the face shine, and bread to strengthen the human heart… You have made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting.”

When you focus on God’s blessings, you soon realize just how generous God is. Then you will realize just how complicated humanity has made life.

The Rev. Mark Broadhead is pastor at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: BROADHEAD: Focus on God's blessings, stay positive

During controlled burns, an all-consuming fire clears underbrush, giving trees a better chance of remaining healthy; it also allows new growth to quickly come back as food for small animals. 

Such burns can be human-engineered, but in many hard-to-reach places, this is done by God's lightning strikes and whichever source He chooses.

In Jeremiah 20:9, the prophet states that when he was trying to be silent, God's Word was like a fire shut up in His bones that he could not silence. In Mark 9:4, Jesus Himself states that everyone will be salted with fire. 

These two statements demonstrate one fact: As a child of the King, you are allowed to go through different trials and troubles as a way of changing your landscape. Your emotions, your view of God, and realizing how important it is to depend on Him are just some of the outcroppings of troubled times.

The fire that burns us removes all the stuff that has crowded around us — prejudice, pride, anger, self adoration and other daily emotions — so we can be spiritually healthier

As every fire has a source, Jeremiah tells us that source is indeed God's Word. We must read it more, apply it to our lives, and remove whatever distracts us from our goal of being pleasing unto God. 

Too often, we would rather put out that fire and not read, not respond to the God of all creation — and we expect that one day we might make it in to heaven?

Listen, for us to be made acceptable unto God and live a life to His desires, we must be set apart, made holy by that fire which sanctifies us.

In John 17:17, Jesus prayed to the Father that we might be sanctified by His Word because His Word is truth. 

We must be willing to allow His Word to become a fire in our bones that consumes all that we are, and become all that He desires. 

The Rev. Richard Helms serves at Miracle Acres Ministries, 3187 E. James Lee Blvd., in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HELMS: Controlled burns are a reminder of God's word

During Lent, Christians can reflect on ways we have given in to temptation and put a barrier between us and God.

Everyone deals with various temptations, and Satan tailor-makes temptations for each individual.

For example, purchasing a new, expensive electronic gadget is a temptation for me; for you, it may have no appeal whatsoever. You might be tempted to purchase a new ATV; for me, that has no appeal.

When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, Satan tailor-made temptations for our Lord:'

●Turn stones into bread

●Rule the entire world's kingdoms

●Demonstrate God’s protective powers

There was nothing overtly wrong about those temptations — they could have accomplished good results. But Jesus determined they would not have accomplished the greater good.

People needed more than loaves and fishes to live; they also needed God's word. Jesus was to rule people’s hearts, not this world's kingdoms. Jesus would not instill false hope or expectation regarding God’s favor.

Jesus weighed temptations against the scriptures and made right, good decisions.

When it comes to temptations that hit you, do you rationalize reasons for giving in to them, or do you consider the greater good?

If you are tempted to belittle your child, is that the greater good? If you are tempted to fudge your tax return, slam a political candidate, complain about your pastor or your congregation, cheat on your spouse, get revenge for a real or perceived slight, have one last drink for the road, take what does not belong to you, spend money on something not budgeted — is it the greater good?

Whichever temptations come your way, weigh them against scripture as Jesus did. Ask yourself if giving in would produce the greater good.

If not, walk away from it. If you give in, you have yet another thing to feel guilty about, and the need to seek God’s forgiveness.

The Rev. Mark Broadhead is pastor at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: BROADHEAD: Weigh temptations against scripture

A long-time local tradition is music to many residents' ears. It is the sound of tractors, tillers and other machines working hard before Valentine's Day to plant peas, potatoes and other crops. 

Churches, similarly, should start a tradition of planting seeds of faith, joy and salvation. 

Take gardening, for example.

In the summer, plants wither and die without plenty of water. It is the same in church. Sermons on God's grace and mercy act like water to our souls. 

With fertilizer, plants receive vital nutrition, they can begin to green out and produce fruit at a greater rate and better quality. 

When people allow the Bible to be their road map to living, and ministers return to preaching's roots by holy living, turning away from sin, and becoming Christ-like, we become uncomfortable. However, this too provides the spiritual nutrition we need to branch out and bear fruit.

Pruning and hoeing, and eliminating weeds and the garden's dead spots add to the plant's ability to do even better. Similarly, uncompromised preaching helps us eliminate our lives' dead areas, and remove anything detrimental to our testimony. 

Will your garden grow "OK" or will it be wonderful? What about your Christianity?  

The choice is yours.  

The Rev. Richard Helms serves at Miracle Acres Ministries, 3187 E. James Lee Blvd., in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HELMS: How does your garden grow?

King David wrote Psalm 51:10 and 11 amid a difficult time. He had grievously sinned. 

One day, he spied the beautiful — and married — Bathsheba bathing on her rooftop. Consumed with lust, he had her brought to the palace, had his way with her, and she became pregnant.

To cover his misdeed, David made sure Bathsheba’s husband was killed in battle, and he took Bathsheba to be his wife.

He and his new wife's child was born sickly, so for seven days, David prayed for God to forgive his sin and spare the child.

"Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight.” (Psalm 51:1-4)

David confessed his sin. Wearing sackcloth and ashes — symbols of repentance — and through fasting and praying, he pleaded for his child's life.

But the child succumbed to its illnesses.

David then removed the sackcloth and ashes, washed and anointed himself, and asked to be fed. When questioned why he did not mourn his child, he said he had been repentant, he mourned while the child was alive, and nothing he could do would bring the child back.

This may sound callous. However, his heart was not untouched. He mourned his child. He consoled his new wife. He confessed his sin and repented.

David knew God forgave him, and he did something many of us have great difficulty doing: he forgave himself.

When we receive God’s forgiveness, we must also forgive ourselves. When we don’t, we tend to negate God's forgiveness.

Nothing you can do is so horrible that God will not forgive you. And if God — creator of the universe, author of life, the one who knows your heart — can forgive your most heinous sins, you can certainly forgive yourself.

This Lent, seek God’s forgiveness, and ask for the wisdom and strength to also forgive yourself.

The Rev. Mark Broadhead is pastor at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: BROADHEAD: This Lent, learn to forgive yourself

Not everyone has a sweetheart on Valentine's Day.

That's OK — I know where you can receive a special love letter, straight from the Father himself.

Need a lift? Let's look at some of these phrases written about you:

●The book of Jeremiah, chapter 31 and verse 3 states, "The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you." 

●Isaiah 40:11 states this about the coming savior, Jesus the Christ: "He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young."

●Matthew 23:37 and Luke 13:34 tells of a savior calling out to Jerusalem, which had killed prophets and stoned those sent there. Jesus said he longed to gather his children as a hen gathers her chicks. 

Regardless of the sorry state we may have allowed ourselves to get into, God still loves and wants to care for us.

Turn to him, and get to know the true love of the savior, who will never leave nor forsake you.  

The Rev. Richard Helms serves at Miracle Acres Ministries, 3187 E. James Lee Blvd., in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HELMS: 3 Valentines from God

One group of people that Jesus said would be cast into outer darkness is those of the kingdom.

In the Bible, Matthew 8:12, Jesus had honored a soldier's request to heal a servant. The centurion, who said he believed Jesus' word would be done, had faith that amazed Jesus.

Then Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Many theologians believe Jesus was referring to the eventual rejection he would experience by the very people of the kingdom, his Jewish nation, but I propose that this goes further.

Many people in our churches — Christ's kingdom — do not accept Jesus' life-giving changes due to ignorance or rebellion. They are hearers of the Word, but not doers. James 1:22 adds that those who hear only and do not do the works of righteousness deceive only themselves.

Friend, we not only need to be Christ-like on Sunday, but in all times and all seasons. It is time to quit playing church and start developing a relationship with God.

Let him change you — for eternity.

The Rev. Richard Helms serves at Miracle Acres Ministries, 3187 E. James Lee Blvd., in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HELMS: Be a 'doer,' not a 'hearer'

Certainly, everything you read on the Internet is true. Right?

Everything you read on Facebook and other social media is the truth. Right?

Everything a politician says is the truth. Right?

I think not!

Too often, what we read or hear as truth is merely opinion. Look at the spins of Fox News and CNN as examples. Someone uses words to point out the errors of a presidential candidate with an attempt to make that candidate look bad.

Facts don’t matter, because some people are good at twisting the facts just enough to cause upheaval.

Or, someone uses fancy words to sway another person. For example: “So-and-So MATRICULATED at a certain college!” Sounds like a horrible thing, but “matriculated” simply means “enrolled.” Is that so horrible? Nope.

Opinions are expressed about health care, gun control, climate change, human sexuality and religion.

Too often, people will only believe what they want to believe. Too often, people let themselves be swayed by charismatic personalities.

Whom do you believe? What do you believe?

To quote a theme from a recently resurrected television show, “The truth is out there.” And, as far as I’m concerned, “out there” is not the Internet. It is not social media.

The truth is the gospel of Jesus Christ. When you read what Jesus taught, when you put it in its proper perspective, when you allow his words to wash over your heart, mind, and soul, you find the truth he spoke.

The truth he spoke is alive today. Sure, his words sometimes get twisted by ill-intentioned persons, but that does not alter the truth that remains.

My recommendation to you is, read the scriptures without preconceived ideas or prejudices. Ask God to reveal his truth to you. 

Whom do you believe? 

I suggest you believe God, not the Internet — because God will always tell it to you straight.

The Rev. Mark Broadhead is pastor at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: BROADHEAD: 'The truth is out there' — in Heaven