WELCOME To Pastor Dr. Carlotta's Counseling Center.

In a survey I made while speaking in lady's religious meetings I asked the question, "How many of you are now involved in horoscopes or other occults practices or were involved before you were saved and did not know that you should renounce any connection with those occult practices even after accepting Christ?" I estimated that 90% of the women raised their hands. Mind you, I wasn't speaking to followers of Satan. These were Christian ladies who had either left a wide-open door because of their past actions or were still dabbling in it after accepting Christ!

When we reach out beyond God's provision for us we are in danger of hooking into demonic knowledge. Can we really take that chance? Demon spirits can not be relied upon for guidance. They mix their limited knowledge with lies to hold people's attention. Their brand of guidance leads their followers downward as they are slowly sucked into the whirlpool of evil. Only a loving Father an give us the direction we need today!

CREATION VS. CREATOR

"Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things shall come upon thee. Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame": Isaiah 47:13,14.

Deuteronomy 18:12 informs us that one of the reasons God drove the nations out from before the Israelites was because of the sin of divination. Maybe those nations started out studying the stars as a pastime. But over a period of time it became more and more of a fascination to them until, in the final stages, they worshipped and served "the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever" Romans 1:25.

Ur of Chaldea had it's moon god worship. Abraham had to be called out of it before God could begin using him. The tower of Babel was an apparent attempt to study the heavens so that they could become as gods themselves. God interrupted it before it got out of hand. The ancient Egyptians had their sun god worship and they were overthrown. All down through history the nations or people who became involved in occult worship were destroyed.

FORTUNTELLERS

We were warned to stay away from fortunetellers or, as the Bible calls them, soothsayers and seers. "I will cut off witchcraft out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers": Micah 5:12. People who put their trust in this kind of practices are usually full of confusion, problems. fears, misunderstandings, hatred, bitterness, unbreakable habits and calamity because that is the end result of such satanic practices.

HYPNOTISTS CHARMERS - PASSIVE MIND STATES

Charmers or chanters today would be labeled hypnotists. Hypnotism is big business now. We are inundated with commercials telling about people who have stopped drinking alcohol or lost weight through hypnosis. Some dentist and doctors use it to control pain in their patient. Others individuals use self-hypnosis to help them concentrate or sleep at night. But don't be fooled. Just because the initial benefits may be positive does not mean that the long-range results will be the same.

For hypnosis to be effective the individual must allow himself to go into a passive mind state so that he can be manipulated by the hypnotist in whatever direction they may have agreed upon beforehand. A passive mind state is dangerous because the mind is left unguarded and consequently susceptible to any spirit that may be waiting for just such an opportunity. This is not to say that every case of hypnosis results in demon possession but it can be the beginning of a very negative experience that can affect the person spiritually.

In my studies, found that the trance which relieves pain in the patient is actually the deepest king of all. We must never allow anyone to tinker with our mind, which is the doorway to our inner man or spirit. Neither should we clear our mind or set it up like a miniature screen for thoughts to be emblazoned across it. Nor should we chant special words over and over again to attain a certain state of mind. Satan has access to our mind as he tries to interject his thoughts and will upon us. When we leave it blank, for whatever or whoever to put something into it, we are just asking for trouble.

Subliminal messages are being recorded into music and other relaxing sounds to convey messages to the mind. More and more people are being harassed mentally and emotionally after listening to worldly motivational tapes and New Age music. These can be devilish device used to neutralize unsuspecting persons.

OUIJA BOARDS

Ouija boards are not cute playthings. They can be utilized by demons to draw people into a satanic web as dangerous as that which a spider uses to trap flies. A friend of mine, her husband and another couple decided to experiment with an ouija board one evening. They asked the power behind the board, "Who are you?" "You know who I am," was the answer. They asked the same question a second time and received the same answer again.

Persistently they inquired the third time, "Who are you?" The game ended abruptly with the shocking reply, "Go to hell!" Next they tried levitation. The two couples were able to raise a table by placing their hands flat on the top. But one night the table rose into the air and began dancing so violently they couldn't stop it. Frightened, they left the house for a few hours until things calmed down and returned to normal.

These things are not something to mess around with unless you are ready to accept the long-term consequences, life on Satan's terms.

God's method of dealing with us is always through our heart or spirit. Obviously, it is apparent who will be left to fill your mind if it is left unguarded. Meditation on God's Word is not an exercise of the mind, but of the spirit that refreshes us in a spiritual way. Paul reveals that the successful follower of Christ renews his mind by immersing it in the Word of God to keep from being forced into the world's mold and also to find the good, acceptable and perfect will of God. "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye, may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" Romans 12:2.

If you haven't accepted Christ as your Savior simply say in an audible voice, in all sincerity from the depths of your heart, "Lord Jesus Christ, forgive me of my sins and accept me as Your child. I accept You as my personal Savior and I promise to follow the instructions of Your Word from this day on. If I fail because I am human, please help pick me up so I can try again! Thank you, Jesus, for saving me from all my sins. AMEN."