select messages from msgTable where username = $_SESSION['active_user']

global.php
if(login_attempts == '' || login_attempts < 3){
// fail
login_attempts
}
else {
$_SESSION['active_user'] = $username;
header(checkActiveUser.php);
}
<--- checkActiveUser.php ---->
<?php
if(!($_SESSION['active_user'] == ''))
header(Account.php)
?>