We were in the van driving home one day as a family. I said to Jeff, "I just dont know about Halloween and dressing up and being a part. Knowing the real meaning of halloween (or hallows eve or the day of the dead), I struggle with whether it is right or wrong." Sister was listening in and I tell you, out of the mouth of babes! She looks up and says "Well, mommy, Jesus wouldn't want us to participate. If there is anything bad in it, then the whole thing is bad and we shouldnt!" man, Did that hit me hard! What a Christ like answer for a little girl.
I still battled though in my heart because Joey wanted to be a part. Tonight, hard questions were asked... why is halloween bad? why should we not make jackolanterns? What's wrong with trick-or-treating? I did my research... I went to.... http://www.jeremiahproject.com/culture/halloween.html I STRONGLY urge you to read this entire article! STRONGLY!
Here is a snip from a very LONG article...
"Should Christians adopt such practices?
Can we borrow pagan customs and superstitions of ancient peoples and "Christianize" them?
As believers, we are called to "Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. [1 Thesalonians 5:21-22] Who can deny that virtually all of the symbols of Halloween are evil? Witches, monsters, ogres, vampires, ghosts, ghouls, goblins, devils and demons all portray evil. Christians are to "... have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." [Ephesians 5:11]
Is Halloween just another innocent holiday that doesn't harm anyone? Is it really just childish fun? Vandalism and wanton disregard for the property of others is common on Halloween night. Even normally well-behaved children are driven by unseen forces to destructive behavior. Police officials everywhere report a great increase in such activities on Halloween. Worse yet are the horrifying accounts of poisoned candy and fruits booby-trapped with razor blades and needles. Such threats are so real that many hospitals offer free X-rays of Halloween treats in order to prevent children from being harmed. Who but Satan could inspire such monstrous actions?
Should the church be compromised by accommodating itself to the culture?
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." [Romans 12:2]
"For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?" [2 Corinthians 6:14, 15]
When America and the world celebrates the Festival of Samhain and the powers of darkness by masquerading as evil creatures or decorating our homes, schools, businesses and churches with occult symbols, Satanic power is glorified.
The sort of practices celebrated on Halloween are what defiled the ancient nations [see Leviticus 18:24-30]. The Israelites were warned against such practices when they entered the Promised Land, "When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations." [Deuteronomy 18:9]
Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God. The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so. [Deuteronomy 18:10-14]
As an alternative to the celebration of evil and death, Christians should rather do what Christians are supposed to do every day and that is shine the light of Jesus Christ. We should emphasize the Christian influences and strive to make Hallow's Eve a celebration of the acts of God through his people the saints. We should make it a day when acts of charity instead of vandalism and hatred abound. A day that emphasizes the light of Christ instead of the darkness of evil. A day when people meditate on the acts of Godly people instead of ghosts and goblins.
While you may have participated "all in fun," be assured, Halloween is serious business for Satanists and witches. Those who oppose Christ are known to organize on Halloween to observe satanic rituals, to cast spells, to oppose churches and families, to perform sacrilegious acts, and to even offer blood sacrifices to Satan. While some may say, "But we only do this in fun...we don't practice witchcraft," those things that represent Satan and his domain cannot be handled or emulated "for fun". Such participation places you in enemy and forbidden territory and that is dangerous ground.
Tom Sanguinet, former high priest in the Celtic tradition of Wicca (witchcraft) said "The modern holiday we call Halloween has its origins in the full moon closest to November 1, the witches’ New Year. It was a time when the "spirits" (demons) were supposed to be at their peak power and revisiting the earth planet." He went on to say, "Halloween is purely and absolutely evil, and there is nothing we ever have or will do that would make it acceptable to the Lord Jesus." [The Dark Side Of Halloween]
As evil prevails, Americans have embraced an evil day of Satan, with the pranks of 'would be' hoodlums, combined with 'demon faces' on pumpkins, clothing of 'death' being worn, and calling it fun. When Christians participate in Halloween, it sends a message to children that witchcraft, demonism, Satanism, and the occult are something fun, entertaining and harmless.
Many years ago, C.S. Lewis wrote that one of Satan's most deceptive tactics is to convince people that he doesn't exist. Apparently he has done a good job in his deception. Sadly, many people think of the devil as no more than a symbol of evil: like Santa Claus, he is just a fictional symbol. Many people today also do not think of witches as real people who practice magic, but simply as imaginary figures who represent the supernatural world and everything that is 'spooky.'
Recognizing this pagan holiday gives the false impression that what is actually lethal is innocuous. Some children develop a fascination with the supernatural which leads them later into more sinister occult practices. It's the spiritual equivalent of painting a loaded gun to look like a toy and giving it to child to play with.
It is the kind of celebration that encourages kids like the 16-year-old in Pearl, Mississippi who stabbed his mother to death in her sleep and then opened fire at his high school, killing two students and wounding seven. Authorities found this student along with at least six others involved in a small, avowedly satanic clique that calls itself "Kroth."
How some people can defend this kind of activity as just another innocent holiday that doesn't harm anyone is beyond me.
Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. (John 3:19-20"
Friday, October 29, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
when God calls...
Lately, God has been impressing things on Jeff and I's heart. Its amazing to me how He works, how He askes, how He confirms and then how He walks it out. I've had a lot of doubt in my mind. Wondering, could this be? Do you really want us to do these things? Are we to continue growing things we are doing and adding to what we do... His answer... YES!
Since this bout with sister, she's been down for about 4 weeks now. I asked God again, Do you still want me to be active in ministry? Do you still want me doing the things I do? Have you changed your mind? His answer... He hasn't changed His mind at all and what He spoke... well he's the same yesterday, today and forever!
Something I'm learning right now is that in every life situation God AND His plan remain the same, we just have to learn to work around life circumstances. For me right now, I'm learning to NOT control so much. I'm learning to let go and to let others step in. I'm learning to RELEASE what I think I HAVE to do and allow God to utilize folks around me to continue on.
As I was reading my Bible this morning, this is the verse I found... 1 Corinthians 15:58 "therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know what your labor in the Lord in not in vain."
The verses prior to this are talking about sin and the sting of death, but the truth in it is... there are temptations across the board to let things distract you. No matter what Life's circumstances are, we are called to stand firm and to give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord! God knows what we need to hear. Circumstances by no means change or altor the life God called us to because its still reality... it means that we trust him to manage those circumstances and move forward.
I'm not writing this to toot my own horn, I'm writing this to share what God is showing me right now. Blogging for me is a way of first of all, journaling what God's speaking to me, but second of all, I want to share what God has spoke to me in hopes it will be something that will help some one else! God is awesome and He has all things in His hand and in His perfect time!
Since this bout with sister, she's been down for about 4 weeks now. I asked God again, Do you still want me to be active in ministry? Do you still want me doing the things I do? Have you changed your mind? His answer... He hasn't changed His mind at all and what He spoke... well he's the same yesterday, today and forever!
Something I'm learning right now is that in every life situation God AND His plan remain the same, we just have to learn to work around life circumstances. For me right now, I'm learning to NOT control so much. I'm learning to let go and to let others step in. I'm learning to RELEASE what I think I HAVE to do and allow God to utilize folks around me to continue on.
As I was reading my Bible this morning, this is the verse I found... 1 Corinthians 15:58 "therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know what your labor in the Lord in not in vain."
The verses prior to this are talking about sin and the sting of death, but the truth in it is... there are temptations across the board to let things distract you. No matter what Life's circumstances are, we are called to stand firm and to give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord! God knows what we need to hear. Circumstances by no means change or altor the life God called us to because its still reality... it means that we trust him to manage those circumstances and move forward.
I'm not writing this to toot my own horn, I'm writing this to share what God is showing me right now. Blogging for me is a way of first of all, journaling what God's speaking to me, but second of all, I want to share what God has spoke to me in hopes it will be something that will help some one else! God is awesome and He has all things in His hand and in His perfect time!
Friday, October 22, 2010
When life is rough...
This last month has been a real yo-yo of emotions for us. Many things have taken place and some times you just stop and ask God why? Then you realize that God purposed every thing for a reason... so asking why is questioning God's divine plan...
Right now, our struggle is finding strength to endure... I'm reminded today of where our hope comes from. Our hope comes from heaven, the maker of heaven and earth, our Creator, our Father... papa is our hope.
I was reading the word today and this is the verse I came across:
Jeremiah 17:5 "This is what the Lord says: 'Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord."
As I read this, I'm deeply reminded that we need the body of Christ, but our strength can't come only from those around us but our love for God and our relationship with him. God is our strength and apart from him, we can do NOTHING! In struggling through some of this right now, I'm reminded that when things get tough, we as Christians have to push deeper and work harder on allowing HIM to be our strength.
In doing that, God can shine through our hard times even more. This life isn't meant for me but for HIS glory therefore, may we as a family die to ourselves and allow God to be the strength that drives us, the strength that holds us together and the strength that gets us by and through that, may it be to his Glory in the end result that some how, our lives pointed to Him!
Seems this relationship is layered. We need HIM to be our strength, when we do that, the layer comes down to its him in us that brings glory to his kingdom.
Right now, our struggle is finding strength to endure... I'm reminded today of where our hope comes from. Our hope comes from heaven, the maker of heaven and earth, our Creator, our Father... papa is our hope.
I was reading the word today and this is the verse I came across:
Jeremiah 17:5 "This is what the Lord says: 'Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord."
As I read this, I'm deeply reminded that we need the body of Christ, but our strength can't come only from those around us but our love for God and our relationship with him. God is our strength and apart from him, we can do NOTHING! In struggling through some of this right now, I'm reminded that when things get tough, we as Christians have to push deeper and work harder on allowing HIM to be our strength.
In doing that, God can shine through our hard times even more. This life isn't meant for me but for HIS glory therefore, may we as a family die to ourselves and allow God to be the strength that drives us, the strength that holds us together and the strength that gets us by and through that, may it be to his Glory in the end result that some how, our lives pointed to Him!
Seems this relationship is layered. We need HIM to be our strength, when we do that, the layer comes down to its him in us that brings glory to his kingdom.
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