I am calling on all my Christian friends to read this with an open mind. I am writing this after a post of guilt from a wonderful Christian friend who was letting her children participate in Halloween. Also my children were surprised at a comment this past week by a friend about their involvement in this “demonic holiday.”
I am asking you to come along and celebrate Halloween. Yes I actually just wrote that!
As many of you know that I grew up Catholic and was born again into the Christian faith 12 years ago. I went to Catholic school for all 12 years. With all this said and done some of you need to understand the true origin of Halloween and some of you may know it already but here is a refresher course.
Halloween is on October 31st, the last day of the Celtic calendar. It was originally a pagan holiday, honoring the dead. Halloween was referred to as All Hallows Eve and dates back to over 2000 years. All Hallows Eve is the evening before All Saints Day, which was created by Christians to convert pagans, and is celebrated on November 1st. The Catholic Church honored saints on this designated day.
Now that I gave a quick history lesson, I want you to see something important in it. The Christians saw a pagan holiday right? And what did they do? They turned it to a spiritual day.
Now on that line of thinking I plead my case to all of you take back this day for the Lord.
Why are we shutting our doors, turning off our lights and letting Satan have his day? Why are we not putting on our armor and taking back this day for the Lord? Putting on the armor of God is not a request, it is a command. In Ephesians 6:11 it says "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." This day is for evil a lot of people say well I say everyday is for the Lords and we should fight and take it back! Think of the song or Psalm 118:24 “This is the day the Lord has made rejoice and be glad in it”
How do we take this day back? Let us start by participating the Lords way not the evil way! STOP hiding in our houses, keeping your doors shut and turning off those lights. Okay let’s tear this evil apart and shine some of Gods light on this day. Here are a couple of ways to start:
First and always armor ourselves with scripture: read these verses in Matthew~5:13-26, 22:36-40, 28:19
Now after reading the scripture, I want you to ask yourselves this question: Do you really think taking a stand against this holiday is just not participating in it making an impact? For many years Christians have just not participated and closed up their houses as there children sat staring out the windows sad that they are not involved because of this being "evil". We can take a stand and use this as a teaching and outreach event!
Here are some ideas but I want you to think together as a family how you can take this day back and bring the Lords light on this dark holiday!
Trick or Treating: What a great outreach event! Let’s put the scriptures I just shared to work! What other day of the year are you going to be able to share candy (We call it the Lord’s sweetness) with all your neighbors children! What an opportunity that has been passing us by all this time! SHARE THE GOOD NEWS! Take a candy bar and wrap or tie a scripture verse on it! Think how many children you just shared scripture with ~BE A MUSTARD SEED PLANTER! We do this as a family. We buy bags of candy, sit together one evening and have the children pick out their favorite bible verses and Shawn and I will share some also. Then we type the scripture out, print them and then tie them on the candy bars!
What if you live out in the country and have no children come? No excuses everyone knows someone who lives in neighborhoods go to a friends’ house or take it a step farther drive into a neighborhood in the city and pass out “the Lords Sweetness” on a corner!
Let your children dress up: I am not talking goblins and ghouls here. Celebrate your favorite Bible character. Another great outreach! The biggest question this time of year kids ask is: What are you going to be for Halloween? Example ~let your daughter be a queen …Queen Ester of course and then talk about what she did (teaching). Then when someone asks your daughter what are you going to be for Halloween? She says Queen Ester! Then they ask who that is? BINGO!!! Your child just shared the good news!!!!!! My youngest daughter dressed up as the “tree of knowledge” one year. Almost ever door she went up to the adult answering the door remarked on her being a tree. She would tell them “I am not just any tree.. I am the “tree of knowledge.” And then she would say: “Eve ate this apple (which was hanging of her head) and made sin but Jesus came and took it away!” This was my favorite Halloween costume and she was so cute especially telling everyone that. My daughter was in kindergarten that year. No matter how young they are a wonderful witness. What about boys? So may to choose from! Have them be the great warrior like Joshua or dress up like Jonah, make a whale and stick it on his head (like it is swallowing him).. You only have one day to dress up and celebrate your favorite bible character so be creative and have fun!
Did you notice as you were reading above that you and your children just were able to witness not just to the children but to the adults!
Carve pumpkins: We are doing this devotional as a family:
{cut off top of pumpkin}Lord, open my mind so I can learn new things about you
{remove innards}Remove the things in my life that don’t please you.Forgive the wrong things I do and help me to forgive others.
{cut open eyes}Open my eyes to see the beauty you’ve made in the world around me.
{cut out nose}I’m sorry for the times I’ve turned my nose at the good food you provide.
{cut out mouth}Let everything I say please You.
{light the candle}Lord, help me show your light to others through the things I do. Amen
Conclusion:
You may agree or not agree with all I have said. But I do ask you as a family to pray about all this. If you do agree then turn on those lights in your house this year! I mean physically and most importantly spiritually. Take back this day for the Lord!
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel?
No!
I'm gonna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel?
No!
I'm gonna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel?
No!I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
,I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.
Don't let Satan blow it out,
I'm gonna let it shine
Don't let Satan blow it out,
I'm gonna let it shine
Don't let Satan blow it out,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.
Shine all overHalloweenI'm gonna let it shine Shine all overHalloweenI'm gonna let it shine Shine all overHalloweenI'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,Let it shine,
Let it shine.Let it shine til Jesus comes,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine til Jesus comes,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine til Jesus comes,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.
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