Category: Children

Gift Giving

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Tis the season for malls, shopping, wrapping paper, gifts, bows, and ribbons.  Maybe you prefer online shopping in your bathrobe with the internet, eBay and UPS.  Or perhaps you prefer handmade gifts, baked goodies and homemade cards.  But no matter how you look at it this is the season for gift giving.  Why?  Most people probably give out of tradition.  You are supposed to buy gifts at Christmas.  It is what has always been done.  However, our family likes to look at gift giving a little differently.  While it is a tradition at our home it is one with a purpose.  We give gifts as a reminder of the greatest gift ever given to mankind.  I must admit that I love giving gifts to my children.  But toys and trinkets get broken, clothes get worn out and outgrown, electronics lose batteries and stop working, and the latest fad becomes next year’s obsolete.  So I ask myself what can I give my children that will last?  What type of gifts can I give that have true value?

In a world of busyness one of the most wonderful gifts we can give our children is TIME.  December is probably the busiest month of the year for us.  Between Thanksgiving and Christmas we go nonstop.  There are people to visit, parties and programs to attend, Christmas cantata’s to practice for, gifts to make, shopping to do, etc.   But life is short.  Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. (Jas 4:14)   This truth is especially evident when it comes to children.  They do not stay young forever.  They grow up fast.  As parents we only have a short time to invest in our children.  We need to slow down and give our children something that will matter – time.  Time with us, time to play games, time to talk, time to come apart from the world, time to meditate upon God, time to read together,  and time to be a family.  I have heard it said that the quantity of time does not matter as long as you give your children quality time.   This is not true!  Research has said that parents spend on average 3.5 minutes a day in meaningful conversation with their children.  How sad!  However, the average child watches 1,500 hours a year of TV.  I guess if you want Hollywood to raise your children then this statistic would not bother you.  But dear Christian parent is should bother you.  Turn off the TV and spend TIME with your children.  Read to them at night, pray with them, and sing songs.  When they grow up and look back at their life these are the things they will remember.

 Another gift we can give our children is a home filled with PEACE.  The world is hectic and noisy but our homes should be a gentle haven of rest for our children.  Our children should not have homes filled with screaming and shouting but with soft answers and love.  The fruits of the Spirit should be manifested in our homes – love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.  A home filled with peace not only blesses our children but consider what a true witness it is to the world around us.  Voddie Bauchman in Family Driven Faith states, “Our homes must be rife with the aroma of love.  Those who visit us should notice immediately that they have left the world of self-serving egocentric narcissism and have entered a safe harbor where people value and esteem others above themselves.  Outsiders should enter our homes and never want to leave.  Our neighbors should find excuses to visit us just to get another whiff of the fragrant aroma of love.  The brokenhearted should long to be near us.  The down trodden and abused should seek us out.  Families on the brink of disaster should point to us and say, ‘Why can’t our home be like that?’”  This describes a home filled with PEACE.   What a superb gift to give our children.

 Another gift that is so overlooked in our modern culture is the gift of LOVING and RESPECTING the children’s father.  While loving your children is a given, a high value placed on loving their father is often ignored.  Notice the order of things that the older women are to be teaching the younger women mentioned in Titus 2:4-5, “That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”   The focus of the family should be on the marriage.  Children are in the home for a short time and the relationship they have with their parents change but this is not so in the husband and wife relationship.  When parents are united the children are blessed.  When I demonstrate to my children proper LOVE and RESPECT for my husband God is glorified and the children’s faith is strengthened. 

 While giving gifts let’s not forget the gift of HARDWORK.  Society will tell a child that you should do as little as possible to get as much as possible.  It is this fallacy of thinking that has led to lazy people and an abuse of our welfare system.   But, give your children the gift of learning how to work hard and they will always be able to thrive.  In addition, it is pleasing to the Lord.  And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; (Col 3:23)       

One of the greatest gifts we can give is the gift of INNER BEAUTY, especially when it comes to our daughters.  Godly women are not born, but raised.  There are many mothers concerned over whether their daughters have fashionable clothes and the latest styles.  And many mothers would be alarmed if their daughters were wearing dirty clothes.  But how many mothers care if their daughter has a filthy heart?  To teach and train our daughters about inner beauty that is acceptable to God is a divine gift we can give.  Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. (Proverbs 31:30)

 There are many gifts we can give our children.  But one that is of utmost importance is to give your children BIBLICAL STANDARDS to live by.  As Christian parents we should not want for our children what every other parent wants.  We shouldn’t hold them to the world’s standards but to God’s standards.  Do you want your children to make the team?   What about them making it into the Lambs book of life?  Do you want them to get a good education?  What about them being educated in the Word of God?  Do you want them to be true and loyal to their friends?  What about your children being faithful to the Lord and His Church?  Do you want your children to be popular?  What about them being peculiar?  God’s ways are always higher.   “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed” (Rom 12:2a).  Christian parent, there are many worthwhile pursuits in this world but few rise to the level of training our children to follow the Lord, to love Him with all we are, to treasure His Word, and to keep His commandments.  When we do this we have given our children gifts that never tear up, get worn, or get taken away.

 So, this holiday season I’ll be looking for presents for my children and wrapping packages like many others.  But the most precious gifts I’ll strive to give them will not be the ones that come in a box.  Instead, the gifts I will strive to give will be of eternal value.

The Upside-Down Trash Can

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thimbleIt has rained here all day. This means that my children, not able to play outside after their schoolwork, were rather restless. Then the electricity went out. Living in the forest, we never know how long it will stay out. Therefore, Abigail and Andrew made a tent in the living room out of blankets, chairs and rubber bands. After the excitement of that wore off Aaron broke out the Monopoly game. I was sitting on the couch trying to study my Sunday school lesson while listening to them talk about which game piece they wanted to be. It took me back to my childhood for just as second as I remembered always wanting to be the car. However, playing with my older brother I usually ended up being stuck with the dog or thimble (which no one ever wanted to be). It was then that I heard my son say something about the upside-down trash can. I found this very amusing. To a child who does not know what a thimble is or who has never had anyone explain it to him, it makes perfect sense to call it an upside-down trash can. That’s exactly what it looks like.

This made me think. I wonder what other preconceived notions my children have because I have failed to teach them the truth? While the correct terminology for the Monopoly pieces is not that big of a deal, there are many truths that my children need to be taught that are a very big deal. The most significant truths are, of course, about God and His Word. When the children of Israel passed over the Jordan into the promise land, God told Joshua to take 12 stones out of the midst of the river and set up a monument as a reminder of what great work God had done. That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever. (Joshua 4:6-7) It was the parents’ job to pass on the story to their children of how God parted the waters for the second time. It was their job to convey the glorious message that the mighty hand of God works miracles for his children. If they had failed who knows what mixed up theory and incorrect tale the future generations would have passed on.

Likewise, it is my job to pass on the wonderful spiritual truths of God to my children. If I fail to teach my children then they will conjure up their own ideas. Worse than that, Satan and the worldly system greatly desire to impart lies and deception on to these impressionable minds and will work tirelessly to do just that. If I am unsuccessful as their parent to give them Truth bases on God’s Word than what they will be given will be garbage, not fit for even a trash can (upside-down or not).

More School?

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bus

The Drudge Report (www.drudgereport.com)  has an article this morning (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090927/ap_on_re_us/us_more_school)  about the President wanting longer school days and a longer school year, curtailing summer vacation. “Challenges of a new century demand more time in the classroom”, he said earlier this year. Obama says American kids spend too little time in school, putting them at a disadvantage with other students around the globe. Really? I will not argue that American children are behind in academics when compared to children around the world. But I draw the line there. The last thing children need today is more time away from their families. Already, many children are being trained and indoctrinated by the world system for 7-8 hours, 5 days a week. When they do get home they are overwhelmed with activities, sports and homework. Several years ago a friend called asking for suggestions with her boy. She was having trouble keeping him motivated in doing his homework. I asked her how much time he on average spent doing homework each evening. She said he gets home at 4 p.m. and does homework until dinner time and then sometimes 1 to 2 hours after dinner each night. The child at the time was in 3rd grade. My comment was simply, “If I had just spent 8 hours “learning” and then had to come home and do another 3 to 4 hours of homework, I probably wouldn’t be motivated either.”

I realize that it has become common practice to hand your child over to the government from an early age, but is this really what we need? Psalm One gives a beautiful comparison between the blessed man and the wicked man.

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”

Notice that the blessed man does not walk in the counsel of (take advise or learn from) the ungodly. Nor, standeth in the way of (abides with) the sinners. Nor, sitteth in the seat of (continually dwells with) the scornful (those who scoff at or mock). Dr. Voddie Baucham, in Family Driven Faith says, “Contrary to popular opinion, there is no such thing as amoral education. All education teaches and shapes morality. It is impossible to separate one’s view of God, man, truth, knowledge, and ethics from the educational process. Every day that our children sit behind a desk, they are either being taught to know, love, and obey God or they are being taught to love and obey someone or something that has usurped God’s proper role.” He goes on to say, “Let me be clear – I applaud men and women who God has called to teach in government schools. These people are front-line warriors, and they need to be right where they are. However, there is a big difference between sending fully trained disciples into enemy territory and sending recruits to our enemy’s training camp. If we do the latter, we shouldn’t be surprised when they come home wearing the enemy’s uniform and charging the hill of our home while waving an enemy flag.”

The Antithesis of Home Schooling

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As the summer flew by we knew that our journey in knowledge would continue as we picked the books back up.  We often remind our children that one should never stop learning, however during the summer months our family takes a more informal approach to academics.  But this week began our official “school time”.  With great expectations I woke Monday but by the end of the day all I could do was shake my head.  The day did not go as planned.  There was fussing, disobeying and yes, even screaming.  And the children didn’t do so well either.  As I pondered the first day back at school and searched my heart for the answer to why the day did not go well, the Lord spoke to my conscience.  I already knew the answer for conscience means with (con) knowledge (science), making my conclusions all the more painful.  It was as if the Lord asked, “By what standards are you setting up for your children?  Are your goals based on the world or do you have a Biblical standard for these children I have given you?  Are you concerned with only the outcome or is it the process of learning that you care about?  Are you teaching your children so that they will get the best education or is there a higher calling of teaching your children – for My Glory?”    In truth there is such a contrast in each approach. Therefore it is important to reevaluate our reasoning for home education each year.  While my husband is constant in his goals for this family I must admit that I am prone to wander off the path at times.  I believe that is why God in all His wisdom allows me a day like Monday.  He allows me to slip off the path of excellence, fall down on the rocky road of this world, and then come running back to His marvelous plan for my life.  So, as I nursed my bruises from the day before I took on a whole new approach to learning and teaching on Tuesday.   Whether we were reading the Word of God as a family, practicing cursive handwriting, or studying the 2nd law of Thermodynamics our focus was upon doing all things for the Glory of God.  Would you believe that the contrast was as stark as night and day?   

What’s in a Name?

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baby

My sister just found out that she is expecting a baby!  The whole family shares the excitement that she and her husband have.   Having children is such a blessing.  Scripture says that children are a direct blessing from the Lord.  (Psalm 127)  Therefore, the more children you have, the more blessed are you. 

My three children are looking forward to having a new cousin.  They have taken it upon themselves to pick out names for this child.  I remember the dilemma we had when trying to decide what names we would choose for our children.  After all, our children would have to live with our choice for their entire life.  So we choose with care:

Aaron (Anointed One)

Abigail (Father’s Joy)

Andrew (Strong and Courageous)

As I think about names and what they mean I cannot help but think of the name above all names – Jesus.  One of the most moving songs about the name of Jesus was written by Bill and Gloria Gaither.  While performing their song, “There’s Just Something About That Name” Gloria has spoken these following words between the verses:

 “Jesus, the mere mention of His name can calm the storm, heal the broken, raise the dead. At the name of Jesus, I’ve seen sin-hardened men melted, derelicts transformed, the lights of hope put back into the eyes of a hopeless child…   At the name of Jesus, hatred and bitterness turned to love and forgiveness, arguments cease.   I’ve heard a mother softly breathe His name at the bedside of a child delirious with fever, and I’ve watched that little body grow quiet and the fevered brow cool.  I’ve stayed beside a dying saint, her body racked with pain, who in those final fleeting seconds summoned her last ounce of ebbing strength to whisper earth’s sweetest name–Jesus, Jesus…   Emperors have tried to destroy it; philosophies have tried to stamp it out. Tyrants have tried to wash it from the face of the earth with the very blood of those who claimed it. Yet still it stands.   And there shall be that final day when every voice that has ever uttered a sound–every voice of Adam’s race shall raise in one great mighty chorus to proclaim the name of Jesus–for in that day “every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!!!”   Ah–so you see–it was not mere chance that caused the angel one night long ago to say to a virgin maiden, “His name shall be called Jesus.” Jesus–Jesus–Jesus. You know, there is something about that name…”[i]

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Php 2:9-11)

 

[i] It’s more than Music, Bill & Gloria Gaither, The Gaither Charitable Foundation, 2003

From the Mouth of Babes!

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Over the weekend our family drove down to the coast. My oldest son had a couple of friends with him. On the way one of the boys commented that he made a bet with his sister that he would never get married.

My reply was, “Of course you will.”

This young man said, “I just want to be single.”

At this point in the conversation Andrew, my six year old piped in saying, “You are single when you get married.”

To which I said, “No you’re not.”

“Yes, you are.” Andrew insisted, “The two shall become one flesh.”

Even now as I sit here pondering the significance of what this child said I wonder just how many adults grasp this concept.

“And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.” (Matthew 19:4-8)

I know divorce is a very real problem with mankind. It always has been. But as believers we must be diligent in the Biblical teaching of marriage. For those who are married they must take heed lest they fall (I Cor. 10:12). For those who have been divorced how much more should they teach and train their children the consequences of divorce and the standards of God. As parents our goal is to show our children what a healthy marriage looks like. My husband strives to be a strong leader and a godly husband and father. I strive to be a submissive wife and a loving mother. While we both fail at times our desire is to endeavor towards the high calling in which we are called. In that my children will have an example in which to look. I pray that my son (as well as all my children) will continue to hold fast to the truths in God’s Word. I pray that he will want to be a husband and father someday. And that he will long for the day in which God gives him a wife.

“Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD”. (Proverbs 18:22)

Can I have a puppy?…..pleeesssseeee!!!!

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girl-and-puppy

My daughter loves animals.  For this reason she has begged for a little puppy of her own for years.  For her birthday this past year she had one request….a puppy.  For Christmas this year she asked for one thing…..a puppy.   When the lady cutting her hair at the salon asked her what she wanted for Christmas she replied a puppy.   When grandma and grandpa asked her what she wanted for Christmas she told them a new puppy.  When her brothers talked about Christmas she told them all she wanted was a puppy.  She reminded us ever week how responsible she would be and practically vexed us to death.  So this year, my husband and I finally agreed that if we could find her the right puppy we would allow her to have one.  We, of course, did not tell her this.  Instead, we decided to surprise her on Christmas morning.   I experience many joys in life as a mother of three, but the look on my daughters face when her daddy brought out her new puppy is one I hope I’ll never forget. 

It thrills my heart as a parent to be able to bless my children, especially when it’s something they have been diligently asking for.  The relationship my children have with me and their father can be compared to my relationship with my Heavenly Father. Asking over and over again for something or praying and praying to God reminds me of the parable Jesus told in Luke 18 about the widow woman and the judge.

“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”   (Luke 18:1-8)               

 

I wonder if children of God truly understand the magnificent privilege of prayer.  The Holy God of Heaven and Earth, who spoke the world in existence; who when He spoke the stars and planets were thrown into the sky and all things were by Him made; whom all of creation will bow before one day; this One and Only God will bend His ear towards me when I call out and He will hear my cries.   The parable of the widow woman and the judge is one to teach us not to lose heart when praying to our Father.  But there are many differences between the woman and judge and us and our Heavenly Father.  First of all, this woman was a stranger to the judge but we are God’s own children (Gal. 3:26).  The judge wished to keep this woman at a distance but our Father bids us to come boldly before the Throne (Heb. 4:16).  This was an unjust judge but we serve a righteous Father (2 Tim. 4:8).  This poor widow woman had no friend to speak for her but we have an Advocate, God’s own Son (I John 2:1).  She had no encouragement to keep on asking but we are told to ask in faith (James 1:6).  This lady only had access to the judge at certain times but we have unlimited access to cry day and night (Luke 18:7).  And lastly, her persistence was annoying to the judge but ours pleases the Father (Luke 18:8).  Yet, even with all these difference the unjust judge still answered the request of the widow woman.  How much more then will our Heavenly Father hear our continual, persistent prayers? 

 

Perhaps you have prayed for years and years for a lost family member, perhaps your marriage is falling apart and you’ve been crying out to God to restore, perhaps you need a new job and you’ve been asking for direction, perhaps you have wayward children and you’ve been begging God to intervene, perhaps you have a terminal illness and only the Great Physician knows what to do or perhaps you have a home that must sell soon in a market that seems impossible.  It’s easy to lose heart, but we must remember to diligently ask in faith, for without faith it is impossible to please God.  It has been said that in order for prayers to reach Heaven they must first start in Heaven. This is so true.  When God places a pure desire on our heart and we ask, seek, and knock He delights in answering.

 

One day when my daughter was showing off her new puppy a man in our church asked her if that was the gift Santa Claus brought her for Christmas.  She just smiled.  I said, “Abigail, don’t give Santa credit for that gift you know it came from Dad and Mom.”  But the truth is that every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father!  (James 1:17)

 

Halloween

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It never ceases to amaze me the length of worldliness that professing Christians will linger in all for the sake of “want to”.  I don’t want my children to “miss out”.  I don’t want to look “weird”.  I don’t want to….fill in the blanks.  With tears in my eyes and a heavy heart I ask, plead, and beg with those who call themselves Christ-like and ask, “What does your Lord want?”

This month the world celebrates Halloween.  Why, if over 80% of Americans are “Christian” are we celebrating this “holiday”?  Why is Halloween the second most decorated “holiday” in our country?  There are three reasons.  The first is the most obvious and that is that the 80% of professing Christians are mostly unsaved.  Can I judge their salvation?  NO, but they can and better before it’s too late.  I can however, look at the fruits of their lives and a so called apple tree that produces figs is not an apple tree no matter how much it claims to be one.

The second reason that Christians are celebrating Halloween is that they do not know the truth.  You see, like most people when my first child was born I went along with the flow of the tide.  When Halloween came around I found a costume for my baby like everyone else did and took him to get candy.  No harm in that!  No bothered conscience.  But the second year, I remember taking him to the mall on Halloween.  The absolute evil and oppression present was astonishing.  It was then that I questioned why I was doing this.  I started my research and I started in the place that all Christian people should  –  the Bible.  It didn’t take long to know the will of God in this matter.  The question came of what was I going to do with this knowledge? 

Which brings us to the third reason Christian people celebrate Halloween.  They know the truth and do not care.  Did you know that a person can justify anything?  They can read in scripture to abhor evil and to abstain from even the appearance of evil and yet somehow justify in their mind and heart that what they are doing is not evil.  Unfortunately, the average person’s mind is full of the world (Mark 4:18-19) and their heart is deceitfully wicked (Jer. 17:9).  But amazingly, we will trust our hearts and minds over the very Words of God.  A person will read in scripture that we are to be separate from the world but yet they will justify in their hearts their love for the things of this world.  Did you know that we are called to be the light of the world?  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.  Do you know why a city on a hill cannot be hid?  It is because the light is separated.  A person wondering around with the masses trying to shine their lighted jack-o-lanterns with the rest of the world will not give off much light, but take a person who is called out, a peculiar person, a holy person, a chosen person (I Peter 2:9) and set this person up on a hill for all the world to see.

As professing Christians, we teach our children that every word, every action and every deed should be done for the glory of God.  Every means every.  Celebrating (observe, show happiness, mark an occasion) Halloween can in no way bring glory to God.  When a person tells me that they will use this evil day to witness to the world my question for them is, “Are you witnessing for the Lord on all the other days?  Do you hand out tracts and talk to people about their salvation the other 364 days?”  A person trying to get another person saved while participating in Halloween is equivalent to a doctor taking his dying heart patient to Krispy Kreme Donuts to discuss the importance of eating healthy foods.  The message would be looked at in disgust.  This might explain why the world looks at the message of the church in utter disdain.

So, my question to professing Christians who celebrate this “holiday” is why?  Are you truly a child of God, do you just not care about God’s Word, or have you never searched out the truth?   I pray for and pity those who live in darkness, may God has mercy on them.  And, for those who truly want to know the truth and who are willing to search out God’s will I encourage them to open the Word of God.  Open His precious Word, not with intents to trample on it but in a humble spirit.  For in reality, God’s ways to a true believer are not grievous. His ways are light, His ways are worthy, His ways are above all others.

(For those who are searching out the truth, the following article was what Dana used in youth ministry when addressing this issue.)

Halloween – Can it be an entirely innocent practice?

What is the origin of Halloween?

It is generally agreed that in the church history Halloween took the place of a special day celebrated by the ancient Druids who was the priestly class of the Celtic religion. Our modern Halloween appears to initially be traced to their winter festival on October 31. The Celts and their Druid priest began their New Year on November 1, which marked the beginning of winter. They apparently believed that on October 31 the Lord of Death gathered the souls of the evil dead who had been condemned to enter into the bodies of animals. Thus they believed that on their New Years Eve (October 31) ghost, evil spirits and some say witches roamed about. On this night evil or frustrated ghost were also supposed to play tricks on humans.

Some things to consider:

-Halloween is the most sacred day of witchcraft and other occults.

-It remains a special day for Satanists. It was and is believed by Satanists to be the only day of the year in which the devil’s help could be invoked for a variety of things.

-Human sacrifice was and is offered on this day.

– It has and will continue to encourage occult activity on the part of children and adults. It is common for children to pull out an Ouija board and attempt to contact the ghost and spirits that are believed to be roaming about. But Ouija boards are anything but an innocent pastime.

– It helps support pagan philosophies and practices by encouraging people’s interest in things like ghost.

– Probably no Halloween activity or symbol can be found that does not go back to pagan occultism. For example: Jack-O-Lantern – This comes from a legend of a drunk man named Jack who tricked the devil into agreeing to never come after his soul. As Jack is leaving hell the devil throws a hot piece of coal at Jack. So Jack wanders the earth carrying the coal in a pumpkin. Halloween costumes – Halloween was a night where evil spirits roamed freely and played tricks on the living. So it was to the advantage of people to hide from them or scare them away by wearing costumes. Trick or Treat – This is related to the idea that ghost and witches created mischief on this night. For example, if the living did not provide food (or “treats“) for the spirits than they would “trick” them. When a child goes door to door in the ritual of “trick or treat” he is re-enacting the ancient superstition.

– It can unequally yoke Christians and pagans together. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness and unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part that he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

– Christians participating in Halloween may be a ploy of the devil to mock God. How does God feel when He looks down on Halloween night (in full awareness of the events that have happened on this night) and views Christian children dressed up as ghosts, devils, witches, and goblins? Or, even innocent characters but going out on the very night that Satan is most honored. Satan, of course, knows the meanings of all of these symbols and so does God.

– The Bible has many references condemning the practices of witchcraft, sorcery, spiritism, contacting the dead and so forth.

“Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 19:31

“There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. “ Deuteronomy 19:10-11

“..Also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and delt with a familiar spirit and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.” 2 Chronicles 33:6

Is it possible to glorify God by imitating what occultists do on their special day, however innocently? Historically, this is the very day that evil powers have chosen above all others. Most people think that imitating these things on Halloween is innocent enough since they are not engaging in the original practices or intents. But, what does the Bible say?

“Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. he that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.” 3 John 11

“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” I Corinthians 11:1

“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints.” Ephesians 5:1-3

“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. “ Ephesians 5:8-11

“When thou are 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

“..Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.” Romans 12:9

“Abstain from all appearance of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:22

Ride Bikin’

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“Come on Daddy!  Let’s go ride bikin’!”  Abigail excitedly exclaims one morning around 6:30 a.m.  “You mean bike riding” he corrects.  “Yes, ride bikin’” she says.  As my heart smiled I wondered if she even realized what she was saying.  It’s easy to get things reversed in your mind.  And it’s even easier to get things reversed in your life.  I’ve thought about the things I’ve done backwards before.  For example,

I’ve said the wrong thing and then ask God for wisdom.

I’ve made major decisions on my own and then prayed to God for blessings.

I’ve gotten myself in trouble and then cried out to God for help. 

You see, all of these things are easy to do, especially if you just go through life ride bikin’ along without a thought in the world about spiritual matters.  What I should do is asked God for wisdom before I speak (James 1:4), seek out the Kingdom of God and His righteousness before asking for blessings (Matt. 6:31-33), and go to God every day seeking his help even before needing it (Psalm 33:20-22). 

Why do we do things on our own and then go to God? It’s backwards.  Is it because God is just a small portion of our lives, an afterthought in many cases?  Shouldn’t God be the center of our lives?  Shouldn’t He be everything?  Shouldn’t Jesus be Lord and Master?  Or, maybe we think the old adage; “It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than it is for permission” works with God as well.  Could it be we think this way because we already know God’s answer?  God has, after all, already laid out what is permissible in His Holy Word.  Some just don’t care, some never think about it, and some know the truth and do what is wrong anyway.  But, without fail each of these people will someday realize just how backwards they are in their thinking.  I pray that those that don’t care will repent and get saved before it’s too late.  I pray that those that never think about God or His Words will come to realize just how important the involvement of God is in their lives.  I pray for those that do know the Truth and that it only takes gentle chastisement for them to repent.   Isn’t it sad to spend your time ride bikin’ through life, leaning upon the training wheels of indifference and traveling down the broad path that leads to destruction?

 

 “O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake.” (Psa 79:8-9)

Tree Planters

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Everywhere you turn you can find a TV ad, brochure or spokesperson addressing the need to “Save Our Earth and Plant a Tree”.  School children are indoctrinated to believe in “Mother Earth” and “Global Warming”.  There are companies, organizations, websites and even a nationally celebrated observance (Arbor Day) dedicated to tree planting and care.  So much passion and so misplaced!  It’s not that I find anything wrong with taking care of our earth; in fact, we are to be good stewards of God’s creation.   But the irony of many tree-huggers is that they will worship the creation and ignore the Creator!  I will however, give them credit in one area.  They are investing in the future.  People who plant trees rarely enjoy the full benefits of the shade that the tree will bring; they do however recognize the fact that someone else in the future will.   An old Chinese Proverb says, “If you think in seasons, plant cereals.  If you think in decades, plant trees.  If you think in centuries, educate your children.”  

Are we as God’s people investing in the future?  Do we as God’s people have a multi-generational vision?  Are we concerned about embracing God’s Truths and teaching it to our children and our children’s children?  Are we concerned about our family’s godly heritage 4 and 5 generations from now?  Are we planting spiritual trees by the rivers of water that will bring forth prosperous fruit and not wither?   Or, are we thinking of only the immediate?  Are we more concerned about our own prosperity than the spiritual wealth of our generation to come?  Will the average Christian even think past Sunday when it comes to spiritual matters?  Will the average Christian invest in the spiritual future of their children?  Will they do what it takes to ensure that their children are rock-solid warriors for the Kingdom of God?  Will the average Christian invest hours and hours upon their knees praying for their family?  Will the average Christian devote their lives to guarantee the foundation upon which their family stands is firm?  Will the average Christians pour their hearts into the Word of God and dedicate their time and energy to its teaching and training of their family?  I’d say NO; the average Christian would never do all of this but the Christian who fully understood generational blessings would certainly invest.  This person would plant young trees on prepared ground built on godly principles.  This person would water the trees with the Words of Life and daily cultivate and care for each tree.  Are you this person?  Am I this person?  It’s a question worth asking?