Halloween: What to do?

This time of year brings a mixture of feeling for me.  It begins with the celebration of the birth of my one and only child, which brings me great joy.  The weather begins to cool down so I pull out my hoodie sweatshirts and my boots which always makes me happy.  On the other hand, this is the time of year that one of my least favorite celebrations takes place.

Halloween has becomes such a huge, and almost integral, part of our American society that it is difficult to go into any store without being berated by either cartoon like ghosts or ghoulish zombies.  Carved pumpkins, vampires, and skulls line the shelves in my favorite stores.  I can't take my daughter into the party store to purchase items for her birthday party, because the entrance and exit are littered with scary, and quite literally, evil looking figures.

Why is Halloween so associated with the things we see in the stores: ghosts, carved pumpkins, and witches?  Let's take a step back and look at the history of Halloween.

Halloween has it's origins in the Celtic festival of Samhain, where they would light bonfires and make sacrifices to their Celtic deities.  They would then dance around the bonfires in costumes to remember those who were being released by the Lord of the Dead as well as to ward off the evil spirits and hide from their tricks.

Divination was popular on this day because they considered this one of two days where the veil between this world and the spirit world was at it's thinnest.  They carved turnips and lit a candle within to ward off any evil spirits that may be lurking around while the veil was thin.

Halloween hasn't changed much in the eyes of modern pagans.  They still follow most of the Celtic traditions of old.  They still try to contact the dead through divination.  They now light candles instead of a bonfire, and they leave food on their doorstep for their spirit ancestors that may stop by.  Pumpkins are carved (instead of turnips) to ward off the evil spirits that lurk the earth while the veil to the Otherworld is thin.

There really is so much more to the history of Halloween, but what I've presented here is enough for the remainder of my post.  If you would like to do more research on your own, I highly suggest you do. (One thing worth researching is that the Pilgrims and the Puritans actually banned Halloween.)  I've put the links where I got the above information from at the bottom of my post.  However, I think it is safe to say that Halloween is, and has always been, a pagan holiday.

After I began walking with the Lord again (see my testimony here), I didn't need to research Halloween because I had been celebrating Samhain for the previous seven years.  So when October rolled around, and it was time to dress my then three-year-old up for trick-or-treating, I had a really hard time doing it.  I decided we would "participate" but not "celebrate."

Over the next year, I was convicted even more that we shouldn't even participate in Halloween. A lot of Christians struggle with what to do around Halloween.  It is so much a part of our culture and tradition.  What should we do?  What led me to my decision?  Scripture.

One of the things that I had found in scripture is what the Lord thought of paganism, witchcraft, and their practices.

Deuteronomy 18:9-12 - 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. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his 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. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

Galatians 5:19-21 - Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.


I could see through the Word of God that witchcraft, and their practices, are an abomination to the Lord.  What was I to do with that fact?  What did that mean?  I wasn't a witch anymore.  I wasn't using divination.  When I carved my pumpkin, it wasn't to ward off evil spirits.  Couldn't I continue to do these things as long as my heart was for God?

As I questioned these things, I continued to read scripture, and found my answer.

I Thessalonians 5:21-24 - Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. 


Ephesians 5:7-12 - Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 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. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 


1 John 2:3-5 - Hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.


My heart was so convicted that if I was to even participate, I was being part of something that God found to be an abomination.  As a friend of mine wisely said, "The human heart has a way of rationalizing anything."  And rationalize I did.

I thought, "Well, the Halloween that I celebrate isn't the pagan Halloween.  It's the Americanized one."  However, more conviction came with the following verse:

Isaiah 5:20 - Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 

I was trying to rationalize that Halloween wasn't evil.  I was trying to make it good, but I couldn't do that.  What God has called evil, is evil, no matter how much I think in my own mind, that it is good. 

Most of us are familiar with Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

It's not often that we read the next verse:  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Scripture was clear.  Halloween was evil in the eyes of the Lord, even if I tried to make it good.  God commands us, through His word, to stay away from all things evil.  My fear of the Lord was greater than my desire to continue in the tradition of Halloween.

It's been many years since I decided to stop participating in Halloween.  It hasn't always been easy, mostly because of the reactions of others.  However, whenever things get hard, or I'm confronted with their ideas, I always go back to scripture.  I can't argue with scripture.  It is the Word of God.  Jesus Christ is the Word of God.  Though I may fail (and often) I try to live my life in obedience to the Word.  And that, as my kiddo says, is why we don't celebrate Halloween.

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http://www.paganspath.com/magik/samhain-history.htm

http://www.history.com/topics/halloween 

http://www.chalicecentre.net/samhain.htm

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33532948/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/why-we-carve-pumpkins-not-turnips/

http://www.theholidayspot.com/all_souls_day/history.htm

My Ministry

I've really been praying that the Lord will show me where He wants me and what He wants me to do to serve Him. I had my own ideas, of course, and was wondering which of those He would show me to do. Then the other day, I was cleaning my house when Titus 2:3-5 came to mind.

 "The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 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."

I was where He wanted me doing what He want me to do to serve Him.  I was in my home, loving my husband, loving my child, keeping my home, and being obedient to my husband!

I came to the realization that I don't need to be involved in a ministry.  My home is my ministry.  Oh, but He showed me so much more!

The ministry that the Lord has for me is my husband, my daughter, my neighbors and my friends.

My ministry is the stranger on the street who needs a smile or a $5 bill.

My ministry is my very existence.

My ministry doesn't need a name.  It already has one.  It's name is Wayne, Savannah, Heather, Natalie, Wendy, Crystal, Melissa, Jennifer... and the list goes on.

In fact, to name my ministry is to take the glory for myself: to put the focus on me.  I don't want the focus on me. I want my ministry to point to Christ!  To name my ministry is to compartmentalize it, when it should in fact be everything I do.  Everything I do in the name of the Lord is part of my ministry.

Colossians 3:23-24  "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ." 

Proverbs 16:3 "Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established." 

Now, I don't want to minimize the importance of "official" ministries at all.  There are plenty of great ministries out there who are doing wonderful things for the Kingdom.

I'm also not saying that I won't be obedient to other scripture such as Mark 12:30-31, Matthew 25:35-40, or James 1:27. What I am saying is that where I am is where my ministry is.  According to Titus 2:3-5 and Proverbs 31, the home is where I should spend most of my time.  However, when I walk out those doors, my ministry comes with me...

Word of my testimony - Tami

Revelation 12:11 "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."

Our testimonies are important to the Lord as well as a testament to our walk.

Matthew 7:16 "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?"

Given that some people reading this blog may not know me personally (and even for those who do) I thought it important to share my testimony. It is a bit long, so bare with me.

I was raised in a home that went to church. We attended the Methodist church almost every Sunday and were pretty involved in the activities. I remember singing in the choir and even being in a play. I did not know who Jesus was, though. Church was just something we did. When I was in my early years of grade school, we stopped going to church when the one we were attending got a new minister.

When I was in junior high, a friend of mine invited me to go to a summer camp with her church. It was a lot of fun, and I got my first glimpse of Jesus. I accepted Him that summer, but still didn't quite know who He was.

Fast forward to my freshman year in high school. I recommitted my life to Christ and for the first time, was really beginning to understand who He was. I did not, however, have a personal relationship with Him, so even though I was trying to be a good Christian, it was all flesh, because I did not know how to allow Christ to work through me.

I became very involved in my church, which was Baptist. I learned many truths of the Word of God that the Methodist church did not teach. I was baptized at this church and even went on a missions trip over seas. I went to "big" church Saturday evening and then high school group after. I also was involved in a shepherding group (bible study) on Monday nights as well as high school group again on Wednesdays. In my eyes, I was very religious, attending so many things and trying to be a good Christian. I was still going it alone, without a real personal relationship with Christ.

After high school I had a hard time getting plugged into the college group. In hindsight, I think it was because I was so immature. So, I decided to go back to the high school group, but this time as a shepherding leader. My best friend and I had about 8 to 10 girls that we led in a shepherding group.

It was during this time, though, that my lack of relationship with the Lord really took it's toll. I began drinking, smoking, and even doing some drugs. I would go out and party on Friday night, and then go to high school group on Saturday evenings. The first thing I would do after the shepherding girls went home after bible study was open a beer and light up a cigarette. I even lost my virginity during this time.

My friend decided that we should step down as group leaders. I fought her at first, but I finally admitted she was right. I approached two very influential women at my church and asked them for help. Unfortunately, neither one of them stepped up to help me.

It was only about a year that I was heavy into the party seen. I was about 23 when I met my husband and he was very adamant that I don't drink or smoke. Although he was not (and still isn't) saved, he hates alcohol, smoking, and drugs. His reasonings are his story, so I won't go into detail with that.

So, I stopped drinking, and doing drugs, and only smoked when he wasn't around. I did finally get to the point when I didn't do any of that, but it's a specific that doesn't need to be recounted.

Although I was no longer drinking, smoking, or doing drugs, I was still on a spiritual downward spiral. I began to doubt that God existed. I began to form an opinion of what I thought was a unique perspective on the world and spirituality only to find that it had a name: paganism.

I went to the library and picked up books on paganism, Wicca, and mythology. I enrolled in an online class to become a Wiccan, and after a year and a day, I received a certificate saying that I had passed. I was an official Witch. I had never been so alone in my life.

Meanwhile, my husband and I got married (by a judge) and began talking about getting pregnant. I continued my studies into paganism and witchcraft and even decided to raise our future children as Wiccans. My studies in the occult did dwindle the more I researched pregnancy and parenting, which I will take as a blessing.

Even after having my daughter, I was more lonely than ever. The occult, for obvious reasons, was not filling the void that was obviously there due to my lack of relationship with Christ. I remember having dreams that something was attacking me and I would rebuke them in the name of Jesus. My heart still new Jesus, even if you mind refused to accept Him.

When my daughter was two and a half, my menstrual cycle had yet to return. I was nursing her at the time, so I decided to wean her thinking that it may be affecting my cycles. After six months and no menstruation, I knew something was wrong.

A trip to the midwife confirmed my worst fears: I had developed Asherman's Syndrome after the birth of my daughter. Due to retained placenta, and a subsequent D&C, the interior of my uterus had completely scarred shut. I was, for all intense purposes, infertile.

I was devastated to say the least. I had always said that the one thing God would not do to me because I wouldn't be able to handle it, was to take my fertility from me. Here I was, faced with the exact situation I said I wouldn't be able to handle. God knows me so much more than I know myself. It was this exact situation that He used, in His infinite wisdom, to get me to turn to Him.

And that is exactly what I did. On my way home from the midwifes, I cried my heart out to God. I prayed, "Lord, if you give me another baby, I will go back to church." I knew that was not what God had in mind though.

My neighbor, and friend, was a Christian, so I approached her and asked if she wanted to start a bible study. She was overjoyed! Her prayer group had been praying for me to come back to the Lord, and their prayers were answered!

About a month later, I had my first surgery to remove the scar tissue. The doctor had said that he was not able to remove the scar tissue around my tubes, so they were still blocked. It was about that time that I went to the prayer group for the first time. It was also then that I first heard about being filled with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:4, Acts 4:31, Acts 8:14-17, Acts 19:6

I was baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost that day. It was the most amazing experience of my life. I gained a better understanding of what it meant to be a disciple of Christ in an instant. It was as if scales fell off of my spiritual eyes (Acts 9:18). Even scripture seemed more real and alive! (1 Corinthians 2:14)

The next day I went in for a test to see what the state of my uterus was post surgery. Praise be to God, both of my tubes were open! This is after the doctor told me that he was not able to remove the scar tissue from the tubal openings! I had witnessed a miracle!

I thank God as many times I can remember to, for allowing me to develop Asherman's Syndrome. It was what brought me back to Him! I realize how much it probably broke His heart to cause me that pain. That is how much He loves me. That is how much He loves you!

My walk over the past three years has not been an easy one. It has been riddle with persecution, false teachings, and heart ache. As of now, I am still infertile, but am believing that God will heal me "by His stripes." In the meantime, my husband and I are looking into adoption.

Each day brings a new lesson that God is teaching me. Just when I think I have a handle on a certain scripture or teaching, God shows me how much deeper it really goes! He shows me how limited my knowledge is, and that without Him and His guidance, I will always fall short of His design for me.

In Him,

Tami

Submission to Husbands

I recently left a ministry that I had been a part of for almost three years. This ministry consisted of myself and three other women. From the outside, they seemed to be walking according to God's Word. They are very involved in the community, with a bread ministry, a detention center ministry, as well as a sidewalk bible teaching ministry.

No matter how wonderful a ministries works are, if they are teaching things that are contrary to the Word of God, it is not a ministry I care to be a part of. One of the reasons I left the ministry is because of their submission to husbands teachings. (There are many more, but I would be digressing from the intention of this post.)

God's Word says to be submissive. There is no post script, there are no amendments, there are no exceptions (unless your husband asks you to sin against God.) God says what He means and means what He says.

Paul wrote to Titus and told him that the aged women should 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." Titus 2:4-5

Colossians 3:18 says, "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands as it is fit in the Lord." The word "fit" in the Greek is anēkō which means duty. Meaning, it is your duty in the Lord to submit to your husband.

Ephesians 5:33b "...and the wife see that she reverence her husband." The Greek word for reverence is phobeō which means to fear, be afraid or to reverence, venerate, to treat with deference or reverential obedience. It is the same word that is used in 1Peter 2:17, Revelation 14:7, Revelation 15:4, and Revelation 19:5 when the Word speaks of fearing God.

In fact, in Ephesians 5:22-23 it says, "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church..."

Peter even writes to the wives of unbelieving husbands (or at least those who don't follow the Word) to be in submission to them so that the husbands can be won by the conduct of the wives. Husbands can be won through submission! 1Peter 3:1-4.

That is five different verses from four different books in the Word of God! Think it's important to Him?

Some will try (as this ministry did) to use Esther as an excuse to push aside this commandment of God. They say she defied her husband. Esther risked her life to save her people from genocide! The only reason she succeeded was because she found favor with her husband.

In fact Esther 2:15 says, "Esther obtained favor in the sight of all them that looked upon her." Verse 17, "And the king loved Esther above all women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight."

When Mordecai told Esther of Haman's plot to kill the Jews she agreed to help by going to her husband. She didn't take matters into her own hands and have Haman arrested. Her husband dealt with the issue because of her appeal to him. Praise God that the king favored her and listened!

You see, if anyone came before the king without invitation, they were to be put to death, unless the king held out his golden scepter. (Esther 4:11) Esther knew this but approached the king's inner court in spite of this to save her people. Esther 5:2, she has entered the inner court and "she obtained favor in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter." Remember Esther 2:17? She obtained favor because of who she was to her husband. (In fact, Vashti, the original queen was dethroned because she was not submissive to the king, her husband.)

It's no wonder divorce rates are so high, even among Christians! God's people have laid aside, even forcefully pushed aside, His Word because it is often hard to swallow or it doesn't seem to make sense. Romans 11:33-34, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been His counselor?"

Acts 17:11, Paul was speaking to the Bereans and this was what was said of them - "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they receive the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."

We should all be noble. When we receive a teaching, whether at a bible study, internet article, or sermon at church, we should search the scriptures. If it doesn't line up with the Word of God, it is not of Him.

Marriage is sacred to God. So much so that He calls the Church His bride and He is the bridegroom. (Matthew 9:15 and Revelation 19:7)

I find it fascinating that when Jesus is talking about how He didn't come to bring peace but division, He never says, "husband against wife" or "wife against husband." (Luke 12:51-53)

My prayer for anyone who reads this is that any teaching you receive is brought to God's Word to be challenged because that is what God desires. It is the only sure way to keep from being deceived. God's Word is infallible, unchanging, and utterly amazing.

In fact, I encourage you to take everything I just said to the Word. Challenge it. I want to know if I am wrong, and I don't want to lead you astray either. We all should desire to follow God's Word who is Christ Jesus.

John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

Revelation 19:13 "And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God."

That is Who I follow.

I spent three years listening to false teaching. I wish I would have been a Berean! I now have to wade through every teaching I ever received to search the scripture to verify (or debunk) its validity. Don't make my same mistake. Open your bible. It's why God gave it to us. Lean on the Holy Spirit of God to guide you and open your understanding to what the scriptures mean. He is faithful. He will reveal it to you.

In Christ Jesus, Our Lord and Saviour, the Word of God,

Tami

Persecution

Living life as a Crucified Christian will bring persecution, there is no doubt about that. When you begin to shed the things of this world, it will look strange to those who are quite comfortable living here. In my experience, the most intense and persistent persecution comes from other believers and even family members. That shouldn't be surprising though looking back at the life of Christ. Who persecuted Him most? Religious leaders and those in His own house. Mark 6:4 "But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house."

Do not allow the enemy to discourage you. Look to the Word of God to encourage you!

Matthew 5:10-19

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

In Christ Jesus,

Tami

The Truth About Christmas

Truth - Christ was not born on December 25th.

• "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night." - Luke 2:8

Truth - Roman Catholic Church created the holiday in the 4th century.

• In the early years of Christianity, Easter was the main holiday; the birth of Jesus was not celebrated. In the fourth century, church officials decided to institute the birth of Jesus as a holiday. Unfortunately, the Bible does not mention date for his birth (a fact Puritans later pointed out in order to deny the legitimacy of the celebration). Although some evidence suggests that his birth may have occurred in the spring (why would shepherds be herding in the middle of winter?), Pope Julius I chose December 25. History Channel

Truth - Nowhere in the Word of God does Jesus command us to celebrate His birth only His death. Nowhere do the apostles command us to celebrate His birth only His death.

• "And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me." - Luke 22:17-19

• "For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come." - 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Truth - The Roman Catholic Church used the pagan forms of worship of their gods to form the holiday.

• It is commonly believed that the church chose this date in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival. History Channel

• "When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land; Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it." - Deuteronomy 12:29-33

Truth - Pagans continue to worship their gods the same way they did before the birth of Christ.

• Wikipedia - Yule Origins

Truth - The holiday is a man made tradition.

• See above references

Truth - God hates man's traditions when they break His commandments.

• "For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." - Mark 7:8-9

• "Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?" - Matthew 15:2-3

• "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." - Matthew 15:9

• "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." - Colossians 2:8

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." 2 Corinthians 6:17

In Him,

Tami