So You Don't Do Halloween???

I love FALL....I love everything about the season. I love leaves and pumpkins and the weather turning brisk. I love hayrides and bonfires, corn mazes and hot cocoa. I even love playing dress up with my kids on occasion (not indicative of fall itself, more in general).

 Fall is a wonderful and beautiful time of year. But I don't do Halloween.

This is usually the part where people cock their eye brow and say...."What?? You don't do Halloween??"

Or the time when my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ roll their eyes and give me that "here we go with hyper spiritual opinions that suck the fun out of being a christian" grin as they quickly try to change the subject. :)

So rest assured the point of this blog is NOT to dissuade or condemn anyone who does choose to celebrate Halloween, for I've learned that is a useless plight. But rather, to share my reasoning and encourage the seemingly small handful of those who choose to NOT celebrate this holiday.

I want you to know, you're not alone, you're not nuts, and you're not "hyper spiritual". :)

It's not easy to choose to not take part in something that so many people around us are doing. Especially when it looks fun and innocent. I mean who doesn't want to dress their kids up in cute outfits and get bag loads of free candy, right??

It doesn't make sense to some, but I'm going to share my reasoning and the arguments I've encountered for not celebrating Halloween and hopefully it will encourage and affirm you in your convictions..if not, that's fine too. :) It may even give a pondering point to some who've been neither here nor there on the subject.

So, here goes....  

The first and most obvious,

 Halloween Glorifies Fear and Evil

Some people like being scared. I personally don't understand that because I do NOT enjoy being afraid. But some enjoy it. However, the Bible tells us that fear is not from God. 

2Tim 1:7- "For God does not give us a spirit of fear but of power and love and a sound mind."

Now, this scripture is directly referring to fear in sharing the word of God. But God is the same in all situations. If he doesn't give fear in one area, he doesn't give fear in another.

Fear brings anxiety, anxiety and fear are the opposites of peace. God is peace, fear and anxiety are not found in Him. If fear and anxiety is not from God than I conclude that fear and anxiety comes from the enemy. 

There is no arguing that evil comes from the enemy as well, but there is always question as to a christians involvement in being entertained by evil.

Psalm 34:14, 1Peter 3:11, Psalm 37:27 Are three different scriptures with the same theme

"Turn from evil and do good. Seek peace and pursue it."

If God put the same words in three different scriptures, They are worth closer attention.

This scripture implores us to turn away from evil, to do good, seek peace and pursue it.

It seems to me that being entertained by evil things, is not turning from evil and not seeking peace.

When we allow ourselves to "minimize" the effects and seriousness of Evil and Fear by allowing ourselves to be entertained by it, we are doing the opposite of seeking and pursuing peace. Rather, we are inviting fear and anxiety into our lives.

I've heard many say....." but WE don't do anything scary. We dress ourselves and our kids up as cute little animals or princesses. We don't engage in the "evil" stuff, we just like the candy, we aren't really celebrating halloween..."

Here's my take on that, and this is just my opinion. Halloween is known for fear and evil. I can't even walk through walmart without seeing scary and evil images. 

The weeks following up to halloween are marked by horror flick marathons and many people are dressing up their adorable innocent children as devils, witches, vampires, murderers...etc

Huge billboards with horrifically scary themes, line our highways promoting haunted houses{that, btw invite fear, :) } 

I may just be daft, but how can someone deny the evil connotations of this holiday??

Saying that halloween is innocent because you chose to dress up like a teddy bear is like saying that a piece of poo is dessert because you dipped it in chocolate.

It's kinda like saying you read playboy for the articles. :) C'mon now, aint nobody got time for that. 

Don't for one second think that the true enemy of our soul doesn't delight in people sugar coating the evil with cute little red devil outfits for the little ones.

Furthermore, if you aren't doing those innocent things as a form of celebration of halloween...why are you not doing them in, say....March?? 

Ok, take a breath and say... "I still love you Dayna." :)

ok, the second reason for me is...

I feel it teaches a contradiction to my kids

As Christians we are constantly trying to teach our kids about the "true meanings" of holidays behind the commercialism. Sure we engage in the Easter bunny and Santa..but if you're a believer, hopefully those celebrations are focused more on Christ's birth and resurrection than it is the images that are used to make a profit.

I can hear the conversations in Christian households everywhere. "Yes little johnny, the Easter bunny is fun to pretend, BUT the real reason we celebrate Easter is to remember Christ dying on the cross and raising from the dead. THAT is the most important thing about today."

Same is true for Christmas.

But when it comes to halloween, we switch sides. It's no longer about celebrating the origin of the holiday and the true meanings behind it. No, now we want to say..."well, little johnny, I know that halloween is used as a evil holiday and has origins in deep paganism..BUT, we just want to celebrate the fun commercialized version of this day."

I feel that is a contradiction to what we've been teaching them about holidays from the start. 

Are you still with me?? 

I hope so.. 

Thirdly..

I just can't shake the gut feeling I have about this holiday

 So, here's the thing. The first two reasons alone, without going into the countless testimonies I've heard and read of people coming out of satanism and what they have seen happen on halloween are reason enough for me to not be comfortable with celebrating halloween.

I'm not even for a minute saying that if you are a christian who celebrates halloween that you're sinning. So please don't think that.

You're salvation is through Christ, not whether you celebrate a holiday or don't.

I feel VERY strongly about this issue, so forgive me if I can't wrap my head your reasoning on the matter.

But know I'm not judging you for your decision. I'm really not.

I simply have to be true to my deep conviction over this area based on my experiences and knowledge.

James 4:17 says, "If anyone knows what they ought to do and does not do it, they are sinning."

So for me, I can't go against my convictions.

But I'll be honest, It's been harder since having children. It's hard to look at your little girl who wants to dress up like Cinderella  and get candy like her friends do and try to explain to her why we are not celebrating halloween as a family. 

I have been torn about it...not because my convictions are less about the holiday, but because she doesn't understand. 

It's tough making those choices as a parent.

Part of me wants to let her enjoy the innocent aspects, but a bigger part of me wants to teach her that not everything that looks desirable and fun or innocent is beneficial. (1 corin 10:23)

After all, is it really all THAT bad to let her dress up and get candy..

No, or course not. But I truly feel like the enemy just loves how we reason away our involvement in all types of things his hands are all over. 

There will come a time when our kids will have to make a choice between following Christ and going down a road that looks more exciting and that many of their friends are taking. 

If I cant teach her to make the choice over candy and costumes, I worry that she wont make the choice when her life is possibly on the line.

You never want to see your kids miss out on something they want to do, especially in these innocent years where to them...everything really is just, innocent.

But for me, this issue goes deeper.

Now, here's the deal. If you see us at the church fall party don't hastily come up to me and say..."I thought you didn't celebrate halloween". :) Which I know none of you would...right?? :)

Let me be real honest. I haven't completely figured out how we are going to handle church and school fall party activities. 

We have just entered into the school years and here we are two and half weeks til Oct 31st and I'm not sure what we plan to do. I'm still prayerfully looking for guidance on this issue.

My goal is not to force my kids to withdraw from all these things, but to teach her why we don't like halloween. That it represents all the things that God is not..{evil, scary, mean, death} and we don't want to glorify any of those things by acknowledging the holiday.

As she grows she will form convictions of her own.

I'd be lying if I said, we've worked it all out that far.

But, I want to encourage you if you are a family that doesn't really feel good about celebrating halloween. I know you feel sort of like an outcast through the month of October. Maybe you've been put down for being "too spiritual" or "looking for a demon behind every bush".

I know it's hard. But walk with God through your convictions. Following them only brings you closer in relationship to Christ. 

You're not alone, there are other families who feel like you, who hurt like you over telling their kids they can't go trick or treating or to halloween parties.

If you feel strongly, stick to your gut. Be true to what you feel God is leading you to do for your family.

and take heart...

NOVEMBER is ALMOST here. :)

 Your obedience will reap a beautiful harvest. 

My finger- My Purpose

I've discovered something really interesting the last few days. 

We know that our bodies are made up of parts...big parts, small parts...too much cellulite parts, parts that are flabby and parts that are thin. So many parts make up the human body. 

I'm learning that I enjoy my fingers....I know it sounds weird..but I enjoy my fingers.

I use my fingers to type, I use them to play piano, to pick my nose, to button my pants. I use them for quite a few things. I think it's pretty common knowledge that fingers are important. However, did you know how important the SIDE of your finger is? 

Yeah, I didn't either until I did this........

YEP, OUCH

Took a big chunk of skin right off the side of my finger. It bled like a beast and didn't feel great either. But no big deal right? It's the side of my finger after all, it's kinda useless.

WRONG!!

It has been truly amazing to realize how much I actually use this side of my finger. I use it ALOT! In fact, I've been bumping it more times than my pain reactors can handle and it's NO bueno.

Ok, so you're probably wondering why on earth I'm talking about fingers and showing you icky pictures of my flesh gouged hand. You may be confused and a little grossed out, but I have a purpose so hang tight.

My incident with my finger this week reminded me of a very important lesson.

Are you ready?

Here it is..

EVERYONE, whether great or small, has purpose!!!

HOORAY! Life changing epiphany moment!!

Ok probably not. :)

I know for me, as a stay at home mom and wife my life can start to feel pretty mundane, boring or insignificant. The never ending lists of dishes, groceries, dinners, laundry, picking up, and taking care of the kids can just feel down right BLAH some days.

But it's not just a stay at home mommy problem. 

You may be a wife or a single woman in the work field and you still feel insignificant in your role. Sure you may like what you're doing, but there are times when you just don't feel like you're accomplishing what (insert name of an amazingly accomplished person) is accomplishing in life.

You may be a member of your local church body and feel insignificant. I mean sure, you're talented at hospitality, so you greet people at the door from time to time but that's not like the REALLY talented people who are on the worship team or leading a ministry group.

Or maybe you just help out in the nursery once a month. No big deal, changing stinky diapers and wiping away baby drool is less than glamorous when it's your OWN kid, much less someone else's. :)

When you start to feel insignificant, you start to feel replaceable, looked over, or worthless.

But you're not!! 

I've had many roles in my life. Some have had more "spotlight" and glamour than others. I've had these roles in all different seasons too.... Single, Working, Married, Mother......

What I've found, is it doesn't really matter what season, or what your circumstances are, the enemy is going to bring lies to your mind to make you feel insignificant in your role.

Ephesians 2:10 says, "For you are Gods Masterpiece, created anew in Christ Jesus, to do the good works that God intended in advance for you."

Did you catch that last part?

You were created, to do the good works that GOD himself planned in advance for YOU TO DO!

If you are a single business woman in the work place...God has a plan to use you there.

If you are a young lady in college....God has good works for you to do there.

If you stay at home with kids....God has intentions for you right there.

Right there in the midst of toys and messy highchairs.

In the middle of piles of paperwork and a egocentric boss who mistreats you.

He has plans, when you're on stage with a microphone, or just another face in the crowd.

EVERYONE HAS PURPOSE no matter how GREAT or how small.

1Corinthians 12-14-26

 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
¹⁵ Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. ¹⁹ If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴ while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

I love verse 23. and 24.."And the parts that we think are less honorable, we treat with special honor."

"But God put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it."

That's good news for those of us who feel insignificant in our roles!!

No one may see, the way you tenderly caress and sick baby's brow.

Or the way you calming handle an irate customer at work.

No one may notice how you run your home to honor God

Or that you vacuum the sanctuary during the week.

But, GOD sees. And he will give special honor to those who lack honor.

You may not be honored by a single soul on this earth for the amazing woman you are...but you will be honored by God.

With the right attitude about our God given roles, we can find great fulfillment in 'doing the good works that God intended for us in advance to do'.

I pray that wherever you find yourself in life today that you will see your roles as important. That you will look on the mundane tasks with purpose and remember that even the things that seem so small are still VERY important.

Don't let the enemy define your contentment in your role as a wife, a mom and woman. But let the truth of God overwhelm your messy places and ignite your purpose in your heart!

Just like the seemingly insignificant side of my finger has usefulness and purpose so do you!

YOU are an amazing woman!!!

and

YOU have amazing purpose!!!

Be Blessed today. :) 

Messy Mommy- Train Up A Child

As mommas we have an important job to do. We may never fully understand the weight and privilege  it truly is to train up our children.

As I've mentioned before, I'm a mommy of a beautiful 5 year old little girl(Mckenzie) and a sweet and spunky almost 1 year old boy(Parker), and they are my biggest blessings.

Even on my messiest mommy days, they are my biggest blessing, although I can't promise I would say so in the middle of that messy moment. :)

As I was changing my sons diaper after his after noon nap a few days ago, I started thinking about the differences in mommy seasons and what "taking care of the kids" really looks like.
When they are infants and babies like Parker is now, my primary role is meeting his basic needs. Taking care of him physically. Feeding, changing, bathing, clothing...and snuggling of course. :)

When you're on your first child that stage can seem endless. It seems tiring, mundane even at times.

But once they graduate from that stage of taking care of their basic needs you realize that your role is so much bigger. Mckenzie was about three when I truly started to see that I was not only responsible for making sure her basic needs were met, but I was responsible for shaping her to be a good human being.{With her dads help of course, :)}  To have respect and morals, to learn right and wrong and have faith in a God she can't see or comprehend. I think it's at THAT moment that the diapering and two am feedings seem much more doable. :)

It's no longer about hot dogs or cereal or shorts or sweatpants, it's about training a sinful human being to follow God.

THAT is a huge responsibility!!

"Train up a child in the way they will go, and when they are old they will not depart from it."Prov 22:6

Is an inspiring verse for parenthood, but it also carries much weight.

It can be completely overwhelming the thought of my children's eternal destination hinging on my teachings and example in these early years of their lives. SOOO OVERWHELMING

There are many days when I ask God "Am I completely screwing up my kids?" and after I see Mckenzie throw a monster tantrum and be stubborn and selfish in ALL the same ways I know I can do those things, I think....."YEP, I'm DEFINITELY screwing up my kids." haha

But I'm so thankful for a God who sees past all that.

I am an imperfect human being! I am an imperfect parent for SURE, so why on earth would God leave the training of my children up to ME?!?!

Here's what I've discovered. "God grace is sufficient for me and his strength his made perfect in my weakness." 2 Corin 12:9.

God knew I wouldn't be perfect, He knew I'd have a million failures and stresses and messy days when I scream and cry more than I love and nurture and he chose me anyway!! He CHOSE me and my amazing hubby to train up these children even though we are not perfect.

It's not about me, it's not about Tim, it's about GODS STRENGTH being made perfect in our times and areas of weakness and allowing GOD to train our children through us.

Let me just say, that takes a HUGE weight off. Just typing that I sighed a huge sigh of relief. :)

Gods grace is sufficient for me, it's sufficient for you! He chose YOU and ME to be the imperfect messy mommy's to our kiddos and he knew we would not be able to do it alone!

He knows what you need, He has wisdom for every area that you will face in raising up your kids to love and honor God.

All we must do is seek HIM! Seek GOD, Seek his wisdom.

Matthew 6:33 says, "Seek FIRST, the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."


As we seek God and his righteousness, God can do an amazing work inside us as mommies. You are not in this alone, you have the creator of the universe helping you succeed. All he asks, is that we seek him first, and rely on his strength when we are at our messiest.

I don't know about you, but knowing that feels AH-MAZING!!

HIS GRACE is SUFFICIENT for us all!!!

Blessings and Peace to all my beautifully Messy Mommies today!!!