Halloween – Good, Bad, or Ugly?

This is on of those holidays that always seem to spark debates. Is it really a pagan holiday? It has its root in Paganism, as does a lot of the holidays we celebrate. Does that make it bad if I join in the Halloween festivities? Lets look at how halloween began.

Way back, about 2,000 years ago, it was a Celtic festival to celebrate the end of the year. It was the end of the harvesting season and a signal that the cold, harsh winters would begin. They believed it was a day the world of the dead opened. By leaving 'treats' and disguising themselves, they hoped to ward off the evil dead spirits. Over time, as Chrisitianity spread, the church, mainly Catholic, replaced the pagan practice of All Hallows Eve with All Souls Day. It was a day to pray for the souls of those who had passed on.

In the early history of the United States, this was not observed as the majority of people were Protestant and All Souls Day was considered Catholic. However, as the country grew and immigrants came, the traditions of Halloween and All Souls Day also came. Eventually, Halloween became a holiday that was more community based than religious. There are parties, parades, and costumes where a good time is had by all.

Granted, this is a condensed history of Halloween, but perhaps it will shed some light on its history. As to whether to participate or not, I believe the answer is in the intention of your heart. Do you dress up and trick or trick for the gathering of your neighbors and for fun? Or are you participating in the pagan rituals of warding off evil spirits? In the end, we must each make our own decision.

When Times are Tough.....Quit

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where it seems like everything is going wrong? Perhaps you find yourself struggling with a particularly rough circumstance, where no matter how hard you try, it doesn't get any better. If that is the case, just quit. Yes, you read that correctly, when things are falling apart around you, quit.

Quit looking at the negative. Quit whining and complaining. Quit trying to change something that is out of your control. Quit worrying.

Think about it, when was the last time all your worrying changed a situation? If your funds are low, did worry give you the additional money to pay that bill? Of course not! So why waste your energies on worry? Instead, work on shifting your focus on something positive. Think back to the times that God has come through for you. As His child, He has always provided for all your needs. Perhaps not all your wants, but all your needs. Its not easy going through tough times. You need to re-train your mind. Go to your quiet place and reflect on Him. You will be pleasantly surprised how your perspective changes.

The Bible is full of promise and instruction. Here are just some Scriptures to reflect on.

Matthew 6:31-34; Luke 12:25-26; John 14:27; Philippians 4:6-8; Hebrews 13: 5-6; 1 Peter 5: 7-10; Psalm 34:17-19; Jeremiah 29:11

A Moment of Praise

Our lives are busy, busy, busy.  So busy, that at times we neglect the most important necessity...praising our God. We always seem to remember to pray, especially when there are problems. But how often do we take the time to just sit in His presence? I invite you to take just a few minutes out of your busy schedule. Turn on your sound for a moment of praise. You will be glad you did.

When the Answer is "No"

Have you ever prayed and not get your prayer answered? How do you react to that? You have put your tears and whole heart and soul into your request to God. You may have even fasted. Yet God does not answer it. Do you turn away? Do you get mad at God? Do you feel as though God wasn't really listening?

What is prayer? Simply put, prayer is communicating with God. But remember, communication is a two way street. When we pray, we must also learn to hear. God is the Creator of the Universe, the ultimate authority. Sometimes when we ask, His answer is 'no' or 'not now'. And just like children, we pout and have spiritual temper tantrums because we didn't get our way.

We talk with God, we praise Him, we make our request, we ask for help. Sometimes He does, and sometimes He doesn't. But just because He doesn't, doesn't mean He doesn't care. It just means the He knows what is best for us. Perhaps what you are asking for isn't the best for you. Perhaps He HAS answered, just not in the way you wanted Him to.

Our prayer time with God needs to be open communication. When prayers do not seem to be answered, we need to ask God to open our minds and hearts to understand why. Remember when you were a child and your parents told you 'no' to a certain thing you wanted? They were also trying to tell you why you couldn't have it but you were so busy crying and pouting and being mad that you didn't hear them. It's no different with God.

Next time it appears that your prayer is not being answered, sit quietly in His presence and listen. Just be honest about what you're feeling. Tell God that you are disappointed, then ask Him how you should pray. He will tell you.

Autumn is Here!

The change of seasons are wonderful! Right now, the fall season is upon us. In another week or so, the trees will be showing all their vibrant hues. The roadside, the mountains, the forest, and parks will all be breath-taking with color. But the leaves are more than all that color, it is a sign of change. The days will become shorter and temperatures will become lower. Fall is a sign that the warmth of summer is over and the cold of winter is soon. It is a time to prepare, to dig out your winter clothes, to gather firewood, etc. Watch the animals, especially the squirrels. They are all scurrying about collecting nuts and such to keep them through the winter months. They know if they don't prepare, winter will be brutal for them. As a Christian, we also go through seasons.

Your seasons may not correlate with the physical seasons, but they are seasons just the same. We may be in a Spiritual autumn; preparing, studying, refreshing. This is a time to reflect on what we have learned over the previous season. As we gather our thoughts and store our experiences, we prepare for the coming Spiritual winter. If we have done all our preparations, we can rest in the knowledge that we can snuggle up and enjoy the winter season.