Trick-or-Treat

Though it can be interesting to discover historical traditions, I cringe at the haunting, gory, or violent perceptions that have been given to Halloween over the course of history. I don't advocate these things on October 31 or any other day, but I do love handing out candy to children.

As our children grew up, we attended a church that held Reformation Day services and forbade anything to do with Halloween. Since at that time we feared what "the church" said, we religiously followed their dos and don'ts.

While I do believe Reformation Day is a notable day in church history, I don't feel like preaching at kids to tell them they shouldn't go trick-or-treating or have anything to do with Halloween. Perhaps I have backed off because of the legalistic background I came from and have learned how it can hurt people.

Honestly, I think the majority of kids don't even know the history of Halloween and merely love the fun of using their imaginations to dress up and get candy. For this reason, today I will appreciate each child's unique creativity and fill their candy bags.

I highly recommend this children's book:



The Pumpkin Patch Parable

by Liz Curtis Higgs

There are many conflicting opinions among Christians about Halloween.

Do you allow your children to trick-or-treat?

If not, what healthy alternatives do you use?

Not an Insignificant Statistic in God's Eyes

Earth is but a tiny speck in the solar system, only 1 millionth the size of the sun.  Consider that tiny speck holding 6,970,506,689 people (World Population Clock). Can you imagine what size each of us is in comparison to such a vast universe?

In such magnitude, not one of us can be visible to the human eye. Yet to God, each one of us is not only visible but watched over. Not a single thought or feeling of our hearts escapes His attention.

Nearly 7 billion people in this world, and yet God knows each and every one. He knows the life being conceived at this very second, the baby being born, etc. He keeps track of every life and death and yet He does not grow weary. "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom." Isaiah 40:28

Perhaps you have several children and/or grandchildren. You want each to feel loved and cared about. You try to give each one your undivided attention, but don't you sometimes feel weary and oh, so human?

If we think we can be everywhere, meet every child's need, and take care of every situation, we will grow more ragged by the hour, or even by the minute. We will only dig ourselves into desperation.

But wait! Have we forgotten the Almighty God Who has created the immeasurable universe? The all-knowing, everywhere-present God Who watches over all? He knows each of us by name, and He doesn't want us to be self-sufficient and independent. He wants us to lay all our cares at His feet and trust His immeasurable power and love.

In fact, out of nearly 7 billion people, He loves each one of us as if you are or I am the only person on earth. We may be merely statistics to a census bureau, but our Creator counts each one of us worthy of His consideration 24-7.

"How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you."

Psalm 139: 17-18

P.S. Did you know that while I was writing this, the world's population grew by 6,257 more people and probably even more while I write this sentence? Think how many more lives God has to keep track of, and yet He has no problem whatsoever. I can't even begin to fathom the greatness of our God, can you?

What situation in life made you feel insignificant?

 During what situation did God show you how important you are to Him?

Promises of Hope, Riches, and Power

It's sad, but often I read God's Word more out of duty than desire. I lay down my Bible and think, "What did I just read?" I relish the times when my heart craves wholesome spiritual food as much as my body craves sweet or salty junk food.

This week, as I checked out the verses Renee Swopes suggests in Chapter 4 of A Confident Heart, my heart hungered for God's promises in these words:
"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same mighty strength..." Ephesians 1:18–19

"Enlighten" means to "to remove the dimness or blindness (usually figurative) from one's eyes or heart." I ache for the blind eyes of my heart to truly open to the promises God sets in front of me and to soak them up like a sponge.

What are the promises He offers here? There are at least three of them. God wants us to know:

1. "The hope to which He has called you..." If I could grasp the HOPE God promises, I could face anything. But wait... He not only wants me to know it, but He personally calls me to it. He wouldn't call me to it if He didn't want me to claim it, right?  He longs for us to believe and to receive this hope. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
2. "The riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people..." Holy people? I'm so unholy and unclean... But wait, my doubting heart, don't you remember you are holy through Jesus' ultimate sacrifice? Through Him, you do have the right to lay claim to the riches of His glorious inheritance. Amazing!
3. "His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same mighty strength..." This one stumps me the most in life. Why don't I trust more in His power? Is it because of all the trust issues I still carry around like a ball and chain? How could I not trust God's power? I know with my mind He has power, but I don't always believe in my heart that He will use that power towards me.

If we read further in Ephesians, verse 20 continues on about that same mighty strength "He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms…” Now that's power! Can't that same God Who removed the stone from the grave and brought Jesus back to life deposit my doubts into the trash bin of forgetfulness? Yes, I believe He can. He can remove the blindness from the eyes of my heart to truly see, truly believe, and truly receive His hope, His inheritance, and His power.

So what still holds me back? Perhaps it's His willingness I doubt. Why would He exert that power for me? Then I call to mind the leper who came to Jesus. (Luke 5) Jesus didn't run away with disgust and abhorrence. He waited and listened. When the leper fell down with his face to the ground and said, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean," Jesus replied, "I am willing. Be clean!" And do you know what? Jesus touched the leper who everyone else shunned. Will He not also be willing to touch each one of us, no matter who we are or where we came from? 

Jesus was willing to take upon Himself our sins and pay the price for us, He was willing to touch and heal the leper, and He is willing to give us hope, riches, and power in Him.

What does hope mean to you?

What are God's incomparable riches?

Do you believe God's power and yet struggle with His willingness to use it on you?

Free Stuff

Just a FYI post today. :-) I just started a new page of "Free Stuff." I love to get something for free, so I thought I'd share some I know about. It's only a wee start of a list, but with your help, it will grow. If you know of some valuable resources I can add, please let me know.

On that particular page, I will only add what is always free, but I'd like to share with you an ebook that is free only until Sunday. Zondervan is giving away Max Lucado's ebook - God's Story, Your Story: When His Becomes Yours. You can download it HERE.

Speaking of free stuff, I can't help but think of the most amazing free gift we could ever receive - eternal salvation through Jesus Christ.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves,

it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast."

Ephesians 2:8-9

“Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost."

Isaiah 55:1