Is Halloween Harmless?

The following is one of the devotions that my friend Charlotte from Mtn. View, AR sends out by e-mail. I don't normally post things like this, but the scriptures in this devotion really stood out to me and confirmed the way that I have always felt about Halloween. Even if you think you've heard it all before, even if right now you are rolling your eyes at yet ANOTHER attempt to show that Halloween is wrong, PLEASE read it anyway, and ask the Lord what He would have you to do. The comments in italics are from Charlotte.



The following came largely from a message preached this Sunday by our pastor, Brother Randy Farthing. It really caused me to think and I hope it will be a blessing to you as you read it. Charlotte



Is Halloween Harmless?



When the Irish came over to America in the 1800s during the potato famine, they brought their custom of celebrating Halloween with them. It is a celebration of the “Day of the Dead.” As far back as two thousand years ago, Celtics would kill animals and dress up wearing the heads of the dead animals. Other things made popular by the Irish during Halloween was the carving of turnips (pumpkins in America because they were more readily available) in which candles were lit as a symbol of roaming “spirits” or to ward off evil spirits.



Satan loves Halloween because Halloween glamorizes darkness. 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 (some burned their children as sacrifice to pagan gods), or that useth divination (using satanic means to attempt to tell the future), or an observer of times (astrology, horoscopes), or an enchanter (one who is believed to heal through magic powers), or a witch (a woman who practices witchcraft), Or a charmer (someone who uses chants/spells), or a consulter with familiar spirits (someone who communicates with spirits), or a wizard (a man who practices witchcraft or magic), or a necromancer (one who calls up the dead). 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.”



God told them not to be entangled with the ways of the nations which they would inhabit.



Witches don’t ride brooms. They do cast spells and work evil (even though many call it “good” magic). This is an abomination of God. The devil glamorizes this evil through many means...one way he does this is through Halloween.



1 Corinthians 10:21, “Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.”



Acts 16:16-18, “And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination (ability through satanic means to attempt to tell the future…notice it is the spirit of divination…an evil spirit) met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying (like fortune telling): The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.” (This spirit of divination was trying to HIDE itself in religious ways, trying to appear good, but it was still evil! The devil tries to make evil look good…he wants to glamorize it. Halloween IS practiced as a religious day, but it is NOT of Christian religious origins).



1 Corinthians 10:20, “But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.”



Note…Brother Farthing brought out some things I had never thought about through these Scriptures…especially the ones in the Book of Acts on how evil will try to attach itself to good in an attempt to fool people into thinking it really IS good. As I was getting this devotion ready to send out, I was reminded of a “game” that has been around for years…and some continue to be innocently caught up in…some of our local school teachers have even used this “game” as a “science experiment” but it isn’t an experiment, nor is it a game. It is called “Light as Feather” and entails two to four people using two fingers each to “lift” a person that is lying flat on a table after saying a series of words over and over (chanting…). People who have come out of the practice of Wicca (witchcraft) will tell you that this is a chant that results in levitation and is evil trying to appear “good” and “fun.” Most of us would not think of using or allowing our kids to use a Ouija Board to call up an evil spirit…we must equally recognize that there are other more subtle evils lurching around every corner waiting to entrap us…and our children…Ephesians 5:11, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” In other words, don’t participate, but WARN others about them instead.

Milestones

Emily stood up in her playpen last night! She has been pulling up on pant legs and bed covers to stand up for a little while, but this is the first tie she's succeeded to climb the playpen walls to stand up. She was sooooo proud of herself! She was standing up at the bed last night, and started grooving to Jordin Sparks' "One Step at a Time". It's hilarious because the first song Sara ever stood up and grooved to, was Bebo Norman's "Stand". How do they manage this stuff?

Glory Baby

Glory baby you slipped away as fast as we could say baby...baby...
You were growing, what happened dear?
You disappeared on us baby...baby...
Heaven will hold you before we do
Heaven will keep you safe until we’re home with you…
Until we’re home with you…

Miss you everyday
Miss you in every way
But we know there’s a day when we will hold you
We will hold you
You’ll kiss our tears away
When we’re home to stay
Can’t wait for the day when we will see you
We will see you
But baby let sweet Jesus hold you
‘Till mom and dad can hold you…
You’ll just have heaven before we do
You’ll just have heaven before we do

Sweet little babies, it’s hard to understand it ‘cause we’re hurting
We are hurting
But there is healing
And we know we’re stronger people through the growing
And in knowing-
That all things work together for our good
And God works His purposes just like He said He would…
Just like He said He would…

Miss you everyday
Miss you in every way
But we know there’s a day when we will hold you
We will hold you
You’ll kiss our tears away
When we’re home to stay
Can’t wait for the day when we will see you
We will see you
But baby let sweet Jesus hold you
‘Till mom and dad can hold you…
You’ll just have heaven before we do
You’ll just have heaven before we do


I can’t imagine heaven’s lullabies and what they must sound like
But I will rest in knowing, heaven is your home
And it’s all you’ll ever know…
All you’ll ever know…

Remembering

Saturday, I decided that I needed some time to myself, to be able to think and pray and grieve in my own way.



Brad watched the kids, and I left the house. First I decided to go to the kids' consignment store and get a couple pairs of pants for Sara & Emily... Emmy has a few shirts that she needed pants to go with. Sara got some jammies too and I found a Christmas dress for Emmy to go with the one I've had in storage for Sara since last year (yay for after season sales!).



Then, I got a haircut. I got bangs cut, I think I like them. But she cut the rest of it too short. Oh well. it will grow.



Then, I went to Hallmark. Hallmark has always been the place I go when something emotional is going on in my life. I found a card for the baby, and I looked at Willow Tree figurines. I wanted to have something at the house in memory of the baby, but I didn't want something that would make me want to cry every time I looked at it. I decided on this one:

It makes me think of a little one running around heaven, having a blast. And the "hope" is just perfect. Reminds me of the scripture that says I don't have to sorrow as those who have no hope, because of Jesus I have a blessed hope that I will get to see the baby again in heaven!

I took some time to write a letter to the baby in the card I found... I bawled all through it. I know the baby will never read it, but it made me feel better. Maybe sometime I will share what I wrote.

I think I'm going to make a memory box, and put the card in it, and the pregnancy test, and maybe a photo of us now. Anything else I might think of.

Surviving

I am ok. I have good moments and bad moments.

One thing that I am thankful for, that I didn't realize for awhile, is that I'm not angry with God. I'm not asking, "How could you do this to me?!?" I know that God has a purpose and plan for every life, no matter how short. So now I am just asking the Lord to show me what He wants me to learn through this. Who He wants me to become through this.

I am so happy for our baby. He or she gets to be in heaven and escape the heartache and trouble of this world! That is more than I can say for the two that I can hold in my arms. One safe in heaven, now I just have to get these two there!

I am sad for us. A little one that I never got to hold, never got to look into their eyes, will never know who they looked like. I cry for all of the little things that I'm missing out on.

I went to the store yesterday and automatically went down the baby aisle. It took 5 seconds for me to remember... my womb is empty.

It is going to be a hard the next few months. When June 3rd rolls around (yes, June 3rd, I had calculated the due date wrong), it will be harder for awhile. Especially since I have two friends due either the day of or within days of ours. I don't begrudge them their blessings. It will just be hard knowing that it could have been us too.

Thank you to all of you that are praying for us and have left messages. My blog is bound to be sad for a while. I'll try to share what Jesus is showing me as time goes on.

I'm thankful for my blessings. No matter how long or short a time I get to enjoy them.

Pray for us.

I miscarried this morning.

So, we have a baby waiting for us in heaven.

Can't wait to get there!

Arrows

The Bible says that the children that He gives us are like arrows in the hands of a mighty man. We know the devil throws out fiery darts against us. Well, I have some arrows to send back in his direction! With the Lord's help, I'll train these arrows up to know the Lord, so that their aim will be sure. Who knows the souls that may come to know Jesus because of my children! It's a HUGE task and a tremendous responsibility, but I know that Jesus has given me everything I need to accomplish it. God's gifts are always GOOD, especially when they are in His timing. Difficult sometimes? Yes. But the trials that come from raising children only serve to draw me closer to my Guide. Why would I want to miss out on any of this? His plan is best.

And so, that being said.....













The Lord is adding to our quiver once again!

Baby Riddell #3, arriving sometime around May 27, 2009!!!

We are SOOOOOOOOO excited!!!!