Redeeming Halloween
by Tonja Taylor Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who pur darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!--Isaiah 5:20, AMPC People are more confused now than ever, because the lines between darkness and light have been blurred. But when we bring the Light--the Truth of Jesus Christ the LORD--out in the open, then the darkness is driven back. One of the things even many Christians have been confused about is celebrating Halloween. Although God made cats and pumpkins, He made them for good purposes--not demonic, witchy uses or promotion. Yet many who believe in Christ have pariticpated in this dark "holiday" for way too long. A couple of decades ago, I lived with my 4-year-old daughter in another city, and the LORD gave me the idea to combat the darkness of the worldly Oct. 31 with the Light of His Word and way, creatively. It's a spin-off of the "Trunk or Treat" and Harvest Festivals that many churches have. On October 30, the night before that wicked celebration, the kids (my daughter and a friends two kids) were adorably dressed in positive costumes. Shelby, only 5, knocked on the stranger's door. It opened, and then my precious girl, 4-year-old Victoria, grabbed some candy and an invitation from the basket, and handed it to the man. "This is a treat. God bless you!" The man was delightfully shocked. "Wait, wait! You're doing it all wrong!" He laughed. "I'm supposed to give candy to you!" My friend and I laughed as well, rejoicing in the unique idea the LORD had given us--to take candy, Salvation tracts, and invitations to our church and knock on doors, inviting people to get to know His goodness. "God told us to do this," I said. "We hope you'll visit us soon, and enjoy your candy. Is there anything we can pray about for you?" He smiled and said, "Nah. But thanks. Cool idea!" We left, and I reminded the kids that it was a seed. They were too young to understand, I thought. But they were participating in something that would plant powerful seeds in them--to take God to others. We knocked on several doors, always with the same reaction. It was all positive, and we highly enjoyed ourselves. We knew we were being obedient, and that the LORD was and would work--in the recipients, and in us! When we finished, we took the kids for ice cream, and sat outside at the restaurant. It was a sweet time. There were some people around that we prayed for as a group, although they may never have known it. But the LORD hears and sees and knows all, and we know He honors our feeble efforts when we truly want to lift Him up so others will be drawn to Him. It was a sublime satisfaction to know we had obeyed the LORD to bring more Light (Truth) to the area, and we knew the kids would never forget it. So can you go and do the same! "Trunk or Treats" and other Harvest Festival Carnivals are also excellent. But if you can't do the big-scale events like that, you can still take a kid or few and a couple adults or more, and go knock on doors to be a blessing. You will reach people that wouldn't go to the big events, and you will be making a difference for the Kingdom of God, to bring light to the darkness! Hallelujah! So go for it! For You cause my lamp to be lighted and to shine; the Lord my God illumines my darkness.--Psalm 18:28, AMPC
Through books, courses, presentations, service, prayer, worship, and more, Tonja and her husband live to exalt God. Her series for girls, P.O.W.E.R. GIRL ADVENTURES, is now out (books I-V), along with LEGACY; YOUR HOLY HEALTH: VISIONS OF THE KING, and more. See the "River Rain Creative" YT channel. Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |
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