Just a Couple of Reasons We Choose to Not Celebrate Halloween

Halloween is a celebration of darkness, death, and fear. It has a long history in occult practices and it is plain to see how it is connected by the decorations that come out.
‘All those who hate Me love death.’ (Proverbs 8:36)
With my children I choose to celebrate life.
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." words of Christ in John 10:10.
I believe in following God's Word every day of the year and bringing my children up in the fullness of it, without exceptions for cultural practices that don't line up.
"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Philippians 4:8.
This verse says that we should not focus ourselves or our children on darkness, death, evil, scary and occult things. But whatever is good and lovely. My children dread Halloween decorations. In our neighborhood they tend to be particularly ghastly. Bloody heads hanging on hooks, rotting figures in cages and the like. This is disturbing to my little children and rightly so. I don't wish for them to be desensitized to what is cruel and inhumane.
Halloween is centered on fear. Scripture says in 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." Again in 1 John 4:18 it says "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
I have heard it taught that fear is the opposite of faith. Interesting thought.
I choose to focus on the light of Christ and not on darkness.

Read about some orgins of Halloween symbols here. There is much information on the subject and this is just one page I happened upon with good information.

Art! Fine Art Giclees Now Available. Christian/Worship/Devotional and Decorative Art.

The Water of the Spirit

I just heard John Kilpatrick say something enlightening in a sermon at the Bay of the Holy Spirit.
He said the difference between not living by the Spirit and living by the Spirit of Almightly God is carrying water or being carried by water. (Not in quotes but close). I want to be carried by the water! Carrying water is not fun- its heavy and hard work and I can only carry a little bit at a time.

Praying for the U.S.A.

the I am praying Isaiah 43:10-13 over our country, the United States of America.
Isaiah 43:10-13

10 “ You are My witnesses,” says the LORD,
“ And My servant whom I have chosen,
That you may know and believe Me,
And understand that I am He.
Before Me there was no God formed,
Nor shall there be after Me.
11 I, even I, am the LORD,
And besides Me there is no savior.
12 I have declared and saved,
I have proclaimed,
And there was no foreign god among you;
Therefore you are My witnesses,”
Says the LORD, “that I am God.
13 Indeed before the day was, I am He;
And there is no one who can deliver out of My hand;
I work, and who will reverse it?”
(NKJV)

Our country was founded with much prayer and strong covenants with the Lord God. In 1607 (see link) the settlers in Virginia set a cross on the beach and prayer to God to dedicate this land to the Lord. Even though they may have been the first, they were not the last. God does not forget. He remembers our history, and I believe He will have the victory in this nation. I pray that we turn to Him because he is the hope, light, and peace we are looking for.

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV) from Bible Gateway.
Lets pray and seek God's face- he is ready and waiting to hear from us and heal us.
Father have mercy in Jesus Name.







 

 

Slavery Today

Did you know that there are more slaves today (right now!) then all the slaves combined in the over 400 years of slave trade in ships from Africa?

There are a staggering 27 million slaves today.

80% are women
50% are children
Every minute 2 children are trafficked
The age of the average victim is getting younger and younger. Many victims found in brothels are as young as 5 years old. There has been ones found younger than that. . . .
This vile trade brings in 19 billion a year at low estimates, rivaling the illegal drug trade. It is about greed and money.

This injustice is up to us to stop. We must be God's hands and feet to rescue. Everyone is called to do something. The problem is huge, but our God is bigger and His heart breaks for every person He has created in His image that is abused and destroyed.

We all need to seek God to see what our part is to be. Some may be in intercession (including prayer walks), media, political awareness and working for justice in lawmaking. Others may be called to visit brothels to bring God's love and provision, even being part of undercover operations to rescue children. Some people's part is in law enforcement, speaking out, spreading the word, and giving money to fund efforts to free slaves and rehabilitate the abused. The perpetrators need rehabilitation too. I heard it taught by Patricia King recently that everyone who engages in sexual impurity feeds this monster of perversion and abuse around the world. 
"For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens." Ephesians 6:12

If we just allow ourselves to picture the little children, teens and women we know kidnapped and forced into this prison where many are forced to be abused by 20 men a day, then compassion will well up in us and we will be led to pray and take action.

Three non-profits that I know and trust that work tirelessly in stopping the sex trade and rescuing the abused are Kampuchea Kids, Cambodian Hope Organization  (both in Cambodia where many children are kidnapped and brought over the Thai border and viciously treated in brothels in Thailand, Malaysia, and surrounding areas),and trustworthy World Vision. This article from the World Vision website is a personal story of one's girls suffering and rescue.

The statistics I quote above are taken from For Their Tears I Died - Stories of Extreme Suffering and Extravagant Redemption in Human Trafficking and Social Injustice, by Patricia King, Michelle Perry and others.
Go let your light shine in the darkness!

Activites Vs. Plans

Commit your activities to the Lord and your plans will be achieved.

Proverbs 16:3

The way this verse is worded is so interesting. It doesn't say commit your plans to the Lord and your activities will succeed. It says commit your activities to the Lord. This is so good for wherever we are. I may not be where my plans (or in another translation says desires) are but the promise is if I commit whatever I have before me to do (housework, homeschooling, praying, singing, driving, changing babies, bills etc etc. . .) to the Lord God my plans or desires will be achieved. That is awesome! God I commit everything I do to you. I will show you that I am committing it to you, not only by doing it excellently for Your Glory, but by singing and praying as I go about my day. Doing so will turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. My plans and desires you have put into my heart WILL be achieved in the Name of Jesus, Amen.

The reflections of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps.

Proverbs 16:1 & 9

Snoqualmie Falls, View from the Salish Inn

Quote from Joseph Prince

"Today some segments of Christianity are preaching a demanding Jesus, not a supplying Jesus. And don't forget the essence of grace is supply, and the essence of the law is demand."

 -Joseph Prince from his TV show "Destined to Reign".

Quotes from a Four Year Old

Quotes from my four year old today while he was eating a scoop of ice cream. Deep truth in simple beauitful words.

"Momma do you know where smiles are? They are in your heart."


"Even if people have no friends they can see they can still be happy because God is with them. Jesus is all over the world."
 

"The Whole World" Christ Holding Our World

This painting is for sale at:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ChelseaCarbonell

Your Light Will Shine Like Dawn

Isaiah is my favorite book in the Bible. It is pure poetry and the promises are so elequent and call to my heart. Christ is whispering to us and drawing our hearts close to His. The promises are just to amazing to pass up!
May you feel the love of His presence as you read His Word to you.

Passage Isaiah 58:6-14:


Isn't the fast I choose:

To break the chains of wickedness,

to untie the ropes of the yoke,

to set the oppressed free,

and to tear off every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,

to bring the poor and homeless into your house,

to clothe the naked when you see him,

and to not ignore [a] your own flesh [and blood]?


 Then your light will appear like the dawn,

and your recovery will come quickly.

Your righteousness will go before you,

and the LORD's glory will be your rear guard.


At that time, when you call, the LORD will answer;

when you cry out, He will say: Here I am.

If you get rid of the yoke from those around you,

the finger-pointing and malicious speaking,


and if you offer yourself  to the hungry,

and satisfy the afflicted one,

then your light will shine in the darkness,

and your night will be like noonday.



(http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=1556)

The LORD will always lead you,

satisfy you in a parched land,

and strengthen your bones.

You will be like a watered garden

and like a spring whose waters never run dry.

Some of you will rebuild the ancient ruins;

you will restore the foundations laid long ago;

you will be called the repairer of broken walls,

the restorer of streets where people live.

 "If you keep from desecrating the Sabbath,

from doing whatever you want on My holy day;

if you call the Sabbath a delight,

and the holy [day] of the LORD honorable;

if you honor it, not going your own ways,

seeking your own pleasure, or talking too much;

then you will delight yourself in the LORD,

and I will make you ride over the heights of the land,

and let you enjoy the heritage of your father Jacob."

For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.