Post Halloween Thoughts

I've had some thoughts going through my mind as Halloween approached and was over with.  I have to admit that I'm happy that it's over for another year.  While I love autumn, I hate the doom and gloom and death stuff that comes with Halloween. 

I also hate the back and forth bickering between people about whether or not we should celebrate this holiday. 

First, my history.  I participated in Halloween as a child.  For my family, it was about dressing up (in a homemade costume) and about FREE candy.  This was at a time when we, as kids, hardly ever had candy.  Candy was truly a treat - like as in a couple of times a year.  That's it.  It was very seldom (not dutch, didn't grow up with peppermints!). We had no idea what the history of Halloween was, and I'm not sure we cared either.  I don't recall anyone ever suggesting it was bad.  It was dressing up and candy.  That's it. 

Halloween, for our family, was also not linked at all to anything non-Christian.  Whether we were naïve or what, I don't know.  As I entered my teenage years, we even had "Halloween Parties" from CHURCH.  Yes, church.  And they weren't called anything but "Halloween" (I do remember one particular elder who poo-pood this, but I had no idea why he would and I just thought he was a fuddy-duddy).  (I admire him now and wish I'd asked him for more information back then, instead of scoffing his concerns.)

Fast-forward to becoming parents.  Halloween was approaching and our (different) church elders were giving us information about Halloween's origins and about what modern-day Satanists do on this day.  We started to question whether we should participate, but we were still going to, mainly because we knew we'd have a lot of kids at our door and we didn't want to be "fuddy duddys".  (do people still use that word?)

We gave out candy that year.

The next year - we had a 1yo+ that year - and he was TERRIFIED of costumed people.  And we still had conflicting thoughts, so we decided that we wouldn't make him go out for Halloween. We went out to the mall instead - and were met by everyone dressed in costumes.  That plan didn't work out so well for our little one.

As the years continued to go by, we began to seriously wonder if Halloween was something we could participate in with a good conscience.  And after reading up on it, and being convicted by the Holy Spirit, we concluded that we could not participate.  We had read more and more about the day, and how it is a big day in modern-day Occultism and we felt convicted that we couldn't be a part. We decided to opt out of Halloween. 

Fast-forward to now - the internet age - and so much information.  This year was no different.

But what struck me this year is the scoffing tone of some of the Christian pro-Halloween blog posts.  The tone that I got was "what - do you hate cute little kids with cute costumes?" or "what's wrong with dressing up and getting candy - such innocent fun?" 

Then "why don't you want to shine on this night- the Lord wouldn't want you to hide your light under a candle!"

I LOVE little kids.  Anyone who knows me knows this. 
I LOVE little kids in cute costumes. (I loved seeing your kiddos photos on Facebook.)
I'd LOVE to give little kids candy (although I really don't care for all the candy and sweets that they get nowadays, but that's another blog post...)

Yes I want to shine on Halloween night.  You're right - the Lord doesn't want me to hide my light under a bushel. 

But that's the point.  I DO shine on Halloween night.  By taking a stand.  By not being a part of pagan festivities.

I shine on Halloween night - and hopefully every night (and day) by getting to know my neighbours daily, helping my neighbours, reaching out to those in need, by letting the LORD shine through my life.  Every day. 

I'm not saying that YOU shouldn't participate in Halloween.  I am saying that I CHOOSE not to.  I feel CONVICTED not to.  I also feel that my convictions should be respected. 

And I can't help but think that those Christians who disagree with me should have a different attitude (as we all should when we don't agree with someone else) - that of a humble prayer to the Lord saying:

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
 Point out anything in me that offends you,
    and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

(Psalm 139: 23, 24)

 

I found myself singing this song during "Halloween season" this year. It is where my heart is. I am committed first to my Lord - and I cannot be part of breaking HIS heart" - through my participation in pagan festivities ...

 

I COMMIT MY LOVE TO YOU - by Twila Paris (1982)

If, by love, we show the world
That we are His disciples
I can’t take it lightly
I commit my love to you
I will tear down all the walls
I built with my selfish pride
And I will crucify it
I commit my love to you

‘Cause when we are divided
I can hear Him crying
And I can’t be a part of breaking His heart anymore
I can’t do it anymore
So brother, I commit my love to you

And if you have offended me
You know you are forgiven
And I will not remember
I commit my love to you
I will see the best in all you do
And I will defend you
When they come against you
I commit my love to you

‘Cause when we are divided
I can hear Him crying
And I can’t be a part of breaking His heart anymore
I can’t do it anymore
When we are divided
I can hear Him crying
And I won’t be a part of breaking His heart anymore
I just can’t do it anymore
So brother I commit my love to you
I commit my love to you

 

If you participate, do it, but at least take the information about it with a humble heart and with prayer.  Maybe the Holy Spirit is trying to convict you too.

Evil not Tragedy

definitions from
dictionary.com

I, like many others, have been deeply saddened about the recent events in Newtown, Connecticut.  Twenty young children shot dead.  Six staff members shot dead.  Parent(s) shot dead.  Suicide. And as bad as this event was/is, it annoys me to hear it being referred to as a "tragedy". 

Tragedy implies an accidental event.  Something mournful, a calamity, something unplanned.  Yes this was/is a somber event.  This event came to a tragic conclusion.  But make no mistake:  this event (and others like it) was and is EVIL.

 

2 Timothy 3 (NIV)

3 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. ² People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴ treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

 

Evil, not because it was the killing of children (although that in itself is a horrible kind of evil).  Evil because it is wicked - and wickedness that caused it. 

There have been assertions that this mass killing in Newtown could have been avoided by having stricter gun controls.  Or better safety in schools.  Or many other ideas.  However, until humans have respect for other human beings and respect for life, nothing will prevent such evil. 

We live in an increasingly selfish world.  "What I think and I want is what I will get.  If I don't like something, I can do whatever I want in order to let my thoughts be made known."  Yes there might be implications for my choice of rage (legal or judicial implications), however "I have rights".  (Lots of talk about rights but not much talk about responsibility.)

On the one hand we hear all about peace and goodwill to one another.  Especially at this time of year.  And then in the next aisle from us in the store we hear someone going over the top because a certain toy that was advertised in the store flyer is no longer available.  People honk their horns because someone isn't going as fast as they'd like them to.  People make rude gestures to others who are in their way.  They huff and puff because they don't get their own way.  Adults act like unruly children.   Young people are rude to the elderly.  Middle-age people look down on the elderly.  Bullying in schools.  Bullying on the internet.  Bullying in the workplace.  Meanness in magazines.  Meanness in comedy. The sentiment "If I don't like you, I will show you, I can do whatever I want" is everywhere, if not in direct words, in attitude. 

We can blame these things on mental health issues, and there is sometimes an element of truth to that also, however in past history, people had mental issues, poverty, and difficult family situations etc. yet these rampages were not the norm -- in fact, they were unheard of.  In other areas of the world, even now, these rampages are not the norm.  Even though mental issues are and were part of life, and guns were a part of life, people respected others, and lived more respectful lives.  They recognized other people's property and respected that it didn't belong to them, to do with it what they felt like.  Yes there were the rebels.  Those who didn't care.  But there was a standard of expection in society, based on the God's Word.

 

People respected other peoples' children and even looked out for them.  Some still do (think the teachers at the Newtown school), but there is this mentality all around that "I will get what I need for me and mine and who cares about others anymore."  How sad.

We live in a society that glorifies violence and then works to protect those affected by violence.  Movies, television, and video games often depict the fight between evil and good - and often senseless killings are shown, over and over.  We are desensitized to the killings.  Our society even "decorates" homes with human hangings, tombstones and whatever else on Halloween each year.  (Halloween revenue is second only to Christmas in our society! $6 BILLION US in 2009.)

We cannot change people.  We can wish and wish for peace and happiness, but until hearts are changed, hearts become loving towards others, truly changed - and only changed by God - there will never be true love in this world.  Oh some will be loving.  Some will be caring.  But evil will reign. 

Sadly nothing will bring back these children (or the many others who have been senselessly killed in similar evil).  Nothing will bring back the child-like innocence in those who survived the killings but will live with the implications of living through such a nightmare.

 2 Chronicles 7:14

¹⁴ 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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
 

Lord, turn our hearts to you.
Heal our land.  

Standing Up for Life

 

This year we did something different - something that we've never done before: we attended a political rally in Ottawa. 

Not that we've never been political - we've written letters to the government about various issues, both to local governments and to our federal government.  We've made phone calls to officials.  We've filled out petitions and surveys.  We've even called and written to radio shows and newspapers and magazines.  But this was different.

This was standing out - making a political stand.  In public.  In a crowd (of close to 20,000 people!).  On Parliament Hill.

And it was awesome!

It was awesome to be surrounded by so many who were like-minded.  I'm sure we all didn't agree exactly - but we were all there for one reason: to stand up for those who cannot speak for themselves.  To stand up for life - from conception to natural death.

And a loud message was sent to Parliament.  We need a federal law regarding abortion in Canada.

It is sobering that in a world where we work to save the whales, save the trees and save whatever else - we kill our own unborn children.  In the name of  "choice" and "rights".  And the government covers the cost!  Many in Canada (and outside of Canada, I'm sure) don't realize that Canada ranks the same as China and North Korea in it's lack of protection for the unborn. 

We live in a country that won't cover the cost of routine eye examinations, some necessary drugs, eye glasses and other such necessary items - and items which are less costly than abortions, yet abortions are funded over and over! 

When Canada got it's constitution, our abortion laws were deemed "unconstitutional" and Parliament was asked to deal with the issue.  In 1988 (when I was expecting our first of five babies) it was brought up in Parliament, and yet Parliament failed to restrict abortions.  And we have sat since then without any protections.  Back in 1988 I couldn't deal with this issue: I'd seen our unborn baby's heartbeat at 6 weeks and knew he was a living being - how could people kill their unborn children?  While I was trying to hang on to my pregnancy due to complications - the rhetoric went on and on..."At what time is a fetus a human being?", "What about women's choice?"  "Women's bodies; women's choice".  As our baby grew, and as I felt him move within me (and eventually his siblings) - I still heard the rhetoric being debated back and forth and I was ashamed.

Abortion is not the answer.  There ARE alternatives.  Chastity.  Adoption. 

Will Parliament listen?  I  hope and pray so.  For the sake of our society, for our families, for our race. 

Read more: http://weneedalaw.ca/
Canada has NO abortion LAWS!

Canada is the only country in the western world without abortion legislation. Only China and North Korea are in our company.

The mission of weneedaLAW.ca is to build a groundswell of support from across Canada for abortion legislation.

10 Ways to Love

< working on it ... >

"I Just Love Jesus and He Wants Me to Help You"

I love Proverbs 31 devotions! I receive them on my smartphone and sometimes I don't have the time to read them. So I save them for when I have some waiting time - like at a doctor's appointment. Yesterday I read this one and ended up re-reading it at our evening dinner devotion time. I love the reason that she gave for helping and had to share it here! (thank you to my faithful readers - sorry I haven't updated - somehow life always takes over and blogging gets put at the bottom of the to-do list!) D

Lumping and Loving
Karen Ehman
“Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.” Philippians 4:5 (NLT)

I usually cringe at generalizations … stereotypes. Lumping an entire group of people into a confining box. Like “The ________ (nationality) are so ________ (bad character trait)” or “Those ________ (age group) all are so ________ (strange habit or behavior).” However, every once in a while a compliment is paid in the lumping.

Recently, as I waited in line at a coffee house, a frail, elderly woman stood in front of me ordering a meal. She seemed distressed as she fumbled for her change, paid the worker, and then gathered up her bag of food and her drink. As she headed for the door, her large purse began swinging off of her shoulder, nearly knocking her, and all of her lunch, to the floor. “Oh … how am I going to do this? Oh my … oh dear … I can’t …” she mumbled to herself, trying to shift her weight and her cargo while pushing open the door at the same time.

Though I’d just finally reached the front of the line, God used today’s key verse to tap me on the heart and shift my momentary schedule. I quickly hopped out of line. “Here, let me get that for you,” I uttered as I held the door open and steadied her drink. “Would you like me to carry your food to your car?” She stopped in her tracks, her bright blue eyes looking up at me with gratefulness. “Oh dear … you must have a grandmother living that you’re so kind to an old woman.”
“No ma’am, I don’t,” I answered. “I just love Jesus and He wants me to help you.”
Read the rest here: http://devotions.proverbs31.org/?s=lumping+and+loving

Power Verse:
Proverbs 31:26, “She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness.” (NKJV)

Mercies in Disguise?

Laura Story - "Blessings"


We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

Friend Therapy

Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Encouragement: pouring courage into someone who needs it.
Yesterday, while driving, I heard Dr. David Jeremiah and "Friend Therapy". It was great to listen and meditate on these verses for a while and then to connect with a good friend this morning on the phone (she called me)!

Listen to "Friend Therapy - Pt. 2" also.

And I encourage you to reach out and give some "friend therapy" out yourself. Not to the friend that you usually reach out to - to someone else. Someone who doesn't have as many friends to reach out to them. Maybe a lonely neighbour. Maybe someone that you don't usually connect with at church or work. Give out some "friend therapy". "Minister concern for one another" today!

~~~

Thanks to Rachel for showing me how to post online pages... ;) I figured it out!

Been away from Church?

I saw this the other day while casually reading the newspaper with my cup of coffee in hand. How sad!

"Whether you are the most active member of your parish, a Christmas-and-Easter Catholic...you will always be welcome."

Wow.

I always thought the "Christmas-and-Easter Catholic" was something that wasn't condoned. Just a situation that others have observed. People calling themselves people of faith - and yet never paying any attention to their faith in day-t0-day life.

"Connect with your faith and your heritage." In death?

How about connecting with your faith ... while you're alive?! It won't help you after death. Sorry to say.

Grass

As you know, I have been a "paper-girl/woman" for quite a few years. What started out as some outdoor walking (and getting paid for it) has turned out to meeting neighbours that I normally wouldn't meet and growing relationships. It's been good, but also difficult, because those who I usually meet are people who have no one else or those who have family but come from very broken relationships. One such lady is Joanne.

I met Joanne quite a few years ago - I'd say at least 8 years. She was an elderly woman at the time (in her 80s) but she was so active. She'd be outside cutting the grass (seriously!) and even trimming her hedges. While her face looked like she was in her 80s, her body and movement did not. She kept active and loved being outdoors. We'd often chat.

Sometimes we'd chat about God. She was very angry at God. She had no use for God. But I'd still tell her that I was praying for her (and I was) and I showed her the hands of God through my life. She never shied away from me when I mentioned God - but a wall definitely came up.

I learned that her husband passed away almost exactly when my dad did, in 1990. He died of cancer. Joanne and her husband had one child - a son - and that son passed away a few years later. He lived in Europe and his wife (her daughter-in-law) and children stayed in Europe. They had contact over the years and sometimes they'd come to visit Joanne. But Joanne tired of taking them to the tourist attractions (or so she said) so they stopped coming. She said she encouraged them to spend their money on the places that they'd like to visit, rather than visiting her. I wonder if she really meant that.

While Joanne was a nice woman, she was also bitter in many ways and knew exactly how things were. Or how she thought they were. A lot of the people that I meet are like this.

Anyway, a few years ago Joanne told me that her daughter-in-law had cancer. It wasn't long before she told me that her daughter-in-law died. She was quite sad. The only family left were her grandchildren.

A little more than a year ago, Joanne took me aside to tell me that she had been diagnosed with cancer. It was a rare form of a "woman's cancer" and she had a hysterectomy (at almost age 89). I still remember her fear, asking me if I could Google her cancer and find her some information. She'd been given various websites to check out but did not have access to the internet. I sat with her and went through her sheets from the doctor, trying to calm her down. It must be tough to live alone and have no one to support you at such times.

Joanne was healthy enough to go through the surgery so she did. Everything went well and although it took quite a bit out of her, Joanne kept at it. She had someone cut her grass for her (which drove her crazy) but she got back at the hedges. She didn't open her pool last season, because she knew she wouldn't be able to keep up with it. She missed her swims.

I rarely saw someone visiting Joanne. But I was happy to see that her closest neighbours were able to take her to her radiation appointments (she'd asked me but I wasn't able to) and a couple neighbours were taking turns cutting her grass. It was encouraging to see neighbours supporting one another in an old-fashioned (not seen a whole lot today) way.

A couple of months ago Joanne again took me aside. Her cancer had come back. She was angry. I tried to encourage her. But she told me that fear had taken over. Fear of cancer (she'd watched her husband and son die of it), fear of dying alone, fear of dying. I tried to console her. I tried to support her.

I saw her about 6 weeks ago and she looked good. I thought she must be doing well, despite her sadness.

And then a couple of weeks ago a "for sale" sign went up at Joanne's house. I could see that someone was still around because I saw her tire tracks in the snow (coming out of her garage) as well as her garbage/composting/recycling being put out and put away again. So I knew that she was still around. On December 17 Joanne had her 90th birthday. I didn't see her but I left her a card and note. I never heard from her again.

Last week I saw that the house was "sold" -- and a few trucks were in her driveway. A dumpster has now joined the trucks. I see Joanne's "life" in the dumpster. I went inside Joanne's house a couple of times and it was like a timewarp. The 1950s all the way. Panelling everywhere, chrome everywhere, various shades of yellow and orange everywhere. It even had a musty smell. Joanne said it wasn't worth it to update anything. It would be a waste of her money.

So I haven't seen Joanne, and since she doesn't have any family here, I don't know if she's okay. I haven't seen a death announcement but I don't know who would put one in for her anyway. (I hope to talk to one of her neighbours soon.) I'm hoping that she's in a senior's home now, getting some tender-loving-care. I miss seeing her - and seeing her house be demolished has been quite an analogy for me. Of how fleeting this life is. It is here and it is gone.

I hope most of all that Joanne has a loving person beside her, showing her of her need of a Saviour.

You sweep people away like dreams that disappear or like grass that springs up
in the morning. In the morning it blooms and flourishes, but by evening it
is
dry and withered. ...
Seventy years are given to us! Some may even
reach
eighty. But even the best of these years are filled with pain and
trouble; soon
they disappear, and we are gone.

Teach us to realize
the brevity of
life, so that we may grow in wisdom.
Psalm 90:5,6,10,12

Being Perfect

27 Sep 2010
Rachel Olsen

"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence." 1 Peter 1:3 (ESV)

There's a moment I dread when going to the doctor for a check-up. It's not putting on that tissue paper rectangle they mistakenly call a "gown." It's not having my finger pricked for blood tests - though I'm really squeamish about that. It's the moment right after the nurse finishes her questions, grabs her clip board, and announces the doctor will be in to see me shortly. Pulling the door closed behind her, she leaves me alone with it.

I already know what it's going to say about me; I've read it before. It's going to say that I don't measure up. That I'm not reaching my potential. That I don't equal my ideal. It's the height/weight chart that declares the perfect weight for my height – and I'm several pounds away.

It extends no mercy. It offers no grace. It makes no allowances for how old I am, how many babies I've birthed, or the fact that my husband can eat three plates of food every night without gaining an ounce. It demands perfection.

A few years ago I heard a verse that seemed to be the scriptural equivalent of the height/weight chart. A single verse to measure my worth against, and feed my expectations for perfection: "But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:48, NIV)

I figured this verse justified dressing my family in matching sweaters, in the middle of July, to take the Christmas card photo because I'd just gotten the perfect haircut. I figured it warranted pricey tooth whitening treatments because I drink coffee and tea, and it shows. And I figured it would be my defense when I drove my family nuts about deep-cleaning the entire house because my new friend said she might stop by.

While the verse came in handy when I needed to justify my quest for perfect teeth, perfect photos or a perfectly clean house, it added to my disappointment, guilt and occasional loathing when my life, body or family didn't match the ideal notions in my head. Rather than fostering perfection, it fueled my self-criticism. Surely this is not what Jesus intended!

In the years since hearing that verse, I've embraced a core conviction that goes like this: If God created life, He alone gets to define it . This conviction drove me to find out what exactly Jesus meant by "be perfect."

Matthew wrote this verse. And the word he used in the ancient Greek language means something a little different than Mr. Webster's English definition. The Greek word here is teleos and it means "complete, full grown, developing."

The first two pieces of that definition indicate something already accomplished, while the third indicates an ongoing process. So this perfection Jesus prescribes for us is already complete and yet still developing. Complete in Him; still at work in us. We're allowed to be a work-in-progress!
All parts of this definition, however, refer to maturity of character, rather than a flawless figure, immaculate home, or the faultless execution of a task. Jesus just doesn't care so much if there's dust on our mantle, a stain on our teeth, or a scratch on our car. He isn't interested in how well our bedspread matches our curtains; He's interested in our spiritual maturity. Jesus teaches I will not find my worth in my ability to reach my perfect weight or accomplish my to-do list flawlessly, but in the fact that I am learning to reflect His character. To graciously give and receive love.

That's good news for a recovering perfectionist. Plus, as John writes in 1 John 3:18-19 of The Message: "My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality. It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it."

Dear Lord, thank You for grace! Thank You for mercy! Thank You for empowering me to be like You as I submit to Your Word. And thank You for not caring about dust bunnies or stained shirts. Help me to care less about those things as well and focus my heart more on You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Application Steps:
Spend time reading through the gospels, noticing what concerned Jesus and what did not.

Reflections:
What surface-level thing(s) have you been worrying over lately?

If it's not about your character, let it go as imperfect and rest in God's grace today.

Power Verses:
Philippians 3:8-9, "More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith," (NASB)

What Is Worship About Anyway?

I was flabbergasted when I read this article.

In Seattle, Mars Hill churchgoers regularly tweet throughout the service. In New York City, Trinity Church marked Good Friday by tweeting the Passion play, detailing the stages of Jesus' crucifixion in short bursts. At Next Level Church, outside Charlotte, it's not only okay to fuse social networking technology with prayer; it's desirable.

On Easter Sunday, pastor Todd Hahn prefaced his sermon by saying, "I hope many of you are tweeting this morning about your experience with God."

What is "twittering"? (tweeting)

Voelz and David McDonald, the other senior pastor at Westwinds Community Church in Jackson, Mich., spent two weeks educating their congregation about Twitter, the microblogging site that challenges users to communicate in 140 characters or less. They held training sessions where congregants brought in their laptops, iPhones and Blackberrys. They upped the bandwidth in the auditorium. (Finding God on YouTube)

* * *

A while back I saw a guest at our church typing into his
Blackberry during the sermon. I thought that he might be making sermon notes (and maybe he was). But now I wonder if he was answering emails or "Twittering".

Can we ever leave electronic devices alone? For an
HOUR?

Do our minds have to be constantly going? Can't we just "be
still" and listen to God's voice?

It used to be that cell phones were the big annoyance. In
restaurants, movie theatres and sometimes church. Now Blackberrys?
Texting? Where will this end?

Or will it ever?

It seems to me that we are so fixed on our gadgetry that we cannot enjoy silence and calm. Many times we don't greet those walking past us because we're involved in a cell phone conversation already. All of our "quiet" times are filled with gadgetry.

And now worship services too?

What is worship about anyway? Or better still, WHO is
worship about? It's about HIM. God. Jesus. It's FOR
Him. It isn't about us!

Think about it.

And leave the gadgetry at home.

You'll enjoy it.

THE HEART OF WORSHIP, by Michael W. Smith
Verse 1:
When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart

Bridge:
I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

Chorus:
I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus

Verse 2:
King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath

Bridge:
I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

Chorus:
I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus

Chorus:
I'm coming back to the heart of worship,
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus

Spiritual Vacuuming

This is a devotion from a few years ago that I had saved in my bible. I pulled it out recently when we had to deal with some books that had come into our home and did not fit the Phil. 4:8 guideline that we try to go by. I love the vacuum cleaner analogy! I have asked for Susanne's permission to post the devotion here and I am thankful that she has allowed me to do so. ~ D

Dawn,
Yes, you have my permission to use the devotion House of Holiness. Please note the following with the devotion: © 2005 by Susanne Scheppmann. All rights reserved.
Blessings, Susanne Scheppmann

September 29, 2005

"House of Holiness"

Susanne Scheppmann

Co-Editor of Online Devotions,

Proverbs 31 Speaker Team Member

Key Verse: Psalm 93:5,

"Your statutes stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days, O Lord." (NIV)

Devotion: My husband, Mark, likes a clean house. Fortunately, for me, he also enjoys vacuuming. We joke that our vacuum covers more miles per week than a NASCAR racer. The noise of suction vibrates throughout our home on a daily basis, picking up small particles of food, dirt, dog hair and who knows what else.

Now here is the weird part, most of the time I do not notice or can't see what the vacuum collects off my floor, until I empty the vacuum bag. Shock washes over me each time I replace the dusty bag of dirt. I realize all that appalling stuff snuck into my carpet uninvited.

While my home stays clean from sundry floor dirt, keeping my home in a state of godly holiness requires daily diligence also. Psalm 93:5 describes God's house as, "holiness adorns your house for endless days." I believe our own homes should reflect holiness also, because God commands us, ". . . be holy, because I am holy. . . (Leviticus 11:44, NIV)." In addition, in the Old Testament the priests in God's house were told, "You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean. . . (Leviticus 10:10, NIV)."

Although, these verses apply within the Old Testament laws, we are called to be holy priests today. Twice in 1 Peter we are told we are a "holy priesthood." So, I must ask myself, What is common or unholy in my home? What has snuck into my life that God considers appalling in His sight?

The way I determine if something needs to be removed from my home-life is by asking the following type of questions:

Would my favorite outfit be modest enough to wear to the door to invite Him into my home?

† If Jesus were sitting with me, would I read this book?

† Could I invite Jesus to watch my favorite afternoon television show and watch it guilt free?

† Would I want to share my popcorn with Him as I watched the latest video released?

Even though our answers might differ to what we believe is appropriate for our own homes, we must be diligent to seek God's heart on what spiritual housekeeping He desires in our lives. For myself, a good guideline is found in Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things (NASB)." These words from the Apostle Paul help me to determine what needs to stay and what needs to go in my home.

An example of this type of decision applied recently in my own life. I had watched a movie on TV that I enjoyed, so much I decided to purchase it. However, when I began to watch the movie, the vulgarity of the language shocked me. I realized the network television had edited the profanity from the movie. It was not honorable, right, pure, or of good repute. I discarded the movie into the trash. Unknowingly, I had brought "spiritual dirt" into my home.

Just as I clean my grimy floors frequently, I battle to keep my home godly. Now if you will excuse me, I hear my husband running the vacuum. I believe I will go run a spiritual vacuum throughout the house, because I often bring home bits and pieces of things that God would not find pleasing to His eyes. How about you? Do you need to run a "spiritual vacuum" throughout your home?

My Prayer for Today:

Lord God, reveal to me anything in my home that would not be pleasing to You. Help me to discard books, movies, or any other type of entertainment that I would not be proud to share with You.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Something to Ponder...

John Wesley's Holy Club Questions

These are 22 questions the members of John Wesley's Holy Club asked themselves every day in their private devotions over 200 years ago.

1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?

2. Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?

3. Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence?

4. Can I be trusted?

5. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?

6. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?

7. Did the Bible live in me today?

8. Do I give it time to speak to me everyday?

9. Am I enjoying prayer?

10. When did I last speak to someone else about my faith?

11. Do I pray about the money I spend?

12. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?

13. Do I disobey God in anything?

14. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?

15. Am I defeated in any part of my life?

16. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?

17. How do I spend my spare time?

18. Am I proud?

19. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?

20. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?

21. Do I grumble or complain constantly?

22. Is Christ real to me?

I AM

This song has really touched me lately -- I've been going through a bit of a tough time and a friend pointed this song out to me. I've owned the CD for a while but it hasn't been until now that this song has hit me. It's so comforting that, when life doesn't seem to make any sense, God has our times in His hands and HE KNOWS!

I dedicate this to my friend, K. I miss you already. ((( hugs ))) ~ D

I Believe!

One of my favourite songs from one of my favourite artists! With spring all around us and a long winter finally over, how CAN we say there is no God?! Enjoy! ~ D

"Little bit" of sin?

Here's a devotional that a Christian sister sent to me -- wow, what a good reminder! I need to go do some pruning -- how about you? ~D

Author: Elisabeth Elliot

Source: A Lamp For My Feet

Scripture: Matthew 5:29

You Can't Keep Both Eyes
A young man was delivered from a life of self-destruction in the form of drug abuse. He turned from his old ways, but of course was pursued by the enemy and tempted back. It was clear to him that he could not afford to be lenient with himself in allowing the least indulgence in the old habit. One day he said to his pastor, "Don't ever allow me to use the word 'struggle.' Every time I use it I am excusing disobedience, I am really preferring to 'struggle' rather than to quit."

Jesus made this necessity sharply clear when He said, "If it is your eye that is your undoing, tear it out and fling it away; it is better to enter into life with one eye than to keep both eyes and be thrown into the fires of hell" (Mt 5:29).

To struggle--that is, to allow a "little bit" of sin, to be cautious with ourselves, tolerant of a certain amount of plain disobedience, is to try to keep both eyes.

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