The Sun and the Planets or Doesn't the World Revolve Around Me?

One of the things I am so thankful that I learned from my Mom is the importance of teaching your children at a young age that the world does not revolve around them.

I have had a lot of mothers, when their children get to the age of 14-18, come to me in despair seeking help for their teenagers because their teenagers feel that the world revolves around them. It is no surprise.

When you have children, you feel your world DOES suddenly revolve around them! You need to change their diapers and feed them, most people believe on demand. They fall down as they start to walk; you need to catch them! As they start gymboree, reading and other toddler programs, you arrange your days around those times. When school starts, you virtually have an hour-by-hour schedule to follow.

Here are some of the tips I've used in my life for teaching my children, beginning at a VERY young age, that they are not the sun, and I am not the planet, and that my world and everyone else's world does not actually revolve around them.

*Do not be afraid to integrate patterns to teach your infant routine and scheduling. At birth, you can have a certain place for your baby to sleep. As they get older, keep the routine of putting them into their bedroom at night, and as the many little naps in the living area give way to a morning and an afternoon nap, be thinking ahead of cutting the morning one eventually to make it one long afternoon nap. I did this by keeping my baby in the living area for the morning nap, and then making the afternoon nap in their bedroom. That way when the regular nighttime becomes more established, you will be able to know that the morning will involve a little nap (which you may have to cut short as they get older), then the longer one, then dinner then bedtime.

*I worked towards an 8-12-4-8-12-4 schedule as soon as I could. That way, I eventually worked towards an 8 (breakfast), 12 (lunch), 4 (dinner) as they got older, dropping the nighttime feedings.

*As your baby starts dropping those naps, have a pack n play or playpen in your living area. When you have to go get a load of laundry to fold or prepare dinner, your child can have fun safely in their protected area with special toys there. Still within sight of you and communicating with you, your baby will learn to be content there. As they get older, or another baby comes along, this will be a big help to know that if you need to tend to a baby, change a diaper, etc., your crawling or toddling baby isn't poking their fingers into an electric socket or getting into mischief…

*Make designated "reading" or "quiet" times where your children cannot interrupt you, but need to stay quiet.

*I used to put a pile of smarties in front of each child as I read them a book. If they interrupted they lost a smartie, and at the end the person with the most got the others. Teach them self control.

*I would put a quarter on the dash when we waited for someone's piano lesson to finish to see who could stay quiet the longest.

*Never look at "boundaries," "limits," "restrictions," "discipline," or "schedule" as bad words. Rather, teach your children to delight in knowing where the boundaries or limits are, what the restrictions are to encourage knowing what they are free to do, to enjoy the results of discipline – bring out areas that TAKE discipline to achieve. Explain schedules: how buses leave at a certain time, whether we took longer or not. Teach them to EXPECT schedules and discipline as they get older, and to appreciate it. Remember, my mom says children are like mustangs running wild: they don't stop running til they get to the fence! Set up your fences early!

*Know your children don't learn to give by watching YOU give to them... they learn to give by learning the JOYS of giving sacrificially themselves. Make a big deal in how wonderful they FEEL when they give to others and help them repeat the positive experiences of giving rather than taking.

*Discipline means "activity, exercise or a regimen that develops or improves a skill; training." Be sure you incorporate it into daily life when your children are young; it will pay big dividends when they are older! Discipline means "a set or system of rules and regulations." Your child will soon be going to school. Start early to teach them that they need to act in accordance with schedules and consider others. Discipline also means "to bring to a state of order and obedience by training and control." If you want children you can bring to public places that are in a state of order, it begins in your home.

*Have your older toddlers take a time to responsibly interact with their siblings. This will develop the skill of taking responsibility for others and caring for others.

*Teach your children that some things are "off limits" to them. Children can play with their toys and certain things. Children should not expect that nothing is off limits to them. They should know that telephones, electronics, adult possessions, and even toys that belong to other children are not "open game" for them to get into. "No, we don't touch that – your brother is building something!" "No, that is Daddy's cell phone: you can play with your TOY phone!" Train them to know this at home and you and others will be able to enjoy your children in public.

*Keep your holidays SIMPLE. A FEW needed gifts. START THIS YOUNG -- you do NOT need a bunch of teenagers expecting piles of presents. Give a FEW things... include mittens, scarves, things they NEED. Before Christmas have them go through their things and give things away to bless others. Help a needy family at Christmas and have everyone participate in donating money and going and blessing them personally so they can feel the joy. Many times we shopped with family members for other family members and split up and then came back and wrapped the gifts and sent them home with the people. We started this when my children were about 3 and 4 years old. Sometimes we bought things for other families that my children didn't have themselves!

*When your husband comes home, teach your children that your husband is #1 in the home, and not them. Take time to sit with your husband and make them not interrupt. Get a hold of the Burger King crown and keep it there and when your husband comes home, proclaim, "Daddy is the KING, and you are the prince (or princess), so I have to listen to him FIRST!" This will teach your children authority and timing and how to wait their turn and respect people with authority over them.

*When company comes, train your children not to just run into the room talking and interrupt. Teach them to walk into a room, assess, and come over and stand by you and put their hand on your should until you address them. That trains your children that when they walk into the room, everything is not just waiting for them to appear to revolve around them.

*Teach your children to make time in their day for others. Have a list of people that you need to call, send a note to or cheer up, and every day pull a name and do one of those things. Visit people in the hospital together, make time to stop in at funeral homes when someone dies and train them to say "I'm so sorry about your loss." Let them help you bring meals or flowers or groceries to people in need. Teach them compassion towards others in difficult circumstances. Let them know that we need to take responsibility to help others every day, and that we can not live unto ourselves, but must take time in our busy schedules to do things for others. That way your children will learn to revolve their lives around others in need.

*Have your children write thank you notes on Christmas cards and bring gifts to their teachers – yes even if there are 6 of them! Teach your children to be grateful for the people that are pouring into their lives, and to recognize the sacrifices they make and what they have to put up with to do so.

*Teach your children that there are some places that are not appropriate for children: it is "adult time". Whether it is a little break to run, go to the gym, have a cup of coffee with a friend, attend an event, or go to a work function with your husband, train your children early that everything doesn't include them.

*Teach your children respect for authority. If their teacher says they went outside the lines, don't disagree with their teacher and side with your child. If your child tells you their teacher or coach has something against them without a cause, do not take the side of your child against their teacher or coach. Instead, go with your child and have them learn to approach their teacher/coach and see how they can do better and how their teacher/coach sees them. Teach your child to change THEIR behavior for the teacher/coach and not expect it the other way around.

*Make sure your holiday traditions and daily habits always are more about others than serving just your own family. Adopt a nursing home once a month, go to a cancer group, adopt a child from another country, foster children.

*Read your children management books. By age 5, my children were being read "How to Win Friends and Influence People," "Seven Habits for Highly Effective People," then "Seven Habits for Highly Effective Families," and "The 8^th Habit." We read books about children with diseases. I brought the books to their level and they learned so much that way.

*Bring your children to management and leadership seminars when you can. We brought children as young as 8 years old to leadership training programs when we could get special permission.

*Never deny your child the opportunity to want something for a long time before getting it. Do not give things to your children before they even know they want it! Make them want something, save for it, wait for it, shop prices, and then get it. If you want to help them, pay PART of it but never all. Even for their first bike, sit down and let them know they have to put SOMETHING towards it. That gives them ownership. It gives them an opportunity to sacrifice things to get something. It gives them the joy of working towards something. Don't take that away from your children!

*Teach your child to give every opportunity they can. Every time an offering is taken, put SOMETHING in – even a nickel. If the Salvation Army is collecting, donate SOMETHING – even a coin. Put SOMETHING in to good causes. This teaches them to put INTO their world and not just draw FROM it.

*Teach your children the value of putting into their family's lives. We made "bank books" and showed that you need to "put something in" to each other's bank books, because when the time came that you needed to draw out, there had to be something there. Make it fun to demonstrate real life successful living and how it all works.

*Don't ever do chores alone. Put the timer on and have everyone chip in. Have everyone take responsibility for something. Work together as a team. Enlist help for anything you do if a child is around. Make it pleasant and a team effort.

*Don't hand your child luxury items -- make them earn them. They'll work towards them, appreciate them more, and take better care of them.

*When your child (eventually, believe me, this happens!) turns 14, sit them down and explain they have two summers to earn money to buy a car. Match what they earn. Make them work towards it. Some of mine had to work an extra year to get a car. Now they tell me this is another thing that taught them so much and that they are so grateful I did. I was so blessed to work for a millionaire lawyer who worked with other lawyers that all gave their children everything. My boss made his children work for everything, and I could clearly see the difference. I decided to raise my children the way my boss did. I am grateful for his example.

Think of other creative ways to encourage discipline, respect for authority, compassion, guidelines, honor for others, respect, diligence, self-control, and respect for rules. Talk to your children about how things would be if everyone ran red lights, or threw garbage, etc., and encourage them to appreciate order and structure.

This will help you train your children into young adulthood with more of a conscientiousness of others and what their purpose in life is. Too many parents realize too late that their children are bored and disinterested in life because their only purpose in life is to amuse themselves and have others do for them. That is why depression is at an all-time high with teenagers: they do not have purpose in their lives and cannot operate within the structure of society.

Challenge: Think of creative ways to integrate lessons into your children's lives that display and incorporate the benefits of rules, regulations, self-control, discipline and character. Look at effective teams and explain to your children how important it is that they learn to adhere to rules. Teach your children to respect and care for others; that it is NOT all about them! Teach your children to sacrifice, and save, and deny themselves things for the future. Make productive citizens in the future who are not of the current persuasion that they are the sun and everyone else the planets!

Teaching Your Children About Friendships

Here are some wise things that parents can do when their children are young to teach them about friendship:

*Know that God has set you as an authority over your children's associations, and teach them to honor you in that role (see Hebrews 13.17). It is you that must give account for their souls (mind/will/emotions). It is a responsibility God gave you as a parent to allow or disallow wrong friendships. See the many times in Proverbs about parents' direction; what happened to Eli for not disciplining his older offspring; and the blessings of Abraham because God could count on him ("For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him." - Genesis 18.19)

*Teach your children to discern character. Teach them the value of character. Instill character in them. Define it and aspire to it. We had resources to play games and do projects to reinforce building character.

*Teach your children to pray for right friendships. Teach them the value of their family as friends. Teach them the dangers of foolish alliances. Train them to not seek a multitude of associations, but a few good friends.

*As noted earlier, I have always taught my children the wisdom of different levels of friendships. There were many "school friends" where I encouraged my children to be a part of encouraging and being a friend to people at school, however my children were not allowed to develop intimate friendships or go to homes with certain "friends" or "associations" from school where harmful friendships could be developed or where our training and teaching would be negated or undermined.

*Teach your child what makes a good friend. Teach them what to LOOK for in a good friend, and how to BE a good friend. Scripture has a lot to say about what a good friend should be, including:

one who keeps a confidence (Proverbs 11.13);

one who overlooks mistakes (Proverbs 17.9);

one who stands by you when you are in trouble (Proverbs 17.17);

someone not short-tempered (Proverbs 22.24);

someone honest (Proverbs 27.6);

someone who helps you when you are down (Ecclesiastes 4.9-10);

someone walking the same path as you (Amos 3.3).

A good friend rejoices with you and weeps with you and is interested in helping you be the BEST you can be.

*Show your children by your friendships the dynamics of amazing friendships. Your children will see more from how you conduct yourself with your friends than from what they hear you say. Are you willing to go out of your way for your friends in helping them be the best they can be? Do your friends help you be a better person? Are you willing to take a stand when your friends choose something to do or be involved in that would violate your character, morals or principles? Finally, are you willing to walk away from friendships that could lead you down the wrong path? Many times my husband and I have had to stand alone and not be involved in going places or doing things that would diminish the excellence we have chosen in our lives. We have never been sorry.

*As your children get older, be involved but gradually watch as they choose their friends and reinforce the principles you taught them. "Is that person going to make you a better person?" "Is this friend on the same road as you?" If Jesus is NOT Lord, the person will live an entire different set of values, because God's ways are NOT our ways, and He puts a great difference between those that follow Him and those who don't. Is the person growing spiritually? 2 Cor 3.18 tells us we are to go from "glory to glory". Wrong friendships can negatively impact spiritual growth and direction.

*As long as your offspring live in your home, you need to have input into their friendships. After all, if their friends are coming over, or if your children are going off to meet them, it is ultimately your home that will be negatively or positively impacted by those associations. (Joshua 24.15 - "...as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!)

*Make your home a center for your children's activities, so that you can have input in their friendships. We made sure we invested in making our home an awesome place for everyone to hang around! Also we never allowed our children to go into other homes all night. We would pick them up later in the evening, and even drop them off early in the morning for something if necessary, but we knew that a lot of bad decisions are made in the middle of the night by adolescents with hormones raging, and we started early by not allowing it. We took stewardship of our children very seriously, and we could not attest to what happened at other homes.

*Train your children to have a heart for others even if they make mistakes. Teach them the wisdom of our Lord Jesus Christ as He died on the cross and was able with His heart towards the people He loved to say, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" in Luke 23.34. The Greek word "do" is poleo, which amazingly shows us that Jesus was not saying they did not realize what they were doing to Him, but He was asking the Father's forgiveness because the people didn't realize what they were doing to themselves! The same word is translated or means: ordaining, making, causing, bringing forth. We need to teach our families the same heart of Jesus that asks God to forgive others because they don't know the seeds they are sowing and what those seeds will bring forth in their lives that will be so hurtful to them! Powerful!

CHALLENGE: Train your children to be a good friend. Train them what it means to find good friends. Use the Word of God to teach them what the "salt of the earth" is, how not to "hide their light under a bushel," what a "sheep among wolves" is, how to shine their light in the "midst of a crooked and perverse generation". Love love love all but be wise who you yoke yourself together with and teach your children that wisdom.

The Importance of Choosing Friends Wisely

One of the areas where many Christian families err is in separating the value and worth of all people from the wisdom of developing close associations or friendships with every one.

I have always taught my children the wisdom of different levels of friendships. There were many "school friends" where I encouraged my children to be a part of encouraging and being a friend to people at school, however my children were not allowed to participate in extracurricular activities with certain "friends" or "associations" from school.

Although it is necessary to teach your children the value and worth of all people, and the importance of making people feel special, you also need to teach them the importance of whom we develop close friendships with. A lot of times I would use myself as an example and demonstrate to them how because I picked my friends wisely I was able to pursue excellence unhindered. I explained how if I had picked my friends unwisely, I would have been headed down different paths.

It amazes me at how many parents are unaware of the importance of who to develop close associations with. Many parents fill their homes with the wrong kind of friends, and then are surprised when their daughter marries a person who is not living the same values as she is.

The Bible has a lot to say about differentiating between associations and friendships, about wisdom in how you choose your close friendships, and about the dangers of choosing friendships with those who are headed down wrong paths or have wrong morals... And interestingly enough the Greek word for "evil" with regards to people is "harmful in effect or influence" - THAT is what makes someone or something EVIL - if it can harm you!

1Corinthians 15:33 Don’t let anyone deceive you. Associating with bad people will ruin decent people. (God's Word)

1Corinthians 15:33 Do not be so deceived and misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character.

2Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers [do not make mismated alliances with them or come under a different yoke with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership have right living and right standing with God with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light have fellowship with darkness?

2 Corinthians 6:14 Don’t become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That’s not partnership; that’s war. Is light best friends with dark?

Psalms 26:4 I do not sit with false persons, nor fellowship with pretenders;...

Proverbs 9:6 Leave off, simple ones [forsake the foolish and simpleminded] and live! And walk in the way of insight and understanding.

Proverbs 13:20 He who walks [as a companion] with wise men is wise, but he who associates with [self-confident] fools is [a fool himself and] shall smart for it.

Challenge: Train your children to know the difference of being a friend to all and yet the wisdom God gives us regard our closest friends? (Read the next post regarding how to teach your children to choose their friends wisely.)

Can you Serve God and Celebrate Satan's Holy Day? Has the Church been DUPED?

  

People need to seriously pray about, read and consider this message. It is a heartfelt cry against the works of darkness...
I am at a loss to understand why people can say they serve God, Who sent His Son Jesus to die to free us and set us free from darkness and the devil, Who is in an ongoing war with Satan and the powers of hell, on the one hand, and yet celebrate "Halloween" on the other hand. "Christian Halloween parties" are not even possible. This is serious stuff...

Whether you "agree" or not, whether you portend ignorance or not, whether you try to make it cute or not, Halloween is adored by practitioners of both Wicca and Satanism alike. The witches, of both white and black magic, hold the day in high esteem. Anton LaVey, founder of the Church of Satan, said: "Call it black, call it white, call it what you will, it's all evil, and it all gets its power from the source of hell." One cannot deny that Satanism's influence today is strengthened by the observance of Halloween:

"After one's own birthday, the two major Satanic holidays are Walpurgisnacht (May 1st) and Halloween (or All Hallow's Eve)." - The Satanic Bible by Anton Levey page 96, section on Religious Holidays.

But Gods Holy Word, says: 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.

Do you really think God is going to wink at and overlook the fact that someone who proclaims that Jesus is LORD can actually have parties on Satan's highest holiday? Do you really not believe that Jesus and the devil are at war? Do you really think that acting as if the occult and things of darkness that Jesus died to set us free from are trivial and not important, making light of fellowshipping with such things, focusing on love stories with vampires and creatures of darkness, and having ANYTHING to do with the "unfruitful works of darkness" that you are SUPPOSED to be reproving is going to be okay with the Lord who is at WAR with these things? I guess everyone has a "line", a "boundary". It is interesting to see where "Christians" want to put their own boundary lines in playing around with and trivializing occult and demonic practices verses even when GOD has different boundary lines for His children in dealing with the same things.
It is SOOOO obvious! The apostle Paul said Witchcraft is one of the acts of the sinful nature and those who practice it will not inherit the kingdom of God but have their part in the Lake that burns with Fire. (See Galatians 5:16-21; see also Revelation 22:15).
Any serious study of Biblical demonology will reveal Satan as the power behind false religion, witchcraft, idolatry and the occult. The Word of God makes it clear that these are all to be shunned as dangerous. There were many superstitions and false concepts in ancient Israel about which the Bible is silent. However, occultism, in any form, was punishable by death! Why?
The spiritual power and reality behind idols involves demons. The Bible commands us to shun occult practices. Mediums and spiritists are expressly prohibited. Nowhere are such practices acceptable.
You cannot serve God and Satan. You cannot watch TWILIGHT and occultic movies that make light of vampires and creatures of darkness. Some Churches actually HAVE Halloween Parties!!! There is nothing hidden: some of the atrocities on people's homes promoting death, gore, and destruction would be considered illegal... decapitated heads, demons, skeletons, witches (who now practice openly since they have made so many INROADS into our culture by way of Halloween and other accepted practices). More and more evil and occult laden things are being promoted and no one blinks an eye. Meanwhile laws are being pushed that allow Satanists and witches the "right" to offer child sacrifices and other things going along with their anti-Christ religion.  The devil is having his way, and the church is BLINDED to the WARFARE going on. I don't get it. The fact is that we cannot be deceived: what we sow we will surely reap. You canNOT sow seeds of partaking in the devil's high holiday, whether through ignorance or not, and not reap any repercussions from it. I have had people say to me, "Do you really think it is a SIN to dress up on Halloween or have a Halloween party?" That ALONE scares me because they are looking for a 'do' and 'don't' list rather than relating to the heart of God and what He would say about something. Satan CANNOT TOUCH YOU - He is UNDER YOUR FEET if you have the RIGHTEOUS of Christ. Christ DESTROYED Satan and his works of darkness at the Cross. But YOU can INVITE Satan in -- and you can CHOOSE to serve Satan by celebrating those things that represent him -- those things clearly evidence on "Halloween." If we are to avoid the appearance of evil and not cause our brothers to stumble, why would you participate in Halloween, which is obviously Satan's territory, and to try to make it cute and overlook it? When you choose to "believe a lie" it is the beginning of deception.

It is today what it has always been - a day dedicated to the devil. What Should Our Position as A Christian Be? The most common complaints about anyone taking a stand against Halloween is (#1) - “You’re trying to take all the fun out of little children’s lives,” and (#2) - “You’re trying to make something out of nothing, because we don’t believe in that stuff.” Now listen! Just because you don’t believe in something does not mean that it’s not real. What you choose to believe or not believe does NOT change the FACTS. Facts are facts regardless of what some people choose to believe.

Three hundred years before Jesus was born, a civilization of people called the Celtics lived throughout the British Isles, Scandinavia, and Western Europe. They were a common group, much like many segments of society today, but they were controlled by a secret society of priests and pagans called the Druids. The Druids were satanists who worshipped and served the demonic god of death - Samhain (pronounced Sa-man). These satanic priests literally controlled people’s lives through the mechanism of fear, and much death, disease, and destruction came upon the Celtics as a result of the Druids and their practices. Each year on October 31, the Druids celebrated the eve of the Celtic new year in honor of their pagan god, Samhain. The “Festival of Samhain,” more assuredly called “The Festival of Death,” was officially known, and is still recognized today by all satanists, occultists, and devil worshippers as the eve of the new year for witchcrafts. Anton Lavey, author of “The Satanic Bible” and high priest of The Church of Satan, says there are three important days to satanists: 1) their birthday, 2) April 30, and 3) THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY - HALLOWEEN. Lavey says it is on this night that satanic, occult, and witchcraft powers are at their highest potency level, and any witch or occultist who has been having difficulty with a spell or curse can usually achieve success on October 31st because Satan and his powers are at their best that night. October 31st, Halloween, is the eve of the new year for witchcraft. The World Book Encyclopedia says it is the beginning of all that is “cold, dark, and dead!” When you send your little children out to go “trick-or-treating”, you’re actually telling them to celebrate all that is cold, dark, and dead! Trick-or-Treat The Druid priests would go from house to house demanding all sorts of strange foods for their own consumption and to offer later to “Lord Samhain” at The Festival of Death. If the village people would not give them the foods demanded, they would speak a demonic curse over the home, and history claims that someone in that family would die within the year. Thus you have “trick-or-treat”! The Druids would carry with them a large turnip, which they had hollowed out on the inside and carved a face on the front, to represent the demonic spirit they depended upon for their power and knowledge. This spirit is called “a familiar spirit”. (See Acts 16:16-18) The turnip, lighted by a candle from within, was used as a lantern for the Druids as they went from house to house at night. Now, it was believed by the Druids that their familiar spirit would inhabit these turnips and assist them in carrying out the spells spoken over the homes and lives of those refusing the Druids’ demands. When this practice came to America in the 8th and 19th centuries, turnips weren’t that prominent, but we did have a vegetable native to this country that was soon substituted for the turnips. That’s right - the pumpkin. The name given to the spirit which inhabited the turnip was “Jock,” and upon arriving in America it became “Jack, who lives in the lantern” or “Jack-O Lantern”. As you can clearly see, there is NOTHING Christian about Halloween. 

Just because you don’t visualize Halloween as “really” demonic and as something dangerous to your life, does not keep you or your children from Satan’s intended desire which is to instill FEAR!, DEATH!, and DESTRUCTION! into people’s minds. Think about it. What is Halloween besides fear, horror, ghosts, witches, goblins, and devils? Just because you don’t “worship Satan,” does that give you the right to train your children to serve him one night out of the year in the name of fun? That’s what we do if we allow our families to participate in common Halloween practices. 

The Bible says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) How can we righteously instruct our children in the ways of Halloween when everything about Halloween is of the devil? The Bible says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) It further states, “Perfect love casteth out fear.” (I John 4:18) Does Halloween cause our children to be at peace, or does it cause them to become terribly afraid? Remember going through the “house of horror” at the Halloween carnival at our school or church when we were growing up and the fear that gripped us as we felt and heard all kinds of mysterious things? As adults today, maybe it’s funny, but to a little child it’s terror that causes nightmares and very unpleasant memories when alone or in the darkness of night.

The Bible says, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a Believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are temples of the Living God. As God has said, “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore come out from them and be separate,’ says the Lord, ‘touch no unclean thing and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

Why should Christians not honor Halloween? Because it is paying homage to the devil. It’s the spirit behind Halloween which makes it wrong. “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them”. (Ephesians 5:11) “Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord, and abhor those who rise up against you? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting”. (Psalm 139:21-24) “Anyone who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” (James 4:17) “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) If we really desire to honor the Lord in our lives and family, then we must teach our children concerning the truth about Halloween, and provide them with an alternative to “trick-or treating”. Don’t just take away the bad, give them something to take it’s place that will honor the Lord instead of honoring the devil.

I like to dress up cute too! Have a masquerade party or something -- you don't have to dress yourself or your children up on the day that the Satanic Bible DECLARES to be Satan's BIG DAY!!!! What are we THINKING??

God desires for children of all ages to have fun, but fun at the expense of serving the devil is not fun at all. 

How Did It Get Into The Church? When Constantine became Emperor of Rome, he made a law declaring Christianity (which was Catholicism at this particular time in history) to be the official state religion. Having been recently converted by a tremendous martyr of that time, Constantine was zealous in his new- found faith and demanded as emperor that everyone become a Christian or face the penalty of death. This was the old “throw them to the lions” that the Christians had been facing for years. Well, you can imagine what happened. The church was flooded with pagans. Not converts, but rather pagan people forced to join the Catholic Church or lose their lives for defying the Emperor. As this happened, the priests and especially the Pope faced some serious problems. These people were bringing all their pagan practices and ideas into the church including “The Festival of Samhain”. They wanted - no, demanded - that this festival remain a part of their lives. Since the church was unsuccessful in getting the pagan practices out of the people, it was decided to sanctify some of them. Especially this October 31st ritual called “The Festival of Samhain”. In the 9th century, the Pope declared a new day to be celebrated by the church on November 1st, called All Saint’s Day. This day is in honor of all the martyred saints of the church, and October 31st became the eve of All Saint’s Day. Now, the church contended, the people could still have festival on October 31st because November 1st was a holy day. The Mass said on All Saint’s Day is the “All hallowmas” and over the years the evening before became known as “All Hallow’s Eve - All Hallowed Eve - All Hallow E’en - and finally Halloween. But, the problem was that nothing changed. The people didn’t lay down their pagan rites and worship of devils for this “new eve” established by the church. They didn’t have prayer meetings or worship services to thank Almighty God for the saints already gone. What it was in the beginning, it now still is. Halloween is a day that honors and promotes all that is cold, dark, and dead. When you start making preparations for a “Halloween Party,” you don’t go to the store and purchase pictures of Joan of Arc, the disciples of Jesus, or any other Christian saint. You look for ghosts, witches, black cats, ghouls, etc. Halloween is a day for devils - not saints. What the Pope attempted to do in the AD 800’s backfired, because in making “All hallowmas” holy, Halloween became recognized by the church as a religious holiday, and nothing could be further from the truth. In reality, all Halloween is and ever will be is “The Festival of Samhain,” the Lord of Death. Halloween has no roots in the Church, but is firmly rooted in the occult, witchcraft, and satanism.

The Scriptures inform us that Satan is a real spirit being who is bent on preventing our ever becoming spirit beings (by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior) by using any and every deception he can. Satan's plan includes the widespread dabbling of people into the supernatural powers, including the occult, accompanied by a great revival of spirit-ism.

Recently, especially in the last 30 years, the occult has moved into the mainstream of America - in books (such as Harry Potter which has become the greatest seller in England even outselling the Bible), television (such as the TV series Charmed, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, etc. as well as Psychic programs), movies (such as Practical Magic, Bewitched, I married a Witch, Season of the Witch, The Craft, etc, etc), magazines (such as Circle, Sage Woman, New Witch, Pan-Gaia, as well as articles and ads in more general popular magazines), and video games (countless). Universities offer courses on witchcraft and magic - usually the so-called "white" variety or Wicca and grade schools teach spells and occult practices ·yet our children can? pray to the Christian God in schools.

One might complain and say “My kids are just having fun and getting free candy! We are not worshipping evil forces or making God angry.”

A Catholic may even assume they do honor God and saints that day with prayers for the dead. What does God think? Does God say that it is alright to observe the pagan festivals such as Halloween even if we say we are honoring Him? Notice carefully what he said to the Israelites before they entered the promised land:

Deuteronomy 12:29-32 When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land; Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 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. Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.· [ Deuteronomy 18:10-14 ]

Doreen Irving, the former ruling witch of Western Europe and the British Isles, and also the mistress of the area's high priest of Satan, who later became a Christian, said: "If Christian parents had any idea of what Halloween really is, they wouldn't even mention the word around their children." [source: Halloween: A Celebration of Devils (David N. Taylor) p5]You might still say “Does it really matter?” “Does God really care about such things?” “They seem so trivial.” Remember that God is a Father who requires our willing obedience. Sin entered the world because of one man’s disobedience to God over something to eat (a treat). [See Genesis 3]

Christians are to be a light to the world and not partake of things that smack of evil. "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." [Ephesians 5:11] We should consider Gods words and lean not to our own understanding.

A Believer and worshipper of the one true Creator God should not practice holidays with pagan roots and trappings. If we love God we show it by obeying Him. Reject Halloween and all pagan-originated holidays and practices. The apostle Paul said Witchcraft is one of the acts of the sinful nature and those who practice it will not inherit the kingdom of God but have their part in the Lake that burns with Fire. (See Galatians 5:16-21; see also Revelation 22:15).

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Encyclopedia Britannica says: Halloween, also called All Hallows' Eve or All Hallows' Evening, a holy or hallowed evening observed on October 31, the eve of All Saints' Day. In modern times, it is the occasion for pranks and for children requesting treats or threatening tricks. In ancient Britain and Ireland, the Celtic festival of Samhain eve was observed on October 31, at the end of summer. This date was also the eve of the new year in both Celtic and Anglo-Saxon times and was the occasion for one of the ancient fire festivals when huge bonfires were set on hilltops to frighten away evil spirits. The date was connected with the return of herds from pasture, and laws and land tenures were renewed. The souls of the dead were supposed to revisit their homes on this day, and the autumnal festival acquired sinister significance, with ghosts, witches, hobgoblins, black cats, fairies, and demons of all kinds said to be roaming about. It was the time to placate the supernatural powers controlling the processes of nature. In addition, Halloween was thought to be the most favorable time for divinations concerning marriage, luck, health, and death. It was the only day on which the help of the devil was invoked for such purposes.·

Hate evil-don’t delight in it. God views witchcraft and all other occult activities as evil:

“You shall not permit a sorceress to live.” Ex. 22:18

“Give no regards to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God .” Lev 19:31

“And the person who turns after mediums and familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with them, I will set my face against that person, and cut him off from His people.” Lev 20:6

“....he practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft and sorcery, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger.” 2 Chron 33:6

“Now the works of the flesh of evident, which are ......idolatry, sorcery, hatred.... and the like.......that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Gal 5:20

See also 

http://www.eaec.org/bibleanswers/halloween2.htm

Personal Best or Personal Beast?!

I realized quickly when my children were younger that sports and activities have the power to do much DAMAGE or much GOOD depending on your ATTITUDE. When my children began organized sports and even non-competitive hobbies, it was not uncommon for parents to accuse coaches, refs, and umps, and get very upset if their children had calls against them or didn't get asked to start or play certain positions, etc. They openly compared their children with the other children (right in front of them I might add!).

I LOVE sports because of the GOOD it can do for us and our children; however, if you are not careful, it can do JUST AS MUCH DAMAGE AS GOOD.

Here are just a FEW things we teach our children by our attitude concerning sports WE are involved in AND they are involved in:

*Respect for authorities' perceptions, whether we agree or NOT.

*How to accept themselves if they give their best, regardless of whether they are "all stars" or not.

*How to have fun doing a variety of things even if you AREN'T "all star" material in all things!

*How to encourage others to do their best and NOT COMPARE our performance against them to make them feel inferior OR superior (there will ALWAYS be someone BETTER than you and someone WORSE than you – the fun in your performance should NOT be to push it in someone's face that they finished behind you or lift them up because they finished in front of you!)

*How to work as a team.

*How to support people in "healthy competition".

*Play the best you can without making your self image based on performance.

*Have fun working out!

Be careful you don't use sports and activities to COMPARE yourself with another person. It is detrimental to good character and healthy self image to feel that your performance is based on how you exceed your friends' OR to feel that others are measuring their performance on how they compare to you.

“For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” (2Cor 10:12 KJVS)

“Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. (Prov 27:2 KJVS)

“Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.” (Rom 12:9-10 MESSAGE)

“Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.” (Rom 14:13 KJVS)

“Let us not become vainglorious and self-conceited, competitive and challenging and provoking and irritating to one another, envying and being jealous of one another.” (Gal 5:26 AMP)

“That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.” (Gal 5:26 MESSAGE)

Challenge: BE CAREFUL of your attitude while participating in sports and activities YOURSELF or when your children do! Be sure you are feeding attitudes for a healthy self image and having FUN and NOT to "measure yourself" or your children against others!