Friday, October 31, 2014

THE TRUTH ABOUT HALLOWEEN

Halloween is a custom of the nations. God Himself calls such things abominations, practices that He hates. If we strip away its façade of revelry and feasting, it is idolatrous false worship, honoring spirit beings that are not God. In addition, God never tells us to celebrate this day or in any way to honor the spirits of the dead.

Notice that He warns us not to be "ensnared to follow" the practices of the nations. A snare is a trap designed to catch an unwary animal. The trap itself is hidden, but what is visible is a kind of lure, an attractive trick designed to fool the prey into entering the trap. Once it takes the bait, the gate comes down, a hook comes out, or a spring slams closed on a limb, and the prey is trapped.

God is alerting us to the fact that heathen or ungodly practices—customs, ways of worship, traditions, celebrations—usually have characteristics that appeal to our human nature. They are the lures. We can become caught up in them before we are aware of it. God advises us to watch out for the hidden dangers, the appealing entrapments, that are designed into these holidays.

Many cultures have a form of Halloween in their tradition. It seems that most of this world's peoples desire to celebrate the dead. The holidays or feasts may vary from place to place, falling on different days and following different customs. The common denominator is that they all honor or remember the dead or unseen spirits.

Mexico has its "Day of the Dead" in which participants give out candies in the shape of skeletons and visit graveyards to commune with the dead by leaving them food. In Japan, they honor their ancestors with various celebrations. Certain African tribes set aside days to honor the unseen spirits, warding off the evil ones and placating the good. German, Scandinavian, Spanish, Italian, and many other cultures have a Halloween-type holiday.

In English-speaking countries, Halloween derives primarily from the Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced "sow-in"). Samhain, held on the three days around November 1, was a kind of New Year's celebration and harvest festival all rolled up into one.

The Celts believed that these three days were special because of the transition from the old year to the new. They felt that during this time the boundary between the physical and spiritual worlds relaxed or lifted, allowing spirits to cross over more easily. This idea, of course, terrifies superstitious people—that departed spirits could walk among us, especially those who died in the past year as it was thought these spirits desired to return to the mortal realm. For this reason, they believed they had to appease the spirits to make them go into the spirit world and stay there.

The Celts did this by putting out food and treats so that, when these spirits came floating by their houses, they would pass on. They thought that, if they did not appease the spirits, they would play tricks or put curses on them. Whole villages would unite to drive away the evil spirits, ensuring that the upcoming year would be good. Others among them would hold séances or conduct other kinds of divination by incantation, potion, or trance to contact dead ancestors in hope of receiving guidance and inspiration.

An interesting aspect of this transition time—the three days of Samhain—is that it was considered to be "no time," a time unto itself. Thus, it became a tradition that the order and the rules by which people lived were held in abeyance during them.

All laws went unenforced. The social order was turned upside-down—the fool became king, and the king became the fool. Men dressed as women and vice-versa. People took on different personas, dressing in disguise and acting the part. No work was done during this period of total abandon, for it was a time for revelry, drinking, eating, making and taking dares, and breaking the law. In a word, it was chaos.

Then Roman Catholicism arrived on the scene and "converted" the pagans. It also decreed a day to honor departed saints: May 13, All Saints' Day. The priests instructed the "converted" pagans to keep All Saints' Day, but they continued to celebrate Samhain because it was so much more fun than attending church to pray for the hallowed saints of yesteryear.

To keep them in the fold, in AD 835 Pope Gregory IV officially authorized moving All Saints' Day to November 1 to coincide with Samhain. He allowed the pagan "Christians" to keep their old customs as long as they put a gloss of Christianity on them. Thus, they kept Samhain in the name of Christ to honor the departed saints.

Like Samhain, All Saints' Day began the evening before, which was called All Hallows' Eve, All Saints' Eve, or Halloween. Since then, Halloween has evolved into its present form, in which nothing remotely Christian remains. It is known for all its pre-Christian Celtic practices—particularly the recognition of the spirit world in the form of fairies, witches, ogres, goblins, demons, ghouls, vampires, etc.

Today, "trick-or-treating" is the most recognized of Halloween activities, and it is simply a form of extortion. Children, whether they know it or not, are acting as the spirits who will play a trick or put a curse on the one who does not pay up in food or treats. Divination and séances are also commonly held on October 31. Hooliganism—tricks resulting in vandalism—often reaches its high point on Halloween. For many years, Detroit was the scene of "hell night," in which rampaging young people trashed large areas of the city, setting fires, smashing cars and windows, looting, and generally creating havoc.

The Celtic feast of Samhain still survives in Halloween. It has simply reverted to our ancestors' Celtic practice.

— Richard T. Ritenbaugh

"When the LORD your God cuts off before you the nations which you are going in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, beware that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How do these nations serve their gods, that I also may do likewise?' You shall not behave thus toward the LORD your God, for every abominable act which the LORD hates they have done for their gods; for they even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. "Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it. (Deuteronomy 12:29-32 NASB)
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures, because of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) #Evonika❤ღ❤ 

SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS: FOOLISH PRIDE IN DISGUISE

http://inspirationsbyerika.wordpress.com/2014/10/31/self-righteousness-foolish-pride-in-disguise/

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Lukewarmness



Reassurance


So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:31-34 NET)#Evonika❤ღ❤ 

IT'S TIME TO QUIT!


It May Be Time To Quit!

 

An old-time revival preacher announced that Thursday was going to be “Quitter’s Night” at the tent revival. It was public confession time.

 

A child stood and said she was going to quit telling lies. A teenager rose to his feet and said he was going to quit smoking. Even adults were making these public confessions. They were going to quit drinking or gambling or cussin’, etc.

 

And then it happened. A saintly silver-haired lady stood up. It was real quiet and folks were wondering what this “model” Christian had possibly done.

 

“Well now, Mrs. Jones,” said the preacher, “what are you repenting of?”

 

Mrs. Jones cleared her throat and said, “I ain’t done nothin’ and I’m gonna quit it.”

 

Perhaps we should all be reminded that sometimes our most prevalent sin is something we were supposed to do, but didn’t. If we’re doing nothing, it may be time to quit!

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

One of the most cowardly things to do is, believing what another person said about you, & posting cryptic messages online about how offended you are…in lieu of personally talking to the accused to discover the truth that they never talked about you.#Evonika❤ღ❤ 

Monday, October 27, 2014

YOU CAN BE JOYFUL

If you do choose to be joyful you can be joyful and if you can be, you will be, but you’ve got to choose to be.#Evonika❤ღ❤ 

HEBREWS 12:14

Sunday, October 26, 2014

SUNDAY HUMOR

A man was seen fleeing down the hall of the hospital just before his operation.  

"What's the matter?" he was asked.

He said, "I heard the nurse say, 'It's a very simple operation, don't worry, I'm sure it will be all right.'"

"She was just trying to comfort you, what's so frightening about that?"

"She wasn't talking to me.  She was talking to my surgeon!"


Friday, October 24, 2014

FRIDAY HUMOR


A distraught senior citizen phoned her doctor's office. "Is it true??" she wanted to know, "that the medication you prescribed has to be taken for the rest of my life?"

"Yes, I'm afraid so," the doctor told her.

There was a moment of silence before the senior lady replied, "I'm wondering, then, just how serious my condition is because this prescription is marked 'NO REFILLS'!"
#Evonika❤ღ❤ 

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Love Covers

http://inspirationsbyerika.wordpress.com/2014/10/23/love-covers/

THE LOVE OF THE WORLD VS THE LOVE OF GOD

Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one's own resources or in the stability of earthly things]–these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself]. And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever. (1 John 2:15-17 AMP)#Evonika❤ღ❤ 

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

YOU ARE A MIRACLE!

When GOD created you, the angels stood in silent awe and declared:  “We’ve never seen one like that before!"… and they never will, again. You are a miracle!#Evonika❤ღ❤ 

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

TUESDAY HUMOR


A doctor and a lawyer were talking at a party. Their conversation was constantly interrupted by people describing their ailments and asking the doctor for free medical advice. After an hour of this, the exasperated doctor asked the lawyer, "What do you do to stop people from asking you for legal advice when you're out of the office?"

"I give it to them," replied the lawyer, "and then I send them a bill."

The doctor was shocked, but agreed to give it a try. The next day, still feeling slightly guilty, the doctor prepared the bills.

When he went to place them in his mailbox, he found a bill from the lawyer.

[ by Steve Sanderson]

Do It Anyway!

http://inspirationsbyerika.wordpress.com/2014/10/21/do-it-anyway/

Sunday, October 19, 2014

COMPLAINING IS A CURSE

 
Brothers, do not complain about one another, so that you will not be judged. Look, the judge stands at the door! (James 5:9)

James 5:9 says that we shouldn’t grumble against one another. Complaining is a form of judgment, which will only bring judgment upon ourselves. Instead we should build each other up:

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

So stop yourself if you find yourself complaining about anyone or anything, unless you want to bring eternal judgment upon yourself. ©2014 Erika Seaborn

THE GREAT DANGER OF PRIDE AND ARROGANCE

We should never tie ourselves up to public opinion, or accept any success see may have today as being due to our superior gifts. 
 Those who honored Jesus by saying, "Hosanna to him that cometh in the name of the Lord!" , were later saying "Away with this man, crucify him!"
A man highly honored today, can be looked upon with scorn tomorrow. #Evonika❤ღ❤ 

ROMANS 12:3

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. (Romans 12:3) #Evonika❤ღ❤ 

Saturday, October 18, 2014

YOUR FAMILY MATTERS TO GOD...THEY SHOULD MATTER TO YOU

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Timothy 5:8)#Evonika❤ღ❤ 

THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Monday, October 13, 2014

NO FEAR HERE!

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear, but He has given us a spirit of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 #Evonika❤ღ❤ 

http://youtu.be/mfqbEqWUWJs

LORD, we know that people do not control their own destiny. It is not in their power to determine what will happen to them. (Jeremiah 10:23)#Evonika❤ღ❤ 

Sunday, October 12, 2014

YOU ARE LOVED

The gospel says you are more sinful & flawed than you ever dared believe, but more accepted and loved than you ever dared hoped.#Evonika❤ღ❤ 

Psalm 19:1

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork. (Psalm 19:1)#Evonika❤ღ❤
http://youtu.be/HJP8T4db95k

1 Peter 1:3-4 & The Holy Spirit



EXAMINE YOURSELF - THE DANGER OF SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Jesus emphasizes that the kingdom of God will not come through valiant efforts but as people pray, “may Your kingdom come,” with persistence and with humility. He told another parable—this one addressed to people who were confident in their self-righteousness and looked down on other people with disgust. Jesus: Imagine two men walking up a road, going to the temple to pray. One of them is a Pharisee and the other is a despised tax collector. Once inside the temple, the Pharisee stands up and prays this prayer in honor of himself: “God, how I thank You that I am not on the same level as other people—crooks, cheaters, the sexually immoral—like this tax collector over here. Just look at me! I fast not once but twice a week, and I faithfully pay my tithes on every penny of income.” Over in the corner, the tax collector begins to pray, but he won’t even lift his eyes to heaven. He pounds on his chest in sorrow and says, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” Now imagine these two men walking back down the road to their homes. Listen, it’s the tax collector who walks home clean before God, and not the Pharisee, because whoever lifts himself up will be put down and whoever takes a humble place will be lifted up
Luke 18:9-14

A self-righteous person's ignorance of their spiritual condition reveals a fundamental flaw that undergirds their lukewarm condition and paralyzes their spiritual life. 



Saturday, October 11, 2014



SATURDAY BLESSINGS

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10154686808290321&id=297810345320


May the LORD give you increase more and more, You and your children. May you be blessed by the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s; But the earth He has given to the children of men. The dead do not praise the LORD, Nor any who go down into silence. But we will bless the LORD From this time forth and forevermore. Praise the LORD! (Psalms 115:14-18) #Evonika❤ღ❤  

Friday, October 10, 2014

There is Hope

There is Hope | inspirationsbyerika
http://inspirationsbyerika.wordpress.com/2014/10/10/there-is-hope/#more-2067

Thursday, October 9, 2014

THURSDAY HUMOR

While working for an organization that delivers lunches to elderly shut-ins, I used to take my 4-year-old daughter on my afternoon rounds.

She was unfailingly intrigued by the various appliances of old age, particularly the canes, walkers and wheelchairs. One day I found her staring at a pair of false teeth soaking in a glass. 

As I braced myself for the inevitable barrage of questions, she merely turned and whispered, "The tooth fairy will never believe this!" - Author Unknown 

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Tuesday Humor

A little boy opened the big family Bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible. He picked
up the object and looked at it. What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages.

"Mama, look what I found," the boy called out.

"What have you got there, dear?"

With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered, "I think it's Adam's underwear!"

Have a blessed Tuesday!

Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” (Lamentations 3:22-24)#Evonika❤ღ❤ 

Sunday, October 5, 2014

Consider the source & be watchful of who brings you bad news,because they surely have something to do with it. #Evonika❤ღ❤ 

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

The Last Days

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:7-8 KJVA)#Evonika❤ღ❤ 

PRAYER

Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. (James 5:16)#Evonika❤ღ❤