More Than a Treat

This will be the maybe the fifth October 31st over the last seven years in which we have formally celebrated that controversial treat day known as Halloween. For the years prior, I never quite had a peace about taking the kids out. There were some years we literally "hid out" in the back of the house and kept the front dark, hoping no one would stop by and ignoring those who did.

Every year that passed, I knew I was one year closer to having to face my fears of Halloween. The kids weren't planning on staying little forever, you know. Then, in 2007, my life was changed as I placed my complete trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. With trust comes commitment and obedience, and even though the fears still linger, there is a willingness to fight against them and win. This is especially true with the fear of sharing Christ, as I now know that He alone does the work in a man's heart.

That was the year I found the Gospel tract that I just loved. It is simple and to the point, yet honest and bold. Furthermore, it is directed to little Halloween celebraters. Awesome.

So this year we are armed and ready! 200 Pumpkinhead tracts and a humongous bag of Dum Dums. And when else in the year do hundreds of people in your community come to your front door asking for something wonderful to be devoured? "For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink." John 6:55

"For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more...I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it." 1 Corinthians 9: 19, 22-23

Tame that thing

"And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness."
 James 3:6

Have you stumbled yet today?  Maybe in choosing what to do with your time?  Or in your thoughts?  There are many ways to sin against the Lord, but as I understand it, James declares the man who controls his words to be "perfect."  Not that he is completely without sin, but that the control he has on his tongue prevents further sins.

Consider this:  to be angry is to speak and so act out of anger.  If the anger is held in and not acted upon, then it can be dealt with easily with the Lord. No further damage has been done.  Therefore, a person has controlled the whole body by way of his tongue.

Furthermore, those who are in authority must be careful because they speak with authority!  To teach others is a great responsibility as many will be directed by our words.  Teachers are judged with greater strictness (James 3:1), and rightfully so.

"And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness... and set on fire by hell (v. 6,7)."  And, "No human being can tame the tongue.  It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison (v. 8)."  There is good reason, then, to remain quiet.  Speak carefully when you have authority.  Likewise, write carefully as our hearts are vocalized in this way also.  By this, we are protected by God and bring Him glory by righteousness of speech.  He has made it available through our silence.  Memorize scripture and speak it instead.  It will not lead you astray, but will in fact bind your heart and mind to God and redirect your deceptive heart.

"Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;  when he closes his lips, he is considered prudent." 
Proverbs 17:28

Where would we be without babies...

a serious birthday boy

Killing Womanhood

Why did God create woman? It's not so hard to figure out really, if you go back to the Book. Does "helper" status make women less human or less worthy? I've not seen this to be true of subordinates in the workplace or military. I wanted to share this post (click here) to encourage the happy, and not so happy, homemaker.

Then the Lord  God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper  suitable for him." (Genesis 2:18 NASB)