Inundated with Evil

     Store windows are overflowing with every dark image possible . . . posters and advertisements beckoning evil bombard bulletin boards . . . children on the street talk with excitement that almost surpasses the anticipation of Christmas . . . and my heart is so heavy.

     God, how do I share your truth without others feeling judged?  How do I express the joy and freedom of walking away from all that a celebration of evil includes?  Lord, give me the words...

     From that deep longing, I share with you today -- I don't believe our country has never been so inundated with evil as it is in this generation.  Halloween has become a "holiday" recognized by most anyone we meet and yet few seem to stop and ask themselves, "WHY?  Why on earth would I want to expose my children to something that represents all the evil that the enemy of our souls has for us?" 

     A common response to that question is, "Oh, our family doesn't celebrate the evil part, we just celebrate the good."  I have to ask, though, what good is there in evil?  The Word is very clear on what God's best is for us -- we're instructed in I Thessalonians 5:22, "Reject every kind of evil," and then in III John 1:11 we're told, "Do not imitate what is evil but what is good." 

     "But, Kristen, you don't know what the pressure is like; everyone else let's their kids participate."  I do know a bit of what the pressure can be like and I certainly know what it's like to go against the norm . . . but better than all that, I know the liberty of walking away from all of it!

     As a family, it took us a long time to discover what October 31st should look like for our family...first, we tried just handing treats out and being a blessing to our neighbours, but then kids dressed up as ghouls, witches and creatures showed up at our door and we were exposing our then little ones to what we'd been attempting to avoid.  Next, we tried going out to do events as a family, at churches or a bowling alley, but as hard as we tried, everything still had tastes of evil in them. 

     Eventually our family found what we love, and now continue to do -- we turn out all the lights in and on our house, sneak downstairs to our rec room; our arms loaded with pizza, pop and tons of candy (cause that's what kids really want anyway), a new-to-us family game and something fun to watch together, and WE HAVE A BLAST!  We call it our "Annual Family Night" and our kids look forward to it for weeks prior.  In fact, I've discovered that our house being dark has become a silent testimony to our friends; it opens the door to share why we don't participate.

     Now some of you may have no interest in what you've just read and feel totally comfortable with the ways your family is choosing to participate in local "celebrations" in your community, and that's fine -- this is between your family and God, ultimately I have nothing to do with it.  In fact, I guarentee you that if we meet somewhere and your child tells me they are going trick-or-treating dressed up as a ________, I will think nothing less of you.  I don't want your family to become like our family, I only desire that all of our families can experience whatever God has for each of us in His best as we shine as lights for Him in a dark world.

     What I share here is intended for the many moms I hear sharing, "I don't like all this Halloween stuff that is being forced on my kids, but we don't have a choice."

     You DO have a choice -- You are the mom (or dad) God has given to direct your children in the way they should go, and that means ONLY YOU and your spouse are responsible to God for what you choose; not neighbours, not teachers, not even other family members.

     What if Daniel had stopped praying when threatened with the lion's den?  He would have never experienced God's miraculous rescue, nor the many other things God did in his life.

     What if Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had bowed to the giant statue when threatened with a fiery furnace?  They would never have experienced God's perfect escape plan, nor have been promoted to their high positions and witnessed to thousands.

     None of us know if there will be benefit beyond the four walls of our homes, but that doesn't matter, because almost EVERYTHING we are called to be faithful with lives within those four walls!  Let God speak to your heart.  Examine whether there are areas you can step out from and look for new memories to embrace and new ways to do the old, you may be amazed.

"As obedient children, do not

conform to the evil desires

you had when you lived in ignorance.

But just as He who called you is holy,

so be holy in all you do."

I Peter 1:14 & 15 

Lacking Perfection

Did you know God doesn't expect perfection in our lives? It is okay that we are lacking in that area - drastically.  Because He is God, He could have told us to be perfect, as He is perfect - but He didn't.  He called us to something far more beautiful, but attainable only through Him, and that is HOLINESSS.  I Peter 1:15&16 says, "Just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy'."  That can still feel a little overwhelming, though, can't it?  Holiness is a word with a lot of meaning behind it; it can feel that it may only apply to pastors or priests, but that is not the case.  Holiness applies to each one of us and it represents a journey towards becoming more and more Christ-like.

Perfection is not required in this life!  Hebrews 7:11 tells us that, "If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood...why was there still need for another priest to come?"  In other words, if all the laws could have been kept on our own, we wouldn't have needed Jesus - but the laws (perfection) can't be kept perfectly and we do need Jesus' fullness in our lives.  The more I grow in knowing and understanding who God is, the more rest comes in truly believing He loves me exactly where I am at and who I am at this moment.  I want you to know that assurance too - that is where grace comes in - once we have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour of our lives, and the work He did on the cross and through His resurrection, grace basically gives us the freedom to sin.  Now before you get upset with me, remember that is not what God called us to - He has called us to holiness.  I just want to be sure that you understand how HUGE grace is, before I share anything more on holiness.  Remember, Paul asked us if we should go on sinning so grace would abound (because it would), to which he said, "By no means!"  That is not God's best for us, nor will it allow His blessings to flow in our lives because there are always consequences with sin, even if grace is present.

So, what are we to do with all this?  First, ask the Lord to show you what holiness needs to look like in your life.  What things would He like you to let go of, to move closer to all that He has for you?  Knowing that He is our Father who truly loves us and wants the best for us, will help us want to move in this direction because it is safe.  Second, recognize that sometimes the things that we are finding hardest in our daily lives, may be the very things that God is using to bring us further on the path of holiness.  I am amazed at what life can bring, during various stages and times; it can feel awful, exhausting, frightening and overwhelming; but once I am through the other side of those days / weeks / months, I can see God has taken me on a path of learning and growing towards Him and His holiness.  Sometimes understanding it makes those hard times easier.

I came across a beautiful poem that I want to share; it paints a picture of the journey God takes us on in moving towards holiness while also giving a glimpse of God's perfect love and care for us.  It comes from Mrs. Cowman's book, Streams in the Desert:

He sat by a fire of seven-fold heat, As He watched by the precious ore, And closer He bent with a searching gaze, As He heated it more and more.
He knew He had ore that could stand the test, And He wanted the finest gold To mould as a crown for the King to wear, Set with gems with a price untold.
So He laid our gold in the burning fire, Tho’ we fain would have said Him ‘Nay,’ And He watched the dross that we had not seen, And it melted and passed away.
And the gold grew brighter and yet more bright, But our eyes were so dim with tears, We saw but the fire-not the Master’s hand, And questioned with anxious fears.
Yet our gold shone out with a richer glow, As it mirrored a Form above, That bent o’er the fire, tho’ unseen by us, With a look of ineffable love.
Can we think that it pleases His loving heart To cause us a moment’s paint? Ah, no! but He saw through the present cross The bliss of eternal gain.
So He waited there with a watchful eye, With a love that is strong and sure, And His gold did not suffer a bit more heat, Than was needed to make it pure.

What a wonderful picture of what God does with us - He moves us closer to holiness by taking out the things in our lives that shouldn't be there, all the while watching carefully to see that it is not more than we can bear.  Remember, it is alright to be lacking in perfection, but don't ever become content to be lacking in holiness.  Let God work out those things in your life, so He can make you more and more like Him.