Halloween and the Christian Part 2

You think Harvest Festivals are an alternative? Here's some information for you.

Romans 14 : 5 tells us that everyone esteems *recognizes* a day differently:

5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

Now this tells me that what one day represents *Oct 31* in this scenario, is NOT going to mean the same to everyone. Just because some druids of yesteryear esteemed a certain day on their calendar with outrageous and superstitious views, doesn't mean I observe it the same way they did! Nor does it mean that I observe October 31 as the witches of today might. I observe it in my own fashion, and the BIBLE backs this view up. To some, Halloween, Christmas, and Easter are days like any other because they do NOT celebrate them for their own personal reasons. We are to be fully persuaded in our own minds according to the above scripture and if we have no doubt in our hearts as Christians that we are NOT sinning in allowing trick or treating or any other form of decorating for the Autumn Halloween season, then that is enough.

5 Should Christians allow their children to participate in trick or treating?

Everyone must make their own decision on this. I can only put out what the Bible says about the subject of attributing more or less esteem to particular days, fables, conscience, sin, and such.

Again, I would refer you to this scripture: Romans 14: 5-9 (New Testament) KJV

5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

Another Halloween Perspective

I can offer this scenario. Take a person that had been partaking in pagan beliefs in their past and had later received Christ as their Savior and rejected Satan and all his works. Now their conscience would in all likelihood NOT allow them to celebrate or partake in ANY aspect of the Halloween holiday because they denote Halloween with their previous pagan beliefs that God had brought them out of.. The reason why is because it would have held special meaning to them in their past that they no longer wish to have anything to do with now that they are saved.

Take me for example:

If Halloween had at any time in my life held personal significance to me in regards of my having celebrated it in an EVIL way, I would NOT want to even acknowledge it, nor observe it now. The fact is that it NEVER held any special meaning or was representative of anything "Evil or Sinister" to me.

This shows us that a person's past has much bearing on what he may or may not choose to do in his present.

Idol Worshiping Accusations?

As I've scoured the web looking for views and perspectives from Christians on this issue, I found this:

"As much as people say that they are not worshiping anything on it-when you strip away all the mask, all the veneer of fun, the feasting-it is really a type of idolatry. God never told us to do it. He adds right at the end-Don't do anything that I haven't told you to do. Don't add to it. Don't take away from it. I've told you the way that I want to be worshiped, and it is not the way that the heathen have chosen".7

Does this mean that our children are practicing pagans if they dress up in a clown suit and carry a bag, bumming treats door to door? NO THEY ARE NOT

Here we have someone who is calling children getting dressed up and collecting candy IDOL WORSHIPERS! He adds that God never told us to "do it". The fact is for me at least, the veneer of fun hides NOTHING! All it IS about is fun. Here is the reality of what we were told as gentiles to observe and not to observe according to the BIBLE:

Paul thought that there should be concise instructions for the Gentiles to follow simply because at that time, there was a question about whether or not the Gentile believers had to be circumcised and/or observe and do other rules and take on any burdens/yokes in order to be saved. Some Jewish believers were going around saying that the Gentiles must be circumcised among other things. Paul wanted to set it straight that this was not true and that is why the following was written...

Acts 15:19

9 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: (talking about us who come to God that are not Jews=Gentiles)

20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollution of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day.

And again another scripture: Acts 21;25

As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.

The above mention of keeping themselves from things offered to idols is in regard to FOOD being sacrificed to idols. See :

1 Corinthians 8;4

4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

8 But meat (food) commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak.

Let's touch on the above verse 7 where the Apostle Paul says "However, there is not in EVERY man that knowledge. For some with CONSCIENCE of the idol unto THIS HOUR eat it AS a thing OFFERED unto an IDOL: And THEIR conscience being weak is defiled".

To those who EAT something that is offered to an IDOL AS A THING offered unto an idol, their conscience being weak will be defiled because*to them it is sin*

How do we view Halloween in regards to allowing our children to trick or treat? AS A THING of EVIL and to be avoided, or a THING of INNOCENCE and with a pure conscience?

Only YOU can answer this...

Witches....

Take witches for example, I see Halloween differently than THEY do and I will be judged according to my CONSCIENCE and not according to another's THEIRS! I am not to be preoccupied with what they CHOOSE to do, they are responsible for their own actions, I am only responsible for mine!

I did trick or treat when I was a child. As a matter of fact, my trick or treating as a child lasted longer than usual. I think the last time I went trick or treating was at the age of 12.

I was born in the 60's. Back then, everyone including the pastor's children trick or treated and there was no sense of sinfulness involved with Halloween. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find anyone around who harbored ill feelings toward Halloween in any way. In High School we had much fun while throwing a Halloween Carnival at school.

It seemed to me that in the early 1990'S things changed though. I first noticed this as it was announced at our Church we were attending at that time that there would be a "Harvest Festival" to give the kiddies something to do on Halloween. I thought to myself, "Gee, don't they figure on us parents taking our kids out trick or treating as we always do"? I had nothing against them holding the festival, I wondered if they had something against me not going?

From there, Halloween bashing really got worse every year. To me as a child and after I was an adult, Halloween was all about trick or treating and carving a pumpkin up *although I didn't do a great job of that most times* Now my children are too old to go trick or treating, yet I remember the times that I did take them, nothing sinister involved with it.

Christian's Perspectives on Halloween

As I said before, when I was growing up there was not a stigma attached to Halloween as it is now. The holiday was not demonized whatsoever. In any church you would attend, there was nothing mentioned of Halloween except to wish everyone a happy and safe Halloween.

I truly feel as though many Christians do not mean to be as judgmental as they sound toward others concerning the holiday. I believe that some honestly DO feel threatened as if Satan will get them if they do not do as they have heard from some televangelist type who is way off base. This all springs of one not being fully persuaded in his or her own mind about their actions. When we know who we are in Christ, we have no fear of Halloween, there are no monsters, and a Satanist is only one of many who has not come to the Lord yet. What are you afraid of Christian? Are you afraid that you will be perceived as going with the world's flow or marching to their drumbeat? If you are, let me assure you that God knows your heart, just as he knows mine. I am not afraid of God in the sense that you are. I know that he is NOT displeased with me for taking my children trick or treating, or decorating on Halloween. I can assure you of that.

Harvest Festival instead of Halloween?

But what of the replacement we hear so much about? The alternative to taking the kids trick or treating or observing Halloween in any fashion? It's called the "Harvest Festival" the following excerpt is taken from:

Talk It Out: Creative Alternatives for Celebrating Halloween

"An alternative suggestion could be a harvest festival/party - but to do it

for thanksgiving instead of Halloween. This way it's not associated with

that holiday"."8

This comment got me to do a little research on "Harvest Festivals". Here is what I found out: I think you will find it quite shocking. The following was taken from:

Harvest Festivals in Ancient Cultures:

Throughout the course of mankind's history, the Earth's bountiful harvest has been celebrated with ceremonies of giving thanks. Prior to the establishment of formal religions, many ancient tillers of the ground believed that their crops contained spirits...spirits which caused the crops to grow and to die. The belief was also strong that these spirits would be released when the crops were harvested. Therefore, they had to be destroyed or they would wreak revenge upon the harvesting farmers. Some of these ancient rituals celebrated the defeat of such spirits. As time went by the perspective shifted from rituals to defeat spirits to the realization that the fall harvest must take an agricultural society through winter, and thus is vitally important for survival.9

A similar festival was held in Ancient Greece, in honor of the goddess who taught mankind to tend the soil, during a month known as Pyanopsion (Puanepsion), according to the lunisolar calendar of the Athenians. Since our calendar is solar, the month doesn't exactly match, but Pyanopsion would be, more or less, October into November. 9

The Roman celebration of Cerelia, a harvest festival, was dedicated to the honor of Ceres (Demeter). Daughter of Saturn and Ops, and the wife of Jupiter, she was their goddess of corn (from which the word cereal comes). The same Greek mythology of Proserpina (Prosphene) her daughter's abduction by Pluto (Hades) is also found in the Roman beliefs and forms the basis of Cerelia. It was also an autumnal festival held each year on October 4th but some put the date at April 12th and 14th, and hence coinciding with the arrival of spring with the return of Prosphene back to her mother Ceres. Whatever be the date offerings of the first fruits of the harvest and pigs were made to Ceres. The celebration included music, parades, games and sports and a thanksgiving feast. 9

7.Halloween http://bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Library.showResource/CT/TRANSCRIPT/k/493

8.http://www.countingthecost.com/tio/Halloween.htm

9. Harvest Festivals in Ancient Cultures: http://www.twilightbridge.com/hobbies/festivals/thanksgiving/harvest.htm

Halloween and the Christian Part 3

We know that there is ONE God, and his son, JESUS CHRIST, our Lord.
We cannot be worrying about what another person's belief is about a particular holiday and merging THEIR beliefs toward that holiday with our own. One esteems one day above another and that's the way it always will be. God is concerned with what OUR heart is like, what WE believe. Why must we spend so much energy and exhaust ourselves over what so many are doing or believing when it doesn't change our minds, it holds NO bearing on what WE believe. We will all be judged by God according to what we have done in our lives and according to what we were to do but didn't. Remember the parable of the talents?

I know that Satan exists, but it's not because of a Holiday named Halloween, it's because God said it and I believe it. There is much wickedness in this world. Do you believe it is any less wicked to take a Holiday that we observe as Jesus Christ's birthday and allow it to be misused and MERCHANDISED by one and all including CHRISTIANS? You may say that CHRISTIANS are not merchandising the Holiday of CHRISTMAS, I beg to differ, they are making big bucks by selling holiday books,albums, tapes and other various jewels that all contribute to their bank accounts. Many of these Christians do this year round...

What bothers me more than Halloween?

It bothers me MUCH more when I see the tremendous MERCHANDISING of CHRISTMAS and EASTER than the thought of Halloween does! I get bothered more over seeing the tremendous MERCHANDISING that many in the CHRISTIAN CHURCHES have fallen prey to period, yet many are strangely silent on issues like this while they bash those who view Halloween as only evil and throw their beliefs off on others and expect them to act accordingly. What this amounts to is hypocrisy. I can see it, other Christians can see it, even if it's seldom spoken of, and you can bet that the world sees the hypocrisy very clearly.

In Conclusion

I only want to leave you with the following found in the Bible. There are no other scriptures that are more adequate and proper that I've found that would address the Halloween question more than Romans 14 5-23. Please read all verses, they are ALL relevant. I hope you see what I mean. Please pay particular attention to verses 10, 20 and 22.

God Bless

Romans 14:

5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.

21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Below are links in which you can gain more understanding and varying viewpoints on Halloween.

History of Halloween : Myths, Monsters and Devils:

Halloween and Its Christian Roots

Halloween origin, folklore and trivia

HALLOWEEN: MORE MISINFORMATION FROM EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN GROUPS

The History of Halloween -- It's Probably Not What You Think
The history of the Jack o lantern
Harvest Festivals in Ancient Culture

Identifying our culture of self

Ours is a culture of self . Money is the "means" to acquire what the heart desires.

These are only 5 characteristics that identify our current culture of self:

1. Image

We are mainly concerned over the contents of our wardrobe, the type of car we drive, the home we live in. Image is not everything to many in our generation, it's the only thing. Will our children get accepted to the most reputed school? Will our husband "land" that corporate managerial position? Were we able to obtain those tickets for the show or football game that we just know will be sold out? We are willing to go into bankruptcy rather than drive a reliable yet older model car or pick-up truck. We must "look" the part. We must polish our "Image" even if it is a FALSE facade or image, one that does not represent the truth about us..

2. Perverted Sexual Desires (Those that are NOT what God intends for us)

Perverted sexuality is the hallmark of a failing and faltering society. Our uncontrolled sexual desires will cause us great pain and heartache in the end, yet at the time we are feeding them, we mistakenly say to ourselves, "If it feels good, do it". Sexual Addiction is rampant in our society today. Sex is as much of an addiction as drugs, yet many reject this truth. Many that are sex addicts are repulsed by drug addicts, yet they have their own drug of choice - SEX. When we turn away from God and his truth, what his will is for our lives, we will ALWAYS turn to something else and be open and fair targets for addictions. In our culture we have the ability (If we pay for it) to receive X Rated programs into our own living room. We see and hear back to back commercials for "Male Sexual Enhancements" and now even "Female Sexual Enhancements". There are condom commercials in which young couples are portrayed. When I see these things, I want to turn away. I remember about what we read in the Bible about Lot before Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed:

6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample (example) unto those that after should live ungodly;

7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

3. Sports

Those who do have their sexual desires in check and under control and would never consider themselves "addicts" have the Sports Idol raging out of control in their lives. Who would dream that a dozen guys, a fifty yard line, and a pigskin could create such a frenzy of followers? Some may say that sports ALWAYS was as it is today. I beg to differ with them. I can remember many years ago and what it was like. Today is totally different. Sports of any kind was not all about profits and six figure salaries for the players. Yes, profiteering from Sports was always there, but not to the extent it is today. Sports was never such a monster of merchandising as it is now. The fans were not like savages and the games were not as picked apart and scrutinized by commentators as they are today. Today, sports is MUCH more important to many men and women than their family is. There is always enough time to catch a game of your preferred sport, yet time is short for so many other more important matters. Sports will prove to be a MAJOR addiction in the lives of many as time goes on. I like sports but I do not place it above God or my family. When you give more time to it than you do God and family, something is wrong. It has become an addiction to you.

4. Food

Isn't it something that an obviously obese preacher would blast drug addicts, sex addicts, sports addicts and numerous others while he cannot gain control over his addiction to food? Yes, it's something, but I've seen it happen over and over again. These people must keep their spiritual and physical eyes closed when it comes to examining their own selves. We in America have an abundance of everything and manage to lack nothing if we have the money to get it, this includes food. Now I'm not knocking obese people, the truth is, it took a long time to get overweight and it will not be shed overnight. This is what people who do not struggle with obesity do not understand. Anyone who is looking to lose weight and sticks with it, being disciplined will manage it and come out stronger, healthier and happier in the end. But the bible calls food addiction what it truly is, Gluttony. I've heard statistics that a high percentage of Americans are obese. The fast food restaurants we have to choose from do not help the problem, yet if we have a food addiction, we should STAY AWAY from them. The fast food restaurant to an overweight person is the absolute equivalent of a bar for the alcoholic or a crack house to a drug addict..

Overeating, is an addiction - it is a Food addiction.

5. Drugs

What can we say of the destructive scourge that drugs have created in our society? I have seen friends of mine and family members almost lose EVERYTHING because of their addiction to drugs. One time I asked someone I know if it ever crossed their mind that the next time they did their drug it would kill them? I didn't have a motive when asking it other than my own curiosity which had got the better of me. Guess what they said? They told me that at the time they crave it, they never gave death a second thought. They were helpless against their addiction to drugs. Our drug rehabs are filled to overflowing here in America. Filled with those who cannot manage a destructive addiction that has them in it's grasp. Today we have 10 year old children experimenting with drugs. We have addicted parents who are not feeding their children because the money must go to feed their addiction. Today "casual drug use" is considered the norm and acceptable by most. But there is no such things as "casual" use when it comes to drugs. It certainly can start out that way, yet soon it is found out that drugs will take us farther than we were willing to go and cost us far more than we would ever have dreamed or imagined. And I might add here, we've all seen the commercial "Just Say No" to drugs? Well, if you ever have to help a drug addict to get clean, try telling them that.

Or better yet, when your child is tempted to try drugs and is under peer pressure to use, try telling them, "Just say no". A much better approach would be to tell them that they would be destroying the life that GOD gave them and don't just leave the discussion there. That would only be the starting point. But remember, children must know that they are loved, appreciated and cherished, and in our society there is not much time given to our children. So, children will not respect, let alone listen to a parent who will not take the time to BE a parent. This is the major reason why children are in rebellion and will not listen when we DO talk to them. They see our neglect of them. Our major fault as parents in this current generation is not spending enough quality time with our kids. We parents are much too preoccupied with ourselves which is both sad and tragic.

Our current generation is one that caters to self-gratification. Yet we are not beyond help. It is, as it always has been as far as God is concerned, his hand is stretched out still. God is still here for us, God still loves us. Jesus gave all for us and suffered to do it because of his great love for us. He seeks to free us from self. He wants our eyes focused on him and the result of this will be our concern for the welfare of others and less concern for ourselves. Jesus was all about others. His compassion was for others, not himself. We must strive to put down addictions and strive to be free of self-gratification. First and foremost, we must ADMIT that we are addicted in certain areas of our lives. There is no changing of our ways and deliverance in denial. Our denial of the truth about ourselves is prolonging our own suffering. And recognize that there is not one person better than you, we have ALL struggled with addictions in our lives no matter how free we are right now. We must remember where we came from in order not to go back there again.

So first, admit that you are unable to free yourself from whatever has you in it's grasp. Admit it to God and admit it to yourself. This is humbleness at it's best.

It is only through God's help, God's truth and God's Love that we will be able to escape the bondage of self gratification and go on to enjoy the freedom in Christ that we so need in this current "culture of self" so many have fallen prey to and are trapped in.

If God is to bless America, We must have a call to repentance

What I am going to say is not going to be easy. I truly hope that you can accept it for what it really is, which is a call for one and all to ponder on what much of our nation has become: A nation full of those who commit iniquity without the slightest thought of consequence to themselves or others.

There was a reason that God blessed America and gave strength and honor to this great nation. At one time the majority in this nation were God fearing,loving,humble people. At one time our faces were turned toward God and not our backs. Those days are now over.
The question that begs an answer is why? There are many reasons my friends, but there is one in particular that I have noticed in the past years that has gained my attention and curiosity very much. It is this that I want to touch on in this writing.
We have become self-indulgent, spoiled, fattened on the pleasures that we have been given from God's own hand. We are in fact so full of things and self-indulgent that we have no room for God anymore. There is no room for him in our lives , just as there was no room for Jesus in the Inn 2000 years ago.

God bless America

We ask God to bless America, yet we have thrown him and his words out and will not acknowledge him in our courtrooms. When our halls of JUSTICE will not recognize the supreme authority of the God of the BIBLE, When that justice system decides that a monument that bestows the 10 commandments will be taken away from being in a court building, are we for real when we make our request,

"GOD BLESS AMERICA"?

In actuality, this sounds like a joke to me.

Here's why:

2 Chronicles 7;14

God says in this passage that "IF my people who are called by my name shall HUMBLE themselves and PRAY, seek MY face, TURN from their wicked ways, THEN will I hear from HEAVEN, forgive their sin, and heal their land". We blatantly disregard his command to us and yet we ask him to bless this nation?

We can see that there are 4 things that we are commanded to do by this scripture that would insure God's healing of our land.....1. HUMBLE ourselves

2. PRAY

3. SEEK HIS "God's" face

3. TURN from our wicked ways.

Now we have serious problems with humbleness here in America, pride reigns supreme from what I can tell. Sure we have humble people, but the majority is otherwise. Then we have the PRAY part. Many of us pray, but do we pray to GET SOMETHING from God or do we pray out of a sincere and selfless heart? That's the question... Then we can go on to the part where we SEEK God's face.. We in America are very good at seeking things, the tragic part is that it is rarely GOD'S face that we seek, no we are much too busy with doing other things and taking care of our needs to spend time on this command.....Then we go on and must TURN from our wicked ways.. What about turning from our sin? Are we in America willing to humble ourselves, pray , seek God's face, AND turn from our wicked ways so that God will heal this nation (land)??

See, it is very easy to say "God Bless America" without really thinking about what we are asking God for.

God is asking from us these 4 above things, will we do them? Will you do them?

Now back to current events in America..The higher courts rule to take down the monument displaying the 10 commandments, yet a little while later,it is ok to perform gay marriages on the court house steps?

What is wrong with this country? Where is the outrage? Where are the voices of Christians in all of this?

Why do you suppose we have such a desire for the finer things of this life, yet could care less about our relationship with God, our creator? Because we are doing everything BUT seeking his face and living out a truly humble existence. Yes, we have become fattened with the things of THIS life and scarcely do we even consider the next life.. our eternal life.

Where your heart is, there your treasure will be also

Greed has overcome and taken so many in it's fiery grasp that seldom can you find anyone to come to your aid unless there is something in it for them.

Seldom can you find someone who will give of their time to you because to them,their time is money. There are few who would take the time to smile at you while walking past you on a sidewalk... Why? Other things of importance are on their minds.

Where are our minds at?

Our minds are on our jobs, paychecks, families, fun, sports, shopping, Internet, looking good, smelling good, beer drinking, Television, need I say more?

Where are our spirits at?

Our sprits are pressed down so far and covered up so thoroughly by our fleshly desires that we cannot hear from God. We are told in God's Word that we are to bring our bodies under subjection to the Spirit, yet we allow our bodies and minds to choke out our spiritual man. Our very spiritual direction given to us from God, our creator is non-existent.

ANSWERS TO THIS:

We crowd out our Lord because we have no room for him in our hectic lives, when it should be the other way around.

If our lives are filled with good things and our schedules are overbooked, we should rather blot out some or most of those good things that require our time, recognize them for what they truly are- VAIN and USELESS and insert more time to be with and to learn of our lord, our creator, Jesus Christ.

It is HE who made us, it is HE who holds our lives in the palms of his hands and yet HE is sacrificed in our busy hectic lives.

But we have not yet made the time for him have we? We may mean well and say to ourselves that we WILL make time for HIM- but do we ever get around to the doing of it? Or are these simply empty promises we make?

As the days grow darker, the sin gets deeper, yet we walk on....

we walk on in the steps that we've made for ourselves to walk in, yet

it is not in man that walks to direct his own steps. We are told this

in Jeremiah and it is still relevant today.

The truth is, if we direct our steps, we will slip and fall.

The reason being that we are not only flesh and blood, but we are

spirit. And that spirit we were given from God. The reason that we

fail at most of the things we set out to do is because we do not

acknowledge nor do we inquire of the one who made us. We do not inquire

what direction HE wants us to go in our lives. We are only interested

in getting through the day we are presently in.

We don't take the time to reckon about tomorrow. We are too busy living in the here and now to think on anyone or anything else. Much less what God requires of us.
How sad to live a life, yet not really to have LIVED it.

How sad to walk a path everyday, yet not really to have WALKED it.

How sad to turn our backs and not our faces to the God who loves us.

It is sadness, indeed more sorrowful than we will ever know.

We must repent for the sin we've allowed into our lives. We must admit our sin against God and man and change the present course of our lives and the only way to do this is by having God to direct our steps, follow his word and will for our lives.

God loves us and God surely will forgive us for our sins, but being headstrong and stubborn will get us no place fast.

God knows how to get our attention if we continue to neglect him while living this life he's given us. He truly wants us to take steps in order to share a relationship with him. And the most major step is that of taking time with him and learning of his ways, and not being consumed with our own.

If you love someone, anyone, you will WANT to be around them.

It is the same with God and us. So ask yourself these questions:

1. Do I spend time with God?

2.Why don't I spend time with God?

3.How long do I intend on turning away from God?

If you are too busy to answer these questions, chances are, you will be too busy in the future to make any changes-real changes in your life that would be productive and lead you into real truth, God's truth.