Whom will you honor this Halloween ~October 31, 2019~ God or Satan?

This blog post is dedicated to any Christian still wondering whether or not to celebrate the holiday Halloween. 

I can personally say that at first, it was difficult to avoid celebrating the holiday Halloween after many years of participating in all its activities. October 31 used to be, without question, one of my favorite holidays. For 38 years, I thought that celebrating Halloween was "just harmless fun."

Then, one night God opened my eyes to the origins of each of the customs of Halloween. The more I discovered, the more I realized that none of Halloween's holiday activities were ever meant to glorify Jesus Christ! Not one custom reflected the light I had found in our Lord and Savior. On the contrary, devil costumes on babies, black ghouls hanging from trees and carving pumpkins in honor of a story about the devil himself, seemed to encourage a night of darkness without Him.    

As a result, I decided that on this particular day of the year, October 31, I was no longer going to worship the traditions of the world. Instead, I would choose to worship my savior, Jesus Christ.

Halloween Customs Broken Down

Halloween- Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31 they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter. http://www.history.com/topics/halloween

Carving a Pumpkin into a Jack O' Lantern- This custom is based on the tale called "Stingy Jack," and is about an alcoholic in a bar who tricks the devil for one more drink. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stingy_Jack

Dressing up in Halloween Costumes-On Halloween, when it was believed that ghosts came back to the earthly world, people thought that they would encounter ghosts if they left their homes. To avoid being recognized by these ghosts, people would wear masks when they left their homes after dark so that the ghosts would mistake them for fellow spirits. http://www.history.com/topics/halloween

Handing out Candy on Halloween night-ancient practice of leaving food and wine for roaming spirits. The practice was referred to as "going a-souling." http://www.history.com/topics/halloween

Decorating your home for Halloween Fright Night-To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities. During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other's fortunes. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter. http://www.history.com/topics/halloween

Perhaps God is tugging on your heart on this October 31, 2017. And maybe He is causing you to wonder, "Should I really be participating in this holiday and still calling myself one of His followers?" Why not choose to avoid the holiday this year. Honor God instead. Then, watch how God blesses you in some personal way, as He has done for me the past 9 years!  

Please share your thoughts in the comments section below!

To read this author's personal testimony please go to: http://dlouyoung.blogspot.com/p/store.html

Halloween Night. God verses the devil.

On November 1, 2011, I started to reflect on the second time I avoided celebrating the holiday Halloween. Even though, I had thought I was using the day to demonstrate my love and obedience to God, something much more remarkable happened. God used the day to demonstrate His mercy towards me and my youngest son and to teach my son about how the devil is glorified through the holiday Halloween.

First, I tried to decorate my living room window with small white lights in the shape of a cross. But one light broke. As a result, the whole string stopped working. Determined to create a cross, I went to CVS to purchase new lights. I smiled when my youngest son was not phased by the lady at the register wearing a Jack-O-Lantern Costume.

I didn't feel like cooking so we headed off to Carl's Jr. for a burger. My son insisted that we go inside to purchase our food, rather than using the drive-through like we normally do. Inside, the woman at the register quickly brought up God's name. She spoke about how God gave her another child, even after she had her tubes tide. Again, I smiled! I shared my testimony with her. Then she shared hers too.

While we ate our food, two teenage boys entered the restaurant. I thought, "What do I say to them, if I can't say, "Happy Halloween?" But after only a few words, my heart felt at ease when I heard them say, "We don't celebrate Halloween." Then, each proceeded to tell me about how they are Christians. Unbelievable!

A little later, I took my son to the Game Stop to buy a used cartridge for his Dsi. While the young man rang up our total at the counter, I told him our story and why we don't celebrate Halloween anymore. He replied, "Wow, that's really motivating."

Then, on the way home, as we drove by a church, I asked my son, "Do you feel that you are missing out on something by not participating in Halloween activities?" He responded, "I don't know, maybe." Given his response, I drove down one of the streets in our neighborhood. The street was filled with orange, purple and black lights and there were children hustling around in costumes. As we turned the corner, I instructed my son, "Roll down your window, look, listen and tell me what you see."

Suddenly, the sound of a chainsaw filled the air along with screams from young children. While the surrounding adults laughed, those young children ran as fast as they could past our slow moving car. Their faces were filled with horror. My son loudly proclaimed, "NO, I AM NOT MISSING ANYTHING! Let's, go home!"

We were home in a flash. As we got out of the car, I asked my son, "What did you see?" He said, "The devil!" I wasn't sure if he actually saw the devil that night. But what I felt certain of, was that my young son saw evil being portrayed as "fun."

We returned home to play board games and watch old Veggie tales cartoons. I could see the feeling of relief return in my young son's eyes. Then, as I put him to bed, I took the time to notice that cross in the window. And under my breath, I said, "This day was for You God. I love you!"

The next day, when I turned on the local news, God revealed even more. The top stories were about how two young boys were robbed the night prior. Someone had held a gun to their heads. In another top story, some young children were hit by a car and were in the hospital recovering. I quickly turned off the news. It was then, that I knew the only thing we missed on October 31, 2011 was participating in glorifying the devil and for that, I praise God!

To read about the night I started to believe the devil was real, visit: 

http://dlouyoung.blogspot.com/p/from-satans-helper-to-gods-warrior.html

Most Recent Book Review-Edwina Cowgill

Apologies From a Repentant Christian

Below is the latest book review for Apologies From a Repentant Christian. The review was written by Edwina Cowgill. Please take a moment to visit this believer's website at:
http://musingsofedwina.blogspot.com/

Thank you Edwina for your time and effort in reading my personal testimony. May God bless you for your edification of the work He is doing in me. You are in my prayers!

In Christ, Donna Young

Book Review

Apologies from a Repentant Christian

By

Donna Young

Apologies from a Repentant Christian chronicles the author’s “pseudo” Christian life to a life on fire for God and for sharing his Gospel message with everyone she meets. It is refreshingly open and honest as she shares her desires to live a life for God.

On one occasion as the author prayed, she asked God to use her life to glorify Him.  Within hours, she was arrested and charged with a felony. That was not exactly what she had expected when she asked God to use her life to bring Him glory. But in her darkest hour, Ms. Young cried out to God and He answered.

With chapter titles such as, “From undeserving to grateful; my apology to God,” “From judgmental to merciful,” and “From Controlling to trusting God,” Ms. Young has written a book that every Christian needs to read. She has set the example by her godly actions, causing this reviewer to stop and think about her own actions.

Apologies from a Repentant Christian is a book that can be read alone, but could easily be adapted into a Bible study for small groups.

The official book launch will be on Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2011 and all proceeds of book sales on that day will be donated to organizations that provide direct relief to our military.

Donna Young worked with nonprofit organizations in the social work field for over twenty years. She became a published author to share her personal story and offer hope to others. To read more about Donna, visit, dlouyoung@blogspot.com. For more information about Apologies from a Repentant Christian, visit XulonPress.com or contact Xulon Press at 866-909-2665.

This book was given to the reviewer at no cost for the sole purpose of reviewing. The opinions of this reviewer do not reflect the opinions of Xulon Press or its employees.

Glorify God instead of Satan this Halloween

Just eleven days after being arrested came the holiday, Halloween. I used to love Halloween and participated in all of its activities. My parents, whom my son and I were still staying with, planned on celebrating the holiday.  To my surprise, I suddenly saw Halloween as evil and demonic. I felt convicted to avoid Halloween altogether. Instead, I stayed at a hotel for the night with my son who just turned four years old. However, as I called for hotel reservations, I rethought my decision about not carving pumpkins and allowing my son to dress up. As God would have it, the children were going door to door early that night. The first few children were dressed in frightening masks and scared my youngest son with their costumes. God had confirmed that we were not to celebrate the holiday. I drove away from my mother’s home feeling a sense of relief.

The following year, just before Halloween, I watched a special on the origins of the holiday. By now, I was attempting to walk with Christ each day. As the History Channel spoke about what each activity really stood for, I felt sick to my stomach. Nothing about the holiday seemed to glorify God. I wondered, “How can I worship the Lord and still participate in these activities?”

I decided to create a new tradition. I lit the window of our living room with Christmas lights in the shape of a cross. Then I took my youngest son to see a movie. I hadn’t planned what movie we would see. I figured we would watch whatever “G” rated movie was playing. That week, there was only one movie that fit this category. It was called, “Secretariat.” There in that empty movie theater, I watched a movie about an impossible true story.  And, while my young son slept on my lap, my eyes welled with tears. God had orchestrated the perfect occasion to worship Him. I sang along as the main character, a horse, danced to the song, “Oh Happy Day!” Later, I realized, God had whispered, "Go" in my ear too! And, I have been off and running ever since!

Join my this year by lighting a cross in your window! 

Perhaps together we can reveal God's true light!

To read a summary of my personal testimony, please go to: 

http://dlouyoung.blogspot.com/p/my-personal-testimony.html