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

Outcome of Unemployment Hearing

The day of the unemployment appeal hearing was fast approaching. It was scheduled for August 4, 2011. I had previously decided not to appear so that I could show my past employer compassion, forgiveness and love. In spite of everything, we were all supposed to be believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. Even though our family could have used the extra $1,600.00 a month, the decision to deny the benefits and trust the Lord was the right one. 

Still, unpaid bills were piling up on my writing station. My husband had begun to pay the household bills, but his income was not enough to cover those extra expenses such as dental visits and car registrations that were now due. When neighbors began telling me how worn my car tires looked, I knew we could not afford new tires. So, I stopped driving except locally or when absolutely necessary. My husband started complaining of tooth pain from cavities and my six-year-old was starting the first grade. Our young son desperately in need new school clothes. He had chewed the cuffs of many of his shirts and stained the rest. He had outgrown his slacks and jeans. Where would the money come from?

At the same time, I watched the stack of unpaid expenses grow; friends and family began to tempt me by saying, "Just go to court. The state has already found in your favor. God wants you to have this money!"
I didn’t want to think for just one second, how I could have used the extra income. So, on the morning of the appeal hearing, as I made my morning coffee, I prayed. "Lord, please distract me today, and focus me on Your will."

God immediately responded! Within minutes of my prayer, the phone rang. On the other end of the line was the Co-Founder and Volunteer Executive Director for Soldiers Bible Ministry http://soldiersbibleministry.org. He was returning my call in order to discuss collaboration in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The reason, I quit my job! I smiled and praised God for the divine distraction.

Then the next day, my made his usual commute home from work to be with his family for the weekend. When I began to explain how God was using me to spread the gospel through Soldiers Bible Ministry, my husband listened intently. With a smile, he said, "So honey, guess what? They gave me a raise at work this week."  I asked him, "Did you request more money?" And he said, "No, my supervisor put in for the raise some time ago. The request was granted yesterday. I'll be getting an extra few dollars and hour." My eyes welled with tears. The day of the hearing, God had given my husband a raise that would allow me to remain solid in my attempt to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

To read how I first learned to trust God, please go to: 

http://www.xulonpress.com/bookstore/bookdetail.php?PB_ISBN=9781613791936