Tag Archives: Light

On fall, halloween, light and darkness…

Posted on by

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14

My sister-in-law posed a question on FaceBook recently, regarding Halloween and our posture as Christians. Her news feed began to be filled with viewpoints, all valid, all heartfelt and some differing. It is good for each one of us to wrestle through our questions, with God and in community, no matter what we are facing.  So these are my thoughts on this, as I have wrestled through the years.

Growing up, my brother JW and I always loved caravanning around Penderlea (our small, tight-knit community) dressed as our favorite characters to visit aunts, uncles, grandparents and a few key family friends. I remember a couple of my favorite houses were friends from our little church, Mr. and Mrs. Marks and Mrs. Faye and Mr. Logan to name two. The Marks family would always give out a freshly popped bag of popcorn along with our candy. It was just a simple, added personal touch that made me feel special. Another favorite was Mrs Faye, as she would dress up and serve “witches brew.” (I know, what you’re thinking right now, hang with me…) It was yummy spiced drink that I thought was delicious! I’m sure it was something like apple cider with red hots, but it made me feel warm and happy just the same. These are some of the innocent and beautiful memories that I enjoyed as a child.

It's_the_Great_Pumpkin,_Charlie_Brown_1

Yet, all of this “fun” was short-lived for me and my brother, as while we were still very young, our Dad died suddenly and unexpectedly, the day after Halloween. As you can understand, it then became a very negative connection point, no longer innocent, no longer fun. Further still, as I grew in my understanding of spiritual contexts, and began later to lead in prayer for light to break into darkness, I felt very strongly not to have any connection to this “holiday” at all. Rather to disengage and be separate. Then there have been times in which honestly, it hasn’t meant much to me at all. So through the years, I have had many differing feelings and expressions connected to this season.

Image

I love Autumn. It is a most amazing time of year filled with a sense of newness and harvest, as a clear crispness fills the air. Not to mention, pumpkin spice everything, yummy warm soups, and cozy nights.  When I was a child, we would always have family reunion centered around my Grandma’s birthday in October, that I looked forward to all year and treasure those moments to this day.  It is also my birthday and hey, that’s always fun right?

…and yet, of course then there was Halloween… and my daddy’s death… and coming into the understanding that there really are forces at work in time and space which are connected to realms beyond temporal understanding.  There really are dark forces at work and there really is Good… and the combination of all of this made October no longer innocent and fun.

I have been wrestling through these thoughts again recently, as my nephews are smack dap at the age of “halloween fun” with fall festivals and activities at school. Of course, let’s not forget the desire of every child’s heart – candy!  And so, I have been processing again with God, in what I want to be, model, teach and share. In how I want to offer to others the beauty and freedom which I have in relationship with the Light of the world, Jesus.  I also think about the truth He said, that now, “we are the light of the world.” It is “Christ in us, the Hope of Glory” within these “earthen vessels.” We are a conduit for the kingdom of heaven, a gateway for the Love of God to pour through and into others. We house Holy Spirit within, the very Spirit and seal of God, which is the only restraining force against evil.   In light of this, the question again becomes, “how then should we live?” Jesus alone, holds the words of Life.

Image

I recently read this blog post (link imbedded below) and really liked it, even to the point of tears by the end. Reading it, caused me to feel even more that we each have a unique opportunity to be light in darkness in many different ways… even on, and especially on, a day like Halloween. That said, we all have to have a free heart before the Lord in the direction and expression that He calls each of us. We have to lean into Him for what is best for each of our families and communities as a whole. We each have a portion of the expression of His heart.

As for me, I want to represent Christ. I want to be a “minister of reconciliation.” I want the foolish things of God to confound the wise. And while I understand and value the idea of “come out from among them and be separate” in living a life that is connected to “the kingdom, not of this age, but that is yet to come,” it seems that as a church at large, maybe we have tried to do that with an addendum that is not revealed in scripture, nor by the Spirit of God, Who guides us into truth. Jesus was accused of hanging out with “sinners.” In fact, He was accused by the religious leaders of being filled with the devil himself. Yet, no matter the accusation against Him, He offered freely to all who would believe, and I desire to do the same.

We live our lives on this dark side of time and if we do not shine light (however the Lord desires to shine through us) then darkness will continue to abound. We have a responsibility and calling in uniqueness and beauty to express God’s heart to a lost world.  Honestly, that might just start with something unexpected. Something simple to confound the wise. Something like candy (the universal connecting point!) Jest aside though, as Christians, we do have eternal value to offer to the little Princesses that come to our door, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles that are looking for chocolate. Or the Captain Americas and Batmans who want to save the world. Children have an immense capacity for imagination and wonder. They really do believe they can save the planet when they put on that cape! (remember the Volvo “darth vador” commercial a couple of years ago?)

 

We know the Living Savior. He wants to be made known through us. It’s time to put on our “capes” and freely offer what we have been freely given.

It’s the beauty and the simplicity of the Gospel. “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” John 1:4

So these are a few simple offerings to consider on your Journey deeper into the heart of God.

I encourage you to read the (embedded) post in full, as I really enjoyed this Christian mom’s perspective, especially toward the end.   It’s about expanding our hearts to offer God’s heart.  This dark world needs Jesus.  Offer Him.

http://troublefacemom.com/2012/10/31/on-halloween/

It’s about the main thing…

Posted on by

1239586_10151902303443385_1128239368_n

In a world in which every day we are asked, in our consumer-based nation, to give opinions on service, experience, quality and much more, we begin to think of our own opinions as of utmost importance, when in fact, they are just that – opinions.

IMG_6078

Something begins to happen though in Christian forums when we have deeply held “opinions.”  One easy example that most have opinions on is worship style.  It has to be choruses, or Hymns, or rock-style with laser lights, or acoustic with hand drums, or a choir, or a worship team, or one worship leader, or any number of endless perspectives of the ultimate worship experience.  It becomes about preferences rather than our gaze fixed upon the One we are desiring to worship in the first place.  We critique those things we don’t like, we offer our opinions (even if it is only in our heads.)  If we’re honest, being a part of those different offerings of praise and adoration may not be our preference, as we tend to like what we like.  Yet they very likely could be an invitation.  If our hearts’ desire is to extol the Lord, we will press in and worship Him, even if opinion tries to drown out that experience.  Another example of opinion cultivating a culture, can be as trite or as deeply felt, both now as in generations past, regarding which clothing is appropriate.  I remember several years ago, during an intensive internship training program, that a friend of mine shared her experience of going to a college with very strict clothing stipulations. (Of course I felt the regulations were strict, but again, that is simply my opinion.) She talked about only being allowed to wear skirts or dresses all the time.  Even in the coldest snow while having to wait outside, her best source of warmth for her very cold legs were leg-warmers.  Really, in 2005.  Not 1985, when leg-warmers were “cool” – or maybe they were never cool, but again, opinion.  Yet, due to an opinion, a perspective of a few, a whole group of students had really cold legs in the winter months.

2693282_6dec-outfit

I realize that opinions, such as those listed above, may be deeply held, but honestly there are deeper issues of conscience to wrestle through in our day regarding the expression that we desire to offer of Jesus in the world.  As one of my favorite (note my opinion) proclaimers, Chuck Pierce, has shared many times, “the only restraining force against evil in the earth-realm is Holy Spirit, and we house Him as living vessels, as the Church.” That’s why biblical unity is so powerful and so utterly healing (Psalm 133.)  This is His heart for His people no matter our scattered inner beliefs, which more often than not, are rooted in our experience, upbringing, social circles, affiliations, education, etc.  That’s why it is troubling for these to drive our “policing” of the Church or individual Christians, or the world for that matter.  So often there seem to be lines of boundaries so tightly around the gospel, it is hard to know if it could actually be Good News to the masses.  It is a sad day when Christ-followers take off the belt of Truth, that holds all things in place and use it as a belt of conformism.  The Gospel is inherently Good News to the poor of which we all qualify.  It is important to recognize that our God is unshakable.  His Word endures forever.  He doesn’t need our defense – He is our defense – a strong tower!

Unknown

The truth is that there is a deeply-held desire given from God within each of us, underneath all of our own opinions, that we would with one voice glorify Jesus.  Honestly, we all recognize that there are things we differ in perspective with from others across the Body of Christ.  In areas that seem gray in our black and white world let’s be quick to listen.  The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth, shines the beauty of the Light of God and directs us to the revealed and glorious Jesus.

One such doctrinal precept that seems to cause chasm is a very personal one: my calling as a woman, to proclaim, teach, share as a minister unto God.

BTlFzr9IMAAfIQq

There are those who would say women shouldn’t preach, or even, God-forbid, stand behind a pulpit.  I understand.  I actually grew up in a tradition that, while all of our missionary models were women, I would not have been able to be ordained.  Those types of things I understand and it’s ok.  I have personally had to wrestle through these areas as we all should regarding some of the seemingly “harder passages.”  In my heart, and yes perspective/opinion, there are specific passages that value my voice as a woman as well as across the entirety of the scope of scripture which reveals God releasing His people to be all that He has called them to be.  We are all one in Christ Jesus.  Yet if you have a differing perspective, that’s ok too.  We can all be about our Father’s business, partaking in His Kingdom as co-heirs with Christ offering that which He has revealed of His very own image through us.  We make our plans, and He orders our steps.  Let’s not fall into our need to be heard and our opinions validated so much that we forget the main thing.   Jesus said that the main thing, that we can choose (like Mary chose) is the greatest part.  It is to be at His feet, hearing His Words.  His opinions matter.  And actually they aren’t opinions, they are Truth.

IMG_6077

Really, it’s ok when we differ.  It is about the main thing, the beauty of God revealed in the face of  Christ; Him crucified and resurrected, that is our foundation.  And we are all on a journey to seek out this beauty.  And He is Jesus.

photo credits: ihop.org  &  exploreGod.com