Devot. Halloween-It's History/Reformation Day

Dear Friends,

I pray you had a blessed weekend! 

The devot for today is a little food for thought concerning Halloween and also the significance October 31st, how the day itself, played in a role church history.

The devot. below is from a favorite Christian site of mine and the young lady who wrote it gets to the heart of matter in few words. (I would encourage you that if you have young ladies in your life between teen years and up into their 30's,  encourage them to frequent this site as it offers a great deal of encouragement on many topics.)

Anyway, I want you all to seriously consider what the devot. says and pray over the wisdom given.   It is how my parents raised me and I am extremely grateful for it.

Someone asked me last week if I would be dressing up for Halloween.   I adamantly answered no, but also saw an opportunity to explain myself.

My parents celebrated Halloween with my brothers, but when I came along they found out the history/roots of the day and decided not to do it with me.   I remember through as a kid

coming home from a friend's house where they were dressing up for the night.   I came home that night, dressed in all white and proudly proclaimed that I was an angel.  My mom

said something that profoundly made a positive impression in my mind.  She said, "Honey, just because you dress as something 'good' doesn't mean that you aren't celebrating what the day

represents."   It stuck in my mind and I went and changed.  

Now some of you may think, "You poor thing," but trust me if you read the history behind costumes (which this devot. shares) you will see that my mom was spiritually protecting me.  I also want to add

that I have never felt that I was missing anything.   While we do while we celebrate the day itself, as the Lord said in Psalm 118:24 that every day He has made  and we should rejoice and be glad in it,

we do not celebrate it as the world has made it.

A bit of history:  My pastor on Sunday said that as Christians, Oct. 31st is a prime day to share out faith.   This year is the 500th anniversary of "Reformation Day."  The day in which Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses, "proposals" to the door of a church in Wittenburg Germany declaring "these are the things in which you, the church,  are spiritually wrong and what God has truly said His Word."  

This was the beginning of the Gospel and the truth of faith through Jesus alone being shared with ordinary people as never before.  It was a turning point in the history of the church.   In the spiritual sense, Isaiah 9:2 could apply this day, "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined."

Here is how we are going to do the devot. this week.  I have included 2 shot devots. below (Parts 1 and 2) that are a few paragraphs each, the 5 most important truths that were in Luther's 95 proposals (and they are ground solely in Scripture), and a very brief history of Reformation Day.

I pray these information is spiritual food for thought, you learn something important, and the Lord uses it in your life.   May He bless and keep you and yours this week!

Devot.
Part 1: http://www.liesyoungwomenbelieve.com/something-other-than-candy-to-chew-on/  (Used by permission.  Taken from http://www.liesyoungwomenbelieve.com/ )

Part 2: http://www.liesyoungwomenbelieve.com/two-more-reasons-to-pass-on-halloween/ (Used by permission.  Taken from http://www.liesyoungwomenbelieve.com/)

5 points of Luther's proposals: http://www.epm.org/blog/2010/Jun/15/five-central-teachings-protestant-reformation

History:  http://www.sundayschoollessons.com/refday.htm

Devot. Certain Hope

Dear Friends,

I hope you had a good weekend!  Here is a devot that I pray is a blessing and encouragement.   Lord keep you and yours safe this week!   Devot. below. used by permission and taken from http://www.icr.org/

    

 

      

October 3, 2015 Certain Hope “Who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil.” (Hebrews 6:18-19)   The noun “hope,” when used in the New Testament, does not imply a wishful attitude but rather a joyous and confident expectation in something promised which will certainly come to pass—in most cases, something good. Note especially the few times it is used with a descriptive adjective.   First, in a stirring benediction, Paul tells us that our good hope comes from both “our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father” (2 Thessalonians 2:16). Furthermore, such hope is given to us along with “everlasting consolation,” or comfort, which shall last forever. The Father and Son have done this “through grace” which brings eternal salvation.   Next, we are taught to be “looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). This blessed hope can be none other than “our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope” (1 Timothy 1:1). He will certainly return, and this return will be glorious.   Furthermore, we have a hope which is actively alive. “The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). We have been (past tense) born again from the dead just as surely as Christ has been raised from the dead, for His resurrection accomplished it.   Our hope, under grace, is guaranteed by Jesus Christ: “A better hope . . . by the which we draw nigh unto God” (Hebrews 7:19) than that which was possible under law. In fact, it is a glorious hope (2 Corinthians 3:11-12) by comparison. This kind of hope can be “an anchor of the soul.” JDM

Devot. The Modern Civil War/Free Book!

Dear Friends,

 

I hope you had a very good weekend!   The devot. for today is about the modern war going on in our nation right now, one that  has been making news in recent months.

 

I've heard people say that it is very much a spiritual battle in our country for the hearts and minds of the people and that is very true.  We can be buffaloed so easily by all the world says and promotes instead of looking to God's Word for what He has to say on a particular subject.

 

In addition to the devot., I have also included an absolutely free book from Voice of the Martyrs of 8 ladies from around the

world who stood for their faith in the face of persecution.   It's one of VOM's bestsellers.   It would make a nice gift for yourself or a nice Christmas gift  for a lady in your life or a child in your life to help educate them in a faith based way (I grew up on missionary stories).

 

I pray the Lord gives you and yours a very blessed and healthy week!

 

Devot. http://www.icr.org/article/modern-civil-war/   (Used by permission.  Taken from http://www.icr.org/)   

 

Book:  https://etools.ncol.com/a/hof/bg_vomhof_biblegateway-hof-email-1_468.html

Devot. Lincon's Lament at Gettysburg: Biblical Creation and Civil War Insigts

Dear Friends,

I hope you had a wonderful weekend! 

This devot. is historical again and fouces on President Lincon's words at Gettysburg.
A comparison is made between Creation and Insights from the Civil War. 

I think you will find it interesting!
Have a blessed week and may the Lord keep you and yours safe, healthy and well! 

Devot. http://www.icr.org/article/lincoln-laments-at-gettysburg-biblical/  (Used by permission.   Taken from http://www.icr.org/)

 

Pettion: Urgent-Christians Crucified

ISIS jihadists are targeting Christian missionaries for public atrocities . . .

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Stop ISIS's Genocide of Christians
Like     f   Like this on Facebook   ISIS jihadists are targeting Christian missionaries for public atrocities. Now the Islamic State is raping and crucifying Christian women in Syria as a public message of evil, and the world is silent. ISIS publicly raped Christian women missionaries. These brave Christian women responded by singing, praying, and calling out to Jesus. Then ISIS jihadists beheaded the women and publicly crucified their dead bodies. ISIS also crucified two other Christian missionaries - including a 12-year-old boy - forcing villagers to watch in horror as they were painfully murdered on a cross. We won't be silent. At the ACLJ, we're actively engaged through our global offices. Congress is considering our critical recommendations in key legislation. And we're aggressively advocating to defend the persecuted Church and defeat ISIS. ISIS will continue to behead and crucify Christians unless it is defeated. We must stop genocide. It is our sacred duty to be heard now. Sign Our Urgent Petition: Stop the Genocide of Christians Today. Jay Sekulow ACLJ Chief Counsel

Devot. United We Stand

Dear Friends,

I pray you had a blessed weekend!  I found this devot. the other night and really liked it.

I pray it is a blessing and a challenge to your day!

The Lord bless and keep you and yours this week!

Devot. http://www.icr.org/article/united-we-stand  (Used by permission.  Taken from http://www.icr.org/)

Devot. America's Founding Fathers and Creationism

Dear Friends,

I hope that you had a good week!  The devot. for today shows some of our Founding Father's views on Creation.

Now some of you may be saying, "Don't forget, some of our Founding Fathers weren't Christians!"  Yes, I know and the  devot. points that out as well as what they believed when it came to Creation.   What they said may surprise you:)

I hope you learn something new about our country as I did.   May the Lord bless and keep you and yours this weekend!

Devot. http://www.icr.org/article/americas-founding-fathers-creationism/   (Used by permission.  Taken from http://www.icr.org/)

Devot. No Vision

Dear Friends,

I hope you had a good week!

The devot. for today is on having a 'vision'.   I've always been told that when you make your plans or have goals in life, do so in light of eternity (have eternity and doing it for Jesus in mind).   The Scripture used in this devot. shows that without a vision, a goal, a game plan, people perish, physically and most importantly, spiritually.   

 

Luke 4:31 says, "Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against

him with twenty thousand?"   What sensible king (leader) does not first make a strategy, have a vision of the costs of war, before going to battle?  

 

 Proverbs 20:18 says, "Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war." 

 

In regards to our country, we must godly 'visions' goals, game plans in order to have a good, God honoring country.  Not any 'vision' will do.   Only those honoring God will be blessed by God.

 

I pray the devot. is insightful and you learn something new from The Word! 

 

May the Lord watch over you and yours this weekend!  Devot. http://www.icr.org/article/21135  (Used by permission.   Taken from http://www.icr.org/)