Luke 12 35-38

 35 “Be prepared, and keep your lamps lit. 36 You are also to be like people who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door for him when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will prepare himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and he will come up and serve them. 38 Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. Luke 12 35-38

25 minutes?

What is 25 minutes to God? What is 25 minutes to the devil? I want to stick to this concept of seeking first the Kingdom. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be provided to you. Luke 12:31. Again I ask, what is 25 minutes to God? What is 25 minutes to the devil? The difference between seeking God first and letting the devil have an inch. I said yesterday that I do not seek Jesus first and needed to. I do not know what that would look like and am still working on what that looks like. That 25 minutes I am getting ready to read the word, blog for Jesus, pray and worship is 25 minutes that the devil can use to knock me off my horse. Put another way, off my mission to worship Jesus and his kingdom. 

Those 25 minutes I start thinking about the day and what I must do. I start to think of unholy things that I am not good enough to come into the presence of God or I start to think is God real, what is this all for? These things are not of me but come from what is being said in my mind as being thoughts that come. and do not give the devil an opportunity. Ephesians 4:27. But that is exactly what I do by not Seeking first the kingdom. The devil knows what I am going to do and that is worship and give God praise, so I have given 25 minutes to his will. that is why this seek first the kingdom is stuck in my spirit. this morning I got up early to make my son a bottle and as I was coming down I prayed and said seek first the kingdom and then I went back to bed and did so the same when I arose at 6 to start my day as not to let the devil have an inch.

So, do you seek first the kingdom, or do you let the devil have time to try and do what he can to throw you off your mission and wanting to seek Jesus? I still don't know what it looks like to do this, but the little change hopefully will be just the start or enough. I share all this to say that seek first the kingdom and everything else will fall into place. To tie this into what we have been talking about if we cannot do now on this day to first seek the Kingdom, how will be able to seek first the kingdom first on Thanksgiving? You may be able to seek first the Kingdom on Thanksgiving if we do not do it today. but He deserves that we first seek the kingdom every day not just on one holiday.

So, seek first the Kingdom today and everything will fall into place. Have a blessed day!!!

All bible verses taken from the NASB

Luke 12:30-34

 30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: but your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. 31 Yet seek ye his kingdom, and these things shall be added unto you. 32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell that which ye have, and give alms; make for yourselves purses which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief draweth near, neither moth destroyeth. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Luke 12:30-34

All Bible Verses taken from the ASV

Staying, Center, Seeking Jesus....

Yet seek ye his kingdom, and these things shall be added unto you. Luke 12:31 I want to stay on this topic, yesterday I talked about Colossians 3:1-2 which says If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth. This verse and the verse before all talk about the same thing and that is to seek first the kingdom of God, to seek things of God, and of Heaven. 

We need to put Jesus at the center and seek his kingdom first then everything will fall into place. if we put Jesus at the center all the things that we have to do and say will be put right for us. 

He restoreth my soul: He guideth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:3. God will make his path known for you if you put Jesus at the center. but to do that we are to seek first the kingdom and then put Jesus at the center. it is Jesus then anything else you have to do or participate in. 

Which is better for the Raiders to win on Thanksgiving Day if they are playing or to put Jesus at the center and seek Him? Jesus always should come first and then the Raiders winning comes second. Which is better for you to be filled with Food that will only last you a day or food that will last you a lifetime, The word of God? Which is better spending time with family, and it leads to fights and arguments or seeking Jesus at the center, and it be Jesus and Family?  Which is better sinning on Thanksgiving or seeking Jesus and His Kingdom first and then everything else? Getting the picture yet. We are to first seek Jesus every day and then everything will fall into place.

Take time today to see what you are seeking first. You may be seeking Jesus but is it first? Seeking religion is not seeking Jesus because that can become a stumbling block that can actually lead you further from Christ. The kind of seeking is found only in the Bible, and when you are intentional about seeking Jesus by prayer and reading of the word and your worship.

1. see what you are seeking first?

2. If not Jesus and His kingdom pray for that to happen.

3. Find ways once he is first to keep Him first. it can be as easy and simple as saying when you get up I seek you first Jesus. Amen

Think about these questions today and make changes if you need to. I just realized as I wrote these questions that I do not put Jesus first and need to. The first thing I do is not seek him; it isn't only until I do my daily routine and till, I made coffee that I get to seek Him and read His word. so, what I write is not only for you but also for me as well sometimes. I will rethink what I do and make changes, just like you might need to do.

Yet seek ye his kingdom, and these things shall be added unto you. Luke 12:31

All Bible versse taken from the ASV

Playlists Coming for Holiday's!!!!

 Today I am supposed to post a playlist but am not good at remembering to do so on Mondays. I will be working on a playlist for each of the holidays and post each one when I get done with them. with me that could take years I am very particular in what music I will post. I do not just post anything but am very on point with what I post. Have a blessed day and check back for the playlist!!!

Psalm 95:1-3

Oh come, let us sing unto Jehovah;
Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
² Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving;
Let us make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
³ For Jehovah is a great God,
And a great King above all gods. Psalm 95:1-3

All Bible Verses taken from the NASB

Ceasar and Thanksgiving?

What does Ceasar have to do with Thanksgiving? The greatest answer about what we are supposed to do says, They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s. Matthew 22:21. The things that are God's we are to render to God just like what Jesus said about Ceasar. So, we are to give to Jesus/God What is His on Thanksgiving and that is prayer and thanksgiving.

I want to point out here I am talking about no turkey or saying to your family sorry I can't be with you or anything like that. What I am saying instead of making this holiday a day the devil wins because Jesus is nowhere to be found, that we put Jesus at the center of the holiday again as it should be. As I write this, I will still watch the parade but first I will give thanks and praise to Jesus. what it boils down to is what is your priority on Thanksgiving. Mine is Jesus, Jesus, and family, then Jesus and a parade. whatever I do on that holiday bring Jesus into it. That will be what I will do this Thanksgiving. Remember what we are to do, we are to do as Luke 20:25 says, And he said unto them, Then render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s. We are to give to God what is His just like Jesus said about Ceasar. 3 If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth. Colossians 3:1-2. We are not to seek the things of this world but the things of heaven. We are to give God reverence and give all that is due to him. And we should do this more so on this holiday that is supposed to be about giving God thanks and praise not buying a big screen TV. The bigger TV doesn't mean you are closer to God, it just means it's bigger. 

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving; Let us make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. Psalm 95:2. 33 But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33. We are to come to Jesus and give Him thanks with a joyful noise. we are to seek his kingdom first making Jesus a priority in our lives, more so on Thanksgiving. 

So, to help I will give you an example of what it looks like (priorities put in order):

Jesus

Jesus and the parade

Jesus and Football played

Jesus and football on TV

Jesus and Family

Jesus and dinner

Getting the point so far, it's Jesus at the center, and then everything else comes after. Now to Jesus and overeating, that is a whole other subject, so I leave that one up to you. Put Jesus at the forefront of this holiday once more. I will leave it there for today and see where I go from here tomorrow from God. Have a blessed Day!!!!

All Bible verses taken from thew ASV

Colossians 3:1-4

1 If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth. 3 For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory. Colossians 3:1-4

All Bible verses taken from the ASV

Thanksgiving and the devil...

 It is weird to think of thanksgiving and the devil. When we think of Thanksgiving we think of the turkey, the dressing, and such. The things that are last on our minds in terms of Thanksgiving are the devil, demons, and such. This is a Christian holiday at its core we do not need to think of those things. But what Thanksgiving has become for most people is just that no longer Christian at its core but of the devil/evil. neither give place to the devil. Ephesians 4:27. We are not to give a place for the devil to be, we are not to look at him, we are not to give him an inch. 

What is Thanksgiving about? Truly at its core is about giving thanks to God on that day. If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth. Colossians 3:1-2, We are to set our mind on Christ and His kingdom according to this verse.  But what thanksgiving has become is eviler than Halloween. Why is that? Because through the devil's evil plans the holiday has been watered down and taken on a new meaning. God is no longer at the forefront of this Holiday. He has taken a back seat to the devil's which is to take God out of this holiday. The Bible has thanksgiving all over it and it is something we are to do and practice, more so on this holiday but every day. 

The Core of Thanksgiving should be Jesus and giving Him Thanks. But it is no longer that, the holiday is more about football, turkey, and family and most of all in recent it got even eviler, and it is all about scoring a big flat screen tv for a great price (shopping). all those things are not evil, but they can become evil if they replace Jesus and giving Him thanks. if you make This holiday about family and friends only you still miss the mark. the holiday is about giving thanks to Jesus. if you give Jesus all the glory, He deserves on this holiday and then comes family and friends that is ok. As long as you put Jesus first and everything second you can do both on that day. Jesus loves it when we come together and break bread together.

Jesus, I thank you and will continue to thank you as I watch football or as I watch the Macy's Parade. as family comes, I will give thanks for them to you and be thankful for you giving them in my life. As for the shopping part, there is no room for that during this Holiday.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:10. Money is the root of fall evil so if we put stock in money to get a good deal will that get us to heaven I think not. Give to God what is God. we need to do just that give what is God to God.

 Ceasar??? find out tomorrow what this is referring to. Have a blessed day!!!

All Bible verses taken from the ASV.

Colossians 2:6-8

 6 As therefore ye received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and builded up in him, and established in your faith, even as ye were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8 Take heed lest there shall be any one that maketh spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Colossians 2:6-8

All Bible verses taken from the ASV

Thanksgiving Biblical Significance...

Thanksgiving is seeping with Christianity all over it. Yes, Thanksgiving Day has biblical significance. To start with we are to give thanksgiving to God each and every day as Christians. We are to pray to God and give him thanks for all that he has done. If you remember yesterday the colonists were used to praying prayers of thanksgiving on days of celebration of Thanksgiving. I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:30.Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And into his courts with praise: Give thanks unto him, and bless his name. psalm 100:4 As I talked about yesterday, They had days of thanksgiving after wars or when a drought had ended. 

But as to the holiday, we celebrate, it has gotten watered down and lost its meaning. Today it is celebrated more as a secular holiday than a Christian Holiday. It is more about Family and friends than giving thanks to God for what he has done. It's not to say that family and friends are not important but through that, it only being about that it has lost its meaning. This has given way for the devil to have a hand on this Holiday that is dripping with Jesus all over it. Being with family is important but to only make it about that is not doing justice to the holiday and doing what Psalm 95:2 says, Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving; Let us make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.  We should come into his presence everyday and give Him thanks and praise but so much so on a Holiday create to do just that, should we want to do it more so. 

rooted and builded up in him, and established in your faith, even as ye were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.  Colossians 2:7. If we are rooted In Jesus, are we not to follow the things which he has given us to show Thanks to him and do the things that he has commanded like giving him thanks? The Bible mentions thanksgiving 62 times and that should get you to sit up and pay attention. If something is mentioned that much shouldn't we listen and do what it says?

I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of Jehovah. psalm 116:17. Let's offer up thanksgiving like the verse says today and so much more so on Thanksgiving.  The devil does not want us to have a day of thanksgiving to Jesus, to Glorify Jesus like this. I will talk about that tomorrow. Have a blessed day!!!

All Bible verses taken from the ASV

Psalm 100:4

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And into his courts with praise: Give thanks unto him, and bless his name. Psalm 100:4

Origin/History of Thanksgiving...

Today we will talk about the history and origin of Thanksgiving. This is all History/origin and there is no bible verse and such but like I said when I did Halloween this sets us up for the next messages on Thanksgiving.

The very first Thanksgiving was in 1621 at Plymouth. The first Thanksgiving that took place was between the colonist of Plymouth and the Wampanoag Indians and came about because they shared an autumn harvest feast. Thanksgiving is a holiday that is English in tradition and is celebrated in the United States and Canada.

A ship called the mayflower left Egland in a city called Plymouth in 1620. All the people aboard the ship came to 102 people and were leaving England to seek a place to freely practice their faith and people who wanted a new life of riches and land in his new world. The people aboard the ship landed at what now is Plymouth and began to establish a village there. 

The people who landed at Plymouth were accustomed to Thanksgivings in England they had days of Thanks and prayer for God's blessings like the victory of war or of the end of a drought. during this time there was no formal Thanksgiving, it wasn't 1798 when they proclaimed a Thanksgiving with the writing and authorization of the constitution. but after the constitution in that year, they left it up to the states to declare a Thanksgiving, and there was a debate or objection to what was the government at this time to let the government be involved in a religious practice. The practice of Thanksgiving as a national holiday was more of a controversy than a force to unify the holiday. 

The holiday wasn't proclaimed as a national holiday until 1863 during the civil war when the president at that time Abrahan Lincoln declared it a national holiday. This holiday has been around since then and still is practiced but is it the same as it was then? We will look at that tomorrow when we look at the Biblical significance. Have a blessed day!!!!

Mark 10:44-46

 44 and whosoever would be first among you, shall be [m]servant of all. 45 For the Son of man also came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. 46 And they come to Jericho: and as he went out from Jericho, with his disciples and a great multitude, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the way side. Mark 10:44-46

All Bible verses taken from the ASV

Halloween Outreach Idea's...

Today I will talk about ways to outreach to people on Halloween. You've probably heard of the kid in the white sheet knocking on the door the day after saying he is the Holy Ghost and then someone preaches the gospel, or they are given a bible tract or such. That is one way you can outreach to people during this holiday but what I will be talking about is more than just that. 

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45. We should be serving people during this holiday not running from it or ignoring it. This is a huge opportunity to bring people to church and many people and churches miss out on this opportunity because of some stupid belief that this holiday is only evil. But as the verse says, 20 And as for you, ye meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Genesis 50:20. What the devil can use for evil, God can use for good and His Kingdom. We should be doing the same.

So, with that let's move on knowing that we should serve others on this holiday and learn ways to outreach people on this holiday. With all the tomfoolery that goes on during this holiday, the church needs to use this opportunity to outreach to people. The first outreach idea is to have your local church Have a Harvest Festival, where you have Food, games, whatever you like, and open it to the public for everyone to enjoy. A church I used to go to did this and I always thought it was a great way to bring people to Christ but more so to show the people surrounding the church that we love them and care about them. Yes, there were costumes and candy and there is nothing wrong with that, the candy part. Costumes are a whole other subject but then it is not a hill to die on.

The second outreach idea is to have your local church have a Halloween church service, where you dress up in costumes and you have food and a message related to Halloween. there is not much to be said here for it is pretty much self-explanatory.  

The third outreach idea is for your local church to create a Halloween party with whatever you like, like music, games, food, and that sticky point again most Christian have the costumes or not. maybe I will discuss this later before Halloween. The point isn't the costumes but the outreach to others.

Moving on from the local Church if they are unwilling or do not want to do this opportunity and that is a great shame, but I get it that this is a sticky subject.

The fourth outreach idea is to have a harvest festival at your own home and invite the community around you. Having Christian music, food, games, and such. Make it a potluck so it doesn't cost you a lot.

The fifth outreach idea is creating a block party for your neighborhood. With whatever you like, like music, candy, and anything else you can think of.

There are so many more ideas to outreach people for Christ on this holiday called Halloween, that I cannot mention them all. these are just five ideas that I discussed, and you can use them to reach people for Jesus on this holiday.

My prayer is that you don't ignore or let this opportunity pass you by but use this holiday to minister to people to reach them for Jesus and His Kingdom. Have a blessed day!!!!

All Bible verses taken from the ASV

1 Timothy 1:14-16

 14 and the grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 15 Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief: 16 howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me as chief might Jesus Christ show forth all his longsuffering, for an ensample of them that should thereafter believe on him unto eternal life. 1 Timothy 1:14-16

All Bible verses taken from the ASV

Halloween used for Good in Jesus...

If we as Christians, choose to ignore Halloween or not participate in the holiday, it will still happen.  20 And as for you, ye meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Genesis 50:20. What the devil can use for evil, God can use for good and his kingdom. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me may not abide in the darkness. John 12:46. Instead of condemning Halloween we bring light into this holiday and take it from darkness to the light. Again, I say what the devil can use for himself, God can make whole and use for His Kingdom.

I want you to think about that. Let's use what the devil has to bring the evil in this world, let's use it to bring light into this world and make it good for God's Kingdom. I say hands off devil this time for the lord and to bring souls to Christ Jesus. If we shun these things what will the world think of us? Will they think that we are Pharisees who are boring and have nothing to do with these things?  And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with the sinners and publicans, said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? Mark 2:16. Look Jesus did not commit sin but ate with sinners and publicans which means public offices to collect taxes in the area. I am not saying that we go and fully do as this holiday does and commit sin, but as I said even, Jesus was among sinners and did not sin.

 Jesus did not come into this world for the Christians but for the sinners, the least last and the lost. Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 1 Timothy 1:15. So, much so shouldn't we have that mindset and do the same as Jesus? We should every tool or opportunity we have to reach people for Christ. Even a holiday that most Christians vilify can be used for good.

With all that was said thus far, I want you to think and meditate on these things. Tomorrow we will talk about ways to outreach on this holiday. This was supposed to be today, but I got this in mind and spirit to tell you all that I have written today from God.

All bible verses taken from the ASV

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1 Corinthians 9:19-23

 19 For though I am free from all people, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may gain more. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the Law, I became as one under the Law, though not being under the Law myself, so that I might gain those who are under the Law; 21 to those who are without the Law, I became as one without the Law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might gain those who are without the Law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak; I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some. 23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

All Bible verses taken from the NASB

Halloween, Bible says...

The Bible does not talk about Halloween specifically. It does offer some insight into the holiday though if you take it as such meaning you can use these verses to form an answer to Halloween. The Bible talks about we are not to partner with the people who are in darkness. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the useless deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.” 15 So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise, Ephesians 5:7-15. So, in these verses, we are to walk as children of the light and not participate in useless deeds of darkness. The verses go on to say disgrace can come even if we speak of these things which are done in secret, but everything comes to light when exposed.

10 There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, a soothsayer, one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who consults the dead. 12 For whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord; and because of these detestable things the Lord your God is going to drive them out before you. Deuteronomy 18:10-12. In these verses, it talks about we are not to participate in the things of evil like omens, sorcerers, the casting of spells, and such. Those things God does not like and because He does not like them it says in the last piece of verse 12 that He will drive them out before you. 

But then there is this verse 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak; I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some. 1 Corinthians 9:22. If you go back to the origin of Halloween and do as they did or you do the things that make this holiday evil as it has become then you are doing as the verses says and will be judged by God and will be driven out.

So, with all that said is Halloween an evil holiday that we are not to partake in? It all depends on what you partake in right? The modern version of Halloween or Modern Halloween if we stick to that is that bad? I cannot tell you what to believe in because there is no clear answer about Halloween. But as said in the beginning we can take the verses and form an answer about Halloween but is it the right answer, I do not know. In my opinion, I believe if we ignore the holiday entirely, we are not doing the Kingdom of God a good service. 

Tomorrow I will talk about ways to use this holiday to serve others and bring them to Christ.

All Bible verses taken from the NASB

Leviticus 21:10-12

10 ‘The priest who is highest among his brothers, on whose head the anointing oil has been poured and who has been consecrated to wear the garments, shall not uncover his head nor tear his clothes; 11 nor shall he approach any dead person, nor defile himself even for his father or his mother; 12 nor shall he leave the sanctuary nor profane the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is on him; I am the Lord. Leviticus 21:10-12

All Bible verses taken from the NASB

Halloween Biblical Significance....

Pope Gregory moved All Saint's Day to November 1 in the 8th century. this made the 31st of October All Hallows eve. For many centuries Christians had celebrated with a feast commemorating the saints being martyred. This was to include the entire church according to Pop Gregory IV. This holiday has many different things attached to the holiday pagan things mostly.

This holiday has no biblical significance. The Bible does not talk about this holiday. Nowhere in the bible are we to have a day of mourning and to pray for the dead.  21 And another of the disciples said to Him, “Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”  If you look at the verses above Jesus says let the dead bury their own dead. So, we are not even supposed to bury our dead according to Jesus. That is what I am getting from these verses. In the Old Testament in Leviticus 21:11 it says, nor shall he approach any dead person, nor defile himself even for his father or his mother. We are not even to approach a dead man, it goes on to talk about if we do, we will be unclean and have to be cleansed to be made right again. 

There is nothing that says the spirits come back to life in this world or any other place. There is no Bible verse that says that or anything that resembles that kind of language. the only one who is coming back is Jesus. But he is not a spirit or anything else of that nature He Is God alone. The Bible does not say much about spirits and dead people. It says in the book Isaiah that the dead will not live, spirits will not rise then in the same chapter it says the dead will live and the spirits will rise. (This is talked about in Chapter 26 of Isaiah).

So, with all being said what does the bible say about Halloween? We know that there is no biblical significance, but it does have Christian history associated with it. We will talk and discuss tomorrow what the bible says about this holiday then move on to ways to reach people on this holiday.   

All Bible verses taken from the NASB

Matthew 8:21-22

 21 And another of the disciples said to Him, “Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus *said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead." Matthew 8:21-22

All Bible verses taken from the NASB

Origin of Halloween...

Today’s message deals with the origin of Halloween and may not contain anything that is Christian, but it set us up for tomorrow which we will talk about the biblical significance and such and then move on to how to outreach to people on this holiday.

Halloween as we know it today in America is made up of ancient traditions and new aspects of things done to celebrate this holiday. In the west, the traditions of Halloween date back thousands of years to a festival that is of Celtic origin. The name of the festival was Samhain pronounced Soo-when or Sawen. It was the festival that celebrate the new year and by which it is called means summers end. This festival which they celebrated marked the coming of winter and the close of the summer which is the time when they had harvest.

The belief during this time for the celts was that world was thinnest between the living and the dead. This meant that the dead could come back and be like they had before. Also, the people who died who had not ascended yet could do so at this time and be seen and talk with the living.

The festival was also to include sticking up things they needed for the winter, killing cattle, and disposing of bones by fire that is how we got the name bonfire. While all this was happening, they were all gathered of communities together drinking and feasting, while all the while they were aware that people from the other side could come and join the party.

That is the origin of Halloween, and it came to be like we know it today. Well as for candy and costumes and such I am not sure when those came into practice. But I can image there were form of those back then. Many cultures have something similar to this festival that I read. But from all that I read this is the origin of Halloween as we know it.

Starting with this holiday then the rest we will first look at the history of the holiday then move on to biblical significance and such then move on to how to outreach to people on the holiday. 

Psalm 69:29-31

But I am afflicted and in pain; 

May Your salvation, God, set me safely on high.

I will praise the name of God with song,
And exalt Him with thanksgiving.

And it will please the Lord better than an ox
Or bull with horns and hoofs. Psalm 69:29-31

Bible verses taken from the NASB

Upcoming Series: a look at the holidays upcoming...

Holidays are soon approaching, wait that is said too much and by the way, it is Thanksgiving and then Christmas. But first Halloween is a holiday that can be used for Christ and does not have to be a day for the devil but a day for Jesus and furthering His Kingdom. Remember as each holiday takes place, remember what the holiday is truly about, even Halloween as it is a day for Christians to have harvest festivals to bring souls to Christ and to prove a safe service for the community.  

I will praise the name of God with song, And exalt Him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:30. In this next series, I will take apart each of these holidays and give history about each holiday and the significance of Christ in each holiday. And yes, I will refer to Christmas as Christmas, not happy holidays as they are trying to do.  this verse above is a reference to Thanksgiving which we will talk about after Halloween. Some of the content in this series may not be biblical but not all history is biblical. 

As we get ready for this series clear your mind of all you know about each holiday and be ready to have a fresh look at each holiday. I will be deep in prayer for the first holiday Halloween because it is a holiday that deals with the devil. 

So, get ready for this series it is going to be a good one and I am excited to learn about each of these holidays with new eyes and unpack what God has for us in each of these holidays.

God, I praise you and thank you for this next series.

I pray that it opens our eyes to each of these holidays

I pray what you have for us concerning these holidays

In Jesus Name 

Amen

Bible verse taken from the NASB

Hebrews 6:1-8

6 Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and about the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do, if God permits. 4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. 7 For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and produces vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; 8 but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned. Hebrews 6:1-8

All Bible verses taken from the NASB

Infant to Adult in Faith...

When a baby stops drinking milk does, he really stop drinking milk? No, he does not, throughout our lives, we still drink milk just not like when we were babies. So, as to the question that was asked yesterday, once we have solid food are we always going to be on solid food, or do we sometimes need the milk still? The answer is simple, yes. And said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3. we have to become life children as the verse says above to enter heaven. So, I think and know for my own life that I need the milk sometimes. I need to be reminded of simple things that are of new believers or seeking believers, not seasoned Christians. just because we are seasoned doesn't, we don't need to go back and refresh ourselves in the things we already know and hold in our hearts. we tend to forget the simple things sometimes or fall away from those things, so we need to partake of that milk again to remind and refresh us of those things.

To be honest with yourself if you think that you do not need the milk anymore you are lying to yourself and to God. I will put it this way from time to time we need to have the milk to remind us of the things we have forgotten or missed or need to be refreshed in. An example of this in my own life is that Jesus died and arose again.  5 And the angel said to the women, “[a]Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. 6 He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.  Matthew 28:5-6. I have heard this many times and I hold it to be true, but I need to be refreshed in this sometimes when I start to lose sight of it and the purpose of my faith. It is easy to know the things like that and fall away or just to know them but not keep them in your heart. That is why we need the milk from time to time so we do not lose our faith and be led away by the devil and his demons.

If you read further in the next Chapter it talks about 6 Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God. This is still true that we are to press on in maturity in the faith Of God, but we need from time to time we need to be refreshed or reminded of the elementary things we have learned. it does not mean that when you go and do this that you are laying a foundation again, it is already there. let's put it this way, you have a house and a foundation for that house, from time to time you have to check the foundation to see if it is still good or in need of repair. We just like the house we need to go back and look at the foundation to see if it is good or in need of repair (need to be refreshed or reminded of things we already have learned).

So don't feel that when you need to go back for milk that you are not seasoned or have fallen away or are stupid or whatever you may think when you do that. Know that we all need the milk from time to time to refresh us and to remind us of the things we may hold ear but have forgotten or lost or need reminding of.

All Bible verses taken from the NASB

Romans 16:17-20

17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to keep your eyes on those who cause dissensions and create obstacles or introduce temptations [for others] to commit sin, [acting in ways] contrary to the doctrine which you have learned. Turn away from them. 18 For such people do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites and base desires. By smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting [the innocent and the naive]. 19 For the report of your obedience has reached everyone, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. Romans 16:17-20 

Bible verses taken from the AMP

Infant to Adult in Faith...

 13 For everyone who lives on milk is [doctrinally inexperienced and] unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a spiritual infant. 14 But solid food is for the [spiritually] mature, whose senses are trained by practice to distinguish between what is morally good and what is evil.

These verses I read right before I started to Blog and thought to myself what does this mean? Then it got me to think of the question, once we have solid food are we always going to be on solid food, or do we sometimes need the milk still?  These verses above are talking about new believers verse seasoned believers. The people who are new to the faith and have not heard the word in whole yet. they do not know the word since they are new. Think of it this way when you become a doctor you are not a doctor right away you have to put in the work and steps to be a doctor. It is the same in the faith, you need to put in the work and the steps to be able to handle the food instead of just the milk. 

To have the spiritual food that the verse is talking about we need to be trained in ways to tell the difference between good and evil. it talks about this in verse 20 chapter 14 of 1 Corinthians 20 Brothers and sisters, do not be children [immature, childlike] in your thinking; be infants in [matters of] evil [completely innocent and inexperienced], but in your minds be mature [adults]. When it comes to evil as the verse says we are to be like infants but when it comes to our minds, we are to be adults. This verse is saying that we are not to be smart in the ways of evil, know all there is about evil, or practice evil but we are to know of evil just like an infant know of his toes. But we are to be mature in our minds so that when evil comes, we will know it and not follow down that road and be led father away from Jesu and Glorifying Him. We are to have adult minds so we can know the difference between good and evil. another verse that drives this point home is Romans 16:19 19 For the report of your obedience has reached everyone, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.

Just like babies they have to start on milk because they are not fully developed to eat solid food and could choke because they are not ready for solid food. The same is for us that we are to start off with milk and then move on to food. Put in spiritual terms we are to hear the word that is the milk and then move on to keeping the word so we will know the difference that is the food. When you become a Christian do you know all that is good and evil? No, you do not you have to learn all of that. Like I said you have to go through the steps and learn all that kind of stuff it doesn't just come to you. It is like a baby you grow into an adult you do not start off as an adult you have to grow into one. Just like what we are talking about we start off as new believers and then move on to seasoned Christians.

As to the second question I posed today, I will answer that question tomorrow best I can. I may stay on this question tomorrow I do not know it is whatever God leads me to do.

All Bible verses taken from the AMP

1 Corinthians 16:12-14

12 Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly encouraged him to come to you with the brothers; and it was not at all his desire to come now, but he will come when he has the opportunity. 13 Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14 All that you do must be done in love. 1 Corinthians 16:12-14

All Bible verses taken from the NASB

Safeguard- humor/laughter and Jesus...

Today we finish up our series on humor/laughter and Jesus. Yesterday we talked about pitfalls and how they can happen. To finish up this series I want to talk about ways you can safeguard yourself. There is stupid humor/laughter, and we should have nothing to do with it. That doesn't mean that one time at summer camp we rode a couch in the parking lot, and I fell off and broke a leg (an example not one that happened to me). we can laugh at stuff like that but the stupid humor/laughter I am talking about is one that brings people down in school this was called teasing or bullying.  For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. 1 peter 3:10. teasing and bullying is not of God, and it falls under evil. So, safeguard yourself from just humor/laughter and if it arises in your presence run from it but if that is not possible call it out and turn people from that kind of humor/ laughter.

The next safeguard you need to be aware of is something that deals with speech again and that is language. To be funny/humorous it doesn't have to have swear words and such in the speech for it to be funny. sometimes the speech has so much profanity that it becomes not funny anymore. so if you encounter this kind of humor/laughter run away from it, and do not listen to it for you may start to speak like that. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Colossians 3:8. This kind of humor/laughter is not from God and falls under evil. 

Most of the safeguards have to do with speech and I could talk about them all but there isn't enough time today but want to move on to the last one I will talk about today and that is what you see humor/Laughter. what you watch has a big impact on your life. if you watch people swearing a lot you might end up doing it too or see people hurting themselves for a laugh you might want to do it for the laugh too. so be careful what you watch and protect your eyes from these things. Most of the time you can just turn it off because you are the one controlling what you see. but there are times that you cannot for any number of reasons, and you need to just walk away or pray in your mind if you cannot walk away, run if you cannot just walk. “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. Matthew 6:22. our eyes are the lamp we use to see everything and if our eyes are corrupted, we will turn to your destruction and evil and not seek Jesus and glorify Him.

Anything can lead to being something that needs a safeguard. So, as we finish up this series today on humor and laughter. be on your guard on the things that you need to guard yourself against. So, that you do not create your own destruction and be led farther from Glorifying Jesus. Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13. so stand firm in faith and resist the things that will cause you to lead astray.

All Bible verses taken from the NKJV, NASB

Tuesday Playlist:

Tuesday Playlist:

https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/tuesday-playlist/pl.u-pMylEVEs44ypVv

1. On Jordan's Stormy Banks (Live) by Indelible Grace Music
2. I Will Rejoice by Don Francisco
3. O Clap Your Hands by Ben Adams
4. This Is the Day by CityAlight
5. Your Love Set My Soul on Fire (Live) by Travis Ryan

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

2 I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself.” And behold, it too was futility. 2 I said of laughter, “It is senseless,” and of pleasure, “What does this accomplish?” 3 I explored with my mind how to refresh my body with wine while my mind was guiding me wisely; and how to seize foolishness, until I could see what good there is for the sons of mankind to do under heaven for the few ears of their lives. 4 I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself; 5 I made gardens and parks for myself, and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; 6 I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves, and I had slaves born at home. I also possessed flocks and herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. 8 I also amassed for myself silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male and female singers, and the pleasures of the sons of mankind: many concubines.

9 Then I became great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stood by me. 10 All that my eyes desired, I did not refuse them. I did not restrain my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor; and this was my reward for all my labor. 11 So I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold, all was futility and striving after wind, and there was no benefit under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

All Bible verses taken from the NASB