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Sunday, 01 November 2009

As the Holidays Begin

Today is November 1st, and for my family it was always the begining of preparing for the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays. Although I have been following the tenets of the Mennonite faith now for 5 years now, this is the first year that the celebration of "Christmas" is hurting me deeply. For me like many out there, Christmas was my most favorite and special holiday. It was the holiday I most looked forward to every year, and yes I enjoyed putting up a Christmas Tree, decorating the house, and usually I would have everything up by Thanksgiving! My celebration of Christmas had always been centered around the birth of Christ, around the rememberance that God sent his precious Son, Jesus Christ into the world to save us from our sins.
Yes I know that there is no record of celebration of Our Lords birthday being celebrated in the bible, and yes I know that the Lord was not born on the 25th of December. Yes I also know that many of my holiday traditions are rooted in Catholicism as I was raised as a child in the Catholic Church. I am also aware of the pagan backgrounds of the 25th of December and the weeks following up to that day.
For the last 8 years prior to moving back to Michigan, I attended a Conservative Mennonite Confrence Church in New Mexico that celebrated Christmas and had a Christmas Tree and also the pastors wife and I shared a fondness of collecting Nativity sets, my preference was antique Nativity sets as I have one that was passed on to me by my family.
I will admit as my older children grew up and even my children now that are at home, were told the fairy tale of Santa Claus but also knew that it was just that.. a fairy tale, and the the reason we celebrated Christmas was to remember the birth of Christ. I also have many Mennonite friends who decorate a Christmas tree, but do not put the presents under the tree, do not use silver and gold, do not put fancy lights and ornate ornaments on the tree. In my ignorance of all this, my tradition was to place a whole Nativity and town under my tree, that was the emphasis of the birth of Christ. Christmas Eve was a special time of reading the Bible and telling the story of how God sent his son, to save the world, not in a fancy palace or even a house but his birth was in a lowly manager, a stable, a manger for a crib. The shepards who were told of his birth by angels and a bright shining star that shone brightly over the place of the manager announcing that Jesus was born.
Once upon a time in this country of ours, there was no question of Christmas, no question of what this day was celebrated for. No matter what faith you practiced it was a Christian Holiday. I remember when nothing was open on Sundays, and nothing was open on Christmas Day. Most buisnesses closed on Christmas Eve by 7pm. Christ was truly the center of the holiday.
Yes sadly there were those families who used it as a time for drunkeness, gluttony, parties, but there are those who use any excuse for that kind of behavior, weddings, funerals, I personally believe New Years is probrably the most promoted holiday for revelery and drunkeness.
Forgive me but this whole issue had gotten me angry and upset. Perhaps that sounds a bit selfish, I am not trying to be. I am angry that this land I grew up in, has turned its back on God, turned its back on the Christian faith, turned its back on every single principle that our founding fathers promoted in the begining of this country. I am angry that any show of the Christian faith is ridiculed, that if you show your a Christian by means of a Nativity or a cross on your lawn, or if a town wishes to show a nativity, a bunch of non believing humanist legalists show up and take you to court and force you to comply to their wishes.
I am angry that we now have a Hate Crime Law that truly will take away Christian rights but give rights to any other religion, and any other group that wishes to promote their agenda by intimidation and persecution. I am angry that Christmas cannot just be Christmas, it has to be the Winter Solstice, Winter Holiday.
No, please understand, as a Christian, I am not trying to promote paganism, or promote the greed and the revelery and commercialism that has now become associated, with Christmas. I just wish, that the Christmas I once knew and loved still existed, that the meaning of Christmas was truly Peace on Earth, Goodwill to all Men. That a Christmas Tree was just that, A beautiful evergreen that was decorated in honor of the Saviours birth. Not decorated as a symbol of a pagan religion .
What will I do this Christmas, I dont know. I will pray, and ask the Lord to lead me to what is right, and holy before him. If it means no Tree, then I will honor him. Will I allow the boys to put up our family Nativity as they have since they were old enough to do it. , I dont know. I only know that this Christmas for me and my children will not be a Christmas that we have celebrated in the past. For the first time in my life the joy I once felt for this time of year is gone.
We are to worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth, I am struggling here, I dont have the answers, I just know I want to do what is right, in the sight of the Lord.
Anyone who is in the same situation as me, please feel free to comment, would love to have your input on this, Thanks,,, Benita

Friday, 30 October 2009

HALOWEEN! HARMLESS OR HAZARDOUS??? THE HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN

HALLOWEEN! Harmless? or Hazardous??
The History of Halloween
CELTIC NEW YEAR
October 31 is the most important day in the satanic year. It marks the Celtic new year, and is always at the end of the growing season, thus it became the "Festival of Death." On this day, the god of the Celtics was to have called up the spirits of the wicked dead who had died during the past year. At the same time, other evil spirits arose and went about the countryside harassing the people. On October 31, the Celtics expected to be harassed by ghosts, evil spirits, and demons; and it was no fun and games to them! They would light bonfires to guide the spirits to their own town and to ward off evil spirits.
THE DRUIDS
The Celtics had satanic priests called Druids. On October 31, the Druids went from house to house demanding certain foods, and all those who refused are cursed. The people were tormented by means of magic. As they went, the Druids carried large turnips which they had hollowed out and carved in demon faces as charms. Each one was believed to contain the demon spirit that personally led or guided that priest - his little god. Costumes were worn at times to hide the identity of the Druid as he would threaten people with curses if they did not comply with the food he demanded.
DIVINATION
Those who practiced fortune telling and divination found that this was the night that they had the most success. They called upon Satan to bless their efforts. One form of divination was to put apples in a tub and bob for them. The one who first successfully came up with an apple without putting it in his teeth was to have good luck throughout the year. They would then peel the apple and throw the peeling over their shoulder and quickly look around. They expected to see a vision or an apparition of the one they were to marry.
SACRIFICES
These things happened several centuries before Christ. Sacrifices were made to the gods, especially the god of death: Sam Hain (pronounced Sah - win). Sacrifices all the way from vegetable to human were offered. This went on and on and in some parts of the world still go on today.
THE 8TH CENTURY
In the eighth century, the Pope, in an effort to get the people to quit the festival of Sam Hain, invented All Saints Day (Nov. 1). This was an attempt to get the people to turn away from the horrible observance of Sam Hain. All Saints Day was intended to honor the martyrs of the Roman persecution. It didn't work. It never works to Christianize a pagan holiday. The holy and the profane don't mix!!
THE MIDDLE AGES
In the middle ages there was a great revival of satanic practices, witchcraft, and magic - like there is today. During this time, the belief developed that witches traveled on broomsticks to the black sabbaths (witchs' celebration help every October 31) to worship Satan. They were guided by spirits in the form of black cats. The Druids worshipped cats believing them to be reincarnated evil people.
CHURCH INVOLVEMENT
This festival of death has survived all of the efforts of the Church to stamp it out. The Church is joining the opposition by celebrating this festival. The devil has been very successful in invading Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter, providing counterfeits for the real thing. Halloween is different. It has always been satanic in nature. Satan has deluded the Christians into celebrating his festival. All Saints Day became All Hallows Day and came to be called in the western world All Hallows Eve, and then All Hallows Een. Finally, the word was reduced to the way we have it today, Halloween. That's where the name came from, and even if it is called All Hallows Evening it has nothing to do with the Christian faith and it never did!
The bottom line is this: Halloween has been so deluded that many parents don't even realize all the symbolism there is in trick or treating, wearing of costumes, decorating with jack-o'-lanterns, and all the rest that goes with this evil holiday. October 31 is the night that Satanists and occultists the world around look forward to for giving the most honor to Satan and praying to him intensely for the fall of the Church of Jesus Christ and the destruction of families. It is the night of the human sacrifice to Satan. It is the biggest day in the life of a Satanist. It is not an innocent holiday!!
MODERN HALLOWEEN
Now let's look at the present day celebration of Halloween. Isn't the whole theme one of darkness, death, fear, threats, destruction and evil? There are witches, broomsticks, bats, owls, ghosts, skeletons, death, and monsters. We dress our children as demons, witches, ghouls, monsters and werewolves and send them out into the streets in the dark to reenact the Druids' practice of demanding food from people under the threat of tricks (or curses) if they don't comply.
We take not a turnip, but a pumpkin and carve demon faces in it and decorate with it. At Halloween there will be apple bobbing, divination, fortune telling, haunted houses, candles lit, and spirits called up. There will be seances and ouiji boards in the name of fun and excitement. There will be sacrifices of dogs, cats, rats, chickens, goats and even humans!
You say, "We don't take it seriously." But the devil does and so does God! Particularly this is true when the church which He purchased with His blood builds haunted houses in its fellowship halls so that the little lambs who have been entrusted to its care can be terrified and opened up to invading spirits of fear, torment, and confusion. HOW THIS MUST GRIEVE THE LORD!
Halloween has never been a Christian holiday and it has no place int the life of a born again believer in Jesus Christ. In fact it is an abomination to God and we should take our stand firmly against it and all it entails. As we look into its history, we find that its roots go deep into heathenism, paganism, Satanism, and the occult; and the modern expression is no better!
SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES
Hosea 4:6
Ezekiel 44:23
Deuteronomy 18:9-14
James 1:27
2 Corinthians 6:14
Philippians 4:8
Deuteronomy 7:25-26
1 Thessalonians 5:21-23
1 Corinthians 10:19-23
OTHER SOURCES
American Encyclopedia
Funk & Wagnall's Encyclopedia
Student's Encyclopedia
The Standard Reference Work
Collier's Encyclopedia
Illustrated World Encyclopedia
The Columbia Encyclopedia
World Book Encyclopedia
MAJOR SOURCE
Message by Tom McKenny entitled,
"Festival of Death"

Tuesday, 20 October 2009

A prayer needed for today,

There is so much going on in the world right now that none of us could have ever thought that these things would be happening in our country, in our lives and our government. As a friend told me the other day. If we trust in the Lord then we must accept these things must happen in order for Our Lords return. While we live in frightening times, we also live in exciting times, as we see the things of the bible unfold and are truly happening in our lifetime. I used to say this prayer when I was a child and I feel it has at least great meaning in the words of it. Especially today. Blessings, Benita
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
ARE WE LIVING UNDER THE LAW, OR BY FAITH?

I Am Living Under the Law...
If I feel condemned and worry whether I am performing well enough to satisfy God.
This shows I do not yet understand that Jesus is my righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30). God said, "[Jesus] is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," and it is only Jesus who pleases Him. My own works never please God, but when He sees His Son in me, He is well pleased. The less of me and the more of Jesus that He sees, the more pleased He is. Trying to please God by my works is a frustrating impossibility because one failure totally condemns me (Galatians 3:10; James 2:10). True faith is the starting point if I want God to be pleased with me. (Romans 4:3; Hebrews 11:6)
If I think it is more difficult to be a Christian than not, and I think the world has more fun than I do.
This reveals that I am mostly concerned with externals and am missing the glorious freedom and joy of surrendering my life to God (1 Peter 1:8). Serving God may have difficulties, but it is infinitely better than the alternative (Galatians 4:9). A total surrender to God actually makes life easier because I no longer have to make my own life come out right. God will make all things work together for good and give me true rest. (Romans 8:28; Hebrews 4:9,10)
If I cannot accept God’s forgiveness for my sin, and still carry condemnation.
It is an insult to God to think that I must somehow earn my forgiveness when it is freely offered to the repentant sinner through the sacrifice of Jesus. It is my pride and unbelief that tell me I must do something to earn God’s pardon for sin instead of humbly accepting it as an unmerited gift that I can never really repay. (1 John 1:9; Romans 8:1)
If I am constantly defeated by the same sin.
A pattern of failure reveals that I trust my own strength because I am never defeated when I fully trust God for victory. Each defeat proves I did not trust God’s power, but when I humbly admit my weakness it allows God’s power to supply my lack. (2 Corinthians 12:9; 1 Corinthians 10:13)
If I determine to try harder when the Spirit convicts me of a need in my life.
If I merely try harder, I still think I can sanctify myself by improving my performance. I do not yet understand that Jesus is my sanctification. I also show that my standard of holiness is much lower than God’s because I can attain to mine by sheer will-power. The new covenant’s standard is impossibly high for the flesh. It takes Jesus in me. (1 Corinthians 1:30; Galatians 3:3)
If I check my spiritual growth by comparing myself to other people instead of to Jesus Christ.
This reveals that I still think it is good enough just to reach a level of performance that makes me an average Christian. Looking to Jesus makes me despair of my own fleshly efforts. (Romans 10:4; 2 Corinthians 10:12; Romans 8:29)
If I think sin is always something I do, and I’m only guilty of sin if I do certain actions.
The new standard introduced in the Sermon on the Mount and lived out by Jesus deals with the root of the problem instead of the fruit of the problem. The main issue now is the condition of the heart. I can be guilty of gross sin even without any outward action. (Mark 7:20-23; Matthew 5:27,28; Matthew 12:33-35)
If I am more concerned with people’s opinion of me than I am about the truth.
For example, if I tolerate rebellion in my heart as long as I yield outward obedience, I show that I am still more concerned with my performance than the real condition of my sinful heart. Admitting the truth will set me free. (Matthew 23:27)
If I teach and demand of others things not found in the Bible.
This reveals a performance-oriented mentality that does not accept God’s standard of inward holiness and claims that righteousness really depends on keeping certain man-made rules. Eventually those rules will actually replace God’s standard, and people will be considered righteous as long as they just conform outwardly to these rules. (Matthew 15:9; 2 Peter 1:3; Revelation 22:18)
If I cannot accept believers who are different than myself.
This shows that my confidence is still in how I look and how I perform, and so I cannot accept someone who looks or acts differently. (John 7:24; Acts 10:34, 35)
If I serve God because I want to avoid hell.
This shows that I just want to perform well enough to be accepted, instead of focusing on an inner relationship based on unconditional love for God. If I truly recognize God’s holiness, I will serve Him just because He is worthy, and then the rewards He offers are simply side benefits, not the main focus. My motive will be my love for the Lamb and not my fear of the fire. (Job 13:15a; Revelation 4:11)
If I constantly lack assurance of salvation.
My salvation is insecure if I judge myself by my performance instead of by the witness of God’s Spirit, because each failure on my part casts doubt on my salvation. When my trust is in Christ and the sufficiency of His sacrifice, I no longer depend on myself for assurance. This does not mean that I can continue in sin because my salvation is in Christ. In fact, when my focus is relationship with Him instead of performance for Him, I am more repentant than ever about any sin that grieves Him and quick to repent. My sorrow is that I grieved God instead of just being sorry about the consequences of my sin. (1 John 3:9, 20, 24)
If I am kept from sin only because "the Bible says I shouldn’t do it."
I am only trying to get by, instead of having a relationship with Jesus that makes me desire to please Him above all else. As I grow in grace and become more like Jesus, I will hate sin and desire holiness, not because I fear punishment, but because I have the mind of Christ and personal convictions against sin. The law of the Spirit in my heart can keep me farther from sin than all those laws that have been a burden to my flesh. (1 Peter 1:15, 16; Ephesians 4:20-24; Hebrews 12:14)
If I read the first thirteen points and decide that my works (or lack of them) do not matter so I can gratify my flesh.
My works are really a matter of life and death, for I shall be judged by them, but they must be the genuine fruit of a transformed heart, and not my own pathetic efforts at righteousness. (Revelation 20:12; Isaiah 64:6)
I am living above the law in grace when I truly understand and experience that a transformed heart naturally produces good works, but good works never produce a transformed heart.
ARE WE LIVING UNDER THE LAW? OR BY HIS FAITH AND GRACE AND MERCY, COVERED BY HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS?
THIS ARTICLE WAS FROM THE HEARTBEAT OF THE REMNANT OF CHARITY GOSPEL MINISTRIES MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2002.
Dying to Self

Dying to Self

When you are forgotten or neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you don't sting and hurt with the insult or the oversight, but your heart is happy, being counted worthy to suffer for Christ......THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart, or even defend yourself, but take it all in patient loving silence.....THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any unpunctuality, or any annoyance; when you can stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensitivity...and endure it as Jesus endured it.....THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you are content with any food, any offering, any raiment, any climate, any society, any solitude, any interruption by the will of God....THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation, or to record your own good works, or itch after commendation, when you can truly love to be unknown...THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met, and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy nor question God, while your own needs are far greater and in desperate
circumstances....THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself, and can humbly submit inwardly, as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising within your heart....THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

Are you dead yet? In these last days the Spirit would bring us to the Cross. "That I may know Him...being made conformable to His death."

A friend of mine sent this to me in a email this morning, It touched me so much , I had to share it, Hope you get as much out of it as I did.
Blessings, Benita

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Benita49

- Name: Benita49
- Birthday: 10/14/1958
- Gender: Female
- Member Since: 4/16/2008

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About Me

I just recently moved back from New Mexico to Michigan, I am a widow 4yrs now, mother of 7, 5 adopted with special needs, 2 bio,the last 3 adopted are home with me and the light of my life, Elijah 9, Nicholas 7, and Joshuah 7. I have been covering and wearing a cape dress for almost 6 years now, and trying to live a Christian life, following many of the principles of the mennonite and amish, and remnant lifestyle. I love to listen to Denny Kenaston and the Charity Tapes, I homeschool, and love my new life here in Roscommon, Michigan..