Yes, I have heard it all in my 37 years...shock.envy.being weirded out.the countless, often ridiculous questions and comments. And since I gave my life to Christ as an adult, namely in church circles...suspicious looks and avoidance. It's OK, really. I'm not offended. I too had my own questions, especially after I was saved. I went through my "Why me, God?" Question- mark-phase about my birthday. But I mean really, who can choose their day to be born?!
And I'd be lying if I said they've been anything short of excitement through the years. Even as my children have grown, and I have shielded them as much as I can from the glorification of evil, they know that on Mommy's birthday, people like to...pretend to be who they are not.
Every year I have written something about my birthday on social media (before I was instructed to close my FB account last year). This year is different, but I am still to share and quite honestly dig a little deeper.
I can't talk about my birthday without getting a little into my testimony (will share that soon). So here goes...
Growing up my birthday parties were the funnest! Everyone wanted to come to my birthday party- I mean people I didn't even know! It's funny to think of that now considering that I am the "few close friends" type. But I mean come on- lots of candy, costume parties, trick or treating, excuse to stay up late on a school night...who wouldn't want to indulge on my special day. Looking back I remember the years my birthday fell on a school night. Everyone, including myself were just full of expectancy as our day went on, knowing that night was gonna be awesome! But wait. Were they really there to celebrate my birthday? Some were I'm sure :)
But there is an opposite side to this chocolate coin- people either always remembered or always forgot (and still do). Perhaps even I at times got so wrapped up in Halloween that I forgot it was my own birthday. It's actually only been in recent years that my birthday has really been celebrated first and foremost as simply a day to celebrate my birth and not Costumes and CANDY.
As I got older, so did the celebration... In high school, I still had costume parties but this time with dj's and no grown-ups (at least in sight) at times. Other times and more often, giant celebrations with lots of family and music, me being the dj! In college, and into my young adult rebellion...yup- P.A.R.T.Y. Throwing my own parties, friends throwing parties for me, parties in clubs... but these are not the kind I boast about. In fact, many of those were very dark times for me. Times I praise and thank God for rescuing me out of.
My birthday's since I've given my life to Christ have been unique and so special...beginning with being 7 months pregnant with my firstborn; welcoming my second born 2 1/2 weeks before; and 3 months pregnant with my baby girl (who is now 6 months) and about to celebrate again. It will be very different this year, especially not seeing all my family as I typically would most years. Yes, this year will be very different, maybe more different than usual...
You didn't think I just wanted to talk about me and my unusually fun birthday, did you? You knew I was going somewhere right? You bet I am-but it's not as cheery 'I'm afraid'. Now- I have to talk about the 'dark side' of being born on Halloween and tell of what I've experienced and what I feel that the Lord wants me to share....
As I have been writing about the 'Great Deception, Great Tribulation ', I have been recalling many of the horror movies I saw growing up. I recently did a search to get an idea of how many I've seen in my lifetime. I was reluctant to add them up quite honestly but I will say in the list of 80s (mostly) and 90s (many) and even the 2000s (some), it's embarrassingly numerous! But honestly, what could I do- I grew up with a synonymous celebration of my birthday and glorification of the spooky things in life. After all, "It's Not Real!" Right?! I'll get into that later.
As I got older, so did the celebration... In high school, I still had costume parties but this time with dj's and no grown-ups (at least in sight) at times. Other times and more often, giant celebrations with lots of family and music, me being the dj! In college, and into my young adult rebellion...yup- P.A.R.T.Y. Throwing my own parties, friends throwing parties for me, parties in clubs... but these are not the kind I boast about. In fact, many of those were very dark times for me. Times I praise and thank God for rescuing me out of.
My birthday's since I've given my life to Christ have been unique and so special...beginning with being 7 months pregnant with my firstborn; welcoming my second born 2 1/2 weeks before; and 3 months pregnant with my baby girl (who is now 6 months) and about to celebrate again. It will be very different this year, especially not seeing all my family as I typically would most years. Yes, this year will be very different, maybe more different than usual...
You didn't think I just wanted to talk about me and my unusually fun birthday, did you? You knew I was going somewhere right? You bet I am-but it's not as cheery 'I'm afraid'. Now- I have to talk about the 'dark side' of being born on Halloween and tell of what I've experienced and what I feel that the Lord wants me to share....
As I have been writing about the 'Great Deception, Great Tribulation ', I have been recalling many of the horror movies I saw growing up. I recently did a search to get an idea of how many I've seen in my lifetime. I was reluctant to add them up quite honestly but I will say in the list of 80s (mostly) and 90s (many) and even the 2000s (some), it's embarrassingly numerous! But honestly, what could I do- I grew up with a synonymous celebration of my birthday and glorification of the spooky things in life. After all, "It's Not Real!" Right?! I'll get into that later.
To the defense of my parents, outside of a handful, they didn't know about half of the films I watched as a child. I saw most of them with cousins or friends. And shockingly, many by myself. But as I got older, they just added to the celebration, like listening to "thriller" every year. I can't believe it actually. It's no wonder I couldn't sleep at night in my single days. And I realized later I had a spirit of fear oppressing me before I had a deliverance prayer done over me a few years back. Fear still tries to do it's best to cripple me but by God's grace I can discern it's presence and rebuke it or ask my brethren to pray for me. I'll elaborate another time Lord willing.
Going back to movies-it's been many years since I watched a horror movie for a "fright". In fact I remember the last time. For me, that was when the Holy Spirit ministered to me about the REAL power the devil has through those films as well as certain music. It is when I began to disassociate myself with these things.
However, disconnecting with the familiarities of the world doesn't make them vanish. In fact, I believe the Lord amplified my gift of discerning of spirits, making me more aware of things I didn't necessarily want to be aware of. I had no idea then what He was preparing me for. He is so amazing. Praise you Lord!
Many years ago, around this time in fact, I would get an uneasy "feeling".
However, disconnecting with the familiarities of the world doesn't make them vanish. In fact, I believe the Lord amplified my gift of discerning of spirits, making me more aware of things I didn't necessarily want to be aware of. I had no idea then what He was preparing me for. He is so amazing. Praise you Lord!
Many years ago, around this time in fact, I would get an uneasy "feeling".
I think it's wise to note that whatever gifts God has blessed you with, outside of Him, you can never truly understand them or use them appropriately. With that said, in my rebellious 20's (which I talk about in my testimony), I had found a seat next to Buddah and would read my horoscope with nearly the same zeal that I now read The Bible! I would get "feelings" about things and many times I was right. Little did I know about what was really going on. I was so far from God then. But He is so merciful. Giving us chance after chance to turn back to Him. Thank you Lord!
One example of my 'I got a 'bad' feeling about this' came one October in 2004. I had been living in downtown San Antonio with one of my cousins and we were walking one early evening. It was brisk and the atmosphere seemed cold. At one point I stopped and said "I have a really bad feeling. I sense...death."
Well "I'm afraid" to tell you, the devil's joke is on you! But you don't have to fall for it anymore.
But tradition is not necessarily rooted in truth-The Truth. And lies are usually packaged in half truths.
Perhaps you have the answers to these questions. Perhaps there are other questions we should be asking: Is Halloween really just one day of evil? Is evil really something to be afraid of? How do we live with evil everywhere around us?
Not soon after, a strange tragedy happened followed by another. First, a woman had apparently thrown herself off a historic building literally across the street from our place of employment. Then shortly after our boss, a young man, had suddenly died.
What strange happenings, back to back. And was my "bad feeling" a coincidence?! I don't know.
But I do know that all the horror I saw in real life as well as television was Real. It actually bothers me now to look back having been lied to. I'm sure my family had good intentions in wanting to protect us, perhaps even believed the lie themselves: "It's Not Real!"
So, since it's NOT real, I can watch 'this' movie and not be afraid that the villain or monster or "bad guy" will get me right?! Or I can listen to 'that' music and not be affected by it in any negative way...right?! No. Not right. Very wrong. And very dangerous. Especially if you don't know what your dealing with.
My grandmother, who was a believer, used to say something that many of us growing up often shrugged off in laughter at times or cower in fear at others.But she knew what she was talking about. She would say it whenever she caught any of us being disrespectful to our elders or watching or listening to things that she found ungodly. I was too young to know what her spiritual gifts were but she did know what she was talking about. One weekend afternoon she came to visit us. And in my affinity with music, I was happily watching some videos I recorded (yup, good 'ole VHS tapes). One of the videos was of a band I recently began listening to along with several others as I had just started high school and my selection was 'maturing'. Well the song/video called "midlife crisis" came on. Admittedly, it made me uncomfortable but it was "a cool band". My grandmother, who didn't speak English gasped in horror and said: "!Eso es del Diablo! !Cambia eso nina!" I tried to argue and begged my mom to my defense but my Mom naturally honored my grandma. She was right. It was of the devil. She often replied to our disobedience and worldly lusts with: "!Se te va aparaser el Diablo! " meaning: the devil is going to appear in front of you.
I cannot count the number of times my grandmother was right.
And the devil has been appearing to countless souls since long before any of us were born. The difference now is that the world has successfully packaged him in a treat bag. What's worse, evil is now labeled "good" and something to be envied. We've all been fooled by the costumes and sweets. Not just on October 31, though that is the anniversary date of successful deception, you could say. And as the Lord has spoken to many of us: The Great Deception is here. So in that regard, you can say, Everyday Is Halloween.
Shortly after I began purging my tv/music intake, I began to pay attention only by name to the shows that were beginning to air: Park Avenue 666, Pretty Little Liars, The Walking Dead, etc. I thought- Wow! They're not really hiding it anymore are they? And I would scratch my head in confusion as I would see posts, my friends would write, clearly enthralled by these shows. I didn't understand how they couldn't see what I was beginning to see. Why didn't they have the same conviction as I did?
Of course! I forgot: It's Not Real!!! So...what's the big deal? Why am I being such a square? Why don't I just enjoy what's on television like I used to? It's what we've always watched or done for years....
Yes, it's easier to just go along with the way things have always been done, for some. But when God opens your eyes, He wants to show you something. Sometimes He does it directly, other times in other ways. Still, many of us go along with the holiday traditions like Halloween. Many of us celebrate the "fun" part and steer clear of the "evil". Others know more than the average person and completely avoid or ignore it, counting the minutes til it's over- perhaps even thinking that it will go away on November 1st.
Either way, we've bought into the lie. We've been tricked by the deception.And this is no time for pranks and tricks.
It's not a fun game, like...bobbing for apples?!
Last year, the Lord allowed me to get a better understanding of some of the so called traditions of Halloween. One of them was "bobbing for apples". Personally I didn't see much of this activity in my celebrations but when I did, something about it bothered me. No, I could never understand the concept of sticking your head in a giant bowl of water and trying to grab an apple with your teeth. Outside of the ridiculousness of it- it seemed, dangerous. As I studied last year I found out about a gruesome practice the Druids used called bobbing for apples. I'll refer to some notes I wrote:
"The Druids celebrated something called "The Nights Of Sauin". This is a time when they would mark the end of harvest and beginning of winter and believed that the living could somehow intersect or commune with the dead. In ancient practices, they would line up 12 captives who were to be sacrificed and provided a way of "escape". They set up the cauldrons that were filled with boiling fat and apples. At best these captives would be released, severely burned from the damage or suffer being beheaded after the failure of grabbing an apple with their teeth on their first try."
Makes you rethink those candy cauldron buckets, huh?!
There is even more disturbing history from the origins of All Hallows' Eve. But I will move briefly to another cultural celebration I am very familiar with: Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead).
There is even more disturbing history from the origins of All Hallows' Eve. But I will move briefly to another cultural celebration I am very familiar with: Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead).
Dia De Los Muertos is another three day celebration where people gather together to remember and "pray for" their departed loved ones. This tradition is steeped heavily in Catholicism, whose religion believes in purgatory ("a place or state of suffering inhabited by the souls of sinners who are expiation get their sins before going to heaven"). These celebrators make "ofrendas" or offerings in memory of their departed by making "treats" commemorating the dead, often leaving the possessions of the deceased at their grave sites. They make Pan de Muertos (bread of the dead).
Quite honestly Dia De Los Muertos did and still does "scare" me. It reminds me of many horror films I saw like: Return of The Living Dead, The Lost Boys, Pet Semetary, Hellraiser...the gruesome list goes on, unfortunately.
I see now what my grandma was talking about. And by God's grace my ability to discern spirits has affirmed the truth: It Is Real! There are Real spirits attached to these films...to music, to video games, to celebrations, etc. We don't like to think that. We like to "trick" ourselves into thinking that we can play with fire and not get burned. I'm sure many will disagree by saying much of what I've heard before :"It's just a movie/song/game,etc. !", "It's only pretend!"
Well "I'm afraid" to tell you, the devil's joke is on you! But you don't have to fall for it anymore.
And you could call this a snooze alarm...so wake up!
There is a real spirit world. We are either on the side of the Spirit of Life or on the side of the Spirit of death. There is no in between. There is no lukewarm. There is no "happy medium".The devil is aware that his time is short and he is doing his best to trap even the people of God with fear and manipulation. He does it the way he has always done it. In fact we see a frightening example of this in a story in 1 Samuel 28...
In 1 Samuel 28 we see a very real and chilling story of Saul's seeking help from a meduim (witch or spiritist). He goes so far as to disguise himself to trick her (the medium) into conjuring up the spirit of Samuel as he has become desperate from not hearing from the Lord. Saul has continually walked in his own counsel but here we see his final desperation by practicing necromancy-something he knows is forbidden. As he pleads his case and excuse for this atrocious sin with both the medium and eventually Samuel he hears his biggest fear realized as Samuel tells him plainly that he will not only lose his kingdom (Israel) but his life at the hands of the Philistines.
How could Saul, once favored by the Lord, go to such a wicked counsel?! Why didn't he just repent and wait on the Lord?! Did his disobedience bring about a harassing evil spirit, that would torment and ultimately end his life?!
Yes, Satan has been up to his demonic tricks for a long time. The spirit of the world is under his demonic spell. And his deception is at it's peak on the verge of overdrive.
It's strange to look back and think about how much our culture has influenced our customs, both personal and corporate. And our customs influence our lifestyle. And how long have we had a lifestyle of celebrating holidays like Halloween? What do we do instead?
You may have asked yourself before or are now asking questions like:
Is it wrong to dress up your children in costumes and take them "trick or treating"?
Should we shut our doors and not even participate in this ritual?
It's been a fun tradition for so long, am I supposed to just stop celebrating?
But tradition is not necessarily rooted in truth-The Truth. And lies are usually packaged in half truths.
Perhaps you have the answers to these questions. Perhaps there are other questions we should be asking: Is Halloween really just one day of evil? Is evil really something to be afraid of? How do we live with evil everywhere around us?
This Halloween there is a 'massive' asteroid scheduled to 'whiz' 'surprisingly close' past Earth. I just found out they have renamed it: "Spooky". I have already mentioned this in one of the song messages.
Is it concerning? Of course it is. Is this the event that introduces the time of sorrows? It could be. It may not be. Only God knows. But I know we have to be ready at all times, for all things.
The hour we live in has never been darker. Some will argue this by quoting Ecclesiastes: "There is nothing new under the sun". This is true. But we are also on the brink of the coming Great Tribulation. And before this, The Great Deception- in fact the Lord has said it is already here. And neither of these have taken place before. Everyday is Halloween. It is a set time in God's divine order of everything. We don't know exactly when but when know by His grace and Spirit which season. And we are in the season.
Our preparation must first begin by spiritually being reconciled to God through Christ Jesus. Once we are in Christ we can hear from the Holy Spirit and submit to, obey and follow our Heavenly Father. His plan is perfect. His ways are perfect. His timing is perfect.
Please take heed to the message and warning your hear, taking everything to God in prayer. He will lead you and prepare you for everything. You are special to Him. He wants none to perish.
He is Savior. He is Lord. He is King. He is the Alpha and the Omega. He is God.
"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter."- Isaiah 5:20
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