How We Do Halloween

The hubby did a great job carving our pumpkins, didn't he!
The kitty is carved into kids' pumpkin that we grew in the back yard. 
The big one is the hubs and mine that we picked at the pumpkin patch. 

As a Christian, I have grown up listening to many different views on how we (Christians) should or should not celebrate the holiday of Halloween. Our family participates in the holiday by going to the pumpkin patch, dressing in friendly (non-scary or dark) costumes, carving pumpkins and treating at places we know. We try to stay on the good side of things for the holiday. And when questions come up like one my son asked the other day, 

"Is Halloween the Devil's birthday? A girl at school said it was.",

we take those questions head on, as best we can, armed with God's word and what history we know of how the holiday came to be. Ultimately, how your family chooses to participate is a decision each family has to come to on their own. I encourage you to be informed and look into the history of the day. 

And know what the bible says about this world and the darkness in it. There are many great ways to bring the Light into the holiday.

However you choose to spend your October 31st, I wanted to take a moment to wish you a safe and happy one!

John 3:19-21

19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

Television Wisdom Wednesday: Malala Yousafzai

"They thought that the bullets would silence us, but they failed," Malala said in a speech at the United Nations on her 16th birthday. "The terrorists thought they would change my aims and stop my ambitions. But nothing changed in my life except this: weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born."

I watched the 20/20 interview on Malala a couple weeks ago. Wow. Just wow. If you don't know this girls story of getting shot by the Taliban for her stand on educating girls or her message to the world about the power of education, learn it. I believe God saved her and that God can and is using her for good. 

Capturing Joy and a Fairy Princess

 beautiful Fairy Princess dancing

twirling 

running

laughing

joyfully gleaming in the sun

sprinkling fallen leaves 

mommy loves you and hopes your 

joy continues in this life

Ephesians 6: 1-4 ~ 

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Pumpkin Patch Fun at The Pomeroy Farm

Here are some pictures from our 2013 trip to 

The Pomeroy Farm Pumpkin Patch. 

Such a beautiful, living history farm with fun for all!

An expansive 677 acre family farm out in the Lucia Valley, it is not only a great setting for the pumpkin patch every year but also for rustic weddings on the farm. 

Learn all about The Pomeroy Farm here: http://www.pomeroyfarm.org/.

Baby girl, brother and daddy taking a
hayride to the pumpkin patch

Selfie!

Feeding the farm animals and playing at the water pump station.
So much fun!

Photo opp with the kids 

On the mile long hayride down Pumpkin Lane

Views from around The Pomeroy Farm

I will fear no man! I will fear God alone!

What does it mean to fear? As a society, I believe we think of fear in a negative way. When we fear, we shrink back from some thing or person or situation like they have some kind of power over us. Our fear drives us to be unreasonable and do things we would not otherwise do because we do not see the thing or person or situation as they really are: powerless. The only fear that you and I should have is Fear of the Lord God. To have that reverential awe for the God of all creation and, more specifically, of us. To keep the feeling of respect and wonder for the only one with the true power over every thing and person and situation. Let's take a moment away from the happenings of this world and give thankful praise and worship to God, who is the only all-powerful one we should fear and worship in this fallen world we are briefly in.

One way - through the cross. Picture from MudPreacher.

Deuteronomy 6:13

13 Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.

Deuteronomy 31:6

6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Psalms 25:12-14

12 Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him. 13 He will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land. 14 The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. 15 My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare.

Psalms 33:18-19

18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, 19 to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. 

Psalms 56:3-4

3 When I am afraid, I will trust in you. 4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?

Psalms 118: 6

6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Psalms 128:1-4

1 Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways. 2 You will eat the fruit of your labor;blessings and prosperity will be yours. 3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table. 4 Thus is the man blessed who fears the LORD.

Proverbs 3:7-8

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. 

Proverbs 8:13

13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

Proverbs 29:25

25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

Isaiah 8: 11-13

11 The LORD spoke to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people. He said: 12 "Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. 13 The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread, 

Isaiah 41:10-13

10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 11 "All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. 12 Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. 13 For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. 

2 Timothy 1:7

7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

1 Peter 1:17

17 Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.

1 Peter 2:17

17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.