Halloween

Today is Halloween—a night filled with zombies, goblins, witches, and other spooky things. Honestly, I’ve never been a fan of Halloween. Sure, I enjoy the candy, especially those mini Caramilk bars! I used to make sure my kids' stash was safe by taste-testing the chocolate. It’s a real job! I was like a modern-day Nehemiah! But aside from that, Halloween feels a bit too dark for my taste. The verse that resonates with me during this time is:

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear…” (1 John 4:18).

Halloween is rooted in fear.

Did you know that Halloween originated as the festival of Samhain? This was part of the ancient Celtic religion in Britain and other parts of Europe, which believed that on one particular night at the end of summer, the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.

According to Halloween: An American Holiday, An American History, some Celts wore ghoulish costumes so wandering spirits would mistake them for one of their own and leave them alone. Others offered sweets to appease the spirits.

In medieval Britain, supplicants moved door-to-door asking for food in exchange for prayers for the dead. They often carried “hollowed-out turnip lanterns, whose candle represented a soul trapped in purgatory” (Halloween — From Pagan Ritual to Party Night). Others suggest the lanterns were meant to ward off evil spirits. In the 1800s, pumpkins replaced turnips in North America, as they were easier to carve and more plentiful.

Halloween is rooted in fear.

But there is no fear in love. Perfect love drives out fear…

In 1 John, we learn that God’s perfect love drives out fear. When we are certain of God’s love, we don’t have to be afraid—not just at Halloween, but always! It’s as if God is the parent who comes in at night, tucks us in, turns on the nightlight, and reassures us that there are no monsters. In God’s great love, all fear melts away.

As we reflect on our fears, I pray you feel God’s protective and redemptive presence, just as He has been for those who have come before us—even in the face of death.

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. (Isaiah 41:10).

The God of peace is with you

I have a morning routine that sets the tone for my day. Before I get out of bed, I do a few stretches, turn to my scripture of the day, and spend some time in prayer. Depending on the morning, this time can be quick, luxuriously long, or something in between. Once I get up, I tune into either 680 News on my bedside radio or CP24 on the television to catch up on what happened in the world while I was sleeping.

It doesn't take long to hear about the frightening and even outlandish events unfolding around us. There are days when I feel overwhelmed by the chaos, but what’s perhaps more unsettling are the mornings when I feel indifferent to it all. Either way, it can cast a shadow over my day.

I find comfort in Philippians 4:9, which reminds us that the God of peace will be with us:

“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

This promise reassures me that amid all the turmoil, the God of peace is by my side. In the previous verse, Paul encourages us to focus our thoughts on eight important things:

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)

Today’s encouragement is to consider what we allow into our minds. When negative thoughts begin to overwhelm us and affect our hearts, we shouldn’t let them derail our day. Instead, remind yourself that God is a God of peace and He is with you.

So go ahead and listen to or read about what’s happening in the world. Then, take a moment to reflect on Paul’s advice: think about what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. See if that doesn’t change the trajectory of your day!

Remember, the God of peace is with you.

What we feed grows

I truly appreciate a beautiful garden, but I’m no gardener. My approach to gardening is simple: I visit the local nursery and buy pots—hanging pots or whatever catches my eye for an instant garden. This year, my pots, in various sizes and locations, have thrived remarkably well. In fact, I’m still caring for the potted plants I purchased back in May—and they’re still blooming! Typically, by late August, they would be wilted and faded.

So, what was my secret this year? I watered them! Yes, that was my big lesson.

Isn’t that true in life? We nourish what we want to grow and withhold from what we want to fade away.

In Galatians 5, the apostle Paul discusses two types of fruit that our lives can produce: the fruit of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit.

The “flesh” doesn’t refer to our physical bodies but to the desires that pull us away from God’s Holy Spirit. These desires can manifest as hate, impatience, bitterness, selfishness, rudeness, chaos, and self-indulgence—none of which align with God.

However, when we commit our lives to Jesus, He grants us His Holy Spirit. The power of the Holy Spirit helps us “starve” those fleshly desires and put them to rest. By ceasing to feed these harmful impulses, we create space for the Holy Spirit to produce fruit within us that leads to positive life changes.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
—Galatians 5:22-23 NIV

Left to our own devices, we might seek revenge when wronged, but the Spirit encourages us to extend kindness. In our weakness, we may yield to temptations that separate us from God, yet the Spirit calls us to practice self-control.

Are you experiencing love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? If not, perhaps we need to reflect on what we are nurturing. Because what we feed grows!