Avoiding the Appereance of Evil..........

I never know how to respond at this time of year when I get asked by an aquantance or store caashier if I am ready for Halloween. Ready for Halloween? really? It actually blows my mind what a huge deal it is. i have read it is second to Christmas..To CHRISTMAS!!!
Let me tell you my thoughts on that.

First of all it just basically creeps me out. Ghosts, goblins, body parts, blood and guts for aisles and asiles of my favorite drug store or walmart...I mean really. How appealing is that? Roman has started to say "that scary" when we pass by something to do with halloween. I always intentionally avoid those places in the store. It gives me the hibbie jibbees...and for good reason.

I often wonder if people even know what they are "celebrating" or are they just caught up in the ignorance of costumes and candy. There are many different versions of where hlloween originated but most historical accounts are consistant with this:

Halloween culture can be traced back to the Druids, a Celtic culture in Ireland, Britain and Northern Europe. Roots lay in the feast of Samhain, which was annually on October 31st to honor the dead.

Samhain signifies "summers end" or November. Samhain was a harvest festival with huge sacred bonfires, marking the end of the Celtic year and beginning of a new one. Many of the practices involved in this celebration were fed on superstition.

The Celts believed the souls of the dead roamed the streets and villages at night. Since not all spirits were thought to be friendly, gifts and treats were left out to pacify the evil and ensure next years crops would be plentiful. This custom evolved into trick-or-treating.

They often dressed in costumes consiting of animal heads and fur.so next time you dress your child for this "holiday" just know where it originated.

As Chrisitians I believe we have a whole different responsibility this time of year. I don't believe its about being legalistic. I just know what the bible teaches, what God loves and what he hates, and what we are called to. The Apostle Paul teaches us that we (as followers of Christ) are to avoid the very APPEREANCE of evil. We are to be set apart and different from the world. Of course, it would be fun to dress our kids in cute costumes (lions as opposed to witches) and take them to get candy...but then we are no different from the world. I personally dont believe you can participate and not celebrate.

For those of us who are in Christ, we are able to discern and learn the heart of God. To love what HE loves and hate what HE hates. I drive around and see houses decorated with grave stones and demonic loooking creatures or haunted houses that are supposed to be fun and I think..nothing Godly lives there. But it sure does look like a great breeding ground for the demonic. Nothing of Gods nature is attracted to dark and evil places for in HIM there is no darkness.

So in conclusion I despise Halloween and all that is associated with it. I can't wait for it to be over..i just want it to go away!!

Some Scriptures:

Proverbs 11:19 Take your stand with God's loyal community and live, or chase after phantoms of evil and die

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance 1 peter 1:14

Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. 3 John 1:11

Phillipians 1: 27Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel 28without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, 30since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have

Phillipians 4: Finally, brothers, 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. 9Whatever 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.

I LOVE this song...its by casting crowns.

Here I am Lord, and I'm drowningin your sea of forgetfulness the chains of yesterday surround me I yearn for peace and restI dont want to end up where you found meand it echoes in my mind,keeps me awake tonight
I know you cast my sin as far as the east is from the westand I stand before you now,as if I've never sinnedbut today I feel like I'm just one mistake awayfrom you leaving me this way
and Jesus can you show mejust how far the east is from the westcause I can't bear to see the man I've been rising up in me againin the arms of your mercy I find rest,cause you know just how far the East is from the Westfrom one scarred hand to the other.
I start the day the war beginsendless reminding of my sintime and time again your truth is drowned out by the storm I'm intoday I feel like I'm just one mistake away,from you leaving me this way and Jesus can you show me,just how far the East is from the Westcause I can't bear to see the man I've been rising up in me againin the arms of your mercy I find rest'cause you know just how far the East is from the Westfrom one scarred hand to the other.
I know you've washed me white,turned my darkness into lightI need your peace to get me through,to get me through this nightcan't live by what I feelbut by the Truth your Word reveals,I'm not holding on to youbut you're holding on to me,you're holding on to me
Jesus you knowjust how far the East is from the WestI don't have to see the man I've been, rising up in me againin the arms of your mercy I find rest'cause you know just how far the East is from the West,just how far,from one scarred hand to the other.

Whats the Cost?

Thats usually the first thing I get asked about in regards to this "natural God- Given" beauty concept. Honestly, the cost works out to be much less for the most part. Of course, when you go to whole foods to get your initial supply you will want to budget some money. I probably spent thirty dollars for:
A huge bottle of organic olive oil
Coconut oil (hair)
rosemary oil (hair)
raw honey
goats milk
organic oats
aloe vera plant
This will be enough to get you started. here are some examples of the cost worked out.
1. lip plumper -30-40dolars. aloe vera plant 3 dollars
2.hair repair masque 100 dollars a year
deep shine coconut oil masque- 20 dollars a year
3. face cleanser 21 dollars per 6 oz, 4 bottles a year is 84 dollars
milk/oat wash 48 dollars a year
4. fine lines plumper (department store quality) 157 a year
honey tonic 16 a year (8 dollars for 8 oz jar. 2 jars a year)
5. commecvial olive oil moisturizer 140 dollars a year (it runs 35 dollars per oz.)
Natural organic olive oil . TWENTY DOLLARS, a year. You should only need two bottles a year!

So, as you see. You do save money all the while protecting your health and your skin.
The one thing you will want to invest in is a good mineral makeup..these are sold online, stell nova, ulta, salons. I use Bare Minerals. You can get the starter kit for 60.00. I would recommend going into a salon and having them match your color. Although this makeup is more expensive you are paying for pure minerals which are going to enhance the quality of your skin where as drug store or department store makeup is loaded with cheap fillers that irritate skin and clog pores- even dulling our complexions so then they can sell us skin brightners..right? who knew they were in it for the money?news flash: they really don't care about how your skin looks at the end of the day. Alot of makeups contain talc which is one dolalr per kilo. some minerals cost up to 300 dollars a kilo.
Mineral makeup is so pure it catches all the right light, it wont clog or irritate- you can sleep in it, workout in it and it remains flawless looking and all the while it helps your skin look and feel better. I can't beleive it took me so long to learn about it! Although I like bare minerals . I have read that Jane Iredale Mineral cosmetics is the best you can get. Whatever brand you buy , make sure it is pure minerals. Alot of the brands in drug stores and department stores are part mineral part synthetic.

Recipies- Natural Skin Care

remember- what I found out about my "mild cleanser that was non comodegonic and dermatologist tested" Its a bunch of crap! They are fileld with cheap fillers that irritate the skin. Natural ingredients given by God will help your skin look better..not worse!Here is the skin care regimen I have been doing. I noticed a difference after the first time using the facial scrub. If you don't have a whole foods or health store publix will order the powdered goats milk for you. I started with the face scrub and worked my way up the honey and olive oil- I was scared! But it gives you beautiful looking skin..you just have to play around with the amount - less is more. I also now use olive oil on my arms, legs, and belly. Make sure you buy organic extra virgin. And make sure the honey says "raw".
Beauty Secrets Three-Step Skin Regimen

Milk and Oats Facial Scrub
1 cup powdered goat’s milk (available at Whole Foods® Stores)
1 cup quick-cooking oats
Process in a blender or food processor until very fine. Store in an airtight container. To cleanse face, sprinkle a small amount of powder into the palm of your hand and mix into a paste with warm water. Massage onto face and rinse.
Exodus 3:17 describes the promised land as a place "flowing with milk and honey." Throughout scripture, milk and honey symbolize the gracious nature of God, the abundance of His blessing. Ancient women used milk (and oats) in their baths to soften and nourish their skin. Today we know that this combination acts as both a natural, gentle exfoliant and nourishing moisturizer.



Honey Tonic
Apply 1-2 drops honey onto a wet palm and massage onto face. Do not rinse. Pat dry.
Honey is not only good to eat, it was prized in the Biblical days and even used as an offering to the Lord. Today we know that honey is a healthy choice for sweetening, and many skin care experts believe it can nourish the skin and plump up fine lines. The secret is to use only 1-2 drops, on a very wet palm, and pat delicately onto your skin.


Olive Oil Moisturizer
Place 2-3 drops of extra-virgin, organic olive oil onto your palm.
Rub palms together and pat your face gently. After make-up, to highlight the cheekbones, put 2-3 drops of olive oil in your palms and rub together. With the heel of your hand, press against the upper ridge of each cheekbone, under the eye and back towards your hairline.
Olive oil was the base for the anointing oil used in the Tabernacle, and olive oil continued to be used throughout biblical times as a beauty oil as well as religious purposes. Modern science tells us that olive oil is packed with vitamins and nutrients that moisturize the skin without blocking pores. It’s excellent for removing eye makeup, moisturizing skin and fighting premature aging.

Watch Out!

So basically the beauty products we use can be toxic. It made me pay attention when I realized whatever I use on my skin can be absorbed into the blood stream...these chemicals we use and are marketed to us are causing cancer, birth defects, premature aging etc.
and MOMS- watch out what you use on your babies...the USA has only banned eight ingredients from cosmetics while the European Union has banned 1,000.
the fda can declare something natural if only 3% of its ingredients are natural.that means the other 97% can be synthetic chemicals.
Heres what I found in my bathroom cabinet...
My cocoa butter lotion contains petroleum which is suspected to carry contaminants as well as to increase premature aging.
My body wash also contains petroleum and sodium lauryl sulfate which is not toxic but is a synthetic chemical known to irritate the skin. This was also found in my "dermatologist approved mild cleasner"
Most products contain parabens which are linked to breast cancer and tumor growth. 13,000 FDA approved beauty products contain parabens.phthlates are also common and are almost undectable because they are in the fragrnce and so don't have to be listed. This can affect sperm and adult male infertility....which as for women carrying baby boys should concern us!
Many of the ingredients in our beauty products are cheap fillers. Even inmy "expensive" salon 20.00 a bottle shampoo, the first ingredient was sulfer laurel sulfate- what a rip off! These same chemicals are found in pesticides,toliet bowl cleaners, tire cleaners, and furniture stripper. YUK!
If that doesn't gross you out here is a list of FDA approved material for use in our cosmetics and beauty products:
turtle oil
chicken embyo
horse blood
pigskin
human placenta
pig brains
cow amniotic fluid....

Iv'e Seen So Much More Than You Know Love.............

The great theologian , Britney Spears, once said through song lyrics, "Ive seen so much more than you know, love, so don't tell me to shut my eyes.

These word have always stayed with me. I relate to them in a very intresting way.
In my crazy days I saw alot of the world. I saw and experienced things that I shouldn't have and sometimes wish I hadn't but ultimatley they have shaped me and created the stage for my salvation and future ministry. I have seen things up close and personal at ages one shouldn't experience such things. I have touched and tasted a life that the devil himself leads people to believe is fulfilling and good.

It amazed me that the Lord allowed me to marry a man as pure and innocent as Andrew. When we were dating he would often tell me to close my eyes to certain things (literally) or he wouldn't tell me a whole story or joke if it was crude. He was protecting me in the most Godly sense of protection. I look back now and appreciate that because in a way on the day I was saved, God restored alot of my lost innocence.

Andrew and I had a conversation the other day about the world. I had met with a friend who is not a Chirst follower. She had said something to me that shocked me. It was about her life and probaly wouldn't shock most people. It shocked me because of the nonchalant attitude regarding the matter. Of course, I disguised my shock well although inside my insides were fluttering. I told Andrew that I came home and thought about it and prayed about my reaction and was glad that I was so shocked. I felt that it was confirmation the Holy Spirit had a strong grip on my heart and life. Later in the week I read Jeremiah which added confirmation to what i had been pondering. He says this, "Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct?
No, they have no shame at all;
they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen;
they will be brought down when I punish them,"
says the LORD.

There it is "They do not even know how to blush." I am glad that through all I have seen that i have been restored and redeemed. I have been cleansed and renewed.sanctified, justified, and one day glorified. I am so glad that in this fallen and depraved world that I am still able to blush........

You Save Me Over and Over Again

I was first saved by King Jesus on a day in March 2001 while I was downtown Charleston in my dorm room. I don't remember the exact date, but it was life- changing. I have written about this night in explicit detail in my memoir. I am afraid it is too much to share right here..and I don't want to give all of the book up as I know all of you will rush out to buy it one day making it a best seller.

The most amazing thing to me in my relationship with Jesus is that He saves me OVER and OVER again. I look at my life and realize that our salvation isn't just a day or a date to be marked on a calendar but a process of being saved continually as we seek HIM.

Andrew and I look back on our marriage and marvel at how many times the Lord has saved us. He saves us from ourselves, from bad decisions, bad jobs, bad and negative relationships, bad financial moves....

There are so many circumstances we look at that were totally beyond ourselves. So many times our discernment and the holy spirit were promting us with a "no" or "get out" or "this isn't right" and we ignored it. Not out of disobedience, but because we truly didn't see a way out.

I have told Andrew multiple times that the Lord saved us from certain circumstances because we could never make the decision to get out or leave by ourselves.Andrew is such a people pleaser (self-admittedly) and hates to ruffle feathers or make changes that can cause conflict or even an incomfortable atmosphere. I think it is because of this that the Lord has saved us so many times. It was in so many situations specifically that we knew were not right..relationships that were negative...decisions we thought we were making that were of Him..and He stepped in and took care of it. It is amazing to look at..to see the Lord actually orchestrating circumstances that we had prayed about and not known what to do about....He is our Savior..

Now, This process of salvation has never been easy.These times of being "saved" have been trying to say the least, although we look back and can do nothing but praise HIM for getting us out and saving us from ourselves....There were times when we had no idea what was going on. When we wondered why we were being attacked..why our desires wern't being answered...why he wouldn't open doors..why he had us in certain circumstances....why we were having to deal with trying relational situations......or jobs or co-workers

He is Lord and He is SAVIOR...Because of our own sinful nature and desires...we often have cloudy vision and discernment. We are often at a loss of what to do in circumstances or with people ( and in ministry you meet ALOT of people!). But when we follow HIM he gives us grace and mercy which endures forever...and HE continues to save.....He is mighty to save.....