Halloween or No Halloween...Santa or No Santa....

That is the question in our household...The Lord has been doing amazing work on mine and Steve's hearts this year. We look to Him in every decision and will for our lives. His hand is at work in our home. He has completely changed both of our hearts in all areas of our lives. He is doing some amazing work spiritually in our hearts. He has us both in "sync" with His. When our heart is on the Lord, we are at peace. A since of peace that is so calming. He is guiding our family to see Him in all areas of our lives...
Halloween is our first change in our family. Yes, growing up and celebrating Halloween with our girls has been all fun and innocent, but if you really examine and truly define the true meaning of Halloween-NOTHING glorifies God in any way. He did not invent the holiday, actually, the pagans did. Well, if you research the holiday, you will see everything that revolves around that holiday, innocent or not, does not bring glory to our Lord. Our oldest is seven and looks forward every year to picking out her costume and trick or treating around the neighborhood and even does trunks and treats at the church. No where in the Bible does it talk about celebrating Halloween. So, we ask ourselves, are we going to be "of the world" or be "set a part". God wants us to seek Him in all that we do and how we are to live our lives.
With that said, we sat down with Madelyn last week and explained exactly what Halloween is and that in no rhyme or reason does it bring glory to Him. She was sad at first, but understood as we pointed out bibically our reason for not participating in this holiday.
Many changes are in our home this year as His work is at hand.
Next, is good ole' Saint Nick. That dicussion was today. The Lord placed it upon my heart to tell the truth about Santa. As He prepared my heart to tell her, He prepared her heart to receive it. WOW! Again, when He is at work, we are at peace. I explained the concept of it's fun to make believe there is a Santa, but Christmas is not about Santa. Santa takes away from the true meaning of Christmas. We do not want any distractions from "why we celebrate" Christmas. The first thing kids think of is Santa when you ask them about Christmas. Writing what we want Santa to bring us, having our picture made with Santa, etc...
Christmas will have a "new" meaning for all of us this year as we are making "major" changes in our lives and our children's lives.
What we implement now is what they in return will they will implement with their family.
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind" Luke 10:27