Dear Sister Cindi~

I had one of those physically/emotionally tough days yesterday (had an out patient 'female' procedure). I slept most the day, so I was behind on everything today, including reading here at Doves. My friend who introduced me to this wonderful haven sent me one of the letters, and here, finally at nearly 9pm California time I am 'skimming' as you said.

Thank you for your compliments. There was a time when I did not/could not accept such words...Satan had me believing the total opposite, so I assumed if someone did say something 'nice', it was a trick, a joke they were playing on me.

This brings me back to the subject of Halloween. We have been 'tricked' by Satan into thinking that he can actually TAKE one of God's days! The biggest joke is that 'All Hallow's Eve' isn't even a 'big' pagan day. The idea of the Jack o lantern being a bad thing is a trick too. The Light of the lantern was made to keep the evil spirits away! Anyway, from coming out of the darkness into the light, I saw that instead of worrying so much about a man made celebration with mixed cultural overtones, I wanted to be sure to celebrate the REAL Holy Days of my Lord. We used to have what my kids (when they were very little) called our "Jesus Dinners", we researched foods during Jesus' lifetime, and native to him, we sat on the floor, on cushions at our coffee table, and ate simple foods during Springtime. We didn't know a lot about the Feast Days, we just picked a day when my husband was home, and made it a day dedicated to the Lord. We had communion with our kids. THAT is how to truly celebrate a day. When your toddlers and preschoolers recognize their Lord and Savior...you know the smile on your face is magnified in Our Father's face!

People assume because we always do costuming that we are big into Halloween, every time the last few weeks that I mentioned 'costumes' someone would say, 'what are you making for Halloween?'...I'd laugh and have to explain, no, this is for Jessi's play, and that is for Gingi's photo shoot...and we are working on "Tron" costumes because Gingi won free passes to Disney's ElecTRONica light show and they want to dress up. Since Jessi works for a group that handles celebrities (they go to the autograph shows and help with money and snapping pix, also run interference/body guard type duties), she'll be at a convention that's over the same weekend as Halloween. She'll have the excuse of wearing some of her favorite movie inspired costumes! Now, there is going to be a party for Halloween....can she not attend? Possibly. But she will be working! She's made a commitment. I'd rather her be with the group of people who paid to fly her there, are helping her with her career and who will be watching out for her in a strange town/state. Is she doing anything to 'celebrate' or 'worship' Satan? Being at a party on the same night as a man made 'holiday' means NOTHING to her. She's a Christian. A Child of the Lord. She can drink a soda, keep an eye on whatever celebrity she's supposed to be attending, and eat chips and dip, and Satan will get no glory from her or her actions!

I wonder how many Christians have parties on Pagan high days and don't even know it? There are so many right around the time of Christian holidays, I know for a fact that some of us have planned our family gatherings on days much more 'important' in the witches calendar than their new year of Oct. 31st. Does that mean we are 'celebrating a day dedicated to Satan'? No! Might there be a coven somewhere who ARE dedicating their 'party' to some deity other than The Lord Jesus Christ? I guarantee it!

There is at least one day each month that 'they' recognize, sometimes more than once a month! Yet no one even realizes it. It's just because Halloween has gotten so commercial (it's so much about making money)...that it's hard to NOT see it. You can't even buy a candy bar after Labor Day that isn't in a black and orange wrapper! But please folks, do not let Satan take your joy, take your LIGHT! That's the most ironic part of all this. The traditions of the Americanized version of this 'holiday' have to do with shining LIGHT in the darkness! It's all about driving out the evil with the light of good. Think about that.

Now, I have a question. Do any of you take part in National Night Out? I know my husband and his Explorers get asked to work events all over the County every August. They usually have jump houses, mini carnivals, street parties where neighbors come out and BBQ and visit. Does anyone want to venture a guess where that new tradition came from? Anyone ever heard of 'Take Back The Night'? A group that was originally known as 'National Organization of Witches" (yes, I'm serious, they changed it to WOMEN to satisfy the masses!), started this 'march' in the streets when women were being attacked/raped in large numbers in cities all over the country. The outcry was the "the NIGHT belongs to Women *they spelled it Wimmon, Wimmin or even Wimmyn, without using 'men' since they were 'feminist wiccans'). They were outraged that the night, which was the domain of the Goddess (Moon Mother, Magick, all that), was being sullied by the lust of MEN....and they were determined to 'take back' the night. Those rallies, marches and such evolved into 'National Night Out'. A campaign to 'take back' our neighborhoods, our streets, to create a safe environment for our children. The Clintons threw a lot of socialist money at Law Enforcement and had them implement these COP projects (Citizens on Patrol). Now, some groups still carry on the tradition. (even tho that money ran out a few years ago), They have street/block parties, churches take part...retired folks, everyone. huh. Kinda funny dontcha think?

See, my point is this. Any day can be sullied by Satan IF WE ALLOW IT!! He owns NOTHING. He only takes what he is given. DO NOT give him a night/day/minute of your Lord's creation.

Tomorrow night, my grown daughters and their friends are going to carve pumpkins, we are going to eat Harvest Stew, sit around and have snacks and fellowship. We'll probably watch a movie...Satan will not be invited. We could do the same thing on Oct. 31st, except my youngest has to work out of state, so we are having our time on an afternoon when everyone can be together. Unfortunately my son lives 2.5 hrs away, and his job has him working Fri, Sat & Sun every week. :(  I miss him, but I understand, we are in the world, even if we are not of it. I know he misses leading worship on Sundays, but I think he still has his midweek Bible group. Since he dedicates all his days to the Lord, I think the Lord understands, we have to make do with the ways of this world as best we can, till we are all together in that perfect place, that home, those many mansions that He's prepared for us.

Sorry to ramble...still a bit overwhelmed by my hospital visit yesterday, and the nature of my health problem has me very emotional.

God bless you all, until we do meet face to face.

Blessings~

Suzi