Trick-or-Treating Jesus

"I will fasten him as a peg in a secure place, and he will become a glorious throne to his father's house. They will hang on him all the glory of his father's house, the offspring and the posterity, all vessels of small quality, from the cups to all the pitchers." -Isaiah 22:22-23

While reading this strange passage in Isaiah, prophecies about the Lord's judgment on the unfaithful in the Old Testament, I initially found myself puzzled. Normally, I resort to a bland prayer of, "Lord help me understand this." This time, rather, I decided to say, "Whatever, God," and leave the text alone and pray for my family. Then, I prayed that God would make my children like pegs in a secure place. That He would root them in His goodness, such that good things would hang over their lives. That they would make us proud and bring Him glory. And, I understood.


Halloween has never scared me, I love it. I grew up with it. I think I love Halloween because I am "a peg in a secure place." My celebrations are not to give glory to evil. They are to love the community and the people in it from my doorway. A night to say, "My door is open." The roots of Halloween are quite different from its meaning today: a celebration of community coming together in their creativity, costumes and sugar. The intent to scare is optional, but can also remain on the fun side of the continuum, as opposed to the occult side.

On the other hand, another meaning of Halloween for me today is still oddly similar to its original roots: driving away evil. One of the greatest roots of evil in the world is fear. "There is no fear in love: but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love." - 1 John 4:18

I choose to love instead of fear and open my door. And in doing so, I have actually opened my door to Jesus trick-or-treating on my doorstep. ;)

Enjoy the photos and video from Rylyn's first Halloween.

Moving around

Hiding in my blanket from Auntie Laura

PJs I woke up in

Playing with Bones in a Box

Hiking at Spencer Gorge in Ms. Mary's pumpkin outfit

Mom and Dad are winter and I am snowman!

PJs I went to bed in