Its fall. And Halloween is right around the corner.

Love it or hate it, you won't be able to ignore Halloween this year. It's everywhere.

It's waiting for you at the grocery store. It's evident on billboards. And, it might even be found in the decorations in your neighbor's yard.

How should Christians respond to Halloween? What should Christians do with a holiday that celebrates death, evil and darkness?

There seem to be two views on this:

1. We can either say that it is all in fun, it's not a big deal, and celebrate like our unsaved neighbors do.

2. Or, we can send out scathing Facebook posts attempting to raise "awareness" and "conviction" in our friends' hearts about the evils of Halloween, then sit in our basements with the lights off on October 31st, hoping no one will dare to ring our doorbells.

But, what does the Bible tell us about Halloween?

When the Bible was written, "Halloween" as we know it today was not celebrated. However, cultures in the Bible still worshiped evil things and celebrated darkness. How did Christians handle it back then?

A beautiful opportunity

I believe that the Apostle Paul offers us a beautiful example of a way that we can respond to Halloween and glorify God on a "pagan" holiday.

In Acts chapter 17, we read about the Apostle Paul waiting for Silas and Timothy in the city of Athens - a city full of idols and idol worshipers. As he walked around Athens, Paul's spirit was "provoked" by the spiritual darkness and the worship of evil that surrounded him.

What did Paul do about this? Well, he didn't immediately start condemning the "evil idol worshipers" and trying to show them the absolute wickedness of their actions.

He didn't flee back to his "hotel room" and slam the door to keep the evil out.

But, he didn't join in their worship either.

Instead, Paul looked around and saw souls that were lost, confused and in desperate need of the truth. Paul knew that these were people whom God loved so much that He sent His Son to die for them. And, without the knowledge of God's plan of salvation, these people had no hope of forgiveness of their sins and eternal life.

So, Paul mingled with these people. He spoke with them and compassionately shared the Gospel with them.

But, do you know what is most SHOCKING in this passage? Paul graciously used a pagan altar (gasp!) as an object lesson to point people to Christ.

Which makes me wonder...

Can we, as Christians, use Halloween (a "wicked" and "pagan" holiday) to compassionately and graciously mingle with our neighbors and even share truths from God's Word with them?

Using a pagan holiday

Here's the truth: Many of us struggle to get to know our neighbors. We live in a culture where people prefer to drive into their garages, close the garage door, and engage in virtual relationships and entertainment rather than real, face-to-face relationships. We are all so "busy" that we feel we have no time to develop relationships with the people around us.

My neighbors almost never knock on my door. In fact, there is only one night out of the whole year when many of my neighbors consistently come and knock on my front door. And, that night just happens to be October 31.

What if we saw Halloween as an amazing opportunity to share God's love with our neighbors?

Practical ways to share the gospel on Halloween

How can we share the good news of salvation on Halloween? Here are some ideas:

1. Intentionally pray

Set aside some time during the month of October to pray for the salvation of your neighbors. Maybe you could even make a habit of praying a quick prayer for the salvation of your neighbors and acquaintances each time you see a Halloween decoration.

2. Be welcoming

Let your light shine on Halloween night - literally! If you live in a town or city, chances are good that many people are walking past your door Trick-or-Treating on Halloween. Make your front door and porch a place of light and warmth, an inviting place for people to stop.

Put up strings of lights and fun fall decor and reflect a little of God's light and grace on a dark and scary night.

3. Be bold

Pray and think about some ways that you can step out in faith and boldness.

I am not saying that you should preach to every Trick-or-Treater who comes by. We need to be wise and gentle about sharing our faith and that does not include ramming our faith down people's throats. Instead, look for a quiet and gracious way to let people know that you are a Christian.

This can be as simple as including a small tract or Bible verse with each treat that you hand out. You might also consider purchasing bookmarks or pencils with Bible verses printed on them. Maybe you could hand out tracts from your church with the church address stamped on them. God can use even these humble means as the first step in bringing people to Himself.

And, who knows? Perhaps, when your neighbor has a question about spiritual things, she will remember that verse you handed her one Halloween night ... and come knocking on your door again.

4. Be generous

If you are going to be bold and use Halloween as an opportunity to share God's goodness, please, please, please, do not hand out a tract with one vanilla-flavored Tootsie Roll.

Instead, offer the best treats on the block, treats that are reflective of God's generosity and grace. Go above and beyond, looking for creative ways to be generous to your neighbors.

Consider setting up a hot chocolate and coffee station. What about offering a basket of hand warmers to keep those little hands toasty in their pockets? Maybe you could hand out glow sticks to light up your visitors' dark walks.

Look for ways to be unexpectedly generous.

Giving Satan a scare ...

What if we saw Halloween as an opportunity to share God's goodness with our neighbors? What if we used it as a time to pray for our neighbors? What if we stepped out boldly and shared our faith with our neighbors? What if we were welcoming, approachable and unexpectedly generous for the sake of our God and His testimony?

Maybe, by God's grace, we could give Satan a bit of a scare on Halloween night ....

Now that would be a change!

Editor's note: This article was originally published on Path Through the Narrow Gate. It has been republished here with permission.

The post 1 truth many Christians are ignoring about Halloween appeared first on FamilyToday.

Before I had kids, I knew exactly what kind of a mother I wanted to be.

You know, the kind of mother who kept a perfectly clean house, who served delicious and nutritious meals, who had fun with her kids and never raised her voice.

I wanted to be a super-mom. I wanted to be the best mom that the world has ever seen.

But nine years and three kids into this parenting journey, and I find myself hiding in the bathroom with the door locked, longing for just a couple of moments of peace.

I feel overwhelmed, exhausted, depressed at my unmet expectations, and maybe even a little resentful of my circumstances.

Don't get me wrong! I love my family with all of my heart. But, sometimes, it just feels like life is asking too much. I am ready to turn in my super-mom cape and be done!

Which is perhaps why I love the story of Elijah so much.

Now Elijah was a true super-man prophet.

I mean, seriously, this guy had been fed by ravens, raised a boy from the dead, called down fire from heaven, led in the destruction of 450 prophets of Baal, by prayer ended a 3 and a half year drought, and outrun a king in his chariot.

But, somewhere in the midst of being a super-man prophet, Elijah got tired, overwhelmed, and discouraged. Things weren't going the way that he thought they would.

After all of the miracles that Elijah had seen God perform, it only took the threat of a wicked queen to send Elijah scurrying for the wilderness, seeking cover under a juniper tree. (No indoor plumbing, you know, so he couldn't just lock himself in the bathroom.)

The super-man prophet Elijah had "had it"! He was ready to throw in the towel and be done. "It is enough; now O LORD, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers."

In Elijah's words, I hear my own heart cry as a mother. "Enough, Lord! I thought I could do this. I can't! I had ideas of how this should go. It's not going that way, Lord, and I am ready to be done! I love my kids, but I just can't handle this anymore."

Now, Elijah knew God's power. God would have been perfectly just in raining a little fire down on Elijah for his doubts, frustrations, and resentments. But, God didn't do that. Instead, God's response to Elijah is quite surprising:

1. God let Elijah sleep

Dear mother who is about to give up, how are you doing in the sleep department? As a fellow mother who knows what it is like to go for six months without ever once sleeping through a whole night, may I encourage you to make sleep a priority? Before you laugh bitterly and click away from this article, hear me out.

Making sleep a priority may mean that you have to take your super-mom cape off for a bit. Trust me, I know how difficult that can be. But, you are not going to be able to be a super-mom anyway if you are constantly exhausted.

• Let some things go undone.

• Let go of some expectations or responsibilities for a season

• Take naps when you can.

• Ask Grandma or a close friend to take the kids for a day so that you can get some sleep.

• Allow your husband to put the kids to bed a couple of nights a week so that you can get to bed earlier.

If the Prophet Elijah couldn't go on without getting a little sleep, chances are you can't either! If you are exhausted, find a way to get a little more rest.

And, while you are at it, ask God to change your focus from yourself and your to-do list so that you can rest in Him. Because, only when we discover that life is all about Him and not about us, can we truly find rest for our souls.

2. God gave Elijah food and drink

God knew that Elijah not only needed to sleep, but he also needed to eat.

How are you doing in the food and drink department?

Have you ever found yourself yelling or in tears at 4:00 in the afternoon, only to realize that you are living off of two cups of coffee, two cokes, five gummy bears, and six gold fish that you snuck off your toddler's food tray?

You can't be a good mom if you are depriving your body of the food it needs to function correctly.

If you feel completely overwhelmed, consider if your diet may be partly to blame. Look for ways that you can take care of your body with healthy food and plenty of water. (And, while you are at it, consider scheduling a physical with your doctor if it has been awhile!)

3. God reminded Elijah of who He was

Even after receiving rest and physical nourishment, Elijah was still pouting, angry and resentful. God pursued after Elijah and showed him His strength, then spoke to him in a still and quiet voice.

Are you making time in your day to remember Who God is? Seek God through the reading of His Word and prayer. Listen for His still quiet voice. Make worship a part of your daily routine.

Because, in the end, you can never be a super-mom. But, you can serve a super-God. He will make you all that you need to be for your family. He can see you through when you are ready to give up.

4. God told Elijah that He wasn't finished with him

After Elijah has been restored physically and spiritually, God gave Elijah his next assignments.

I am so thankful for a God Who doesn't give up on us! When you feel like you are done, be assured that God isn't done with you. He will continue to use you for His good purposes until the day that He is ready to welcome you home into His eternal rest.

5. God gave Elijah a friend

Have you ever felt the intense loneliness of motherhood?

Elijah complained several times to God that he was alone. God's response? God assured Elijah that, in fact, 7,000 people in Israel had stayed faithful to God. And then, God gave Elijah Elisha, a young man whom Elijah was to train. I am sure that Elisha was a huge help and comfort to Elijah.

Are you surrounding yourself with Christian friends who can walk this parenting journey with you? You won't survive on your own.

Be humble enough to let your super-mom cape slip a bit and admit to close friends where you struggle. You just might discover that they are struggling in the same areas! It is so helpful to know that we are not alone.

I love how God lifted Elijah back up when he was exhausted, depressed, resentful, and completely overwhelmed! God let Elijah sleep, gave him food, reminded Elijah of Who He is, gave Elijah his next assignment, and provided Elijah with a friend and companion.

I know that God can do the same for you. Will you make this a matter of prayer?

By the way, you can find this whole story in 1 Kings 17-19. It is definitely worth the read!

Editor's note: This article was originally published on Path Through the Narrow Gate. It has been republished here with permission.

The post To the mom who is exhausted, depressed and completely overwhelmed appeared first on FamilyToday.