No Fear Party

I'm going to put a disclaimer on this before I even start. I usually don't discuss this with other people because I don't want them to feel that I am trying to tell them how to do or not do this. I'm not! It's the furthest thing from my mind. I just want to share how excited I am about what God prompted us to do this year! This is between us and Him and has absolutely NO bearings on my love and respect for how you choose to do things in your family (which, by the way, is how I feel about anything you and I do differently). There are choices you make in your families that constantly challenge me to rethink my decisions and ask God if He is wanting something else from us. Okay, now I feel better, and I love each of you!

Can I just tell you how much fun we had Wednesday?!!! In the past I have completely dreaded this time of year. I personally dislike everything about Halloween. The fear, greediness, and darkness that drive the holiday for most people disturb me. I dislike going to the grocery store and having to steer my small children around blood, skeletons, and life size grim reapers. I dislike that kids will gripe about people not giving out the right candy or enough of it when their bags are full of enough sugar to make you sick looking at it. I cannot find a way to align this with my beliefs of what I should teach my family. Witches and demons and evil are real, not playthings. They are part of the Enemy's army and we are on the other side. I am teaching them that God is love and casts out fear. So why toy with it or celebrate it?

In the past we have avoided the holiday. We do something else and treat that day like any other. We go to dinner or hang out with family. As it approached this year, I found myself desiring more. I felt prompted to do more than just find a safe or fun alternative when I could redeem this for God's glory. So, I did something that I often forget to do, but, whenever I remember, I am blown away by His willingness to answer in even the smallest of issues. I asked for creativity. I am not by nature the most creative person around. The great thing about this lack on my part is that whenever I experience a burst of it, I know it's God and not me. Anyway, as I prayed, the ideas just started coming. I talked to John and we decided that we really wanted to focus on the opportunity to interact with our neighbors. I mean, how often do all of your neighbors show up at your front door?

So, we scheduled our first ever Critz family "No Fear Party." All during the day, LJ and I talked about God's power and how He is bigger, stronger, and more powerful than anything or anyone else so we have nothing to fear. We listened to praise songs like "God is Big" and made a poster that listed things that are big but still smaller than God. We also wrote down things we don't have to fear like fire, thunder, and bad guys. I wrote it exactly like he said it and he was very proud of his decorating skills. Then, while he was watching a movie about God helping us not to fear, I made some snacks that reminded us of Bible stories where God was powerful. You can see those in the pictures below. LJ and Kailey dressed up like animals on Noah's Ark and made an ark out of sofa pillows. Daddy ended up playing with the praise band for Fallfest so we stayed home to pass out candy and showed him all of our "No Fear" goodies when he got home. A few family members stopped by to eat dinner with us and see our little projects. When the kids started arriving, we passed out candy, met neighbors, and that night we prayed that each child and family who had come to our door would experience God's power in their lives, dissolving all their fears. Several weeks ago LJ and I chose some pumpkins and wrote verses about God's love and power over fear on them to put on our porch. One cute little boy that came to the door asked me what my pumpkins meant. I told him what they meant and he ran back to his mom yelling, "Mom, they're Christians in that house!" Now I just pray to daily live in a way as I come and go among my neighbors that backs up that title that includes my Lord's precious name!

All in all we considered our day a massive success and all glory goes to God for His creativity! He is so faithful to hear my cries as a mom even on seemingly insignificant things like this holiday. LJ has continued to talk about God's power and not being afraid since then. After all this, I am definitely asking Him for some Thanksgiving ideas! : )

The dinosaur watching a Hermie video about not being afraid

Some of our snacks: David's staff and stones (pretzels and raisins), Animals in the ark (animal crackers), Daniel's lion (a lion craft), and one not pictured was Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace (sour patch kids in red jello). You can also see our poster in the back.

Even Goldie helped us out and played the part of the big fish. The little green guy is, of course, Jonah

The dinosaur and the duck in the ark

The dinosaur hugging the duck. The ark must have been a happy place. : )