Monday, February 14, 2011

The Last Valentine’s Cookies

The Last Valentine’s Cookies
February 12, 2011
Well once again a holiday rolls around where gifts are given amongst the family. Honestly at this point I am not real big about the secular holidays personally between Stewart and I but I thought that the kids would enjoy Valentines Day. I mean, it is about a “saint” and all, right? So we begin making cookies to decorate for the cousins. I am sick of commercialization of everything so I wanted to go hand made. 2011-2-12 cookies (4) We get busy rolling out our dough.
2011-2-12 cookies (5) We cut out the heart shapes for our cookies.
2011-2-12 cookies (9)I believe we got a bit messy with the flour.
2011-2-12 cookies (32)  “Mom, this is from a bugs perspective!” announced Austin who was taking the pictures for me. Leave it to a crazy teen to come up with something “creative” like that.
2011-2-12 cookies (57)“Snow!” Anna says with glee.
2011-2-12 cookies (78)  I make a giant heart for my hubby.
2011-2-12 cookies (84) Austin thought it was cool how it left the heart outline in the flour.
2011-2-12 cookies (85) Adam took the little dab of dough I gave him to eat and had to roll it out before he ate it .
2011-2-12 cookies (86)We made plenty of cookies to go around to the cousins and Grandparents.
I get things finished and cleaned up and go to take my shower. I really think that the Lord takes this opportunity to talk to me in the shower sometimes because there are no distractions in the shower.  I start thinking about the holiday then I feel GOD press on my heart. “Where did this holiday originate?” …. ”Hmmmm, I wonder??” I think to myself. So after my shower I go and Google “origins of Valentine’s Day”. I find a link from History.com, a trusted History site. Well, now I ultimately feel like the worlds biggest party pooper. Stewart came home from work and sits on the couch. I ask him, “Well hunny do you want to know the origins of Valentine’s or do you prefer to stay in the dark?” “Lay it on me.” he states as if not surprised. I sit the kids down and tell them also. There are pagan connections to this holiday as well. They had no objections what so ever. The two little ones had bought with their own money a small Valentine’s gift for their two special friends and I decided this year I would go ahead and allow them to give it to them since the money was already spent but told them this was the last time. I told my family at church the next day what I had found and that we would no longer be celebrating this holiday like the rest of the holidays. My sister had bought the kids something already and I allowed that to be given with instructions of, “No more.” I am truly blessed that my husband and children agree with out complaint to discard these holidays. I am also very thankful my mom and sisters understand.
I cannot, I will not turn a blind eye to the scriptures that say:
Exo 23:24  Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.
There are many scriptures in the Bible that tell us not to go the way of the heathen and not go after things of their gods.
Deu 12:31  Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.
My only desire is to be pleasing before my GOD. The Holy Spirit that lives inside of me urges me to:
2Cor 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
and that is what I must do. What you do is strictly between you and GOD and what HE lays on your heart. I have to follow my convictions just as you must follow yours.
Jos 24:15  And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.