What's New?
23 Ways To Let Your Light Shine This Fall
I am the light of the world, he who follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8:12
In the universe, stars that are closest shine the brightest.
Proximity is everything!
Consider the sun, it is not the biggest star, but it is the closest to earth and thus gives us the most light and warmth.
Who is in your path ... your proximity, that you could share your light and warmth?
You are the light of the world. A city on a hilltop cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. Matt 5:15
... So that you shine like stars in the universe. Phil 2:14-15
Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Gal 6:9
Lighting Up The Fall
* Get Outside in the cooler weather.
Walk and Talk with those God puts in your path. Ask: “How are you surviving the Covid season?” Watch for their needs. How can you have mercy on them?
* Invite for coffee or tea on your front porch.
* Be a Treater.
Bake some bread or cookies or go the bakery and buy. Place in a clear bag (Covid sensitively), write a note and leave on the porch, desk, or car of someone God puts on your heart. “In this tricky season, you have been a treat.” OR “In this tricky season, it is a treat to have you as a neighbor/ co-worker/ friend.” Did a new neighbor move in during Covid, or new employee? Treat them (Hand Sanitizer, toilet paper, and a fall candle.) “During this tricky season, I am so glad to have you in the neighborhood/office.”
* Be a Tricky treater.
Pick a small pumpkin, write something encouraging on the pumpkin for who God puts on your mind, then leave it at their desk/door/car. #pumpthemup
* Host an outside event for neighbors/ co-workers/ family/ friends.
Bike parade ... dress up in costumes & decorate bike with treats afterward
Pumpkin decorating outside ... carving, painting, stickers
Outdoor movie night or Backyard Chili & S’mores night
Fear NOT Party for Teenagers around bonfire with scavenger hunt from Redeeming Halloween:
* Don’t be paralyzed. Something is better than nothing.
Lighting Up The FUN
Opportunity knocking. On the day people are knocking at your door … be a light.
* Light up your house.
Lanterns / Christmas lights saying we are open for trick or treating.
Have your neighbors place orange balloons on the mailbox if giving “candy”.
* Dog treats & water bowl.
* Cold water bottles/ hot to go cups of hot chocolate for parents.
* Give a positive comment about the costume of each visitor.
* Photo op station with good light for parents to be IN a picture.
* Be A Generous Giver - Give the big candy with a note.
“Taste and see that the Lord is good.” Psalm 34:8 ... Or “It is such a treat to have you as a neighbor/ friend/ coworker.”
Dollar Tree has treat bags of 20 for $1 to put the candy in and place on a table so it is “Grab and Go”. You can sit 6 feet away and greet your guests. Be friendly and make a connection.
It’s OK not to Trick or Treat traditionally ... You are under GRACE!
* Scavenger hunt with family/ friends
* Reverse trick or treating with all neighbors.
Kids stay on porch ... a parent goes house to house giving candy.
* Candy Bags.
We don’t have many Trick or Treaters in our neighborhood (like 3 on a good night) because we are outside the city limits. I like to deliver candy bags the week of Halloween to the houses around me with kids/ or my friends’ kids that I want to encourage. I get a Dollar Tree bag and fill it with the good candy, a good news glove, and some fun stickers. I write a note on the tag ... “During this tricky season, you deserve a treat!” One year I put an Adventures in Odyssey CD (Focus on the Family) with the candy bar.
* Redeeming Halloween.
Here are 3 resources from Redeeming Halloween on the origins of Halloween and discussion on "To Halloween or not to Halloween?”
Origin of Halloween Book ... Free download of first 30 pages.
https://media.focusonthefamily.com/free-downloads/pdf/REDEEMING_HALLOWEEN_SAMPLER.pdf
To Halloween or Not to Halloween.
https://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/should-my-family-celebrate-halloween/
Trick or Treating ideas (before Covid).
https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/halloween/trick-or-treating-with-purpose-1356585.html
Lighting Up With GRATITUDE
Cultivate a season of gratefulness through the month of November … not just the day of Thanksgiving.
We are called to rejoice because God is near. Rend Collective sings “Counting Every Blessing”, and revisits all the ways God has blessed us. Take this month to daily recount your Blessings. Remember the juice boxes that are great to serve to children? What happens each time you put the straw in it? It overflows with juice. What is inside comes out when it is poked. What comes out of you when you are poked? Gratefulness or Grumbling?
* Bake. Take. Thank.
Use your gift of baking or go shopping at the bakery and deliver the yummies to a neighbor with a note of why you are thankful for them.
* Grateful Tree on Sidewalk (like stain glass crosses).
Use Chalk drawing the tree and leaves, let others color in what they are grateful for or use a real tree. If it’s in your house ... get stick/ branch/ string and hang leaves on with the words of what you are thankful for written daily.
* Table Cloth of Memories.
All who visit during November sign and write one thing they are thankful for. In Covid, it could be meals outside at a picnic table.
* Notes.
Old fashion pen and paper. “So grateful to have you as neighbor/ friend/ family/ co-worker.”
* Social media.
This is the time to use it for GOOD. Each day of November post one thing or person you are thankful for and why.
* The Grumbler’s Guide to Giving Thanks by Dustin Crowe.
Gives many insights on how to cultivate thankfulness.
* Pray.
But first, before you take one step … PRAY.
Be devoted in prayer, watchful and thankful. Col 4:2
RECIPES
Chili
1 large onion, chopped
1 lb. hamburger meat
2 small cans of Red Kidney Beans
1 large can of tomatoes
2-4 TBSP chili powder
8 oz can of tomato sauce
Brown hamburger meat with onion.
Drain off grease.
Simmer for 5-10 minutes.
It’s best if it stands overnight and is reheated.
Pumpkin Butterscotch Chip Cookies
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 ½ tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 large eggs
1 cup sugar
½ cup canola oil
1 cup canned pumpkins
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup butterscotch chips
Powdered sugar for dusting
Position a rack in the middle of the oven. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and butter the paper.
Stir the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon together in a medium bowl and set aside. In a large bowl, using a mixer on medium speed, beat the eggs and sugar until smooth and lightened in color, about 1 minute. On low speed, mix in the oil, pumpkin and vanilla until blended. Stop the mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl as needed during mixing. Mix in the flour mixture to incorporate it. Mix in the butterscotch chips.
Using an ice cream scoop with a ½ cup capacity, scoop mounds of the dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing the cookies at least 1 ½ inches apart. Or use a measuring cup with ¼ cup capacity to scoop out the mounds of dough, then use a thin metal spatula to smooth the mounds.
Bake the cookies one sheet at a time until the tops feel firm and a toothpick inserted int the center comes out dry, about 16 minutes. Cool them on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then use a wide metal spatula to transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Dust the cookies lightly with powdered sugar. The cookies can be stored in a tightly covered container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
