Take Off Your Halloween Costume!

By: Donna Martin

October already????  It is unbelievable how time flies.  Hopefully the wind will be blowing in some cool air.  Probably many of you have begun to decorate for fall and are enjoying the Pumpkin Lattes that are only available this time of year.  I imagine your kids have started thinking about their costumes.  You may even be gathering lists and supplies for all of the upcoming holidays.

This is a good time to take a close look at yourself.  Are you wearing your Halloween costume?  Of course not, you say.  But if you think about it, maybe you have been guilty of wearing it from time to time all year long.

Some of us can really act like monsters and witches when it comes to our attitudes at home.  We may not be wearing a costume on the outside, but the condition of our heart can become quite scary.  Hateful, witch-type sarcasm towards our spouse, ugly frowns of disproval when something doesn’t go our way, secretly scheming our next move to get revenge for a wrong, manipulating the facts to get our way or to cover up our actions, speaking loudly, slamming doors.  Sometimes we can all become a little monstrous!

So, as the weather cools down, how about controlling that monster or witch that tries to creep inside your personality.   Do a little heart transplant so your heart and home can be filled with the warmth of love.

Here are some words from God that you can place in your heart so that there is no room for that nasty old witch or creepy monster.

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32

“Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Colossians 3:12-14

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” Ephesians 4:31

“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1

“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” Ephesians 4:26-27

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20

The Martins currently present “Happy Together” Marriage Enrichment Events for churches and organizations.  To schedule an event call Michael at 940-735-1515. They are certified “Prepare/Enrich” Facilitators and are available to work with couples on an individual basis using the “Prepare/Enrich Assessment.”  They publish a weekly “Happy Together” Blog about family and marriage issues.  You can order copies of their new books Dancing With Death and 366 Tidbits We Have Learned in 14,610 Days of Marriage, read, and subscribe to their “Happy Together” Blog by logging onto the Martin’s website at www.happytogethermarriage.com.