In October of 2016, I was sitting in church on a Wednesday night listening to our pastor preach on the subject of Halloween. Unlike some churches that don’t acknowledge Halloween mine does. However, instead of letting the night be owned by darkness our church has a vision that you can bring light into the darkness, and spread the gospel even on a night so typically owned by evil. One of the ways mentioned to do this was the gospel pumpkin carving. I had never heard of the gospel pumpkin carving before. The idea is great to help spread the word of Jesus especially among children. As the pastor explained the steps, God really started dealing with my heart, and I’m not sure I’ll every look at a pumpkin the same way again. If you’re not familiar with the steps to carving the gospel pumpkin let me share them with you, and also my testimony of what God laid on my heart that day.
Seems incredibly simple right, but as I listened to the steps I started to do a self-evaluation.
I had been that pumpkin, filled with so much “mess”. My “mess” was made up of hate, jealously, envy, greed, discontentment, anxiety, worry, fear, sadness, ungratefulness, and hopelessness. It was ugly. I had never known the gospel of Jesus, instead inside of me was so much darkness.
But very slowly in 2013, my husband and I made an abrupt life change and up rooted our family from Indiana and moved to Kentucky. After our relocation I started to seek my savior in baby steps. For me it took three years of seeking to be saved. Slowly, but surly the mess within me started to be pulled out and a taken away. As I sought God more and more the stronger and stronger the light inside me grew.
Slowly instead of hate, I had forgiveness. Instead of jealousy and envy I’ve learned to celebrate with others in their success. I learned to give of my time, talents and treasures, no matter how big or how small, and I realized that there is no better feeling than serving others. I have learned the power of prayer, and gained knowledge of His living word, and because of this discontentment, anxiety, fear, sadness, ungratefulness, and hopelessness no longer overcome me. I am better than I once was and working to be more every day.
I also know that just because I’m no longer the pumpkin with all that mess inside me, I’m still far from perfect. I need His grace and forgiveness daily. Is everyday rainbows, sunshine and unicorns? No, not even close. Everyday holds new challenges. The enemy is always around the next corner waiting to steal, kill, and devour, but I know I can simply put the armor of God on, and face any challenge present, because I am never alone. I know the Holy Spirit lives within me, so therefore no man can stand against me.
I want the light of Jesus Christ to shine so bright within me and through me that people just know I’m not the same person I once was. I pray this over my life and my family’s lives daily. I want my daughters to know they will always have His love, His grace, and His light within them. I pray they never ever have a mess inside of them like the one I carried inside of me for so many years.
I think because I was lost for so long, it has become incredibly important to me that His word is spread. It’s so important that we share our story’s with others, and encourage them in their own journey with God, no matter what their current relationship status is with Him. The Bible commands us to defend, contend and confirm the gospel. We are to shine like lights in the darkness, because we never know who’s watching, who we are inspiring and encouraging through our good works. I was lost for twenty eight years, and it wasn’t until I started surrounding myself with true Christian people did I start to wonder… what am I missing, what do they have that I don’t. I thank God that He placed those people in my life at the time I needed them the most.
The pumpkin gospel is super simple and fun, but the meaning behind it is immeasurable. Our church has encouraged members to throw pumpkin carving parties throughout the month of October, the idea being that people would invite families over and preform the Gospel Pumpkin carving, spreading the gospel in a fun relaxed environment and inviting the guest to church the following Sunday. Super simple right…but what if by your simple invitation to carve a pumpkin a life was changed? What if it became the first step in someone’s journey towards God.
Can you relate at all to my self-evaluation?
Have you ever carved a gospel pumpkin yourself or maybe with your children?
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Blessings,
Jen
