Happy Reformation Day

For so many years I have not focused on this day as Reformation Day, I grew up with this day being Halloween - the day we dressed up and went Trick or Treating. We had some fun in my younger days - we typically dressed up in our older sister's prom dresses (they were never the same again)... rain, wind, cold or humidity didn't stop us! We grabbed our pillow case (got smart after losing candy out of a bag that burst from the weight and moisture), went door to door and loved the chocolate/not so much the popcorn balls or hard candy! Those were innocent days where the mention of Satan and demons were spoken in hushed tones. As we grew, those hushed tones took on a louder voice. People were actually entertaining demons and celebrating their presence. This is when I began my love/hate relationship with October 31.

When our sons became old enough to participate in this day... we only went to the Fall Festival our church, Frazer UMC, offered. This night became fun again and they grew up without your typical door-to-door trick or treat until they were in the 6th grade and 4th grade... they wanted to knock on doors... so off they went. It was uneventful, until one of the neighborhood kids stole our youngest's candy... and we knew this guy! He thought he was begin funny and when we said something to him, he did feel remorseful. Loved this little guy then, still love this guy as an adult:) Kids sometimes just do dumb things, right??

Here I am, a short few years later... thinking about Reformation Day. Why now...why not before? Well, it all began when the sweetest blessings were born on October 31st, 2013... Jude, McKelvey & Collier, aka the triplets. To refer to them as "Halloween babies" just wasn't right... they are gifts from the Lord and they were so tiny when they entered this world, fought hard to survive and God in his perfect plan - continues to work in their lives, along with older brother, Cash. They are thriving and bring so much joy to all who know them. They are "reformation babies":)

Today, I searched to find the most comprehensive explanation of what Reformation Day is and what this means to us, as believers of Jesus Christ... 

Just a few excerpts from Stephen Nichols .... "What is Reformation Day? On October 31, 1517 - Martin Luther, a scholar, took quill in hand, dipped it in his inkwell and penned his 95 Theses. He actually nailed a copy of his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Castle church. One of Luther’s 95 Theses simply declares, 'The Church’s true treasure is the gospel of Jesus Christ.' That alone is the meaning of Reformation Day. It is the day the light of the gospel broke forth out of darkness. It was the day that began the Protestant Reformation. It was a day that led to Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, and may other Reformers helping the church find its way back to God’s Word as the only authority for faith and life and leading the church back to the glorious doctrines of justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. What’s more, this day reminds us of our duty, our obligation, to keep the light of the gospel at the center of all we do."

Amen to that! His explanation of Reformation Day is just beautiful! I hope it has touched your heart as it has mine. As I close... may we remember, This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.