Here is a creative way to use the pumpkin carving process as an analogy to what God does in the lives of believers.As we carve a happy face on the pumpkin, we are reminded of the joy that God gives us.“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy” (1 Peter 1:8).“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).You can click on the image below to link to the Pumpkin Carving Coloring Pages that correspond with this activity!You may freely use this content if you cite the source and/or link back to this page. .
HARVEST, OCTOBER & PUMPKINS: CHOOSE YOUR PUMPKINS
I had a significant dream early this month, (October 4th) that released harvest wisdom keys.The pumpkins were huge, and just sat by the mailbox waiting to see if the house owner would pick them up with the mail and take them into their home.The month October kept being highlighted to me as extremely significant for the bride as it was a kickstart for a new wave of increased harvest.Also, sudden harvest of seeds sown in past seasons will occur, and astound and encourage many.We will see sudden birthing of heaven directives, new projects, plans, ministries, creative endeavours or new mantles, as positioning takes place to steward abundant harvest, instead of lack.In the dream many different pumpkins were being sent to people and the choice was theirs which ones to pick up and take into their home.Just as pumpkins can represent blessing or curse, the spiritual atmosphere is charged and pregnant with possibility right now.Key to stewarding this season well is to formulate your decisions in His presence and weigh them against His promises to you.Actively RESIST courageous ones… don’t entertain lies of the enemy, or hold onto fear inducing thoughts.Resist destiny stealing imaginations that release anxiety and a spirit of foreboding disaster.Key to overcoming this assignment of fear and intimidation released in the nations just now, was ONLY meditate, think, imagine and take into your heart what God is saying right now, NOT what the enemy is threatening.We are invited to believe again the very great desires of good the Father has for us and this world, and partner with Him for Harvest.The dream made clear there was no need to fear the enemies schemes, instead the church was empowered with prophetic fore-knowing to decree his weapons useless and broken.An emboldened church arose into DOUBLE PORTION HARVEST as they ran FEARLESS into victories only imagined before.A courageous and discerning bride is arising that will cause nations to take notice and turn the tide!Be cautious to not give fear power to inhibit you from embracing all God is doing in this pivotal moment.The tumultuous season many have walked through has caused hearts to be battle weary and retreat.“They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give YOU a future and a hope” (Jer 29:11) What other “promises”” have your name on them waiting to be picked up again?I don’t wish to discuss one’s involvement in these holidays, but I do want to make the point…… the same pumpkin can be used to encourage thanksgiving or to incite fear.As God resets, reestablishes and revives, things can often look chaotic and confusing before new order is observable.Remember this is not punishment, this is God shifting things and setting you up for great increase.It’s important to “reside and decide” in the glory like never before hearing Gods heart concerning your promises, not the enemy’s.Resist any fear or confusion the enemy is trying to cast over your coming year or stepping into upgrade. .
Christian Object Lesson
Bring the light of Christ back to October with this Christian object lesson for the season of Halloween.Bible truth: We become a new creation through Jesus and can let His light shine in and through our lives.In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.".This charming story for children illustrates how a loving farmer can turn a simple pumpkin into a simply glorious sight.Liz Curtis Higgs weaves a beautiful parable as the farmer picks out a special pumpkin from his garden, and scoops out all the messy "goo" to make room for his light to shine from inside.Liz Cutis Higgs originally created this parable as a way to share the Good News with her own precious children each harvest season.We'll be doing it more than once for our church's Pumpkin Festival; so we are going to reuse a single pumpkin several times by replacing the carved pieces and turning the carved side away from the kids each time as we present the lesson.Hint: If you plan to carve your pumpkin early, remove the seeds & pulp and place in a bag in the refrigerator to keep it from smelling.As you cut the pumpkin open and pull the "yucky" pulp out, tell how this is a picture of how God takes us and cleanses us from all our sin - casting them as far as the east is from the west.The carving of the eyes, nose, and SMILING face, represents how God makes us a new creation.They start out as small oval seeds that grow into big, orange pumpkins.The farmer plants the seeds, waters, and cares for the pumpkin vines and patiently waits as they grow.The Farmer takes a large knife and cuts a hole in the top of the pumpkin.He cuts two triangles for eyes, a square for a nose, and a big, wide smile!He puts a small white candle down inside the pumpkin and lights the wick.John 3:16 goes on to say: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.".And Matthew 5:16 says: "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.".So we can become like that pumpkin in the Christian object lesson - a glorious sight for others to see the love of Jesus!You can also create small, orange, pumpkin-shaped tracts with the A,B,C's of Salvation to pass out after the Christian object lesson:.Use a painted-face pumpkin to teach a Christian object lesson that is great for youth or adults as well.Relate that many people try to make their own "Christian face" through doing good things and "looking" the part.Ephesians 2:8-10 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.Christian object lessons are an excellent way to help the Bible come to life for not only small children, but also youth and even adults!Special note: We do preview the websites to which we link, but are unable to peruse them completely.We try to check others' faith statements and make sure they do profess Jesus Christ as God's Son and salvation is found only in Him.It must, however, be your responsibility to personally dig into God's Word and allow the Holy Spirit to be your first and final teacher on all subjects."Our website may contain affiliate marketing links, which means we may get paid commission on sales of those products or services we write about.This disclosure is provided in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR § 255.5: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”. .
Symbolism in Art: The Pumpkin
Kusama’s family cultivated plants and seeds, and, always having had an affinity to the natural world, she has described stumbling on a vine of pumpkins at an early age, feeling that they began to speak to her “in a most animated form”.In the United States, pumpkins are most recognised as symbols of Halloween, of the changing weather as warmer days begin to give way to cool temperatures and darker evenings.Pumpkins are in fact one of the more abundant autumn crops, marking their growing season as the moment that most other vegetation begins to retreat in readiness for the winter months.Pumpkins are also one of the more resilient fruit, finding ways to grow large and bulging amongst sparse soil and sharing nutrients along a connected vine that reaches into the ground to replenish itself.For Kusama, the pumpkin became a recurring icon in her work, almost replacing her own body as a symbol of self and often taking centre stage in paintings, installations and sculpture.In protest to the Vietnam war, she staged a series of public spectacles, in which naked subjects would appear painted in her signature vivid colours and polka-dot patterns.Kusama returned to Japan in ill health in the 1970s, moving into a hospital and travelling to her studio every day to continue creating her art works and literary pieces. .
The History Behind Pumpkins and Halloween
You might bring one home from a pumpkin patch or the grocery store and carve it into a jack-o'-lantern.The history of pumpkins and their use at Halloween contains a mixture of interesting facts and Celtic folklore.Native Americans carried pumpkin seeds into other parts of North America.Jacques Cartier, a French explorer, found pumpkins in what is now part of Canada in 1584.It was the influence of Irish immigrants, however, that made the pumpkin a part of Halloween.The Irish remembered this story each year by carving scary faces on turnips and placing a burning piece of coal inside.However, when the Irish immigrated to the U.S., they discovered that pumpkins were more readily available and made better jack-o'-lanterns than turnips.Over time, the practice of carving spooky faces on a pumpkin evolved into other forms of pumpkin-carving.The Irish would set the carved pumpkins or turnips by their doors and windows in hopes that they would protect them.At one time, people believed that pumpkins could be used to remove freckles and heal snake bites.Some people also believed that pumpkin could cure diarrhea and constipation in dogs and cats.These medicinal claims have been debunked, but there remain plenty of good uses for the pumpkin. .
The Pumpkin Prayer Bookmarks and Lesson {Printable} : Half a
[As a personal note and forewarning, the boys mentioned that our final product looks a little creepy…].Scoop out the inside of the pumpkin to show how God removes our sins (seeds of disobedience, impatience, jealousy, hatred) and forgives us.Show how clean the inside of the pumpkin is now.“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us” (1 John 1:9).As you carve the eyes in the shape of a heart, discuss how God’s laws are to protect us from harm, and that he has given his Word (and all good things) because of his immense love for us.When we remember that Jesus died on the cross for us, we know that God has given us all we really need.” “…be thankful unto Him, and bless his name.” (Psalm 100:4).In the Bible God tells us about how much He loves us, how He wants us to live, and how He will help us.Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16).Please read our disclosure policy for details on why we use affiliate links.Thank you for supporting Half-a-Hundred Acre Wood through your Amazon purchases. .
10 Pumpkin Dream Interpretation
Pumpkins in various sizes present in dreams give different meanings.Many people love pumpkin cakes, and this also becomes an impressive fruit at any given moment.Many people know that pumpkins are part of Halloween decorations, and this shows happiness.When you dream of seeing pumpkins, this is a sign that you are open and willing to accept new experiences.After that, this dream can be a warning to tell you that the things you desire will come, and this is the right moment to accomplish something meaningful.When you dream of eating pumpkin, this is a sign that you are getting closer to someone from the past who has lost contact with you.It can be a perfect opportunity to heal any wounds that were in the past, and you are trying to restore that relationship.When you dream of buying pumpkins, this is a sign that you have pursued your goal, but you have difficulty achieving it.This dream is about wanting to be a father or mother, which can mean an impending pregnancy.When you harvest pumpkins in a dream, this shows a secure connection with intellectuals.That is a strong signal that you will profit immediately, especially if the pumpkin is ripe and beautiful.On the other hand, if you dream of pumpkin breaking, this is a sign that bad news is coming. .
Pagans and pumpkins: a Halloween history
Modern Halloween costumes like naughty nurses and French maids wouldn’t spook an evil spirit.Are candy, costumes, and commercialization distracting us from placating demons to ensure a bountiful harvest?In many European countries, the frivolous Halloween is less important than the sombre All Saints Day (1 November).Many Halloween traditions come from a library of rich stories – some myth, some fact – that help explain why we carve pumpkins, bob for apples, or go trick-or-treating.It bloomed from the dark nights of the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (meaning ‘summer’s end’ in Gaelic), when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming ghosts.Celts celebrated their new year on 1 November; harvests ended and the cold, harsh winter began – a time typical of many deaths.They believed the boundaries between life and death blurred on the eve of each new year – 31 October – when ghosts of the dead returned to earth causing havoc and destroying crops.But it was also a time when people, typically Druids or Celtic priests, could make predictions to comfort those facing a long, dark winter.In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III dedicated 1 November to honor all saints and martyrs.The night before – the traditional celebration of the Celtic religious festival Samhain – took on the name All Hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween.But over time, Halloween has largely left behind its pagan and Christian origins to become a secular holiday, particularly in North America.The United States didn’t observe these holidays until Irish and Scottish immigrants arrived in the mid-1800s, bringing a mash of traditions with them.Stemming from Celts’ prediction practices on Samhain, young women believed that Halloween was the day they could divine the name of their future husband.There was a move in the United States to create a more community-oriented form of Halloween; less ghosts and pranks, more family-friendly gatherings and parties.Carving pumpkins is a common Halloween activity (Photo: Jason Rosewell / Unsplash).After these traditions were exported across the Atlantic, it wasn’t long before carved pumpkins (a gourd native to North America) began to show up.Halloween history made its grand turn towards its current form when Americans embraced carved pumpkins by the 1920s.The Howden pumpkin has a thick stem, shallow ribs, and thin flesh; these attributes make them easy to carve, though a nightmare for cooking with.Numerous superstitions sprouted around this, considering the predictive nature of this special fruit: if you got the apple on the first try, you would find true love.Some young women would also place an apple under their pillow in order to reveal their future husband in their dreams.This piece of Halloween history continually gained popularity in the United States; today, around 40 million trick-or-treaters join the candy-filled fun.Halloween’s typical color scheme (orange and black) arose out of these autumn festivals.Halloween history turned towards commercialization in the 1900s; around this time, companies produced themed postcards and paper decorations.Haggard witches, on the other hand, reference the pagan mythological character known as the old crone, who was honored during Samhain celebrations.Similar to the world’s different approaches to Valentine’s Day, not every country follows the commercialized and Americanized variety of Halloween.Elsewhere, commerce has less traction in the Halloween history of individual countries; however, many places do still have traditions that are unique to them:.Halloween is called Alla Helgons Dag in Sweden; Swedes observe it from 31 October until 6 November.Almost as a throwback to Halloween history, many families counter the elements of consumption, waste, and poor eating habits by helping others. .
What is the significance of pumpkin for Halloween?
In Ireland, people started to carve demonic faces out of turnips to frighten away Jack’s wandering soul.The Irish would set the carved pumpkins or turnips by their doors and windows in hopes that they would protect them.The term, “Jack-o’-Lantern” comes from an old Irish folk tale called “Stingy Jack.” Legend has it, that Jack invited the Devil himself to have a drink with him.In the 19th century, « turnips or mangel wurzels, hollowed out to act as lanterns and often carved with grotesque faces, » were used on Halloween in parts of Ireland and the Scottish Highlands.Along with creepy costumes, face makeup and spooky decorations, Pumpkins have become a symbol of Halloween all over the world.Symbolically, the pumpkin is often linked to rebirth and fertility, and they also symbolise harvests and crops.The practice of decorating jack-o’-lanterns originated in Ireland, where large turnips and potatoes served as early canvasses.Along with creepy costumes, face makeup and spooky decorations, Pumpkins have become a symbol of Halloween all over the world.Indigenous North Americans have grown pumpkins for thousands of years—even before the cultivation of beans and corn.The practice of decorating jack-o’-lanterns originated in Ireland, where large turnips and potatoes served as early canvasses.In the 19th century, « turnips or mangel wurzels, hollowed out to act as lanterns and often carved with grotesque faces, » were used on Halloween in parts of Ireland and the Scottish Highlands.In the United States, the carved pumpkin was first associated with the harvest season in general, long before it became a symbol of Halloween. .