Haunted by grandmother’s ghost

Do you believe in ghosts? I don’t believe in those white sheeted forms that appear and disappear – that move around darkened rooms on wires in the hands of some spiritist. I don’t believe in the ghosts, like the ones in the Christmas story – Christmas past, present and future, etc.

We’re programmed today by TV cartoons, and sitcoms – even innocent ones like “Highway to Heaven” - to lean in the direction of white magic, or good witches or good ghosts. Nor do I believe in re-incarnation – that we’ll come back in another form and live again as a fly or a bee or a roach or a chicken. I believe in being kind to animals – including my web-footed friends – but not because a duck may be somebody’s mother. But I do believe my ancestors live on in me.

My mother’s personality and my father’s did not go to the grave with them. Their ways are an integral part of me – my mother’s faith will not stop at the grave for it has influenced me. You and I are largely who and what we are because our parents influenced us. That can be good or bad depending on the situation. If it’s bad, thank God, He can make it good. It’s scary when you think of it, your children will have the same habits that you have in reference to their commitment to God. If you’re spasmodic in church attendance, they will be also - if you’re careless in your giving to God, they will be as well.

There are some hurdles and barriers that we build for our children that they have a hard time getting over later on in life. Many of you today are haunted by influences of your past. We have choices. We can either use our past as an excuse and vegetate, or we can use our “school of hard knocks” experience as a stepping stone rather than a stumbling block.

We are created with individual choice – no power can control us without our consent. Spiritually speaking, satan can’t control you against your will. When you reach for the TV knob, or the bottle, or the line of coke, or the needle, or the dirty book, there is power available to say NO if you want to. The temptation is there, I Corinthians 10:13 says that it’s common to man, but God is faithful – God will help you and will with that temptation make a way of escape so that you may be able to bear it.

The same power that wrote the book of Acts is available today. You and I need it in our lives and churches! Paul said – “Keep the faith that has been passed down from former generations” and with that Godly heritage at work in your life you will have the power to become what God planned for you to become. You’re not what you wish to be, but what you choose to be.