Blessings I Forget To Count

The other day, I started sliding into one of my every-now-and-then-funks. I have put on 5 pounds, I need to deep condition my hair, and my meds made me sicker than usual. Yeah. And it was the 5 pounds that hit me hardest. I was struggling to zip my best pair of jeans and had to suck in deep to make that work. That sent me into an immediate sob session.

So, when I finished crying, I felt slightly better but was still determined to avoid looking in the mirror for a while. I was psyching myself up to practice better eating habits (at least for the day) and as I made a list of some fruits and vegetables to order for the week, a realization hit me.

I am so spoiled by the many blessings in my life that I often forget to count some of them. Or I tally them in the wrong column - under Trials instead of under Blessings.

I stood there in the kitchen, looking into a decently stocked fridge and chastised myself. Instead of ordering produce, I spent some time thanking God for the blessings I had just been crying over. This reminds me of the First World Problems community on Reddit. 

How dare I worry about gaining 5 pounds when there are people who aren't eating? I'm fat because I have an abundance of food. I just need to choose healthier meals. I can't get into my "best" jeans but I have enough clothing to call some of them my best or worst or too small, or too big, or - and this is shameful - too "dressy".

This quarantine situation is only "boring" to me because I am tired of my TV, computer, tablet, books, music, and peace and quiet. I can't imagine the people in this world that would give just about anything to have one of those luxuries. Just to live in a peaceful environment is worth all the fame and gold there is.

I'm sick from my medication because I live in a country where medication is available for my condition. I'm not some poor, diseased orphan, sitting around uncared for and dying of neglect. I have family and friends who care about my health and sanity, God help them. I go to a hospital with trained and equipped professionals who make it their mission to keep me alive and in a decent quality of life.

Every now and then, I have to remind myself to stop hanging my head in sorrow so that I can look up in joy. The other day, I forgot for a moment to count all these blessings. And, even when I am dealing with serious trials - you know, more serious than a blow to my vanity - I need to remember this:

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces [a]patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be [b]perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.(James 1:2-8 NKJV)

If the past several weeks have taught me anything it's that life can change in the blink of an eye. We should take nothing for granted - not the blessings or the trials we live with. This current situation might not be the beginning of the "last days" but we are each going to face our own personal last day at some point. Let's never forget to enjoy each pleasure and blessing because it could be for the last time. I want to live every moment of my life in thankfulness and hope.

Speaking of this global situation we are dealing with, I am truly thankful for it. Because of the pandemic, there are a lot of people having serious discussions online about life and death. More people are thinking about their eternity. Right now, I am so blessed to know what mine holds.

To end this post on a humorous note, I saw this meme going around about quarantined parents. I almost broke a rib laughing!

If you are going a little stir crazy, I have posted some resources over on Being Free.

Peace
--Free 

The "Out of Shadows" Documentary

***NOTE: I posted this before I learned of some of the controversy surrounding this documentary. I have to admit that I was dismayed and considered removing this post altogether. I am keeping it up here with this information. There are complaints from a lot of people (other researchers and documentarians, etc) over not being credited with portions of their work allegedly being used in this film. If we are Christians then, no matter what we do - films, blogs, opinion pieces - we must be fair. Our behavior reflects back on the whole Christian family and, most importantly, God.

Also, please keep in mind that I myself am in NO way a supporter of Trump. I find that he is divisive and chaotic. There are supporters of this documentary who align themselves with Trump and his behavior. Again, not a good look for followers of Christ. 

Still, for the sake of sharing things like this, I will leave this post up with these additional notes.***

I recently watched a video called "Out of Shadows" made by a former entertainment industry stuntman. After a long career, he was injured and then came to know God. He started questioning the whole agenda of Hollywood and the industry. The documentary is about some of what he learns and how it changed his whole perception of reality.

Some parts of the documentary - or people's comments about it - reminded me of how I felt after I had first watched G. Craige Lewis' "The Truth Behind Hip Hop" (TTBHH) and read the book. I felt betrayed by my own blindness and my love of music and the artists I grew up listening to. I realized that, as a Christian, I should never have been looking to these people as "idols". Best of all, I started really paying more attention to the many ways we are being indoctrinated and lulled by the industry.

The Bible warns us about Satan and his agenda but we compartmentalize our Bible reading away from our daily life. There is a reason for everything the Bible tells us. The main thing I have to remember is that Satan is called "The Prince of the power of the air" and Ephesians 6:12 tells us that:

we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (my emphasis)

We read that - I read that in my studies - and the go right out and don't see the agenda behind so much of society. And notice that it's not "flesh and blood" we are wrestling against - not the singers and actors and their puppetmasters - but Satan and his army who controls all of that.

Anyway, I just wanted to post about the video because I think it's an interesting watch. It meanders a little in places, but I am glad that people are seeing it and being nudged to pay more attention. (I am suddenly reminded of the line from "Amazing Grace" about having once been blind but now being able to see.)

By the way, TTBHH videos have to be purchased from the EX Ministries site and are well worth it. The series has grown to over 12 videos.

Peace
--Free 

Theories of Rumblings and Warnings

Wow. This COVID situation is a little bit of a wakeup call, isn't it?

We Christians probably all immediately thought of every second-coming prophecy, but even non-believers have to be thinking about what this could mean. Do I think that this is prophetic? Yes. But I don't think it's the "big one".

I believe that this is a result of man scheming and planning. Because I can be a bit of a conspiracy theorist (CT), I have to wonder about some of the end-of-days rumblings in the Christian and CT forums online - whether true or not:

• Why did Bill Gates step down from Microsoft? His reasons for doing so sound suspect to ay avid CT. And why is he making plans to live on his yacht? (Two types of people I am wary of: someone with that much money and no faith in God and someone with that much money and who talks of God.) Even some atheists suspect Gates' "evasive" responses to questions of his beliefs.
• What's up with that Event 201 happening right before all this panic popped off? That sounds creepy anyway but gets creepier when referred to as "transforming our world". Actually, most things with the UN creeps me out a little. Of course, some sources think CTs are crazy to link Event 201 to anything nefarious.
• Then there are CTs who speculate on the long-term goals of a government leading us into the trap of digital currency and the eventual prophesied Mark of the Beast. Whatever you believe, we are being steered toward the use of digital money. There was the allure of bitcoin and all the digital and mobile wallet apps like Samsung Pay and Apple Wallet. Now, the talk
  
  has started getting serious. I think the COVID is helping that along. Others are wondering the same.
• Speaking of getting marked, there is something so off-putting about getting a "Real ID" star on your license. It makes me think of the awful Holocaust. COVID has, at least, delayed that. Good thing because I'm not trying to get a new license.
• Already there were people jumping on the chance to get 'chipped'. It's about the convenience and, I think, the trendiness. What bothers me about the RFID chip is that there might come a time when we won't be given a choice to refuse it. I'm not the only one ready to protest that. There will be arguments for the chip but I will wait to see what I have to pledge allegiance to first.

Here's the thing, the Bible teaches us that there will come a day when we will have to openly pledge our allegiance to either the Lord or to this world. There will come a day when the battle gets 'real'. Even if COVID is just another human-made catastrophe, it is at the least good training for us Christians. We need to always pray and stay faithful. Don't get caught up in the hysteria of what is or is not a conspiracy.

For my fellow CTs who love the Lord, I will say that I think we need to remember that our Father is not the author of fear and confusion. As long as we are faithful, we don't need to be shaking in our boots about COVID or anything else. 

This world is already under the rule of evil. If there are those who want to share in this kingdom of sin and disease and greed, let them have it. We have a home in the kingdom of Heaven. 

Of course, I will continue to speculate but I will never lose my faith.

Peace

--Free