Blacks Don't Lives Matter

That title was meant to get your attention and I am sure it did.

I'm not here to focus on the BLM movement - or any of the other current social chaos - but to explain why I don't want to focus solely on any current event. That's my point. None of this is special or new.

Not plagues, not the unrest and turmoil between citizens, genders, races, or sexual orientation. What all this is is just another episode in the story of the war Lucifer is waging on mankind and against God. This started with Lucifer's rebellion. And don't forget the four lies Satan told in the Garden. Those lies are the foundation he has built his agenda upon.

Look at this helpful outline of Satan's rebellious agenda from Reasons For Hope Jesus:

The Five “I Wills” of Satan

In Isaiah 14:13-14 are five phrases expressing the sinful desires of Lucifer.  Each begins with “I will” and reveals Satan’s self-sufficiency and his self-worship. 

Isaiah 14:13-14  For you [Lucifer] have said in your heart:

1. I will ascend into heaven, 
2. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; 
3. I will also sit on the mount of the congregation In the sides of the north;
4. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, 
5. I will be like the Most High.

This passage is often referred to as The Five ˜I wills” of Satan. The statements reveal Satan’s sinful nature, his rebellion, his disobedience, his self-sufficiency, his pride, his self-exaltation, and his all-encompassing pride and arrogance.

For Satan, it’s all about him, and nothing about God.

This will end with the battle that is already won, praise Jesus.

I have to remind myself of this because I tend to get caught up in this moment in time. I get caught up in the time I live in and forget that this rebellion of Satan and those who follow his agenda has been going on way before me and, depending on God's timeline, will continue long after me.

If Satan wants to distract me by keeping my focus on him and his society, all he needs do is make me think of something or someone that isn't going to matter in the end of the already-won battle. If I hear someone praising Trump, I start to get distracted by my dislike of the man. If someone calls me "nigger", I get distracted by my own anger and the history behind that word. If I sin, I get distracted by remorse and shame. If I notice someone else's sin, I get distracted by self-righteousness, pride, or jealousy.

Go watch the video at this church site
(caveat: I have not yet watched)

No matter how many times I remind myself not to, I get caught up in current hatred and ignorance and racism, etcetera, and let it get to me. Then I will shake myself and remember the God that I serve and that he is not a God of confusion or ignorance or fear. Because of the Lord, I don't have to get too worked up by the moment I live in. I need to remain calm and steady and keep spreading the message of the Gospel.

So, do black lives matter? Of course. What we ought to be most mindful of - now and as long as we live - is that this moment in time is just another moment in this war. Don't get so distracted by the current struggles that we take out eyes off of eternity and off of our Lord.

So, my brothers and sisters, anger is okay and natural. BUT when you find yourself getting angry or stressed about all this current turmoil, stop and think first about what it means in the finished and already-won battle we are in.

Peace
--Free

My Jewish Savior & My Jewish Family

I was watching some Bible study videos recently because I am fascinated with the Hebrew language. Chuck Missler does a great job of breaking down the original Hebrew in some of his studies. Go over and check out this series of his. (Really. Seriously. Go NOW and check it out. Thank me later.)

This guy here caught my eye and I really like his word studies and his teaching style.  Of course, as usual, the YouTube algorithm sent me down a rabbit hole by putting anything with "Hebrew" and "Bible" into my recommendations list. One of them was this from the Tree of Life Ministries Israel:

What? Why did I not know this? I assumed that the Jews had the same Bible I did (minus the New Testament) and never considered that anything was withheld. (I subscribed to the channel, of course!)

Again, thanks to YouTube and its rabbit hole of recommendations, I saw another interesting video:

Okay. By this point, I am in full praise mode and weeping with joy. I subscribed to this channel as well and have been watching more of their videos, including this one which I've watched over and over.

So, as I often do, I was reminded that we have the Jewish people to thank for Jesus. It is out of them that he came. It is their language that he spoke and their culture that he lived in. Our Savior came out of the Jewish people and yet we sometimes forget to include them in our prayers and outreach.

Silly, arrogant me, I had zero ideas about what the Jewish people of today believe or have been taught about our Lord. These videos were stunning to watch.

Please, join me in reaching out to those of the Jewish nation or donating to those who do so. As mentioned by the speaker in the "3 Reasons" video, giving money is not as important as giving it to the best outreach. I will be praying more for my Jewish family and hope that you will too.

This is the donation link at One For Israel.
This is the link to get Eitan's book.
This is the link to Eitan's 2020 video on anti-Semitism.

And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (Genesis 12:3)

Peace
--Free

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