Life has its sorrows, but the good Lord gives us many blessings to compensate, don’t you think?”
–C.M. Curtis (Return of the Outlaw)
“And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God.”
“And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God.”
–Deuteronomy 28:2 (NKJV)
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“Count your blessings, Name them one by one;
Count your blessings, See what God hath done;
Count your blessings, Name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, See what God hath done.”
–Johnson Oatman, Jr.
How many times have I sung the words to that chorus? Mercy, into the hundreds. The reason I bring it up today is that so often we as individuals, and as a nation do not take the time to look at or count our blessings.
We are truly a blest people to live in America, yet so many in this country fight, terrorize, riot, and ridicule it. We have all the food we want, and that includes a host of junk food that we shouldn’t eat. We have abundance, but do we realize it?
There are many things I do not understand concerning Christians. One example are those who do not pay their tithes not even speaking about offerings that go beyond. I don’t understand. Not only are they withholding blessings, they are also robbing God. Another example are those who stay home from church. Can they survive? If they are in their Bible and praying–yes, but they are not receiving additional blessings from God. When we are not obedient God withholds. I’m not saying that He curses, but there are times when people who disobey live under the curse of God. The Israelites murmured and complained, they lacked faith and disobeyed, and God forced them to wander for years in the wilderness until that generation died. Read Deuteronomy 28; it speaks of the blessings and cursings that come from either obedience or disobedience.
Malachi begins with the wonderful statement, “I have loved you.” (1:2) Right off the people question, “How?” They cannot or do not see God’s blessings. Because of that they do not see the wonderful love of God at work. Malachi begins with that wonderful statement, but the book ends thusly, “Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”
Blessings, withholding blessings, and curses, much of which are our choice. God wants to bless His children, and He does, but because of disobedience He will withhold blessings. And at times because of sin, He brings a curse. Captivity may come, as did happen to God’s people. There is a time when God will allow people to be deluded and if they do not repent He will allow them to go into spiritual captivity. Woe to a person or nation when it gets that far. Hal Lindsey wrote, “The Bible warns that a nation that has been given great light from God, and rejects it, will be given a mind, by God, that cannot even think in its own best interest. That’s a perfect definition of ‘political correctness.’ And that’s what’s happening in America right now.” Political correctness, woke, cancel culture are these curses that God is allowing to come upon the nation as it has rejected His moral teachings and laws?
“When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.”
So be joyful, be obedient and count your blessings. Do not get into the spiritual doldrums where God might withhold a blessing. Live in the fullness of His love.
———————————-
“Count your blessings, Name them one by one;
Count your blessings, See what God hath done;
Count your blessings, Name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, See what God hath done.”
–Johnson Oatman, Jr.
How many times have I sung the words to that chorus? Mercy, into the hundreds. The reason I bring it up today is that so often we as individuals, and as a nation do not take the time to look at or count our blessings.
We are truly a blest people to live in America, yet so many in this country fight, terrorize, riot, and ridicule it. We have all the food we want, and that includes a host of junk food that we shouldn’t eat. We have abundance, but do we realize it?
There are many things I do not understand concerning Christians. One example are those who do not pay their tithes not even speaking about offerings that go beyond. I don’t understand. Not only are they withholding blessings, they are also robbing God. Another example are those who stay home from church. Can they survive? If they are in their Bible and praying–yes, but they are not receiving additional blessings from God. When we are not obedient God withholds. I’m not saying that He curses, but there are times when people who disobey live under the curse of God. The Israelites murmured and complained, they lacked faith and disobeyed, and God forced them to wander for years in the wilderness until that generation died. Read Deuteronomy 28; it speaks of the blessings and cursings that come from either obedience or disobedience.
Malachi begins with the wonderful statement, “I have loved you.” (1:2) Right off the people question, “How?” They cannot or do not see God’s blessings. Because of that they do not see the wonderful love of God at work. Malachi begins with that wonderful statement, but the book ends thusly, “Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”
Blessings, withholding blessings, and curses, much of which are our choice. God wants to bless His children, and He does, but because of disobedience He will withhold blessings. And at times because of sin, He brings a curse. Captivity may come, as did happen to God’s people. There is a time when God will allow people to be deluded and if they do not repent He will allow them to go into spiritual captivity. Woe to a person or nation when it gets that far. Hal Lindsey wrote, “The Bible warns that a nation that has been given great light from God, and rejects it, will be given a mind, by God, that cannot even think in its own best interest. That’s a perfect definition of ‘political correctness.’ And that’s what’s happening in America right now.” Political correctness, woke, cancel culture are these curses that God is allowing to come upon the nation as it has rejected His moral teachings and laws?
“When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.”
So be joyful, be obedient and count your blessings. Do not get into the spiritual doldrums where God might withhold a blessing. Live in the fullness of His love.