Count Your Blessings, Name Them One by One.....

This is another of my favourite hymns from my childhood. Here is what was written about it in the London Daily back in 1897

Influence of "Count Your Blessings"

"Count Your Blessings" was received most overwhelmingly in Great Britain. The London Daily, in giving an account of a meeting presided over by Gypsy Smith, reported, "Mr. Smith announced the hymn 'Count Your Blessings.' He said, "In South London the men sing it, the boys whistle it, and the women rock their babies to sleep on this hymn." During the revival in Wales it was one of the hymns sung at every service.

Read more: http://christianmusic.suite101.com/article.cfm/count_your_blessings_hymn#ixzz0ReggoqQT

and here it is

Count Your Blessings

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.

Refrain

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

Refrain

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

Refrain

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Refrain

Words by Johnson Oatman Jnr and Music by E O Excell 1897

When Does Human Life Begin?

When do you believe human life begins? Is it at conception or later in pregnancy or at birth? Think about it.

We women have been sold many feminist lies. One of the biggest of those is that we are in control of our bodies and especially our fertility and we can decide if and when to have babies. Contraception has provided that apparent control and we can allegedly have a free and easy life, only having babies if and when we want to and being in control of every aspect of that choice.

Many women believe this, as I did myself many years ago, and choose to take the pill to avoid pregnancy. Unfortunately the true effects and side effects of the pill are not broadcast or made freely available and human nature leads us to accept what we want to believe and not look any further.

If we do choose to explore further, there is evidence to be found, evidence that might rock our world, make us feel challenged, angry, guilty, remorseful, repentant or uncomfortable, force us to reconsider the "facts" as we wished to believe them. Lead us to asking God for forgiveness and forgiving ourselves. Lead to us changing our fundamental beliefs.

Do we truly believe God is in control? Do we believe babies are a blessing and a reward from Him? Do we believe life begins at conception? Are we ready for the facts? Don't read any further unless you are.

If you are still reading, you agree with me that life begins at conception. The erroneous belief that the pill prevents conception is a lie from the pits of hell. The pill is an abortifacient drug. It does not in fact prevent conception, it creates a hostile environment in the uterus so that implantation of fertilised embryos is impossible, thereby procuring an abortion. So each month there is the possibility of conception, followed by a drug induced abortion.

In Australia there has been a huge issue over the use of a drug called RU486, which is an oral drug (also from the pits of hell) used specifically for inducing abortion as a surgical alternative. The risks involved with this drug are well known and publicised, and yet the sales of the pill are at an all time high with most women knowing little about it and yet coveting the perceived freedom it gives them. The risks are the same. These include

* Prolonged bleeding associated with abortion
* pregnancy and associated birth defects as a result of an incomplete abortion
* medical complications such as high blood pressure, stroke or even death
* future risk of infertility
* future risk of breast cancer

Australia has one of the highest rates of pill usage in the world and also one of the highest abortion rates, so where exactly has all this freedom taken us? Why are women swallowing this lie, and choosing to be in denial about aborting their babies through using the pill and also increasing their risk of infertility and even breast cancer in the process. Why isn't more research money going into the links between the decades of pill usage and our epidemic of breast cancer? Why do women choose denial over truly informed choice? Even this Article in the Australian newspaper earlier this year was sounding alarm bells.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,24891709-7583,00.html

and this extract from an online article is quite direct and factual

"The progestin in the Minipill may prevent ovulation; however it may not do this reliably each month............. The lining of the uterus is also affected in a way that prevents fertilized eggs from implanting into the wall of the uterus."

http://womenshealth.about.com/od/thepill/f/howpillworks.htm

Why do we choose to take artificial hormones and risk our baby's and our own lives? Is it really the "easy option"? Why do women choose denial or ignorance over such major decisions? Why are we so self righteous about our freedom to choose an evil lie?

I did have trouble becoming pregnant once I came off the pill. That's a long and painful story I will share another time. God was gracious to me and I did eventually have four living children and I know I have three more with the Lord as a result of pregnancy loss.

Truly informed choice comes from prayerful consideration of the facts. It grieves me to know I may have little ones in heaven as a result of my having swallowed this lie when I was younger. God's loving grace and forgiveness has covered me and I know any babies I might have had will be revealed to me when I meet my Lord face to face and will be reunited with them for all eternity.

Isaiah 61:3

To all who mourn in Israel,
he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair.

The pill is not safe for you or your babies. I have fulfilled my heart's desire and have told you the truth with love. God bless you!

John 8:32 (New Living Translation)

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

I dedicate this "Note" to all the little babies in heaven whose mamma's never knew they were there........

love always

Lynn