"The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron." ---1 Timothy 4:1,2
(Oh, and to be clear, this isn't just about wearing masks, but rather, much more than that.)
(Oh, and to be clear, this isn't just about wearing masks, but rather, much more than that.)
******
This morning I hung laundry on my 30-year-old wooden clothes rack out on our front porch. Glorious out there it was, sunshine-bright, 67 breezy degrees.
Hanging laundry outside. That's a major reason I refuse to live under the thumb of a Home Owner's Association.
I'm here at my HOA-free, rather-tacky-looking 'hood because I want to--
Paint my house any (sane) color.
Plant any type flower.
Grow any size garden.
And hang lighted crosses in my windows.
I'm 61 and I love freedom. Oh, I know. People these days say we've only ever had quasi-freedom and perhaps that's true. But I know this: before Covid-19 that quasi-freedom felt good.
What we've instead had since March? A nightmare. One it's been hard shaking from my head (tho' I'm closer now).
Friends tell me, "Just accept this. It's no big deal." Former friends, that is. シ
Local government insists I wear a mask to every indoor place. Even have my temperature taken by strangers. They say I must play by their rules, these God-resenting, we-know-best-you-know-nothing-and-who-cares-if-you're-jobless? people with an agenda.
But I have an agenda, also. Mine? To not sear my conscience by consistently doing what I feel is wrong.
"Whatever is seared is burnt and is not the same as it was before, and so it is with the conscience." --- Jack Wellman
I've worn a mask only 1 place: my dearly-loved cafe. Amy bakes things on Saturdays and we pick up our pre-orders. My desire to fight for this cafe's survival is so strong, I slip on a mask at the door, then 2 minutes later rip it off outside.
But I cancelled a dentist appt. because of the mask thing and about 5 other hoops they wanted us to jump through.
I've not visited one supermarket since covid-19.
Tom went to Goodwill alone on Saturday. He'd made the mistake of giving away his 'fat pants' after he lost weight and well, now.... (Don't tell him I mentioned that. heh.) And altho' I need spring and summer clothes? I'll wait or buy online. Tom had to not just wear a mask there, but have his temperature taken. You, as a stranger, do not want to try taking my temperature. Er hem.
Go consistently doing what makes your conscience a bit sick and--
Suddenly you're watching movies that used to disgust you,
Using language that would horrify your mother,
You're constantly complaining,
Living lazy in a sloppy house,
And snapping at your poor ol' spouse
Or worse--
Not for one moment have I pretended our Country's changes are fine with me. But I'm thankful for 2 things, especially. 1.) I'll never take freedom for granted again and 2.) I've become a much stronger person who'd rather obey God than man.
I'll not sear my conscience. I'll no longer do anything I feel is wrong just because powers-that-be tell me I must.
If that means I stay home forever, so be it.
And yes, many of you must wear masks at your jobs. I totally get that and am fine with it! (If I had a real job, I'd either wear one or use the opportunity to quit. Again, that's just me.) Please note I said I'll not do anything I feel is wrong for myself. I'll not sear my own conscience.
If I must take Sam The Cat to the vet and wear a mask? I'll do it because I'll run out of his life-saving pills if I don't. But I won't like it.
Many doctors say wearing masks is not only foolish, but unhealthy. I feel the same.
So I'm currently seeking a freer lifestyle where I don't wear a mask until the insanity is over (but then, yeah, it'll just be something else. That's our world today, especially in an election year).
But to keep doing what I feel is wrong for me? That's the kind of thing that will get me this: one morning I'll get out of bed, walk over to a mirror, then feel horrified by the stranger I see there.
And I can't risk that.
"But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men." --- Acts 5:29
*****
Oh, and here's a link to a short film version of George Orwell's 1984. Scary, but familiar stuff.
And speaking of George, I had to smile at this:
******
"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15
This morning I hung laundry on my 30-year-old wooden clothes rack out on our front porch. Glorious out there it was, sunshine-bright, 67 breezy degrees.
Hanging laundry outside. That's a major reason I refuse to live under the thumb of a Home Owner's Association.
I'm here at my HOA-free, rather-tacky-looking 'hood because I want to--
Paint my house any (sane) color.
Plant any type flower.
Grow any size garden.
And hang lighted crosses in my windows.
I'm 61 and I love freedom. Oh, I know. People these days say we've only ever had quasi-freedom and perhaps that's true. But I know this: before Covid-19 that quasi-freedom felt good.
What we've instead had since March? A nightmare. One it's been hard shaking from my head (tho' I'm closer now).
Friends tell me, "Just accept this. It's no big deal." Former friends, that is. シ
Local government insists I wear a mask to every indoor place. Even have my temperature taken by strangers. They say I must play by their rules, these God-resenting, we-know-best-you-know-nothing-and-who-cares-if-you're-jobless? people with an agenda.
But I have an agenda, also. Mine? To not sear my conscience by consistently doing what I feel is wrong.
"Whatever is seared is burnt and is not the same as it was before, and so it is with the conscience." --- Jack Wellman
I've worn a mask only 1 place: my dearly-loved cafe. Amy bakes things on Saturdays and we pick up our pre-orders. My desire to fight for this cafe's survival is so strong, I slip on a mask at the door, then 2 minutes later rip it off outside.
But I cancelled a dentist appt. because of the mask thing and about 5 other hoops they wanted us to jump through.
I've not visited one supermarket since covid-19.
Tom went to Goodwill alone on Saturday. He'd made the mistake of giving away his 'fat pants' after he lost weight and well, now.... (Don't tell him I mentioned that. heh.) And altho' I need spring and summer clothes? I'll wait or buy online. Tom had to not just wear a mask there, but have his temperature taken. You, as a stranger, do not want to try taking my temperature. Er hem.
Go consistently doing what makes your conscience a bit sick and--
Suddenly you're watching movies that used to disgust you,
Using language that would horrify your mother,
You're constantly complaining,
Living lazy in a sloppy house,
And snapping at your poor ol' spouse
Or worse--
Not for one moment have I pretended our Country's changes are fine with me. But I'm thankful for 2 things, especially. 1.) I'll never take freedom for granted again and 2.) I've become a much stronger person who'd rather obey God than man.
I'll not sear my conscience. I'll no longer do anything I feel is wrong just because powers-that-be tell me I must.
If that means I stay home forever, so be it.
And yes, many of you must wear masks at your jobs. I totally get that and am fine with it! (If I had a real job, I'd either wear one or use the opportunity to quit. Again, that's just me.) Please note I said I'll not do anything I feel is wrong for myself. I'll not sear my own conscience.
If I must take Sam The Cat to the vet and wear a mask? I'll do it because I'll run out of his life-saving pills if I don't. But I won't like it.
Many doctors say wearing masks is not only foolish, but unhealthy. I feel the same.
So I'm currently seeking a freer lifestyle where I don't wear a mask until the insanity is over (but then, yeah, it'll just be something else. That's our world today, especially in an election year).
But to keep doing what I feel is wrong for me? That's the kind of thing that will get me this: one morning I'll get out of bed, walk over to a mirror, then feel horrified by the stranger I see there.
And I can't risk that.
And again, I'm not just talking masks here! What have you been told to do lately that your heart rebels against, but does anyway? What is making your soul uncomfortable?
"But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men." --- Acts 5:29
*****
Oh, and here's a link to a short film version of George Orwell's 1984. Scary, but familiar stuff.
And speaking of George, I had to smile at this:
******
"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15
Boy, oh boy. I agree with all of this. However, almost all of our store require masks. Walmart even requires we wear a mask while sitting in our car when getting our pick up order! How crazy is that one? I'm in my car at least 9 feet, (or more) from anyone.
ReplyDeleteI find myself singing, "This world is not my home, I'm just passing through," several times a day.
Blessings,
Betsy
We live in a rural area and it seems that there are only 8 people in our county who have tested positive for Covid-19. When we went to a local Walmart yesterday, my hubby and I wore masks (we're doing that to try to protect me since I'm on a strong dose of Tamoxifen now), but we only saw two other shoppers wearing masks. All of the employees had them on. I got so hot with my mask on that I started getting lightheaded. Gosh, sometimes you wonder what to do.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you in so many ways.
ReplyDeleteI am two years a widow and 61 years old. I can't have any more of my life or
anything else taken away.
We must think for ourselves and make decisions for
ourselves.
I appreciate you putting your thoughts out there. I have few people to share my
thoughts with and feel so less isolated reading your words!
Bev
Betsy--try living in New York! Masks, masks, everywhere masks. Bah humbug. heh. Well, like I said, besides the cafe or an emergency trip somewhere (heaven forbid) I'll just stay homethankyouverymuch. ha! Hang in there!
ReplyDeletePam--that's terrible that you got so hot with your mask and I totally get it. If I talk to Amy too much at the cafe I start getting dizzy just within one minute! And I've often thought about all this confusion that's around--we know where that comes from, right? And that's another hint at just who's behind all this. But hey, we can do this, right?
BJS--your comment blessed me so much! Thank-you for taking the time to let me know I'd encouraged you. And I'm so sorry to hear that you lost your husband. I can't even imagine.... Oh and tons of people out there agree with folks like you and me and I do check in with them at Youtube most days for they share truth and truth is freeing! Just a few names in case you want to check them out: Michael Knowles, Dennis Prager, Glenn Beck, Matt Walsh, Ben Shapiro and of course Tucker Carlson. We'll all get through this with God and each other! ---and thanks again for commenting!
Thanks so much, Ladies! Blessings, Debra