Is I Is or Is I Ain't...Blessed?

I have no earthly idea how or why this title

took root in my mind for these serious thoughts.

But it did.

Now is there anyone else out there who remembers

"Is you is or is you ain't my baby?"

I know...probably not!


A blog post showed up on my Facebook 
page a month or so ago.
I took particular interest, since I had been
debating whether or not to reply,
"I am blessed,"
when presented with that oft asked question,
"How are you?" 

CLICK HERE

I shared the article on my Facebook page, but only 
dear Shari Bower and a couple of her friends 
shared my depth of interest.


Knowing that you may not wade through the
entire article (but I hope you will,) I am going to share
my feelings on some parts.


{1.} I have been convicted that a reply "I am blessed"
to the question, "How are you?"
could easily be misinterpreted.
As you know, I am usually overdressed for almost
any occasion(!), makeup enhanced to the best
of my ability, perfectly coiffed, etc. 
So a reply claiming blessing could easily be construed 
to mean that I am bragging of my material blessings.
That pretty much horrifies me!


{2.} Saying "I am blessed" might seem to indicate
that in some way I am deserving of what I have.
I am not. No way. Nada. 
I deserve absolutely nothing.
Even the fact that my life has not always been as easy
as it is now does not mean I am deserving
of anything. It is NOT "my turn."


{3.} The article makes it appear that if one calls
 their material possessions blessings that he or she
is supporting a "prosperity gospel"--
the belief that God rewards faith in Him with
material blessings.
I do not believe this at all. I believe that
preachers who tell listeners this are
false teachers, of whom we are warned in the Bible.
Nowhere does God promise us material
prosperity in return for our faith or obedience.



{4.} In the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12)
Jesus spells out who He calls blessed.
He lists the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek,
 those who hunger and thirst after righteousness,
the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and
those who are persecuted because of righteousness.
I get this, and I earnestly want to be included
in this group.
I just don't think this is an exclusive group--
that these are the only people God blesses.
Though I am not always merciful, pure in heart,
etc. etc etc., I believe God greatly blesses me daily.


{5.} How has he blessed me?
First and foremost,
 He has saved me from my sinful state.
He sent His perfect Son, Jesus, to die for my sins.
He provided a way for me to live forever--
just by accepting and believing and trusting in Him.
I am His, and He is mine.
There is no blessing to compare with this.
But I believe I have been blessed in approximately 
one billion other ways:
By being born in the USA; by my fabulous family
and friends; by health, including every breath I breathe; 
and by material things, just to name for starters.
But...please refer back to {2.}



So, "Is I Is Blessed?"  "Yes, I most definitely is."
How will I be answering that common question,
"How are you?"
I believe I will go with the blog author's suggestion
and answer, "I am grateful."
Because I most definitely am. 


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