Luke 18:1 ~ Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

Luke 18:1

Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them 

that they should always pray 

and not give up.

Edward Gardere "needs and found" an Advocate in Methodist Hospital, Houston Hospital District. He is having a secondary Retina detachment

 and 

requires a Retina Specialist.

Yesterday was completely harrowing. And yet, being in your 60s has a charm and a blessing to this. We have lived with the experience of having a premature infant who basically had SIDS.  Our eldest son failed his sleep study in the Neonatal Intensive Care.  And almost died, as an infant, recovering on Christmas Day. What a beautiful Christmas Day.  With a year of SIDS events, an Apnea monitor sounded, then he was shaken. Eventually, he learned to breathe while sleeping.  Thank God Almighty.  This required a mighty discussion with my own very wonderful Pediatrician because he wanted to cease the monitor about 9 months in. We kept a journal of these events and, then, reading the journal, he understood. The events worsened from 10 to 12 months and then miraculously stopped after his first birthday. 

Our second son went into a fever seizure in a pizza restaurant surrounded by family. He was about to be one year old and swallowed his tongue. He quickly turned blue and was seizing.  Firefighters were there and snapped reality into place as they discussed infant CPR quickly. Which took me from shock to necessity. We had to pass infant CPR to bring our eldest son home. While in extreme fear, we did pass CPR.  And instead of discussing this, I sat in the entrance of the pizza restaurant, took our middle child, put his frail sternum on my V-shaped legs and pounded him onto my knee. He gasped.  And his tongue fell forward. Immediately, he was a normal color.  The firefighters said, this looked so ugly, one of them briefly thought it was child abuse. Fortunately, this worked. 

We dealt with the medical field again when our daughter Isabelle died during labor. And gained more experience. The first lesson was given by a Hospital Chaplain, beginning with, "We would never recover."  Christian grief does recover normal equilibrium in 2 years. But grief doesn't walk on water.  And the whole family grieves in separate emotions on different days. This crucial fact, we learned from Church, as an initial lesson in Grief Recovery.  Good to know immediately. 

Learning from Isabelle's brief life, the most real experience was seeing hyperparasitism clearly for the first time. We had one lady who had been most helpful during late pregnancy when Isabelle's health concern was found in week 28. And afterwards she balled me out like a freight train on fire let loose running down a mountain. She was horrified because, as I delivered Isabelle, my young sons were not in the birthing room.  I was in grief and really couldn't even speak. Just absorb the craziness in shock. She shrieked we had not been loving enough. I did find my voice long enough to say, you weren't in the delivery room the whole time. You really don't know and should not comment. Then, our funeral with a lovely vase being donated to the Church was stolen by a congregant.  This I was sufficiently up to dealing with swiftly.  Professional intervention in childbirth asked us to a meeting, about 2 weeks later, after Isabelle passed, to talk about ministry lessons in successful necessity. We were mocked as being in a dire situation. Until the crowd saw our devastation.  The culture has problems. We were told to remain seated and not look at the back door.  We found the door. 

Probably because what we really and completely need in life is Jesus Christ. When we find His door, we have found pasture, where we live and dwell fully.

John 10:9

I Am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved 

and will go in and out and 

find Pasture.

Yesterday was a lot like the movie, "Adventures in Babysitting."  

1987. I took a film class as an Honors course in High School. Film classes are marvelous to find the theology, the design, the set and the cultural message. And how to throw away what is junk.

When Edward has had eye surgeries, 3 since November, they are outside the Hospital. Because medicine has advanced to plateaus, divided by: dire, computer-aided and likely outcomes. 

Yesterday morning, we discovered Edward's eyesight was failing due to a need for a 2nd Retina Surgeon. Not good to happen on Memorial Weekend. Eye surgeons deal with dire daily. And want a vacation. This is as stressful, completely more than cardiac surgery. Cardiac surgery people have one heart; if it fails, life ends.  Eyes are a dire situation. Life is not perfect. This is a driven ministry career. 

But if your eye is going to fail, on Memorial Weekend, it's not good. 

We went to 4 ER Hospitals yesterday.  And they spoke to one another to assist us.  We changed Hospital branches 3 times. 

Life hands us lessons. With all the data we process, we need our souls to help our minds to recall. Decades ago, a friend told me how to get help in dire Hospital situations. And we went along these paths. The truth is, we live in a time with radical changes.  And our advice from decades past has to change. 

And we found help. 

We reached out to everyone. The Resident Ophthalmology Resident. To the Charge Nurse, to the Nurse who ably assisted us, to anyone we could think of. Edward's eye was at risk of blindness. And in doing so loudly, we met the Doctor of the Emergency Department. Who stayed late and called every Retina Surgeon in Houston. 

We called our able prior Retinal Surgeon, we enjoyed meeting during all this, on an international flight to vacation. And he and his assistant gave us medical data and advice to stay ON.

We called everyone.

That is not to say we didn't find idiots who told us to accept our fate and be blind. And they were insistent.  And firmly disregarded. 

And let me say, I have always thought Medical Residency is the worst form of medicine, as inhumane. 24 hours on duty. Barbaric, cruel and unwise.  

And now I understand in my 6th decade. 

Our initial greatest help was from the Ophthalmology Resident. Who is called to visit 3 different systems, daily, in the 4th Largest City, due to the dire need, in the necessity of eyesight. This Resident has tremendous care and concern. And his diligence, without enough of a break, connects the system to draw up from being in dire circumstances - - -  relentlessly. 

Dr. Beau Sylvester. Amazing. 

Connecting the VERY UPSET AND LOUD with solutions during Memorial Weekend. 

The Doctor of the Emergency Department, drawing up and connecting physicians,  not acting, chiefly, within Hospital Range anymore.

This medical system is growing and we have 4 tenetive solutions to address emergency schedules by Thursday.

We arrived at our 4th Hospital ER at midnight.  

And in the 4th Largest City in the USA. This is the trauma Hospital. And the Hospital was amazingly... EMPTY. 

Adventures in Babysitting.

Immediately, we had a small car on our bumper going into an empty multistory parking lot.  We pulled into a space, thinking we could see if this was violent and suddenly pulled in. The car blocked us in. Edward and I calmly cussed as wildly and explicitly as we could. Edward found the huge can of bear spray. We felt better. God evidently was already in our midst. Gallantly forgiving us for our foray into calm and outrageous language. We noticed our assailant was not getting out of the car. Maybe his window was down. OR God was Armed!!! Or we were.  He screeched into the space next to us, marked "Faculty." And Edward said, he is police. NO< THAT MAN IS NOT.  And we exited our parking space immediately.

To have him block us in. In the parking lot roadway.  His car stalled? God stalled him?!!! He stalled. Pedal to the Metal! We accelerated so largely, ... he immediately realized he was in dire circumstances, and he pulled back into the faculty space.  We sought other cars parked around the corner/floor. And peered out of our car at this being. He ran by like a streaker on fire, in a jacket labeled Security. A massive man. Surprisingly, with bleached white blond braids well past his large rear end. Running to the stairwell.  

The alternative was blindness, so. We took the elevator and briskly walked past the homeless asleep on the Hospital sidewalks. Quickly down the next downtown block to the ER.  Where the REAL Security and Police jumped into action, to the near-empty multistory parking lot.  And I had to leave the enormous bear spray canister checked in with security. I love Texas. We were able to retrieve our Bear Spray Canister to go back into the parking lot at the end.  With 4 people helping us to do so.

Texas, our Texas! All hail the mighty State!

Texas, our Texas! So wonderful, so great!

Boldest and grandest, Withstanding ev'ry test;

O Empire wide and glorious, You stand supremely blest.

[Refrain] God bless you, Texas!

So, about 1 in the morning, we ran into our favorite Medical Resident for a Life Time, Dr. Beau Sylvester. Who ran more tests to determine if Edward would require more backbreaking effort to find immediate surgery or the 4 lined up as maybe already with appointments in hand. 

Thank Jesus Christ, God Almighty and Physicians who Genuinely Care and will work so diligently when Loudly Alerted. The system is flawed and requires kicking the door open and is manned by truly caring people, who are highly skilled. With a Resident on fire. 

Last chapter, hopefully, of Adventures in Babysitting

One something thirty in the morning. 

The North Freeway is medium, moderately packed. About the same as 9:30 AM.  And since Covid and "The defund the police genius people of insanity"  we have people who form small groups and like to go 100 to 120 miles per hour on the freeways and interstates.  They change lanes and swerve, teetering like drunken toddlers. 

Now, the Police roar past. Got one. Good. 

If you've seen one high speed, impact crash, you never forget a vehicle airborne and flipping.  Seeing a car door melt away and blood spurt out. 

This is going to stop. People with real driving talent need to pay the fees to drive more professionally.  This really is drive and let die cruelty.  

Another hyperparasitism that will heal from the cold culture of plague. 

Today, we saw a system pulled in all directions of improvement, fatigue, and moving outside the lines to care and adapt. 

John 5:17-20

Jesus answered them, 

“My Father is working until now, 

and 

I Am working.”

To know 

The Love of Christ 

Surpassing all the books ever written, 

fully know,

We are filled with all the fullness of God

Your Promises,

Father,

Are Sure.

In Jesus Christ,

we live and move and

have our being.

Amen!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

You are The Lord Jesus

Thank You, for hearing us

Luke 18:1 ~ always pray and not give up

 

Luke 18:1

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them 

that they should always pray 

and not give up.

Edward Gardere needs a patient Advocate Methodist Hospital, Houston Hospital District. He is having a secondary Retina detachment and requires a Retina Specialist.

We are going to the ER today. Edward's recent surgery for the retina has the eye doctor referring us to the ER.

Please pray for great health with us.

Abba, Father,

Edward is struggling with his both of his retinas as a result of childhood brain trauma.  The retina is part of the optic nerve, orbital of the brain, according to the surgeon. This is part of the repeat damage done in childhood. 

He has partial vision occluded. Then I have had 2 weeks of pink eye and eye trauma.  

We pray for the ease of having this eye situation taken care of. Healing from Your Word. Thank You, Father for Your Many Mercies. And the Help and Comfort I see daily.

In Jesus Christ, we believe. Amen

Genesis 40 ~ belong to God

 

Front, Back and Detail of Isaiah Bulla found at Royal Bakery, Ophel

Dr. Eilat Mazar believes the motif on the Isaiah Bulla is a grazing doe, symbolizing prosperity. (Interestingly,  imagery of this is found in the book of Isaiah— Isaiah 11:6; 13:14 and 35:6.)

3rd Generation, Professor of Archaeology of Israel University - Dr. Eilat Mazar

According to Dr. Mazar, "In archaeology, context matters. When examining an artifact, the material surrounding the item plays a crucial role in determining and verifying its proper identity."

The ruins and artifacts surrounding the Isaiah bulla conclusively date to the First Temple period (in archaeological terms, Iron Age). We can know with certainty the Isaiah who owned this seal lived in Jerusalem between the ninth and seventh centuries B.C. The Prophet Isaiah lived in Jerusalem in the eighth century B.C.

But in this instance, we have even more archaeological context. The Isaiah seal was uncovered at the same time (2009) and in the same assemblage (collection of bullae and other artifacts) as the Hezekiah seal. It was discovered just a few feet from the Hezekiah bulla, and in exactly the same strata of soil.

Dr. Mazar, in her article for Biblical Archaeology Review, noted the discovery of the Isaiah bulla just a few feet from the Hezekiah bulla and asked how likely it is that this bulla could belong to an Isaiah other than Isaiah the prophet. She wrote this is a “surreal scenario.”

Genesis 40

1 Some time after this, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker committed an offense against their lord the king of Egypt.

2 And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, 3 and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined. 4 The captain of the guard appointed Joseph to be with them, and he attended them. They continued for some time in custody.

5 And one night they both dreamed--the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison--each his own dream, and each dream with its own interpretation. 6 When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled.

7 So he asked Pharaoh's officers who were with him in custody in his master's house, "Why are your faces downcast today?"

8 They said to him, "We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them."

And Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me."

9 So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph and said to him, "In my dream there was a vine before me, 10 and on the vine there were three branches. As soon as it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and the clusters ripened into grapes. 11 Pharaoh's cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup and placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand."

12 Then Joseph said to him, "This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days. 13 In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office, and you shall place Pharaoh's cup in his hand as formerly, when you were his cupbearer. 14 Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house. 15 For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit."

16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, "I also had a dream: there were three cake baskets on my head, 17 and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head."

18 And Joseph answered and said, "This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days. 19 In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head--from you!--and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat the flesh from you."

20 On the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. 21 He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand.

22 But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.


Bulla, Bulla by Sam for Real and The Pharoahs. Straight from dusty robes and roads.





There are so many, many, many archaeological proofs of Hezekiah. His bulla stamp are very plentiful. Because Hezekiah was a Glory Reign of Israel. His seal is found in items of trade. Like jars of Honey. Not the Royal Official Letter Seal. But items of quality saying something like: "Product of Israel." Even if Hezekiah was King of Judah. Hundreds of seals, seal impressions on jar handles. Trading with Egypt. Many Egyptian Hezekiah Bulla are found.

Because Archaeology is never exact without all the data clearly printed out, we will pray the weight of method of Archaeology and the Experience of Dr. Eilat Mazar will bear Isaiah up.

Now Why - would Isaiah identify himself on his seal as a Prophet. Seems rather presumptuous.

1. Within the text of the Book of Isaiah, Isaiah himself is referred to as "the prophet"


2. Isaiah answers the Call of God. With all his heart.

Isaiah 6:
8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"
And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

2, Isaiah was in the vicinity, then participates, in the Announcement of the Birth of Christ in 700 years.



Isaiah 7

Then the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out, you and your son Shear-Jashub,
to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field.

4 Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood—because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah. 5 Aram, Ephraim and Remaliah’s son have plotted your ruin, saying, 6 “Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it.” 7 Yet this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“‘It will not take place,
it will not happen,
8 for the head of Aram is Damascus,
and the head of Damascus is only Rezin.
Within sixty-five years
Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people.
9 The head of Ephraim is Samaria,
and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son.

If you do not stand firm in your faith,
you will not stand at all.’”

10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, 11 “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.”


Isaiah is so honest as to report, the birth of Jesus is told by God Himself to the House of David. As God has spoken to David.


12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.”

13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also?

14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and[ will call him Immanuel.

15 He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, 16 for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. 17 The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria.”





Isaiah understood what Zechariah would see. The same understanding 700 years apart.

Isaiah 14:12
How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!


Luke 1

76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,

77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,

78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven

79 to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”


John wrote after calling Jesus God of Love. Just like Genesis 1 - Let there be Light.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

2 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.




In the midst of child loss, all his sons in Egypt for food, the darkness,  Jacob could see the Light.

Genesis 46

2 And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.”

And he said, “Here I am.”

3 Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. 4 I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again,
and Joseph's hand shall close your eyes.”




We follow all the Word of God to see the Parallels. Isaiah is found with Hezekiah - Living Bread. Joseph is found with the Living of the King.




Abba,
We ask Your blessing upon ourselves, the ones we Love, the people You have given us. This Nation. Peace for all.

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.


Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

2 Corinthians 4:16
So we do not lose heart

Our Amen is in Jesus.

Luke 1:11-15 ~ joy and gladness, and many will rejoice

Father God keeps reaching for us to warm our hearts and enlighten our eyes to eternal Love.

Luke 1:11-15

11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 

12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 

13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 

14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 
15 for he will be great before the Lord.


Genesis moves from Genesis 3 to Genesis 2 telling of our welcome to moving, living and having our being with our Father God.

Genesis 3
8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the Presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, 

"Where are you?"

Genesis 2
25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

Tonight, we watched, "Secrets of Museums" and the grape leaves in the Vatican.

Zechariah found this by meeting God's messenger.

Isaiah 45:24

Surely they will say of Me,

 'In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.'" 

All who rage against Him will come to Him 

and be put to shame.

Acts 2

My heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;

my flesh also will dwell in hope.

27 For You will not abandon my soul to Hades,

or let Your Holy One see corruption.

28 You have made known to me the paths of life;

You will make me full of gladness 

with Your Presence.

Today, I was praying for someone I know to be fatally ill, a member of my family, and God put upon my thoughts the Joy of His Presence.

Malachi 3:10

Thereby put Me to the test, 

says the Lord of Hosts,

See if I will not open the windows of Heaven for you

and 

pour down for you a blessing 

until there is no more need.

Genesis 7:11

The windows of the Heavens were opened.

2 Kings 7:19

The captain had answered the man of God, “If the Lord Himself should make windows in Heaven, could such a thing be?” 

And he had said, 

“You shall see it with your own eye."

Stained glass is sand. 

Mere sand. 

Gathered. 

Redeemed as Worthy. 

Filled with Fire and Made Immortal.

Revelation 4:1

After this I looked,

and 

Behold,

A Door standing open in Heaven!

And the First Voice, 

which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, 

“Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”

Joel 3:14

Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! 

For the day of the LORD

 is near in the valley of decision.

Abba, Father,

We ask Jesus Christ may dwell in  our hearts through faith

We ask to be be  rooted and grounded in love

and have strength to comprehend 

with all 

what is the breadth and length and height and depth

of Your Love.

To know 

The Love of Christ 

Surpassing all the books ever written, 

fully know,

We are filled with all the fullness of God

Your Promises,

Father,

Are Sure.

In Jesus Christ,

we live and move and

have our being.

Amen!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

You are The Lord Jesus

Thank You, for hearing us