All Things are in the Authority of Jesus.
So He has granted the Son also to have life in Himself.
John 5:1-25
5 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. 3 In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. 5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.
6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?”
7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.”
8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.
Now that day was the Sabbath. 10 So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” 11 But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’” 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. 16 And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.
17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”
18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.
21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.
Today I was reading about the survivors of Covid 19. It's not unlike Hurricane Katrina. Unlike Hurricane, cold or flu, Covid 19 has respite. After the respite, Covid 19 takes someone who has had the regular illnesses or Covid 19 and attacks again.
These verses move from healing, to the comfort of life after death. This is the subject of our intense interest in the virus.
The man who was healed had hope for 38 years. His process was ongoing and he had been diligent.
Diligent. This illness, this virus, causes isolation. People who are working to be well at home are separated from others. People who are working to be well in the hospital are separated from others. At a time we are blessed to have love, in illness, this virus takes us to quiet and separation.
People describe pain in Covid 19. Pain in the ribs, tiredness, difficulty to draw a breathe. And in the quiet, the lack of encouragement and the pain, there can be despair. Despair can let us let go of Hope. Today there were stories on the news about hospital staff taking time to let people hear from those they love even in coma. That might be something someone well nearby offers, but in illness - the illness brings cloudy thinking reportedly - this might be overlooked if others are ill at home or even if the illness is bearing down hard.
A plan of faith is required. When Jesus traveled across the Sea of Galilee sometimes 3 times a day, Jesus was working on His Specific Plan. The people who traveled to see Jesus had a plan of faith to arrive on time.
When I was in High School, our neighborhood of about 9 blocks had about 25 children, ranging in age from 6 to 18, passing along a viral Meningitis. (Bacterial Meningitis is the deadly illness with vaccines available now.) We were told it was an offshoot of chicken pox. I got it from my brother having a friend over and he was in our home about 15 minutes. The younger children went to the Hospital due to these symptoms: "Severe Headache", high fever, altered mental capacity, intolerance to light which could progress to loud noises. The key to not getting worse - - - was to be hydrated and fed. In a time where drink and sustenance was almost abhorrent. Take fever nsaids before time, not after the 4 hour period. Stay on top of fever reduction meds. Set an alarm.
Discipline. During pain and confusion.
The plan to have liquids a fever would not diminish. Food available without a lot of fuss. Vitamins. Items in a row. A cabinet. Written instructions and phone numbers.
Plan.
Not to have the Virus. Take the precautions.
Plan in case you might have the virus.
Like David said in Psalm 108 a plan not to give into Malaise.
News isn't cheery. The economy will give us opportunities to have a solution. This is about the most important point. Jesus asked His people from time to time to have faith. He never expected us to be God. Even the blind men were asked to ask Him. Blind men were asked to walk. Jesus asked Lazarus' sisters if they had faith - to see a Wonder of God. Jesus asked, not as the Punisher, Jesus asked as Friend, Loved One and Salvation.
During World War II, my in-laws, as elementary school children, picked Victory Cotton in Dallas, Texas instead of Spring Break. DISD. Dallas Independent School District.
Logistics removing Fear.
You might want to consider some lighter movies and have some humor in between naps. And in finding entertainment (suggestions from children and adults) to uplift, it might be time to talk to older children and teens about how to nurse without fear. Our county is seeing some younger people with Covid 19. Like Georgia. Some children will take on some larger responsibilities than they know. Planning removes some of the fear.
Keep Logistics from creating Fear. Recovery is 96%. A good plan is only wise.
Write this down. Go over it when asked after one explanation.
Discuss LOGISTICS temperature taking, who to call, phone lists, liquids, vitamins, medicines (easy to find), sandwiches, frozen food, canned food. Discuss space and quarantine in the house. Discuss with adult children a plan of safe visiting even if it's outside an open window. (I've wondered about scaffolding and window cleaning visits from windows at Hospitals. And the news about the very ill having phones dialed was very heroic.) Discuss the 3 days it sometimes takes to have delivered food. How to use the ordering, how to pay. Who would be dropping off food you know. Even have an emergency plan to get to the hospital. What hospital. Insurance Cards. How you will do laundry or where clothes can safely be placed. Plan how your family will not give the virus to others.
Plan in Respite to be encouraging force and be honest. Best foot forward.
To yourself and others near you. You might ask your child to read to you. And find books and scripture to uplift. Practice praying that is calming. Just talking to Jesus as if He is our Family. Talking to God Conversationally as Father. The Lord's Prayer and Numbers 6.
Endurance.
If you were ill for 2 and a half weeks, have you told yourself to realize you will survive?
Pray
Not to get this, This Helps! Practice thinking about the people who had this mildly. Realize how many people don't go to the Hospital. Recovery Rates of 96%.
Some thoughts.
My father and his family lived with being in recovery from having Malaria being from Bolivar Co, MS. The Delta has boggy areas and they had Malaria. Regularly Tonic with Quinine, which is quite light, is consumed in recovery. The "Prescription" medications recommended is an RX prescription form is a synthetic Quinine. Malaria sufferers have shown evidence the natural Quinine is more effective. THE THING ABOUT QUININE IS THIS - it is not a preemptive medication. Repeat, it's serious in creating bleeding and in heart irregularity. Serious. Quinine is NOT something you can take to ward off illness. It helps in definite illness, when breathing is labored. Not, not, not for those who have faced heart irregularities. I'm not a medical person - these are GUESSES.
Zinc has been shown to be effective in huge colds. Zinc is not a bad idea.
Abba!
We can plan for a thousand things, and You have our Back.
We believe we will be so fortunate and Blessed to get through all this.
We pray for the Virus to end. For us, for our family and friends and world wide.
Planning ahead helps us all not to worry. You, Father, have a Plan for Life. We Plan with You.
We give thanks for Putting Jesus first and seeking Heaven on earth. We want to Live in
Love, Joy and Peace.
Thank You for those I love. You have them covered in Jesus Christ.
Jesus is for Life and for us forever. Thank You. Amen.
We are all Praying!
We are all Praying!
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †
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