John 9:1-11 ~ like Him

 

John 9:1-11

As Jesus passed by, 

He saw a man blind from birth. 

2 And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 

3 Jesus answered, 

“It was not that this man sinned, 

or his parents, 

but that 

The Works of God 

might be displayed 

in him. 

We must work the works of Him Who sent Me while it is day; 

night is coming, when no one can work. 

As long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” 

6 Having said these things, 

He spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then He anointed the man's eyes with the mud 7 and said to him,

“Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). 

So he went and washed and came back seeing.

8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?”

 9 Some said, “It is he.” 

Others said, “No, but he is like him.” 

He kept saying, “I am the man.” 

10 So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 

11 He answered, “The Man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, 

‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ 

So I went and washed and received my sight.” 

Jesus is Living Water.  

Water flows as it will, getting into all sorts of deep topography, 

unseen theretofore.  Jesus is Living Water. God with us.

I can only see Jesus embracing a Love where Love fully hopes to produce Life and Joy. And that Life to be shared in dreams and in hopes and in a widening circle of Family. Life, Love. Faith. Joy.

We could help one another instead of arguing. Bring Love forth.

Foster and Adopt

In fact, Love can be shared with older babies and children as well. Families live far apart. So many children these days would love a family to care for them in Foster Families. The Foster organizations cope with babies born and simply left in hospitals. Adoptions, plentiful.

Job 38:7

While the morning stars sang together 

and 

all the angels 

shouted for joy

We rejoice in the seasons where the burden is lighter and we all pull together. 

Blessings shared.

As a nation, we have done something in the past that has blessed us all.  Fire Stations accepted children, babies, the little ones when their parents felt they needed to leave them forever.

Locally, during Covid, a baby boy was abandoned at one of our local Fire Station. No questions were asked. And the notice was put in the local paper. Why? One parent might be looking. 

And a few years went by and the local newspaper did a tremendous article and photo of Thanksgiving.  A couple wanted to celebrate their son was now 3 years old. They had been unable to have children together and the baby left, graciously and generously, at the local Fire Station had been legally adopted in time to celebrate his 3rd Birthday. The parents wanted to share their joy in the mother's decision to safely leave her son to be cared for. 

The Fire Station reported the find in the article and said at first shock. And then hope. And now joy. 

This is a longtime tradition in Texas. 

Gladney Adoption in Fort Worth since 1887

In 1887, the first "Orphan Train" from the northeast. The Orphan Train Movement transported roughly 200,000 children from the northeast throughout the Midwest and as far west as Texas.  And these children were helped with increasing determination to be placed in a family, and Gladney Adoption was created.

Today, often the children placed up for adoption at Gladney are families with too many children who want their latest pregnancy to be adopted to someone Gladney helps. Gladney

creates adoption books, where hopeful parents explain with art and photos of their heart for a child they cannot conceive together. And sometimes the prospective parent(s) looking for an adoptive family also create an art book of dreams for their unborn child.

There isn't a need to have IVF disagreements.  

Theology is one thing. Life and children another.

In vitro fertilization, a complex series of procedures, can lead to pregnancy. A treatment for infertility.

The people I know who have experienced IVF find it is the most time of tears they have ever experienced. Not everyone can carry a full term infant. It used to be $40,000 dollars even 25 years ago. 

This is when people with tears can comfort others. People who can't carry to term, could contribute to the IVF of people who cannot afford IVF.  And instead of a useless, hurtful debate on frozen embryos labeled only as human beings, we could create families. Where women who want to be mothers help one another. And fathers prepare art books with their hopes and dreams. 

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 

 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

the Father of mercies 

and God of all comfort 

Who comforts us in all our affliction,

 so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, 

with the Comfort

 with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 

For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, 

so through Christ 

we share abundantly 

in Comfort too.

More Love. More Help. Less arguing. 

Exodus 22:22-24

You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. 

If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, 

I will surely hear their cry

 John 14:18 

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

 Isaiah 1:17 

 Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; 

bring justice to the fatherless, 

plead the widow's cause. 

 Psalm 82:3 

 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; 

maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. 

Abba, Father,

Praise the LORD, 

O my soul; 

all 

my inmost being

Praise His Holy Name.

Praise the LORD, O my soul,

and 

forget not all His benefits -

Who forgives all your sins

and 

heals all your diseases,

Who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you 

with love and compassion

With Your Help, 

we will look to the Windows of Heaven in our life 

and see a blessing overflow 

believing all things work together 

for those who Love You.

With Your Help

We will act justly

 and to love mercy

 and to walk humbly with You, our God.

Dwell in me,

Dwell in us,

Dwell in those we Love,

Help us to seek You first.

And we will finish well, in Jesus Christ. 

Help us find and bring

to become

 more Heaven

to this earth.

And the Nations of the world,

Your Good Creation,

Calling upon You.

In Jesus Christ is 

Our Love, Joy and Hope.

Bless those working for

Post Pandemic Healing

and Care.

Bless us all, 

worldwide

with Healing

Safety

Prosperity and

Peace.

Worldwide

Peace!

We ask healing

of Your Good Creation

The fullness of the earth is Yours.

The healing of those we pray for

in our heart and soul.

The safety of Your people.

The safety of those

helping the earth 

to heal.

Let evil and practicing evil

depart far from us

and our children.

The Healing

of the Nation.

Wholeness

Holy.

Goodness.

And in Jesus - this Hope, 

Faith and Love - we will rise up believing Jesus. 

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yes The Lord Fulfills His Purpose

Thank You, Jesus

†

1 Peter 3:13-18 ~ alive in the Spirit

 

When glowing green glacier freshwater, with 400 years plus of earth encrustation, meets the salty Pacific Ocean. Actually, much more beautiful. This was the first time we saw this.

† 

1 Peter 3:13-18

Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 

14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you

Yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the Righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the Spirit

Yesterday, Edward and I returned home from cruising the Alaskan Inner Passage on a smaller cruise ship.  The pristine quality of sunrise, sunset, mists, the clarity of the sky even in cloudy days. The intense color of the green trees. 

We saw this the first time, not this time.

The ship had a 45-year Geologist Veteran of Glaciers.  Climate Change in Alaska began about 200 years before the invention of the first automobile. Hubbard Glacier is the size of Rhode Island and continues to grow consistently. Many Alaskan Glaciers do. And others shrink. Clusters are the name of small Glaciers at the top of rock mountains.  The earth will have Glaciers even into the next Ice Age, when most of the Glaciers will be gone and reform.

Alaska has 126 Volcanoes named by their Parks Department. And over 600 named Glaciers. 27,000 Glaciers is another estimate. 

Water! 

Green water, from glacier, being in an enclosed harbor, blue sky day. The grey water reflected in the grey skies, bringing to mind winter in Alaska. The blue water on a day seeming likely to stay blue forever. Reminds me of the world we glimpse in the Genesis beginning of the Word, Light, Life, and changes seen even in Genesis. 

This is our second trip. 

And the changes before the Pandemic and today? 150 Cruise ships in Alaska. Now, Post Pandemic, 352 Cruise ships. And the seasons have extended from May to September, becoming April to October. 

What changed in this visit? The internet capabilities are way down. Perhaps by the sheer number of ships.  But our smaller choice cruise company is putting in a whole new internet system as this season closes. 

If you missed our Posts... the ends of the earth found the internet was not as reliable.  And I came down with whooping cough during the Cruise.  I missed our Posts and the health of vacation.  Usually, mood falls when challenged to breathe.  I did not! I did really enjoy the vacation. Enjoyed seeing the sights, going back to hiking the Alaskan Rain Forest every stop we could take in hiking.  We saw a whale... while hiking. The noise is unmissable, unmistakable, of the Humpback whale. Edward is taller, he saw the whale through the 300-year-old Sitka Pines. I saw the water blow and heard the incredible breathing, the splash.  We saw Bald Eagles. Glaciers. Seals.  Salmon, salmon, salmon, salmon, salmon, you get the point. And an incredible number of huge Jelly Fish.  

We met friendly people from Arizona, Texas a few times. NJ. Boston.  Cruise ship workers. Bali. Europe. The kind of good people who hunt through the disembarkment gigantic crowd, on the mainland, to bring back Boise Headset left behind. We had tea over here, there and everywhere.  And to combat gaining weight, we took the 10 flights of lovely stairs about 95% of the time. And used 99 gallons of hand sanitizer to only get coughing and nose blowing. 

We saw plenty of people in their 80s making life move into the adventure with joy direction. Some had walkers. And up the gangplank they went forth. Facebook keeps saying Baby Boomers have houses. They also have get up and go, with an incredible number of hopeful and happy faces.  Very positive attitudes.  Really saw only a few people complain. One looked like me. Om.  (Fortunately, not in anyone's depreciation face!) Don't write off the older generation. There was plenty of dancing on the ship. 

We came home to a slumber party. 

I even took photos I won't share. The Standard Poodles had to get up on the bed. Then the Orange Cat, who complained for 8 hours in a loud, demanding voice.  Everyone jumped on the bed at once. Had to plaster up next to me.  And the tiny Orange Tomcat, about the size of a Yorkie smaller dog, found the pajama drawer was open and settled in for the night. The gang rejoiced. Oh, my heart!

We went up a little early for this cruise. Last time, we had been so confident all our travel plans would line up without delays. While we were there, hackers hacked into Alaskan Air and the Seattle Airport.  Those who want to govern by chaos, are not in our best interests. 

As we saw Large cities, we saw people who looked unhappy. It was Seattle. We had breakfast in the window of a major downtown street.  Not so much in Victoria. The people there have arrived with an idea of improving whatever and however they land.  The people in Victoria were glowing.  As we ate, the waiter was interested in art in LA and heard us remarking on the unhappiness. He got caught up in the conversation and said since the Pandemic, he had seen this unhappiness in faces. Hard times. When media scouts for Downtown photos, they move cautiously. Even in NYC.  Downtown Seattle condos are full ish. But downtown buildings are not so full and need repairs. We should face what we have and see what needs to be done.  Embrace the idea of improvement instead of settling into grim.

As we sailed out of Seattle, a man took ropes and chains and climbed up 7 stores. He was on the balconies of Pier 66 Harbor Condominiums with large verandas and huge metal pipe railings. Prime and expensive and empty real estate. Suddenly, the climber disappeared. We had dire concerns. Had he fallen? As we returned, we saw he was a mid or lower graffiti artist and was defacing the condominiums.  We need to see what needs doing and embrace what can improve. 

During the Cruise, we ran into a patch of rainy days and the warmest temperature on land was 50'.  But so many took time, to read, to walk out, to enjoy their time to see the sights. The time was joyously used. 

And just as we reached ports we really wanted to see, the weather was perfect. Sunshine forever. Winds were steep. Everyone wanted to watch the water in the Harbor. How was the wind doing. 

Not using binoculars

And Finding the Gift, the Joy and the Pleasure in the Day The Lord Hath Made. 

2 Thessalonians 2:14-17

To this He called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.
  
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

Abba, Father,

Praise the LORD, 

O my soul; 

all 

my inmost being

Praise His Holy Name.

Praise the LORD, O my soul,

and 

forget not all His benefits -

Who forgives all your sins

and 

heals all your diseases,

Who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you 

with love and compassion

The Crown of Life

is just revealed to be

Love and Compassion

Help us, Father,

Helper

and Comforter.

With Your Help, 

we will look to the Windows of Heaven in our life 

and see a blessing overflow 

believing all things work together 

for those who Love You.

With Your Help for ourselves and the ones we love, 

our prayer concerns. 

We will act justly

 and to love mercy

 and to walk humbly with You, our God.

Dwell in me,

Dwell in us,

Dwell in those we Love,

Help us to seek You first.

And we will finish well, in Jesus Christ. 

Help us find and bring

to become

 more Heaven

to this earth.

And the Nations of the world,

Your Good Creation,

Calling upon You.

In Jesus Christ is 

Our Love, Joy and Hope.

Bless those working for

Post Pandemic Healing

and Care.

Bless us all, 

worldwide

with Healing

Safety

Prosperity and

Peace.

Worldwide

Peace!

We ask healing

of Your Good Creation

The fullness of the earth is Yours.

The healing of those we pray for

in our heart and soul.

The safety of Your people.

The safety of those

helping the earth 

to heal.

Let evil and practicing evil

depart far from us

and our children.

The Healing

of the Nation.

Wholeness

Holy.

Goodness.

And in Jesus - this Hope, 

Faith and Love - we will rise up believing Jesus. 

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yes The Lord Fulfills His Purpose

Thank You, Jesus

†