2 Samuel 14 ~ go to your house

The 1970's Campaign to Help Victims of Violence

2 Samuel 14

Now Joab the son of Zeruiah knew that the king's heart went out to Absalom. 2 And Joab sent to Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman and said to her, “Pretend to be a mourner and put on mourning garments. Do not anoint yourself with oil, but behave like a woman who has been mourning many days for the dead. 3 Go to the king and speak thus to him.” So Joab put the words in her mouth.

4 When the woman of Tekoa came to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and paid homage and said, “Save me, O king.” 5 And the king said to her, “What is your trouble?” She answered, “Alas, I am a widow; my husband is dead. 6 And your servant had two sons, and they quarreled with one another in the field. There was no one to separate them, and one struck the other and killed him. 7 And now the whole clan has risen against your servant, and they say, ‘Give up the man who struck his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed.’ And so they would destroy the heir also. Thus they would quench my coal that is left and leave to my husband neither name nor remnant on the face of the earth.”

8 Then the king said to the woman, “Go to your house, and I will give orders concerning you.” 9 And the woman of Tekoa said to the king, “On me be the guilt, my lord the king, and on my father's house; let the king and his throne be guiltless.” 10 The king said, “If anyone says anything to you, bring him to me, and he shall never touch you again.” 11 Then she said, “Please let the king invoke the Lord your God, that the avenger of blood kill no more, and my son be not destroyed.” He said, “As the Lord lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.”

12 Then the woman said, “Please let your servant speak a word to my lord the king.” He said, “Speak.” 13 And the woman said, “Why then have you planned such a thing against the people of God? For in giving this decision the king convicts himself, inasmuch as the king does not bring his banished one home again. 14 We must all die; we are like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God will not take away life, and he devises means so that the banished one will not remain an outcast. 15 Now I have come to say this to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid, and your servant thought, ‘I will speak to the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his servant. 16 For the king will hear and deliver his servant from the hand of the man who would destroy me and my son together from the heritage of God.’ 17 And your servant thought, ‘The word of my lord the king will set me at rest,’ for my lord the king is like the angel of God to discern good and evil. The Lord your God be with you!”

18 Then the king answered the woman, “Do not hide from me anything I ask you.” And the woman said, “Let my lord the king speak.” 19 The king said, “Is the hand of Joab with you in all this?” The woman answered and said, “As surely as you live, my lord the king, one cannot turn to the right hand or to the left from anything that my lord the king has said. It was your servant Joab who commanded me; it was he who put all these words in the mouth of your servant. 20 In order to change the course of things your servant Joab did this. But my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God to know all things that are on the earth.”

21 Then the king said to Joab, “Behold now, I grant this; go, bring back the young man Absalom.” 22 And Joab fell on his face to the ground and paid homage and blessed the king. And Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord the king, in that the king has granted the request of his servant.” 23 So Joab arose and went to Geshur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. 24 And the king said, “Let him dwell apart in his own house; he is not to come into my presence.” So Absalom lived apart in his own house and did not come into the king's presence.

25 Now in all Israel there was no one so much to be praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. 26 And when he cut the hair of his head (for at the end of every year he used to cut it; when it was heavy on him, he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head, two hundred shekels[a] by the king's weight. 27 There were born to Absalom three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a beautiful woman.

28 So Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, without coming into the king's presence. 29 Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but Joab would not come to him. And he sent a second time, but Joab would not come. 30 Then he said to his servants, “See, Joab's field is next to mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire.” So Absalom's servants set the field on fire.[b] 31 Then Joab arose and went to Absalom at his house and said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?” 32 Absalom answered Joab, “Behold, I sent word to you, ‘Come here, that I may send you to the king, to ask, “Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to be there still.” Now therefore let me go into the presence of the king, and if there is guilt in me, let him put me to death.’” 33 Then Joab went to the king and told him, and he summoned Absalom. So he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king, and the king kissed Absalom.


Only the worst families have violence. Untrue.

Our county is suburban rural, The Police have asked the County to report a 35% increase in Domestic Violence. Not even during the Hurricanes did this Headline happen.

Pandemic creates a myriad of situations.

Time to worry. Time to yell. Boredom to violence. Pretense of new relationships from old to create interest in unrest. Time to abuse substance. Time to rake up the past. Time to interfere with other family. Time to release long standing plots. Healed abuse fired up again. Emotional dominance and revenge.

Ages involved. Children. Easy target. Teens new to fears of the real world. Teen drama released on parents. Young people disappointed the world is shut down, where will life come from - fears. Young couples newly adults never thought life would be like this. The unemployed already looking for work for some time. Middle aged doing well - new to job horror with numerous children. People tired of teenagers always bored and unhappy, looking at aging now. Being next on the aging grid suddenly. New empty nesters where all the interests are being reexamined. Low income people surrounded in despair. High income never seeing extreme trouble before. Middle income pressed to pay all bills with limited income. People with some age and ill health with health bills and new employment worries. People with food problems facing supply issues. People with fussy long range and extended meddling families. The elderly facing a life ending trauma to the world. Dementia and old age fears with isolation.

Everyone is Struggling

2 Samuel 12. Career is all. We haven't met David's children.

2 Samuel 13. Meddling family for grins, regardless of goodness or righteousness. Incest. Rape. Revenge. Murder. Ruin. Arson. Now the family is aware of each other in a problematic way. No real justice or solution is sought, "just end the problem."

2 Samuel 14. Meddling outsiders. Lack of understanding of family dynamics. Pretense. Lack of Truth. False sympathy. Arson.

2 Samuel 18 Death of son due to violence. Choices of increasing violence.



The People God has chosen. And problems life has seen.

David has planned vigilantes. Women and families in camp. Small sparing. Small wars. Wars. Angry people. And unite a nation after war. Unite former enemies. David opts to put space between the offensive and violent and let them know the truth is seen. David is finding Separation with grief. His son has obviously begun plotting. Why?

Signs

Childhood.

• expected to meet unrealistic standards
• overburdened with children or chores
• emotional supports neglected, given, taken
• harsh criticism 
• unmet needs of safety, discipline, health, education, boundaries, food, clothing
• helicopter parents provide everything keeping you dependent

Symptoms

• FEAR
• Not being loved, dealt with compassionately or respected
• Mocking, belittling
• Attack where vulnerable
• Working to remove self esteem
• Gear up Difficulty with substance abuse varies mood 
• Sexual innuendo or touching
• Body Shaming
• Harsh or Extreme Criticism
• Gaslighting

Added Difficulties.

• Challenges at work or school
• Pandemic
• Economy
• Food stability
• Medical needs
• Medical costs
• Trouble with friendships or other relationships
• Isolation
• Health concerns
• Emotional distress
• Financial difficulties

Solutions Healing

• Fight or Flight - if the disagreement is contained, distance. Walking, car, park. Bicycle.
• Distance like David. Tents in the front or backyard a new camping experience with the kids. Yesterday so Viva las Living Room, tomorrow is Puerto Backyard.
• Have some fun.
• Don't pretend fight didn't happen. Never spend the night where violence happened. Unless emergency.
• Allow time when life is so upset.
• Revenge will continue the fight.
• Quiet is agreed.
• Don't give fake apologies.
• Have a cool down strategy. Say cool down time. Walks, 'Soothing' Music, Something fun. A hobby or craft project. Make a dessert or fruit smoothie. A cup of tea or coffee. Visualize. Peace, Hope, Joy, Faith.
• Find a solution. Discuss calmly or postpone for more information.
• Apologize.

Emergency Measures when Family Shelters are hard to find.

• Keep Your Cell Phone Charged
• National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) 200 languages
• Walk, bike away to make a safe phone call, Call 911
• Ask your Church for Prayer
• Stash cash 
• Bicycle trip is casually going far away and hidden.
• Grocery store trip with the children. Walmart allows families to sleep in the parking lot.
• Garage parking inside a friend's house. Safe and hidden. Tents in backyards.
• Concrete multi level parking is empty during Pandemics. In safe areas.
• Don't annoy deliberately
• Be calm
• Do not provoke when a solution is not available.
• Do not go where you will be found easily.

Hurricanes end. Australia had forest fires for months. Pray and have Faith.

Abba,

Life is for us to become God's Treasures. Some are statesmen, some are soldiers, some pave the way to live better today, being calm today. Some save others.

God provides a path forward. Jesus told us sometimes the path is narrow.

Help us to Live seeking You first. Finding Your Kingdom is at hand. Help us to have Love, Peace and Joy.

Profoundly we all pray This:

Psalm 122

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

I rejoiced with those who said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
2 Our feet are standing
in your gates, Jerusalem.

3 Jerusalem—built as a city
that is bound firmly together,
4 to which the tribes go up,
the tribes of the Lord,
as was decreed for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the Lord.

5 There thrones for judgment were set,
the thrones of the house of David.

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
“May they be secure who love you!
7 Peace be within your walls
and security within your towers!”
8 For my brothers and companions' sake
I will say, “Peace be within you!”
9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek your good.

Jesus told His people with His ability to inspire, "Have Faith." Faith cancels fear. What we do today is burden enough. In this time, we don't plan for financial ruin. God is Good. Plan for recovery. Plan and pray, we ask the Lord for His Strength and limit our burdens to today.

Philippians 4:8
Brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

Thank You for the store clerk who told me, God has given you what you need today. See His Blessing.

We fear less when we help others. Prayer helps. In difficulty, Father God, You have given us The Lord's Prayer.

We pray the end of this virus and for recovery. We pray Jesus prays with us.

Our Father in Heaven,
Holy is Your Name,
Your Kingdom come,
Your Will be done,
on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Save us from temptation
and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours
now and forever. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

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Luke 2:52 ~ with God and people

We had lived in Nice, France for 4 years. For years, my parents said, "When we get back to the USA." One early summer morning in 1968, we woke up to dress quickly, the ship was sailing past Lady Liberty. This is the first memory I have of the United States. The deck chairs had been removed from the deck. People moved with glee to let my father hold me up, equal to his face, to watch as the USA became clear.

BTS' album "Love Yourself: Answer." Rolling Stone India stated, "The lyrics are a literal epiphany - to love others, you first need to master the process of being able to love and accept yourself."

Morgan Freeman has been know to play God.
"God : Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?"


In this time, we can all feel emotional and a little lost. This is a time of listening. Comfort is heard in words: Brave, Courageous, Unity.

The Bold Message is we, united, control the spread of Covid 19 with our participation to love ourselves and this will change the world, resulting in loving others. Mercy is within sight.

Luke 2:52

And as Jesus grew up, he increased in wisdom and in favor with God and people.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

And as we walk with Jesus Christ, we will grow and increase in wisdom and in favor of our God.


Abba, Our Father,

We long for You to Speak, "Peace." "Calm."

Strengthen us to do the good works You have for us to walk in. In this time of great worry and emotion, hasty words may be spoken. Inadvisable decisions can be made and, then. with Your Help and Holy Spirit, strengthened into becoming Peace and Love. Jesus frequently told His People to hush. We will Stand Firm and be Strong. Knowing in this season, stand not be tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine.

Let Love be genuine with Mercy.

Your Son seemed to be Lost. Jesus had been carefully placed in History, in Situation and with Mary and Joseph. The parents knew the feeling of being lost and shuffled as part of a great crowd. Jesus had been missing and now was realized He was needed. Jesus was found to be working. The Son of God was merciful to His Family. Jesus was Merciful to the crowd looking on during this time of Jesus thought to be Lost. His Parents were given time to regroup and they headed home to quiet lives.

John 5:17
Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”

John 6:29
Jesus told them, “This is the work God wants from you: Believe in the One He has sent.”

We long for Your Love and help, Father God, to have Your Kingdom, Power and Glory upon Your Throne. The Fringe of Your Robe placed upon all of Your Good Creation. Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts. We pray more of Your Good Will filling the whole earth with Your Glory.

We will remember our answered Prayers. And live this Day. Looking in expectation You will strengthen us to Seek You first and find Your Kingdom being glimpsed enfolding us in Your Good Creation.

You are our hope now, always and in the coming weeks.

Covering us with the Name and Power of Jesus,
Covering the Doctors, Nurses, Hospital Staffs and their prayers. Prayers for the loved ones of Post Office, UPS, Amazon, Fedex, Police, Firefighters, Grocers, Truckers, Sanitation. 

Construction (mine), Students still far away. The young people bewildered by the world's upheaval. The middle aged wondering where their life work will show and be appreciated. The elderly upholding their lives being sequestered. Rambunctious households with young parents and young finances. Teenagers with more expensive requirements and inexpensive attitudes with pressed parents. The joy of seeing family bicycling and walking. Empty nesters aching for children with new wings. Busy people suddenly jolted and wondering. People with financial troubles. Small business owners with repeat losses and people to employ. 

Brave people. Holding up Life for one another.

In His Love, Jesus Christ saves us. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

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Psalm 133 ~ Life forevermore

• Compline or Night Prayer (before retiring)
• Sext or Midday Prayer (Sixth Hour = approximately 12 noon) Join all of us Praying the Lord's Prayer for your Nation. For the Nations. Your prayer requests.
• Nones or Mid-Afternoon Prayer (Ninth Hour = approximately 3 p.m.) For all the prayer requests of the ill and for healing. For Suffering to cease worldwide. For the help and care of the doctors, nurses, EMT and all health care workers. For the Virus to stop. (You could set your phone alarm.)

Psalm 133

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

Behold, how good and pleasant it is

when brothers dwell in unity!

2 It is like the precious oil on the head,

running down on the beard,

on the beard of Aaron,

running down on the collar of his robes!

3 It is like the dew of Hermon,

which falls on the mountains of Zion!

For there the Lord has commanded the blessing,

Life forevermore.

Social Media can be a very wonderful opportunity. A longtime friend of family, a lady we have spent many Christmas Eves and Easters with, told of coming home from her career for the Covid 10 Virus and finally having the time to sit in her front yard and hear the peace in Austin, Texas.

This quiet where nature is singing to us is from decades ago.

And, with the quiet, I might have skipped the beauty of peace - without actually being told to listen. The Blessing of having a house bustling with family might miss the quiet as well. So Blessings for the empty nesters. Blessings for us all. I intend to discover this next evening.

Father God has a Plan for every season. Is there another time where one could go out in the daylight, obtain ample exercise, practice social distancing and save our people by remaining inside the home?

Passover.

To remain indoors to save lives.

Charlton Heston was employed by Cecil B. DeMille because Michelangelo's Moses favors Charlton Heston amazingly well.

Cuneiform of The Babylonian History of the 2nd Exodus to Babylon.




The four questions are traditionally asked by the youngest, able, person at the table. Much of the seder is designed to fulfill the biblical obligation to tell the story to one's children, and many of the customs that have developed around the Four Questions are designed to pique a child's curiosity about what is happening in order to hold their attention


We might be able to become Abundant Life instead of slaves to fear.

1)Why is this night different from all the other nights?

On all nights we need not dip even once, on this night we do so twice!

Slavery: The salt water into which we dip the karpas (potato, onion, or other vegetable) represents the tears we cried while in Egypt. Similarly, the charoset (fruit-nut paste) into which the bitter herbs are dipped reminds us of the cement we used to create the bricks in Egypt.

Freedom: Dipping food is considered a luxury; a sign of freedom — as opposed to the poor (and enslaved) who eat "dry" and un-dipped foods.

We have the Luxury of food, to eat together.

2) That on all other nights we eat both chametz and matzah, on this night, we eat only matzah?

Slavery: Matzah was the bread of slaves and poor, it was cheap to produce and easy to make.

Freedom: Matzah also commemorates the fact that the bread did not have enough time to rise when the Jews hastily left Egypt.

We have the luxury of time.

3) That on all other nights we eat many vegetables, on this night, maror?

Slavery: The maror (bitter herbs) reminds us of the bitterness of slavery in Egypt.

We have the luxury of hope the virus will end. This Hope to end our bitterness.

4) That in all other nights some eat and drink sitting with others reclining, but on this night, we are all reclining?

Freedom: We commemorate our freedom by reclining on cushions like royalty.

We have the luxury of home.


We have peace. We have the luxury of knowing very, very high survival rates. We have moved mostly from fear to grim acceptance. In the absence of fear, we could find what Peace is here.

The Passover is eaten with an idea of journey. Shoes are on, belts are fastened. No work is done.  Anticipation of God's Blessing. A time of rest with anticipation of future blessings and a staff in hand to shepherd. God speaks of inclusion and rules of cleanliness to voyage in the wilderness.

This time is one of sharing unity in prevention. Unity in safety. Unity in exercise to keep up health and good spirits.

Hear O Israel, the Lord thy God is One. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

Abba,

Bless us, we ask in Jesus.

Exodus 14:14
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

Hebrews 6:15
And so it was, that she, having waited long and endured patiently, realized and obtained what God had promised.

Deuteronomy 7:9
He is a faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations.




Keep us.

Genesis 26:28-30
28 They said, “We see plainly that the Lord has been with you. So we said, let there be a sworn pact between us, between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you, 29 that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the Lord.” 30 So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank.

Genesis 28:21
21 so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God

Let's not forget to give the Church funds. God Loves a cheerful giver.

James 3:17
The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

Romans 12:9
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.



Let Your Face to Shine Upon us.

Philippians 2:13
For God is working in you, giving you the desires and the power to do what pleases him. 



Be Gracious to us.

Deuteronomy 20:4
For the Lord your God is going with you. He will fight for you against
your enemy and he will give you victory.

Enemies of fear, boredom, frustration, illness and need. The Good Fight to Prevail in Victory.


Lift up Your Countenance upon us and Smile.

Psalm 120:1
I took my troubles to the Lord; I cried out to him and he answered my prayers.

Isaiah 14:27
All the forces of darkness cannot stop what God has ordained.


Give us Peace, Your very Own God's Peace. To enjoy even a Peace placed upon us.

2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people who are called by My name
humble themselves
and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven,
will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

We all need the Grace and Mercy of the Lord. All. We can all think of something we would be sorry for.


Cover us in Jesus' Name, to be Blessed and enfolded in Your Love.

We pray for Italy, our United States, the Greater New York City area, all those in need.

Romans 4:21
Being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

Isaiah 40:29-31
He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired,
and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Zephaniah 3:17
He will take great delight in you. He will quiet you with his love.

Psalm 145:18
The Lord is near to all those who call out to him.


We Pray for the Nation. The Leaders determining Policy to be in the Blessing of Peace. The Unity to provide calm to give assurance and comfort in Leadership. Factions sometimes exist to point the true and sincere direction of Goodness. We pray Victory. We give thanks for the speed in which we will recover.

We Thank You for our Leaders of our Nation. The factions have not ceased any supplies. All have been treated with great care.

A time of Unity and prayer for the cities in affliction to have Healing. We pray recovery for all the world.

Thank You for the blunt words of Bill Gates saying our adherence to shelter in place will be the determining factor of the speed of our entire Nation and Recovery. Our actions will pick if we recover in weeks or months. We protect the smaller counties with shelter in place.

When we look to find what is Good, we have the calm to be still and Let God Fight for us.

In the Name of Jesus we fully and completely agree to ask for all of God's Blessings on our families and those we Love and the people God had Given us.

Jesus bless us to be in Anticipation of Your Protection and Love.

We are blessed to have the ability to Seek God First, and His Kingdom, on earth as in Heaven, To Live Love, Peace and Joy. God Loves and finds His Creation Good. Saving the world in Jesus Christ.

With Sincere Hearts, we cry for God's Mercy for His Good Creation. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

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John 9 ~ Jesus heard

Compline or Night Prayer (before retiring)

John 9

9 As he 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. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 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.” 

12 They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. 14 Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15 So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” 16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. 17 So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”

18 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19 and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 20 His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. 21 But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” 22 (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.) 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” 

25 He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” 

26 They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” 28 And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” 

30 The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. 32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34 They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out.

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 

36 He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 

37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” 

38 He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. 

39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” 

40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 

41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.

When you were a small child, thinking of your life, you never would have written down, "Face lethal virus, find out it's Pandemic and shelter in place, quarantined with most of the planet." No one thought to leave their jobs, not have Church on Sunday. Not attend sporting events, not see a movie, sanitize hands before going to get gasoline or finding getting groceries was worrisome. No one wondered about the economy placing us at the mercy of events. Like the beggar in the Gospel of John 9. When no one can work. Just like John 9.

We would all want to encounter Jesus. In our dreams, in a certainty called understanding, a vision, a miracle.

Are miracles problematic? Maybe. The appearance of the unexplained. Sometimes is placed as a quirk of nature and forgotten. The blind man couldn't say this - truly all understood in his lifetime this was someone they knew to be blind.

Was he really blind? The Gospels are true. The blind man knew how to reach the Pool of Siloam with mud caked with Jesus' Saliva. He was just blind walking blind - an everyday usual thing. Being sent on a blind errand was something within the answered prayer's reach! When the Officials want to know where Jesus is and the formerly blind man answers correctly - he couldn't guess where a man would be that possibly a lifelong sighted man would be able to suggest several places. A blind man would probably be less traveled and have far fewer visual memories.

We were all hard pressed to understand the news. The news had the stay calm reports as this began and the utter Orson Welles ruin of the world reports. Everyone looked blindly about to try to understand the events around them.

Will God Himself, He has Planned the works of God - that might be displayed - give us a miracle?

China has ended almost all stay at home lockdowns.

Is this a miracle? Might be. Other viruses don't just burn out because the weather warms up. Other epidemics don't end from having to shelter in your home with your family and spend time together. World War II is called the Greatest Generation and they weren't called to sit on their sofa to save the planet.

Suppose we did have God the Almighty, Maker of Heaven and of earth, Creator of All Things, Who calls the Heavenly Host by name Send Forth His Word for a Miracle. Would we relax? Would work call us back immediately? Would everyone feel Brave? Would you feel like Caleb and Joshua and say, "Yes, Return to the Promised Land!" And find out if you are voted down to stay home a little later? Would we all jump on an airplane to get on a Cruise?

Wouldn't you agree if we saw a Miracle, we would have as many sessions of committees arguing the safety and reliability of God's Miracle?

Poor Father God, doubted as loving to have us face A Trial and A Time of Suffering. And then cast down to natural occurrence if the Gulf of Mexico suddenly finds itself to be clean during a MASSIVE Oil Spill.

If you were God and God says He puts His Holy Spirit in us, wouldn't you give gradual Healing? Just for the sake of less hysteria and calm with thanksgiving?

If you were called to Pray during a Pandemic - for instance, your phone rings and the major radio station asks you to make a prayer and tell this prayer to the Praying world - would you feel ridiculous to ask for a miracle?

I wouldn't. David always believed in the face of utter MIB Ruin - God would be merciful. David would probably look at the pandemic and say, "You don't live in a ditch and face thugs kidnapping your family." David would say, but to lose your family would be a reason to ask God for the Mercy He gives even after He puts His Plan in motion.

Jesus was most impressed by the Centurion who didn't ask for any supernatural visits or witness. Jesus was impressed the Centurion believed to see the process unfold, and in the process find God's Word is a Miracle.

Jesus told us Seek and you will Find. When we ask for a Miracle, in Belief, we will find a Miracle.

And no one mentions Polio, but this is an ONGOING MIRACLE. Thank GOD. THANK JESUS this is not what we have suffered. Thank GOD and All His Word for the Salk Vaccine. Thank God for the gratitude we can have about this not being so horrendous.

Are we the sinning generation? You bet. So were the Black Plagues. Starvation was one of the most frequent causes of death. Not a Love Thy Neighbor death. Children got a name at age five to avoid the heartbreak of child death. Half of the women in Europe were prostitutes. The Clergy was to be unmarried and celibate and 40% were married to one or more women; half had children. So is this generation sinful - we know this to be true. Name your sin, you know the sin. Repent. Renew your life and open and receive Jesus' Love, Mercy, Grace filled Forgiveness.

And in this grasping of Isaiah's Beloved Hem of His Robe, find Jesus comes to you offering you His Word and Holy Spirit Comfort. Believe Jesus and worship Him.

Abba, Father God,

We pray for Italy and for New York City. We pray the death toll to stop. We pray this virus to end. We pray our economy to recover.

We thank You this isn't the Civil War where bodies are in the streets. We thank You this isn't the gas trenches of World War I and II. We thank You this isn't the Cuban Missile Crisis when You've said the world ends in fire. We thank You this isn't invasion and horror. We thank You this isn't the starvation of the Civil War. We thank You for Grocery Stores like HEB planning in advance and the other stores too, to give us the supplies the truck drivers bring us. Still grateful for the Salk Vaccine.

We thank You for stimulus Packages. Praying a miracle they work well.

We pray for the Hospital workers, doctors, nurses, workers keeping valiant to heal. To comfort. To overcome their own fears. We pray for Police, EMS and firefighters to have Your Strength, Health and Protection. We pray for the Postal Workers and UPS and FedEx bring us sustaining life. The Truck Drivers. The Sanitation Workers. The Staff of Grocery Stores and Pharmacies. The Brave. The Diligent. Thank You.

We pray for the necessary jobs leaving their families at home to provide for us.

We ask Blessings on the employers helping their employees. We Say Jesus Bless you!

We cover our Prayer Needs knowing home much You Care for us. We put the Name of Jesus on ourselves, our loved ones, near and far, the people You've given us. And Know You Love us.

Help us to seek You first. Finding the Kingdom of Heaven. To Live in Love, Peace and Joy.

With the Prayers of Jesus, we will do magnificently. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

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