Mark 8:22-33 ~ Again

 

Mark 8:22-33

22 And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 

25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 And He sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”

27 And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. 

And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 

29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?”

 Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” 

30 And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.

31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he said this plainly. 

And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan!  For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Jesus has a day that repeated.

He dealt with a blind man, who needed to see. And Jesus spent time holding the blind man's hand. Helping him to see. And the blind man tells Jesus, in many layers, he worries about mankind. The blind man  worries mankind is important and tall as trees, looming, largely in his life. Jesus probably kindly joking, and seriously, tells him to stay out of the Village. Bethsaida is filled with woes and doubts. Jesus called Bethsaida unbelieving.

Peter gives the mirror image of this behavior. Jesus is saying discomfort arrives as the Gift of Forgiveness is given. We have to Believe God to know we are forgiven. We have to trust God's Plan.

Jesus was holding Peter's hand a lot. And like the Brothers of Jesus,

Jesus knew, believed, saw these flawed individuals worthy even

as they struggled. We all struggle. 

Even the man who would be given the Keys to Heaven

 and is called the First Pope.

We accept God's Plan. We argue with God in prayer.

Abraham argued with God. And won life for a village, sinners. Abraham told God, I know You are Fair and Just. I, personally, believe if Abraham had argued for Isaac not to be killed, but only by God's hand or Word, we would have seen something we understood better.  Abraham didn't argue with God as Almighty. Abraham didn't fall into God's Mercy.

David argued with God over the census David unwisely took. David placed himself in God's hands and asked God to direct His Anger at David. Abraham could have done this. David always, always, always believed in the Mercy and Steadfast Love of God and His Word.

Jacob argued with God's Plan. His hip didn't do so well. Jacob gloated, not to let Go of God's Messenger.

Luke 18:9-14

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed[a] thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 

13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” 

Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees. Elijah asked for rain, 7 times. He was persistent.

Jairus persisted for his daughter.

Paul prayed for a physical ailment and only asked 3 times. And knew he was to stop.

Jesus said even if you believe God deals like an unjust Judge, continue to always pray with Hope.

Which circumstance for our prayers today?

How to ask, how to stop, how to decide?

1 Samuel 1:10
In her bitter distress, Hannah prayed to the LORD and wept with many tears.

Job 21:25
Yet another man dies in the bitterness of his soul, having never tasted prosperity.

Proverbs 15:13
A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

Proverbs 14:10
Brenton Septuagint Translation
If a man's mind is intelligent, his soul is sorrowful; and when he rejoices, he has no fellowship with pride.

Contemporary English Version
No one else can really know how sad or happy you are.

Douay-Rheims Bible
The heart that knoweth the bitterness of his own soul, in his joy the stranger shall not intermeddle.

Jesus said even if you believe God deals like an unjust Judge, 

continue to always pray with Hope.

Yet don't pray like Jacob as a Pharisee of entitlement.

When the Lord says let go, then do so.

Wait upon Jesus.

David prayed intently for his infant son to live. The child died. David knew to let go.

David had a much harder time to let go of his son Absalom. And David hurt his life and the life

of his family and people.

Wait on Jesus to know.

    Matthew 20:29–34; Mark 10:46–52; Luke 18:35–43; Matthew 9:27–31

Jesus Heals Two Blind Men

29 And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. 30 And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord,1 have mercy on us, Son of David!” 31 The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” 32 And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” 33 They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” 34 And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.

Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus

46 And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him,“Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” 50 And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” 52 And Jesus said to him, “Go your way;  your faith has  made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.

Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar

35 As he drew near to Jericho, ta blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” 42 And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.” 43 And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him,  glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

Jesus Heals Two Blind Men

27 And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” 28 When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” 29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it.” 31 But they went away and spread his fame through all that district. 

Abba, Father,

In Jesus Christ, we will never give up.

Jesus the God of ALL.

Jesus, we pray Life and healing

Joy and Love in Harby and their children.

Jesus, God of Encouragement.

Jesus, Hope and Future.

Jesus the Lord

saves the world

Amen.

♔ LORD JESUS SAVES †

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Isaiah 40:26 ~ He calleth them all by names by the greatness of His might

 

Newborn Stars from Hubble of Nasa

Proverbs 8

When He established the heavens, I was there

When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,

28 When He made firm the skies above

    When He established the fountains of the deep,

29 when He assigned to the sea its limit,

    so that the waters might not transgress His command,

when He marked out the foundations of the earth,

30 then I was beside Him, like a master workman,

and I was daily His delight,

    Rejoicing before Him always,

31 Rejoicing in His inhabited world

    and 

delighting in the children of man.

So... where is the Power of God and His daily miracles — we are living this. This just isn't normal times, and we know with the reactions of the people we know, family, our neighborhoods, employment, the fragile emotions of anger, fear and hope. Dismay.

Isaiah 40:26

Lift up your eyes on high, and behold Who hath created these things,

 that bringeth out their host by number: 

He calleth them all by names by the greatness of His might, 

for that He is strong in power; not one faileth.

We are girding up our loins to have faith. This isn't always easy. If it was, we could have called Jesus Christ Pal. Or Bud. Or Hi yah. Instead, we call Jesus Help. Helper. Comforter. Believe Him Life is Joy and look for more Heaven on earth.

We go to Church and leave the fire of our Spirit with God's to hold the Fire going. To know if we feel connected, this is wondrous. And if we only know God is very pleased with our small and willing effort, we know He holds the Prayer. His Spirit prays for us eternally.

Romans 8:28

All Things work together for those who Love the Lord and Work According to His Purpose. 

Do we believe this? I'd say dramatically these days. Even during our wait to find out God's Purpose. Jesus told the important people who scoffed at Him, He was before Abraham. 

When Jesus fed the 5,000, He was there in the Exodus for the 40 years of being fed.

Exodus 12 37 

And the people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. 38 A mixed multitude also went up with them, and very much livestock, both flocks and herds

  

 1 Corinthians 10:4  

For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. 

The 40-Year Desert Travelers, Exodus' Children of Israel, received water from a rock two times, Exodus 17:1–7 and Numbers 20:1–14. A first-century  Philo’s Biblical Antiquities states: “But as for his own people, he led them forth into the wilderness: Forty years did he rain bread from heaven for them, and he brought them quails from the sea, and a well of water following them." 

  

We know 3 days of Dehydration kills people.

 And from 1190 BC Seti II and his histories with Mosey, his brother and the killed Egyptian foreman in during the 19th Dynasty have had a part in His Word. In Salt Papyrus 124 and Tale of Two Brothers, the faithful have found God has fed them, had compassion upon them and nourished them faithfully.

No more: 

Egypt had over 2,000 deities in the Egyptian pantheon. Some of these deities' names are well known: Isis, Osiris, Horus, Amun, Ra, Hathor, Bastet, Thoth, Anubis, and Ptah, Rome had the Main gods Apollo Aurora Bacchus Bellona Caelus Cupid Cybele Diana Faunus Flora Fortuna Janus Juno Jupiter Mars Mercury Minerva Neptune Nyx Pluto Proserpina Pomona Saturn Spes Terra Venus Veritas Vesta Vulcan And then the accessory gods. And Greek gods. Persian gods. All available on Wikipedia with sometimes statues and explanations. 

The list is huge and none are believed today. 

Unlike the Temple in Jerusalem going back to Abraham and Isaac. 2150 B.C. None have the Vatican from 325 A.D. and built again from the fire in 1400s by Michelangelo and others to 2021. Bringing the Fire of the Holy Spirit to us today.

34 A.D.   

   

Mark 6:31-34

31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.

32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 

33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 

34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

Matthew 22:29a 

Jesus answered, “…know the Scriptures, the power of God.”

Abba, Father 

God, what delights You?

You delight with pleasure in those who have great understanding in Your 

might, wisdom and power. 

You delight in those who hope in Your steadfast love.

Father God, You take delight in Your people;

Dwell in us. Help us to seek You First.

And we will finish well.

Father God, You are With us. You are For us. 

You are the Mighty Warrior who saves.

Father God, take delight in us.

In Your Great Love, cover Your People with complete mercy and forgiveness. 

In the Highest Name of Jesus we are flawless. In Your Righteousness. 

Father God, Zephaniah 3 says You will rejoice over us in singing.

God's Spirit loves worship of Him and truth. He delights.

We will stay with You, Father God. You bring us forth to a spacious place. 

You rescue us because You delight in us. 

The Lord our Father God will rescue us because of His Righteousness.

Father God firmly establishes the feet of those on His path

with those who Delight in Father God.

Father God You delight, in the ones You have chosen, in the one You Love,

 where You place Your Holy Spirit,

 where the one you love proclaims Your Justice to the nations.

So don't be afraid, little flock. 

For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.

Help us to dwell in You

and seek You first.

In Jesus, we will finish well.

Jesus said, "Do not be afraid! It is I."

Father God will make known His delight and will continue to make known 

- His order and His love - 

Father God has for us, that this may be in us all and that Jesus may be known in us.

Father God delights so in Jesus that He is our Father. 

We are His Beloved Children, in Jesus, saying, "Your Father and Mine."

 Father God knows your path through this great wilderness and journey. 

These many years, the LORD your God has been with you. 

God has carried you these many years and He will safely lead you Home.

Father God, please dwell mightily in us 

and in our prayers exalt in You. 

We lift up all the ones we love to You in Expectation.

 We pray for our Nation and this World to continue to know You.

Amen in the Highest Name of Jesus.

The Summer has the beginning of Autumn. 

This summer is filled with Life and Love.

Abba, Father,

In Jesus Christ, we will never give up.

Jesus the God of ALL.

Jesus, we pray Life and healing

Joy and Love in Harby and their children.

Jesus, God of Encouragement.

Jesus, Hope and Future.

Jesus the Lord

saves the world

Amen.

♔ LORD JESUS SAVES †

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Mark 9:21-29 ~ deaf and mute

Montgomery County, Texas Covid Results for this week

Mark 9:21-29

21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”

“From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; 

help me overcome my unbelief!”

25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”

26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 

27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer."

Jesus didn't intend for any of us to remain deaf and mute. And the first question of this portion of Scripture about illness asks,  "How long has this been going on?" A paraphrase.

Jesus asks the man to take a look at the history of the illness. 

Houston, Texas' Harris County that has seen high Covid last year.  Aspects of daily life, like garbage pickup, were suspended due to illness and death in Houston City Workers. 

This week in Montgomery County, Texas we are just outside of Houston,  we see we are about 50% vaccinated. 

The reinfection rate is just plain Miraculous. Wow. Thank God.

The age groups involved are younger. 

And the hospitalization isn't increasing or decreasing.

This week, if I wanted to buy the world a Coke, I'd probably stockpile Coca-Cola from Walmart.

Except in our County - remember the jokes about: "No school, no family gatherings, no group employees, no Churches, no large holiday gatherings --- See you at Walmart on aisle Turkey and trimmings instead!!!"

Except this week in Montgomery County ..... Walmart is closed on Woodland's Parkway for "extra sanitation" ie a large number of Covid infections. 

And Houston has closed down non-mandatory Surgeries.  And this week, Lambda Variant of Covid was found in Houston Hospitals.

The most alarming thing to me about this, our Covid spike shows we are at the peak of New Covid Cases. Ever. “How long has this been like this?”

Ok, terrible. Yet, look how small the hospitalizations are. Wow. 

Yet, look at how small the recovery in a week from going to the EXPENSIVE AND HORRID RECOVERY AT THE HOSPITAL.

The number of variants is increasing. We all need to be vaccinated. And if need be, re-vaccinated.

First Praying. Praying. Praying. And we must be praying because as you travel around Texas you see so many people out it looks like Christmas. 

We need Prayer.

We need Jesus and His Blessings. Life.

We need Vaccinations. Slowing and ending the Spread.

We received a miraculous event from Prayer. The Vaccine. Not 32 years from now, like the Malaria Vaccination.

We need Hand Sanitizer! Like the people who avoid Flu Season successfully do!

Cruise Ships are said to be gigantic petri dishes floating in the Ocean.

Several Cruise Lines stopped the Petri/Cruise Situation

by Sanitizing Hands as a Requirement before Covid.

The Cruise Ships with Manditory and Observed Hand Sanitization

were almost clinic visit free during the Cruise.

Please continue to Sanitize and Sanitize your hands.

Friends who rarely have the flu credit Hands Washed and Sanitized.

Facts, Prayer, Discussion, Willing Help and Optimism.  

Avoiding the Hospitalization Number that isn't easily getting people back on the street. Don't be the one.

If Masks are asked for in Texas - I'm with masks.

Abba, Father,

May our Father in Heaven

Bless us and Keep us

and

Make His Face to Shine upon Us

and be gracious to Us.

May our Abba Lift His Countenance

upon Us

and Smile.

Our Abba give us Peace.

His own Peace.

May our Father God in Heaven

dwell in us and place His Name upon us.

In Jesus, dwelling in us

seeking You first,

may our blessings include

those we love,

and spread to us all.

Bless and fill our Nation with You

and Your Love cover our Good Creation, 

our planet.

Jesus our Living Water

Let Jesus roll down like 

cleansing waters,

and righteousness

like an ever-flowing stream.

And we will be blessed indeed. 

Jesus the Lord. Alleluia

and Amen.

Jesus the God of ALL.

Jesus, we pray Life and healing

Joy and Love in Harby and their children.

Jesus, God of Encouragement.

Jesus, Hope and Future.

Jesus the Lord

saves the world

Amen.

♔ LORD JESUS SAVES †

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