JESUS, the MIRACLE WORKER (17)

Section Three: 
Jesus, the Miracle Worker

11. A Man of Marvels 12. Crisis Manager 13. Captain of My Ship 14. A Miraculous Multiplier 15. A Leader Worth Following 16. The Great Empathizer 17. The Divine Ophthalmologist 18. Spiritually Sovereign

#17 The Divine Ophthalmologist
Just in case, you wondered ... & wanted it confirmed

"Optometrists examine, diagnose, and treat patients' eyes. Ophthalmologists are eye doctors who perform medical and surgical treatments for eye conditions."

"Jesus gives sight to those who chose to see who He is. Those who refuse remain in darkness."
[Sidenote: Interesting to find out that there are a few churches who have done52 Weeks with JESUShere's one on this chapter - start at 23:00 for just the sermon]
JESUSisbothOphthalmologist & Optometristbut alwaysDivine
He is known also as

The God Who Sees Me

When I read this title, The Divine Ophthalmologist, that was the first thing that came to my mind, as well as the old adage "seeing is believing" (which you'll notice in the segment/ subtitles reversed). More and more I appreciate how precious all of our senses are, yet sight truly seems to be the one I am so thankful to have (even with glasses), but more importantly just how wonderful God created us to see with our physical eyes yet how much more important it is to see with our spiritual eyes. Most of the time, we are particularly thankful when God sees us, when we feel He has His eye watching over us ... and I'm sure if we are truthful that there are times that we wouldn't want God to see, yet He still does. I really believe that God wants us to notice Him daily, to take the time and see Him, in everything around us. God desires to be seen through us and to us in our daily interactions & intimately see Him in our lives.

This week, we see JESUS, the Miracle Worker in these scriptures:

John 9:1-41; John 3:16-21; Matthew 4:12-16;  Acts 26:12-18; John 1:1-18

The segments/subtitles in The Divine Ophthalmologist are the following:

"Spiritual Blindness" * "What Did He Do to Deserve This?" John 9:2-3 "Believing is Seeing" "Receive What Jesus Has" John 9:8,10 "Conceive Who Jesus Is" John 9:35-38,11,17,31-33)

* "... If you don't have Jesus, you are living in spiritual darkness." ...  (maybe you have) perfect 20/20 vision but (are) spiritually blind...
"People who refuse to believe in Jesus Christ don't have a physical problem, they have a spiritual problem." 
 It is my personal opinion that sadly there are Christians, right now that are spiritually blind to JESUS & being true followers. They seem to be wearing "blinders" like race horses. The purpose for the race horses is to keep the horse focused on what is in front of them, encouraging them to pay attention to the race and not be distracted by the crowds of people or be spooked. Blinders reduce their field of vision. Horses rely on their instincts to take flight when they perceive a threat. Horses survive this way, and believe to avoid harm depends on their ability to put distance between themselves and perceived dangers; seems similar to some Christians with unfounded fears being stoked in our current society with many "lies" being pushed unnecessarily & put into motion to instill a defensiveness. Blinded by the real truths, deceived by the father of lies, they seek to divide to conquer & seem to have lost sight - blinded rather than focused on JESUS & running a good race {and my how we all need to focus to run a good race & avoid the many distractions} too many are distracted by the crowds & spook easily; unwilling to seek unity & compassion for others different from them; they no longer listen and are quick to bullying in words & actions, triggered to attack, confront & oppose with violence. Definitely, this is a spiritual problem in our nation caused by spiritual blindness and in much need of spiritual warfare to pull down all spiritual principalities waging war and not extending the peace of JESUS to others. Their spiritual vision has been reduced to very one-sided and at times - purely selfish for their own goals; not those of JESUS at all. They might profess that they believe in Jesus Christ but their fear causes their actions & words to do the exact opposite of what JESUS came to teach us & show us, which has now spiraled into an outrage of evil and injustices against 'others' & done in the name of JESUS (falsely). Perhaps you might have been caught up in this, take off your spiritual blinders & ask JESUS to reveal His truth, His will, His way to resolve & bridge the enormous gap evolving.
There are good YV plans that touch on this & "How to Love People You Disagree With" (in case you read my opinion above & happen to disagree with me), "Culture Wars", "How Not To Save the World" and some others ...
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JESUSis theMIRACLE WORKERwho is in the business of healing still
Blind eyes & Deaf earsare opened by the One who sees usour true color and motivesneed to line up with HisMay He open yoursheart, eyes, ears & mind!

"Oh, El Roi, You are the God who sees me. When I feel ushered to the sidelines or forgotten by friends, family, or coworkers, I know You’re working behind the scenes. God, as I review over past weeks, even years, I’ve witnessed You working in miraculous ways. I know You have seen me in the past, when no one else did. And so I can fully trust that You will continue to care for me, even when I’ve entered the darkest valley." Lord Jesus, I am desperate for You. Shine Your light in my heart so that I may shine as a witness that You are the Light of the world {a world filled more & more with such darkness, that needs You to penetrate the darkness and breakthrough with Your Light; a world that needs to cry out for Your mercy & grace, forgiveness & power to overcome evil; pierce the darkness with Your Light; & heal the sight of Your people to see You & only hear You as the Savior of this world. Deliver us & fill us with Spirit of love & compassion.}

God gives us eyes to see Him!
Let us see God in our neighbors throughout our nation!
God created ALL in His Image!
Take off whatever is blocking your vision of truly SEEING this in others.
JESUS
"GIVE ME YOUR EYES"Brandon Heath
...Give me Your eyes for just one second
Give me Your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missin'
Give me Your love for humanity
Give me Your arms for the broken-hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me Your eyes so I can see...
<><><>
EYES
filled with
COMPASSION
for one another
(certainly not the hate and fear I see)
It's time to get your eyes checked by
The Divine Ophthalmologist
to surgically remove what's hindering them
from seeing
JESUS
in
others
and
preventing others from seeing
JESUS
in
YOU
but
just as important
blocking your vision of God
Day by Day
SEEING HIM MORE CLEARLY
LOVING - MORE DEARLY
FOLLOWING HIM
MORE NEARLY
🕈
TURN YOUR EYES
UPON
JESUS
<>
Wishing a heavenward sent Anniversary wish to my Mom & Dad on this day!

JESUS, the MIRACLE WORKER (16)

If ever I (we) need(ed) JESUS, the MIRACLE WORKER - it is now and has been most of 2023

I have a feeling that it's not just me, or my family; but many of us that have, and are facing battles, and daily struggles are mounting in our lives at a rapid rate, seemingly increasing each and every day. So let's call on our Miracle Worker - JESUS, to turn our lives around.

This week, we come to JESUS, the Miracle Worker - as "The Great Empathizer" and HE IS!

Section Three: 
Jesus, the Miracle Worker

11. A Man of Marvels 12. Crisis Manager 13. Captain of My Ship 14. A Miraculous Multiplier 15. A Leader Worth Following 16. The Great Empathizer 17. The Divine Ophthalmologist 18. Spiritually Sovereign

#16. The Great Empathizer

The definition of "EMPATHIZER" is exemplified in JESUS but here is what one source says"

Being an empathizer means you are able to easily identify and understand others' thoughts and emotions. You have a natural ability to detect others' intentions and emotions, even when they are being hidden from you

JESUS
definitely is ONE who
"empathizes with; identifies with, understands, relates to, feels for, sympathizes with; has a rapport with, feels at one with, IS on the same wavelength"
as Free Dictionary defines
When no one else seems to "empathize" in my world with me, I know I can go to
JESUS
It is so much easier to relate with JESUS as our Great Empathizer but I'm sure that He is/was this in His earthly days too and is asking us to do this more in the times in which we live. Sadly, I see the complete opposite happening in my personal life and in our nation. More and more this consumes me with such a heartache for people & their souls and the spiraling direction we are going, further from Christlike qualities every day are being shown - less compassion and understanding; more evil, injustices & violence being accepted as the norm.
This week of the 52 Weeks, I will be focusing on JESUS and hoping to learn some great lessons on the MIRACLE needed in this world of EMPATHIZING with others as JESUS does. The scriptures for this week center on Mark 2:1-12; Mark 9:14-29; Romans 3:9-20; Romans 5:1-11; Hebrews 4:14-16.
The segments (subtitles) for this part of the MIRACLE WORKER are:

"Divine Excitement" ["Jesus gets excited when He sees our faith."] "Faith to Approach Jesus" Mark 2:4 NLT; Mark 2:5 "An Unlikely Remedy" "God Shows His Faithfulness" Mark 2:12 MSG "Why I am a Christian"

LORD, I believe that You can use me to bring people to You.
Use me, this week, to meet people's deepest  needs.

This Week's Question[I think this is the first time I have shared this part of the devotion]
Day to day,
are you more keenly aware of your
pressing need
or
your primary need?

"Jesus Christ is not remote, detached, and disinterested, nor insulated and isolated from our lives. He knows our frame; He knows that we are but dust. He can see in us a reflection of what He experienced as a man. He can thus extend mercy to us, completely understanding what we are going through." John W. Ritenbaugh

"4 Characteristics of Christlike Empathizers: Empathy is Biblical, part 8"

Perhaps this empathy and compassion are the greatest factors that draw me toward
JESUS
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As I restart doing these blog posts again online, I began to think and ask myself why do I do them ahead of reading the 5 segments of the week? (instead of after I've read what the author says). Now would be (or would have been) the appropriate time to switch them to the after. 

My only answer was because Week 16 - is the one that I'm reading this particular week. So I was thinking about a repost AFTER perhaps if there are any new  outstanding, personal insights. When I do these blog posts ahead (BEFORE reading), I don't look ahead to give you what the author writes, which means that this way, I don't take away from my  actual reading of them each day; and I refrain from too much being shared  from the book & possibly infringing on copyright. I really try not to do that at all but you never know. By doing it BEFORE, you get my own ideas and thoughts ahead of reading. As you can tell, I've decided to continue sharing on the week that I'm reading. However, you could also get the book & read along with me.😉💙😏 

Harvest House Publishers sent me weekly snippets of these devotionals and recently sent me another opportunity to read "52 Weeks Through the Bible" also by James Merritt (which I think I just clicked on it & signed myself up for it unintentionally - because I was hoping to share the offer somehow with you) but I clicked on Sign Me Up rather than To Learn More. The links I've put here are for you to add your email if you're interested. I'm not sure how I was added at first. I did 100 prayers.

A BLESSED 2023 RESURRECTION MORN TO YOU ALL!

HE IS RISEN
The Headlines AD 30-33 read: Resurrected from the Dead

HE IS RISEN, INDEED!

HALLELUJAH!

JESUS
CHRIST

“He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as He said would happen” (Matthew 28:6)

THE GREATEST MIRACLEof theMIRACLE WORKER
THE POWER of THE RESURRECTION
WE CELEBRATE TODAY!
RESURRECTION SONDAY!!!
HE IS ALIVE!
JESUS CHRIST

IS
ALIVE
BECAUSE HE LIVES ... I can face the future
at the Garden Tomb, Jerusalem 2023
<><><>
He is living, and we can have a relationship with Him because He surrendered His entire self. Praise be to God! “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” (John 12:13).

Holy Week: A Journey From Jesus’ Death to Resurrection

Let us never forget the

Precious Promises Of The Blood Of Jesus

The Blood of Jesus is proof that HE LOVES YOU! The Blood WASHES You! (Rev. 1:5)  The Blood of Jesus MAKES You Something!  The Blood SAVES You! (Romans 5:9) The Blood of Jesus FREES You! (Isaiah 53:4-5) The Blood GIVES You...  acceptance, approval, access, authority, anointing and your assignment The Blood of Jesus Gives You an UNBREAKABLE COVENANT! <><><> There is "Power in the Blood", "Nothing But the Blood of Jesus" and  "The Blood will never Lose Its Power"

"Thank You Jesus for the Blood!"
{Pardon my pun, but I almost ROLLED right by this day without sharing a blog post}

I just couldn't. This is one of the most relevant and important days of every year for me, 

as a Believer in JESUS CHRIST, even more so than Christmas!

However, without Christmas, there would not be a Resurrection Day!

Without JESUS CHRIST, there would not be a CHRISTmas or RESURRECTION!

I do not call it Easter anymore (because of the pagan connections) but I do call and celebrate

RESURRECTION SUNDAY!

<><><>

In case, you're not convinced, follow some or all of these links in this blog post:

The Resurrection of Jesus (part 17) of The Essential Jesus

JESUS IS GREATER

series

#5 of 9 Christ's Greater Covenant

#1 Greater Salvation through Jesus

5 GIFTS JESUS SECURED 

On The Cross

LET'S CELEBRATE

with

HE IS RISEN

Worship Initiative

Shane and Shane (featuring Robbie Seay)


FOR MORE
Joshua Aaron & FriendsLIVE at the Garden Tomb"Resurrection Premiere"(English & Hebrew)
or
Gaither2023 Sing a long

and if you didn't make it to any Church
here's
Gateway Church
(only because Pastor Morris entitled his message with my 2023 One Word)
"JESUS"
because I have many more choices I view & participate in locally and afar

JESUS, the MIRACLE WORKER (11-15)

[The following blog post should not be published until March 12th, but because this is the first Sunday of Lent, which lasts for 40 days (not including Sundays), I am summarizing the weeks during LENT & will continue later in April with the weekly blog posts on Sun. with #16]

Section Three: Jesus, the Miracle Worker

As I mentioned that JESUS as a Miracle Worker seems to be the appropriate focus of JESUS during Lent. These are all the Chapters that are in Section Three, and the numbers after are the weekly dates for each one. So this post will summarize #11-15 as best I can and I will not be posts any blogs on Sun. from "52 Weeks..."

11. A Man of Marvels 3/12 12. Crisis Manager    3/19 13. Captain of My Ship 3/26 14. A Miraculous Multiplier 4/2 15. A Leader Worth Following 4/9 ************************************** 16. The Great Empathizer 4/16 17. The Divine Ophthalmologist 4/23 18. Spiritually Sovereign 4/30

[I will continue with #16-18 weekly later]
I will just be sharing the segments in each of the chapters in JESUS, the Miracle Worker, but of course, the actual devotional "52 Weeks with Jesus" does much better. We'll start off with "A Man of Marvels" ... JESUS' Miracles "reveal surprising truths about who Jesus is and spiritual lessons about how we can know & relate to Him." 

Reading just one of the weekly Scriptures each week day (listed below) is a good way to connect with our JESUS as "A Man of Marvels" (He's beyond all the Marvel movies); He's our "Crisis Manager"; He's the Captain of our ships; He'll Multiple (little into Much) Miraculously; and most definitely He is a "Leader Worth Following" deserving of all our respect (as our leaders should receive), all the honor & of course, all the Glory is His, now & forever!

11. A Man of Marvels 3/12 Mat.15:29-31 "Do You Believe" "Opening Our Minds to Miracles" "Jesus' Miracles Authenticated His*Mission" "Jesus' Miracles Reveal Who He Is" ** "Jesus' Miracles Glorify the Father" ***

*Mark 2:5-9 (v.8-12)** John 10:22-39*** Matthew 7:22-23John 14:8-14

12. Crisis Manager 3/19  "Spectacular(& Unspectacular) Debuts "A Big Deal Miracle" "Turn to Jesus When You Face Problems" "Talk to Jesus about Your Problems" "Trust Jesus to Handle Your Problems"

John 2:1-11; Matthew 11:25-30; 1 Peter 5:6-11;Matthew 6:25-34; John 13:12-20

13. Captain of My Ship 3/26 "Rough Waters" "Jesus Wants Us to Remember His Promises" "Jesus Wants Us to Rest in His Presence" "Jesus Wants Us to Rely on His Power" "The Safe Place"

Mark 4:35-40; Psalm 31:1-24; Psalm 107:23-32;John 14:25-27; Proverbs 3:5-6

14. A Miraculous Multiplier 4/2 "The Law of Leftovers" "Jesus Asks You for What You Have" "Give What You Have to Jesus" "Jesus Will Use What You Give" "Jesus Blesses What He Uses"

John 6:1-14; Proverbs 11:24; Luke 6:37-38;Malachi 3:6-12; Matthew 25:14-30

15. A Leader Worth Following 4/9 "The Leader Who Follows" "Under Authority" "Pecking Order" "Respecting Leadership" "Receiving Leadership"

Luke 7:1-10; Romans 13:1-7; Ephesians 5:22-6:9;Hebrews 13:17; John 6:35-40
<><><>

I do realize that this brief outline of the chapters really does not help you much, but it is helpful to me (lol). So hopefully with the subtitles & Scriptures, you can read between the lines and gather some details of JESUS, the Miracle Worker. Perhaps it can serve as an incentive to check out "52 Weeks with Jesus" by James Merritt, because it was for me and I not only purchased the book (in 2022) but I signed up somehow with Harvest House Publishers, who faithfully send me an email with one of these segments every week, which God used to whisper this into becoming my One Word ... JESUS (for 2023). I was not too sure that JESUS could be a One Word, but it just kept showing up & being confirmed. The whisper became a nudge and that nudge confirmed let me know that I needed JESUS (front & center) every minute of every day in 2023. Since "52 Weeks ..." isn't my book, I try not to infringe on anyone's copyright yet still share enough to "whet your whistle" with nuggets about JESUS, so you want to dig deeper & learn more to be closer to JESUS!

11. "Lord, because of the miracles You've worked in the past. I believe You are who You say You are. Glorify Yourself today through me." 12. "Lord, I thank You that I can trust You with any problem in my life, knowing that You will handle it. Teach me to let go." 13. "Lord, I believe there is no need to fear when You are near. Be near to me this day." 14. "Lord, teach me to trust You with my 'lunch', confident that You will provide abundantly and bless others through my offering." 15. "Lord, teach me - in the sphere of my everyday living - what it means to be a faithful follower of You."

🙏
I could say these prayers every single day!
God knew that this devotional 
is my kind of devotional
since March of 2022
but it took me 'til
2023
to get to it
and read it from
my stack of  books & ebooks
I did not know this author nor his books
that are written yet happy to be reading this one
 & learning more details about
JESUS
in a fresh way
<>
Well done!
🕮
I will be reading each of the above chapters & segments with the
WORD
Hope to see you all after this season of LENT!
<><><>
Unexpectant, urgent,  & suddenly
this past week, I needed a MIRACLE, beginning on Ash Weds. 
for a family member's spouse
and the family member
Please pray for
salvation,
eternal rest
&
perhaps comfort & peace for grieving & heavy hearts
that will be turned into joy in their mourning but
I'm believing for MIRACLES of life being given back
JESUS
being accepted
and
I hold on to this & expect God
to bring complete healing
this side of heaven still
but if not in heaven
because
of
JESUS
being received & accepted
forgiven & redeemed
by the blood & authority of the name of
JESUS
I speak life
&
give Him
all the praise, glory & thanks
with eternal hope & faith
in JESUS' saving
Grace always
aMazing
🙏

Thank you for praying with me!

LENT Begins today ... an Important 40 day Journey!

Most years I mark this day with an explanation of LENT 40 Days
as I 
"BEGIN LENT IN JESUS' FOOTSTEPS"

{this is a 4 day YV choice of reading plans}

I am on a longer journey than 4- 6 days but 

I will not be here on my blog, except maybe on Sundays

since Sundays are not included in the 40 days.

However, I will be

"WALKING A JOURNEY TO THE CROSS 

WITH JESUS"

{another YV option for 40 days}

There is also another "Walk with Jesus" for 50 days and so many other really

good choices for 

LENT

time set apart

to commemorate

the 40 days

JESUS

spent in the desert

a period of preparation to celebrate our

LORD JESUS'

RESURRECTION

The journey between today & the celebration of

HIS RESURRECTION

is more than

40 days

<>

So I am not here today until after this time period - this post was done in advance - 
as I begin walking closer
"IN THE FOOTSTEPS
of the Savior"
JESUS
this
LENT
with
Max Lucado's new book & study guide
which Faith Gateway is starting on March 6th - April 10th
and, of course, I highly recommend this OBS
(even without the books, it's worth it)
Everyone can view Session 1 or
on You Tube
and
You Version
has one week sample plan
"Following Jesus When You Doubt"
(which shares the video also on day 3)
<>

Let's journey
"IN THE FOOTSTEPS..."
Following 
JESUS
to the Cross & the the Tomb
and
Beyond to His
RESURRECTION
(and ours)
<><><>
I also have a 50 day devotional with a local church
RISEN50 Reasons WhyTHE RESURRECTIONChanged Everything
🙏🙏
by Steven D. Matthewson(not a new book, 2013)
[this book is meant more for the 50 days from the Resurrection until Pentecost]
{I'm set with some really good guides-maybe too many}
<>
Have a Blessed Lent Journey!
I know that I will
I read these words in one of the YV Lent plans and agree:
"When we look around at the world today, we can see an awful lot of division and disconnection. Yet there is hope. A deep and thrilling hope. When we realize that we are one in Christ, everything changes. When we embrace togetherness – unity with creation, with each other, and with God – extraordinary things can happen. As you read any devotional for Lent, I pray you have a blessed Lent." Tearfund

********************************
There is another post set up already for this upcoming Sunday, February 26, 6 pm

JESUS, the ANSWER (10)

Section Two: JESUS the ANSWER

4. Bread for the Journey 5. Light in a Dark Place 6. An Open Door 7. The Good Life 8. A Grave Buster 9. A One-Way Street 10. The Root of the Fruit

As I continue and finish with JESUS, the Answer in my "52 Weeks with JESUS" journey for 2023, today's 10th Chapter brings me hope to look forward to spring in the middle of this cold winter and realize that "The Root of the Fruit" is where my faith sprouts from my early foundation and the seed planted that needed to be watered and nurtured to develop good roots. The strength of the growth and how it flourishes seems to be connected to the root. Lysa TerKeurst shares about the True Vine in day 7 of YV's plan "Finding I AM".

We hope that any seed planted will have good roots, strength to grow & flourish into a healthy one as it was created to be. The principle Scripture for this chapter is found in John 15:1-11, 16, where JESUS says:

I AM the True Vine

and my

Father is the Gardener

...

{the rest of this passage is just as important for our growth}

The following are the segments:

"The Root of the Fruit"

..."Left Behind" "Fruit Bearers" "JESUS Wants to Connect with You Personally" "JESUS Wants You to Concentrate on Him Perpetually" "A Diligent Pruner"

I can tell that even though these are subtitles & quite brief that I definitely need to grow,
be pruned constantly as JESUS nourishes me
so that I can finally mature (in my old age)
to bear fruit - much better and truly good
yet I realize that sometimes the root
needs some work & checking
I need the seeds planted
to flourish & grow
to beautiful
FRUIT
this is
the purpose
God has placed people
on this planet as His Image bearers
<>
PRUNING
is a painful but very
necessary part of the process
LENT
can be a fruitful time
to deepen your faith roots & flourish
40 Days set aside to bloom on the other side of this time
Looking forward to JESUS, the Miracle Worker & the Answer found in Him
the great
I AM
💧
and the
Master Gardener

"Lord, help me to recognize You as the Master Gardener who is the caretaker of my soul."

🌞

May the Miracle Worker, JESUS, meet you & your needs during this Lenten season as you go & grow deeper, may your roots be firm in Him so you can bear good fruit & receive a plentiful harvest! Let's plant & see many miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit through JESUS! 

Let us remain in JESUS as He remains in us

Rest in the True Vine

Thank JESUS

for being

our

True

Vine

Stay close to the Vine & grow in
Holy Spirit
fruit
(Galatians 5:22-23)
Let's not be afraid to get a good
Pruning
during the
40 days of
LENT
the
Master Gardener
can be 
trusted
<>
{I thought in the song "The Merry Old Land of Oz" from "The Wizard of Oz" - that the words were"snip, snip here... snip, snip thereand a couple of  tra-la-las"but after all these years, I just found outthat I remembered it wrong(sigh)it was "clip, clip..." and I was going to add the "snip, snip" part here for our pruning time.So please allow me an author's prerogative to change these words to fit}
😏