THE - Great Physician

 Day 73

Luke 1-10

Jesus, - Savior.
A book written by a physician --- about THE Great Physician -- Jesus!

I can kind-of relate to Zechariah being silenced because he didn't believe.

Luke 1:19
"I am Gabriel.  I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.  And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time."

He was silenced because he didn't believe, Mary was blessed because she did.

Why is my son silent?

He did nothing.

Is it because I don't believe enough?

That eternal wrestling match.......

Luke 1:38
"May it be to me as you have said."

I don't know if I could have been a Mary.   If I could even today.   If I knew my son would be silenced, maimed for life as he is, would I have said that?  "May it be to me as you have said?"   In retrospect of knowing what would be with Brandon, certainly not.  But that's what faith is though, isn't it?  The not knowing, and trusting anyway.  Believing.

The words of Mary's song a reminder of who God is and how we are to live --
My soul glorifies the Lord - 
...and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
The Mighty One has done great things for me ---
His mercy extends to those who fear him -
He has performed mighty deeds - 
(He has scattered the proud and the rulers from their thrones) - 
He lifts up the humble - 
He fills the hungry with good things - 
(He sends the rich away hungry)
He helps his servants - 
He is merciful - 

Zechariah's song - 
Praise be to the Lord
He has come and has redeemed his people - 
He has raised up a horn of salvation - 
Salvation from our enemies and those who hate us - 
To rescue us from the hand of our enemies so we may serve Him without fear - 

John the Baptist born to --
Be a prophet of the Most High - 
To go before the Lord to prepare a way - 
To give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins - 
To Shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death - 
To guide our feet into the path of peace.....

My how I can relate so much of these things to Brandon - and by no stretch of any imagination am I literally comparing aspects of my son to his.

But my son has prepared a way for so many to know the truth of what happened to him with vaccine injury.  His life has been a light of truth in the darkness of lies.

His life has been a guide for others of what can happen -- and while I'm not saying I'm thankful for that, I'm truly not.  I wish it never happened to Brandon.  

But it was so.

I was silenced in the matter.

But Brandon --- he has been one of many who have indeed prepared the way for truth.

And for that --- I am thankful.

Luke 2 brings the Birth of Jesus....

Luke 2:14
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.

Luke 3 is John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus --- who at 12 began his ministry in the Temple.

Luke 2:49
"Why were you searching for me?"  Jesus asked.  "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?"

I just love that.   

Oh how we all should long to be in our Father's house --- in the House of the Lord.  Listening to his words, learning how to live as Christ, above all -  leading others to him!

Luke 3:3
The word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.  He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

'"A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.  Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low.  The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth.  And all mankind will see God's salvation.'"

All of John's efforts landed him in prison.

As many of us truth-tells in the vaccine-injury world can relate.........

It is then shared that while at 12 Jesus was in the temple -- but at 30 he began his ministry.

Luke 4 is the temptation of Jesus --- where for 40 days he was in the desert where he was tempted by the devil...

I love his rebukes to each of the satans snares:

If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.
"It is written:  'Man does not live on bread alone.'"

If you worship me, all the kingdoms of the world will be yours.
"It is written:  'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'"

If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from the highest point of the temple.  For it is written:  "He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"
Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

Luke 4:18
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

The Twelve Apostles:
Simon (who he named Peter)
Andrew
James
John
Phillip
Bartholomew
Matthew
Thomas
James
Simon (who was called the Zealot)
Judas
Judas Iscariot (who became a traitor)


Jesus' words of wisdom:
Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.
Great is your reward in heaven

Love your enemies.
Do good to those who hate you.
Bless those who curse you.
Pray for those who mistreat you.
If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also.  Do to others as you would have them do to you.

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.  Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.  Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Do not judge, and you will not be judged.  Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.  Forgive, and you will be forgiven.  Give, and it will be given to you.

The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.  For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?  I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice.  He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock.  When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.  But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation.  The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."

The Parable of the Sower:
The seed is the word of God.  Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.  Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root.  They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.  The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.  But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

A Lamp on a Stand:
No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed.  Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.  For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.  

Jesus said to the Disciples:
If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it but whoever loses his life for me will save it.  What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?  If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.  

Believe it even if you can't see it...

 Day 72

Part III

Mark 10-16

Believe it, even if you can't see it --- as Jesus predicts his death and resurrection - as he tells us to believe that even from the bottom of the deepest, darkest pits, we will be first.   If we put HIM first in all we do, pursue HIM above all.   Serve in HIS name always.

Mark 10:14
Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

This verse is so profound -- how often do we big, smart adults think we have it all together?   We grow up and lose our innocence, our inquisitive nature, our ability to imagine.... Where as a child we believed in what we couldn't see -- as an adult, if we cannot see it we do not believe it.

Mark 10:21

Jesus looked at him and loved him.  "One thing you lack," he said.  "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, follow me."

How often those very words trip us up!   One of the many things in this life I am so thankful for, is that I've seen what that love of money does to one's thinking, how they live.   I know so many whose only focus is how to get more while doing less.   Trading things for relationships.   Time to earn more, but no time to be more.  Investing in portfolio's, not people.   Oh how time and time again I have longed for a relationship with relatives only to be told how busy they are.   I guess that has shaped my views in trying to always be conscious of putting people I love before profits.   I can see both sides of that coin, because of that I simply know which side of that coin I want to be on.

And it's a blessing and curse.   Being Brandon's primary caregiver doesn't allow me much time to truly invest in others I long to have that relationship with.  My "other" son -- I weep over all that I've missed.  And now I have not one, but two Grandfishies whom I hardly get to see because of all that I must invest in simply caring for Brandon.    I guess that's why this verse stands out to me, I do get angry at those who squander time they could be investing in others they love, or merely like!   What I would give for those opportunities others have!

Mark 10:22
At this the man's face fell.  He went away sad, because he had great wealth.  Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!"

How truly hard it is for those focused on money and things to see the world as we have had to see it because of our life with Brandon.  It is not things, it is not money.   It is service, helping, being there for others more than working for self.

Mark 10:27
Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."

Oh how I wrestle with that one.   Knowing "all things are possible" with God is not the same as all things being possible.   That's where my faith lies in that space between the sacred and mundane of believing.  Why don't you make treatment possible for Brandon?  Affordable?  Why can't you allow Brandon to sleep through the night?  Why can't you stop Brandon's humming, growling, raging?  Ugh, to have that insight.

Until then I simply cling to the HOPEISM that all things are possible.  And the prayer that HE makes them possible for Brandon in this life.

I have to chuckle when I read Mark 10:29 where Peter says to Jesus, "We have left everything to follow you!"  

Have you?  Have you sacrificed everything, left behind every milestone and dream and opportunity?  I get so bewildered by how anyone outside our brand of suffering in "Life with Autism, Seizures, & a side of PANDAS" can even say that.    Brandon's life is a thread woven in every aspect of our life, pulling tighter and tighter with every passing year.  With every missed milestone of his, of ours.

I get so sad at that.  The strongest Christians among us are those who can be like Paul in prison, literal or figurative, and still cling to HOPEISM.

That HOPEISM found in Mark 10:29 where Jesus replies, "I tell you the truth, no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age and in the age to come, eternal life.  But many who are first will be last, and the last, first."

I pray that for Brandon, Lord.

He has left behind his entire life because of vaccines.  

I pray that for him in this life, in this life to have peace, healing of what hurts and causes such outbursts and lack of sleep.  Healing to let him be who you meant for him to be before he was injured.

Mark 10:43 - 45
Jesus speaking:  "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Mark 11:17
Is it not written:  "My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations."

Mark 11:22-25
Jesus answered, "Have faith in God, I tell you the truth if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.  And when you stand praying if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

Mark 12:28-30
Which is the most important commandment?
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this:  'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'  The second is this:  'Love your neighbor as yourself,'  There is no commandment greater than these."

I love the lesson in the poor widow of Mark 12:42-43.   It's such a profound reminder of how we are to BELIEVE that if we give HIM our all, HE will give us HIS ALL.   It's easy to give much when you have much -- but oh -- I want the faith of that widow who gave much when she had LITTLE!

"But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.  Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.  They all gave out of their wealth;  but she, out of her poverty, put in everything -- all she had to live on."  

Mark 13:13
"....but he who stands firm to the end will be saved."

I think that's my HOPEISM motto.   To simply at the last breath of my life, to be able to say I stood firm in faith and held fast to my HOPEISM.  Have I stumbled in that?  Yes.  Have I fallen?  Yes.  But I've always found my footing.  I've always stood back up.  Each time satan knocked me down, God helped me back up.

Mark 13 is full of such HOPEISM:

Stand firm
He who does will be saved
Do not be alarmed
Do not worry about what to say
My words will never pass away
Be on guard
Be alert
Keep watch

Yet as we find in Mark 14, sadly, we don't do those things to keep our HOPEISM.  We fall short.  We drop our shield.  We slumber.

I often cringe as so very often before I've been with Brandon five minutes in the morning, I am cursing God for allowing such hardship!

Mark 14:30
"I tell you the truth,"  Jesus answered "today --- yes, tonight --- before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times."


I feel a bit redeemed when I think that Jesus gets my doubts.  

Mark 

That he too wished this cup of suffering could be taken from him as I long for mine to be taken from me!

Mark 14 continues with Jesus himself lamenting:

My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow
Take this cup from me

But he ends with what I desire to truly feel in my soul --

"Yet not what I will, but what you will."

And so it was. 

The rest of Mark the conviction, crucifixion, the cross.

It's about Jesus.

But it's Brandon.   It's what I pray so hard for one day for Brandon.  For the industry that harmed his health to be that criminal.   Accused.  Tried.  Convicted.  Crucified.  For all those who lied, harmed, mandated.  For all who caused such tragedy that has befallen an entire generation to be found guilty!

We are one step closer with RFK, Jr being confirmed as HHS Secretary.

May the Odds be Ever in His Favor.

As they were in HIS.

May the truth rise.

As Jesus rose.

Mark 15:33
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

I pray no other Brandon is ever forsaken again by vaccine injury............................