Protection and Health

Yesterday
Sunday night, Jaime was rubbing her eye because it itched. Then a reddish bubble quickly appeared just below her left eye. Monday morning she went to the local clinic. It turned out to be a blood vessel that ruptured, now it has dissipated but it looks like she has a black eye.

Team meeting was just me and the Jacksons. Jaime was worn out from our very busy weekend and having a stomach bug didn't help. The Rodriguez family stayed home, Marcus had a presentation to prepare and they will have their big Christmas party on Wednesday night. We talked and prayed about our growing fellowship, the availability of the Christmas meeting place, and many other possibilities.

Jessi flew in from Danjiangkou, Xiangfan airport, arriving at midnight. We talked till about 1am. I was falling asleep well before that, around 8:30 in fact.

John 17-20
These verses stood out today:

John 16:33, I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

John 17:11, I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one.

John 17:20-21, My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

John 17:25-26, Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.

In chapter 18, Jesus doesn't heal the high priest's servant.

John knew the high priest quite well and the servant girl at the door is the first to question Peter.

John 18:15-17, Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard, but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in.

"You are not one of his disciples, are you?" the girl at the door asked Peter. He replied, "I am not."

John 18:28-29 - The Jews wanted to eat the Passover so they wouldn't go into Pilate's house.

Jesus is questioned by Pilate, but check out his answers and the response of Pilate:

John 18:33-40, Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"

"Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?"

"Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?"

Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."

"You are a king, then!" said Pilate.

Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

"What is truth?" Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him. But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release 'the king of the Jews'?"

They shouted back, "No, not him! Give us Barabbas!" Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion.

How does Pilate decide to have Jesus flogged? Then He goes back to him...

John 19:8-14, When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 9and he went back inside the palace. "Where do you come from?" he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10"Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?"

Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."

From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, "If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.

When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge's seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour.

"Here is your king," Pilate said to the Jews.

Joseph and Nicodemus bring 70 pounds of spices to prepare the body of Jesus... Then Mary comes on Sunday with even more!

Power of a Praying Husband - Protection
God is the one that keeps us safe. We must always pray for God's protection and live like we are safely under his wing, but that doesn't allow us to live recklessly. Car insurance rates are higher for preachers than teachers because they drive more wildly than others and get in more crashes apparently... is it saying something about their personality or about their belief of God's protection? Either way, we all need to live in his protection without abusing it, the same as we do with his grace. Grace motivates us to live a more perfect life, protection should motivate us to live a more responsible life.

This chapter also talks about praying for Jaime's health. Stormie compares wives to cars... they need to keep their body tuned up, clean, well exercised, and ready to run.

Praying for Jaime's protection and health are vital to her continuously living in God's richest blessings.

Prayer
God help us to be ready on all occasions for responsible and healthy lifestyles. Protect us from harm in all situations, especially spiritual temptations and plots of Satan to destroy our relationship with you and one another. Keep us safe and healthy no matter where we are, so that we may have more opportunity to love and serve others with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.