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Three Blind Men . . .

5/21/2022

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The specific miracles recorded in the bible are a mere fraction of the actual miracles Jesus performed.  Sometimes, like in Matthew 4:23, the author just makes a blanket statement that “. . . he went throughout all Galilee . . . healing every disease and every affliction among the people.” So when particular incidents of healing are mentioned, it is time to take note, especially with the blind.

Most of the blind were healed immediately as mentioned in Matthew 9:27-31 and Luke 18:35-43. One touch of the Master’s hand and the blind could see. But there were two particular healings that were not immediate.

One is in John 9:10-11. In this particular incident, Jesus made a clay, anointed the man’s eyes, and then told him to go to the pool of Siloam and wash.

The other is in Mark 8:22-26. Here, the man saw shapes and shadows after Jesus’s initial touch. Only after Jesus touched him a second time did everything become clear.

Why? Why make the man go to the pool of Siloam to wash and why did it take two tries to get it right for the second man? Did Jesus make a mistake the first time?

No, Jesus does not make mistakes, and it does little good to ask why questions as those questions will most likely not be answered this side of heaven and perhaps won’t matter on the other side. The more appropriate question is, “What do I do with this information?”

For me, I see three takeaways. First every healing, in every encounter with Jesus, those who have come have come with faith. All came because they believed Jesus could heal and meet their needs. Most that we read about received their answers immediately.

But these two didn’t. Yet they still believed. The first had to make his way, still blind, to the pool and rinse his eyes. We are not told how long it took him to get there, only that he did. And once he did, his sight was restored.

Sometimes before God answers our request, He will ask us to do something. Not because our actions are necessary to the outcome, but our obedience demonstrates our faith, which in turn reveals our relationship with God. How long between our request and our “pool at Siloam”?

The second man’s healing came in parts. Sometimes the answers to our prayers come in bits and pieces as well, not because Jesus makes mistakes, but perhaps because he wants to have a conversation with us as he did this man, “Do you see anything?” To which the man replied, “I see men as trees walking.” And then comes the next touch.

God hears all our prayers and knows all of our needs. He also knows what we need between the request and the answer. That answer could be immediate or take time. Answered this side of heaven or the other . . . but always answered.



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Answered Prayer . . .

11/13/2021

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My youngest sister has made beautiful prayer journals (see picture), where you can both write your request and record how God answered that request. Mom never even had a chance to write down her request. Here’s what happened.

My middle sister, who has Down Syndrome, is sixty-two years old, and this past year she suffered a fall and her health has declined until now she is pretty much bed bound. Though all of us visit Jamie when we are in town, Mom makes three regular visits a week to her group home to spend time with her. The challenge is how to use that hour that would be both meaningful and stimulating for Jamie.

Since Jamie can’t carry on an extended conversation, sometimes the minutes hang heavy. We sing and read her stories; rub her hands and legs with lotions, comb her hair, and feed her ice cream, but Mom was looking for something more. The suggestion came from her Bible study leader.

First of all, Mom’s Bible study is on prayer. Clue number one that something big was about to happen. Mom shared her dilemma with the group and asked them to pray about it. After the study, her leader (whose children took piano from my mother) suggested she buy a portable keyboard and play for Jamie.

Now the group home has a piano, and Mom had thought about playing it, but it is in the room furthest from Jamie’s room and not in the best of conditions. So Mom loved this idea and immediately went to a local music store that she had visited only once years before.

They had keyboards. Large, expensive ones, and not all that portable for Mom. She asked if they had anything smaller. They had one. About two feet in width, enough to play a melody, and with a handful of codes to provide some snazzy harmony and rhythms. It was perfect. But it had a scratch. Mom asked it they had a new one.

The owner disappeared . . . for quite a while . . . when he finally returned he looked a bit perplexed. They didn’t have a new one. In fact, according to their inventory, they didn’t even have the one Mom was holding. Now Mom looked perplexed. So what now? Could she not buy it?

The answer? The owner just gave it to her. Free. End of story. Prayer request answered before ever recorded. Well, almost end of story.

My mom being my mom, just couldn’t walk out of the store without paying for something. She now owns a new $8 book of music as well.


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For Such a Time as This . . .

4/4/2020

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No doubt Ben Sliney was looking forward to the first day of his new job. After all, not only was it a promotion, but it also carried with it a lot of prestige . . . and, of course, responsibility. Little did he know how much responsibility . . .

Sliney’s first day as the Operations Manager for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was September 11, 2001. His first day expectations exploded in the wake of the Twin Towers attack, but his coolheadedness and expertise brought over 4,200 planes in US airspace down in 2 1/2 hours.

Likewise, Steven Adams took over the helm of the Strategic National Stockpile in January of 2020 before COVID-19 reached American shores (if I have all my facts right) and inherited the task of providing medical supplies to what could be one of the worst pandemics in human history if not checked. (Currently it ranks 10th).

Many would consider this a stroke of bad luck for each of these men, but if you truly believe that God is in control, then their move to leadership was exactly at the right time, for we have seen God position others (both the righteous and the unrighteous) throughout history—e.g. Esther, Cyrus, Moses, Noah, Pharoah––for His ultimate glory.

I have no doubt that the current world researchers, medical professionals, first responders (from EMTs to grocery clerks), financial gurus, and, yes, even the politicians on both sides of the aisles are the ones God meant to be there, for reasons and purposes only He knows.  “For there is no power but from God; the powers that be are ordained by God” (Romans 13:1).

Unfortunately that doesn’t take away the danger, the heartache, the exhaustion, or any of the other host of emotions these individuals might experience. They didn’t ask for it, but they inherited it.

We, too, have a job. We are tasked to follow government guidelines. “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities” (Romans 13:1a).

​But we play a greater role too. We should support whomever we can in whatever way we can. We should not be the armchair financial and medical expert casting criticisms from the safety of our own home. This morning Bill Gates commented that (and I paraphrase) in a year from now we can look back and do the postmortem. We have more important things to do now.


But above all we should pray . . . for those individuals who are tasked with the job of leading, discovering, planning, healing, and serving. In those moments of fear . . . pray for them. In those moments of boredom . . . pray for them. In those moments of frustration and critical thought . . . pray for them. Pray.

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Prayer is for the Present . . .

3/21/2020

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It only seemed appropriate to return to E.M. Bounds and the topic of prayer. At times like this it seems a lot of people either turn to prayer or to panic. Prayer is always the better option.

We are told to “pray without ceasing,” (I Thes. 5:17) and there is plenty to pray about: our leaders (I Tim. 2:2), those who hate and persecute us (Matt. 5:44), for everyone (I Tim. 2:1) and everything (Phil. 4:6). BUT, what I found very interesting is that Bounds believes prayer is for the present.

I could try to paraphrase everything he said, but I think it best if I just let him speak for himself.

First, he reminds us that in the Lord’s prayer we pray, “give us this day our daily bread,” and by doing so we are “in a measure, shutting tomorrow out of our prayer. We do not live in tomorrow, but in today” (16).

Bounds continues by saying “They thrive best, and get the most out of life, who live in the living present. We do not seek tomorrow’s grace or tomorrow’s bread. They pray best who pray for today’s needs, not for tomorrow’s,  which may render our prayers unnecessary and redundant by not existing at all! (16-17)

Finally, he says that “True prayers are born out of present trials and present needs. Bread for today is bread enough. Bread given today is the strongest sort of pledge that there will be bread tomorrow. Victory today, is the assurance of victory tomorrow. Our prayers need to be focused on the present. We must trust God today, and leave tomorrow entirely with him. The present is ours; the future belongs to God. Prayer is the task and duty of each recurring day––daily prayer for daily needs” (17).

So when we come to God in prayer, let’s pray for today and leave tomorrow in His hands. Remember Jesus did tell us “. . . [to] not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34). Amen to that.

* * * *

The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds.​ Baker Books: Grand Rapids, MI. 1990.



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    Author

    Jody Eileen Solinski spent her career teaching in the California public school system where she enjoyed helping young adults take their place in society. A native Californian, she enjoys the outdoors and so loves living in Northern California where she can enjoy the beauty of God’s creation up close.

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