“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be open to you.”

Matthew 7:7

What does Jesus mean by “Ask?” It’s not like God has some auto reply answering “yes” to all our prayers… Bruce Almighty already tried that. And why do verses like this miraculously come to mind, taunting us when we DON’T get what we asked for or we DON’T find what we are seeking. How then, do we figure out what is being said? What is God trying to tell us?

When we’re seeking answers to tough passages it is a MUST that we anchor our thoughts in truths that are absolute. There have to be some constants to frame our understanding of what God is telling us. Everyone making up there own mind about what God is saying with out heading to a higher authority will NEVER work… remember in the Garden of Eden the serpent questioned what God “really said.”   We (humans) proceeded to question on our own and make up our own mind about what God “really meant.”  My friends this is very dangerous.  Can we look at scripture in a way that will help us discern what God is trying to tell us rather than make assumptions as to what we want Him to be saying? In other words, just because we want this verse to be saying that God will give us whatever we ask for because we want that flat screen TV does not mean that is what the text is actually saying.

Here are 3 Musts for Reading the Bible;

1. Authority > Scripture is the self-proclaimed Word of God, or more literally, the breath of God. “All scripture is breathed out by God…” 2 Timothy 3:16. Remember God’s truth is absolute and His word does not need to fit into our life; rather, we need to conform to it so that we are transformed by it <Romans 12:2>. When you read the bible remember that it is timeless truth given to us by God for our joy. Jesus says that His joy will be in us and our joy will be complete when we are obedient to his words <John 15:1-11>. It’s not rocket science, our Creator knows what brings us joy and He gives us an authoritative WORD to lead us there. STAY IN THE WORD!
2. Context > Remember there is ALWAYS context surrounding every verse and every chapter and every book. Matthew 7:7 is in the context of a much larger sermon in which Jesus had prefaced this part of the sermon by teaching about heavenly priorities. That certainly would give context to the types of things we would be asking for. It does not mean that God will give us everything we ask for… as if God could be found in some sand lamp that you rub and God billows out in a plume of smoke singing “You Ain’t Never Had a Friend Like Me.” Remember, God knows what we need and what will bring us joy beyond our imagination. Context gives meaning to passages and shed light on discrepancies.  Context can protect us from false assumptions.
3. Prayer > Prayer is us going before the Lord in Humility and Submission. Prayer is a part of our relationship with God and relationships require time and patience. When we come across passages that are difficult take it before the Lord. Who better than the author could answer your questions? When we seek understanding we will find understanding just remember that “Our time” and “God’s time” may be very different but His timing is perfect. God longs for us to know Him and when we seek Him, HE PROMISES, we will find Him and He wants us to ask.

Open His word and listen to His voice.

Amen

I am ready to explode today. Inside I teem with frustration at how quickly and decisively we flee from God–our God, who has never done such a thing to us. He is more than capable, yet he has never left us.

I dare to say that this very day, I have finally pinpointed the thing I most adore about God.

As a friend, I love it when I receive letters and phone calls because another friend wants me to know they’re thinking of me.
As a daughter, I love it when my mom and dad check up on me to see how I am doing.
And as a woman, I love it when Jonathan invites me to come sit with him and be part of his life.

But as a child of the Lord Jesus, I love to remember that God himself relentlessly pursues us–just as he says in Isaiah.

God is so remarkable that he reveals himself to people who aren’t looking for him. They want nothing to do with him, He knows it, yet he pursues them anyway. And to those who are too proud to call on him for rescue, he says, “Here am I, here am I.”

And we remember a familiar tale–the one that initiates the Bible and tells of how the world came to be a fallen one. People these days believe that God is holding lightning bolts and just dying for the opportunity to lash one at us every time we screw up. But read Genesis 3.

“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.  But the LORD God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’ “

Some of you may wonder if God is foolish. To answer this, no, God didn’t temporarily lose his omnipotence and clumsily forget where Adam and Eve were. Do you realize the significance of what God actually did? SIN happened–for the first time in history, and what does God do?

He pursues the sinners.

Selah.

karen

A myriad of treats and fillers teased me at the register. A heart cookie? Chocolate covered espresso beans? Mini cookies in a box?

My eyes fell upon the Brownie, wrapped simply in cellophane and evenly cut in perfect squares.

“Are these good?,” I asked.

“Yeah, they’re REALLY good.” That’s what the young, hippie man behind the counter told me.

I purchased it under his recommendation, and saved it until just the right time. Less than an hour later, the clock read, “The Perfect Time,” and I unwrapped the chocolate treat to indulge.

I took my first bite, excited at the report from the B&B man and with anticipation of a sweet, fudgy feeling between my teeth.

But the taste of disappointment was overwhelming.

I tried another bite or two – hopeful that this brownie would be “it” for me. Hopeful that it would solve my craving and satisfy my expectation. But I fear all it did was make me regret the fact that I didn’t have enough cash on me today to avoid the $5 debit conspiracy.

But here’s the thing about that brownie:

Many people would continue to eat it, even though their gag reflex has kicked in and even though it’s really not what they sought after. They’d eat it because they paid for it. They aren’t caring about their unnecessary caloric intake. They bought it and it’s there, so…they suppose it’s best just to go along with it. Just because it’s there. Just because it’s convenient.

They eat it because that’s all they have; they won’t throw away that which fails them.

The same is true about many people you work with, learn with, or just encounter. They have this brownie, this religion, or whatever belief they grew up with. And even though they don’t like the aftertaste in their mouth, they keep eating anyway.

I do know what the brownie of my faith journey tastes like (yes, that’s an extremely odd sentence that I never thought I’d say). It’s bitter and it’s sweet at the same time. It gives me energy. I always crave it. My brownie isn’t square-cut, but comes in the shape of a cross. It’s not quite wrapped in cellophane, but wrapped in a covering of a transparent God who wants to be known and wants nothing hidden from his children. And he definitely does not keep the truth hidden about his son, Jesus. Oh, and these brownies never run out (God’s gift of eternal life never runs out, so why would these brownies?).

As in all analogies, mine is not perfect. There’s one thing in particular about this one that definitely does not prove to be true. See, if the brownie today were truly a parallel to my spiritual self -

It would have been free, just as my salvation is.

It wouldn’t ever have been something I asked for on the side, just because I was forced to.

It would be my main course, and never would I crave of another God, because the Lord is my shepherd and I shall not be in want – that’s because he gives me everything I need.

Think of God next time you chew on something you want to spit out.

INTRIGUED? Take me up on a challenge: Read Revelation 3 (Revelation is the last book of the Bible) to learn about what God HIMSELF spits out)

Teaser…”So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”

karen

A few years ago I worked at an elementary school for students with learning disabilities and behavior disorders. One day in art we made key chains for mother’s day. Garret, a fifth grader, had been diligently working on his key chain for quite some time before I noticed how unusually quiet he had been. I walked over to check on him and make sure he was doing what he was supposed to.

“Whatchya got there, Garret?”

He had a tendency to do his own thing sometimes. He was just finishing up with his key chain that had little pieces of wood strung together and was decorated. Garret had written his mother a special message on his key chain.   Garret, without taking his eyes off the key chain, read it out loud, “JESUS IS COMING. LOOK BUSY!”  I got so exited, I wanted to shout out to everyone, “YOU SEE!!!  Garret gets it.”  Garret comes from a devout Jewish family. Wondering how he could possibly know this I said, “Garret, you’re Jewish.”  With out hesitation he replied, “I know, but he’s coming.”

The simplicity of Garret’s message hit me right between the eyes.  It wasn’t that I needed a reminder that Jesus is coming (although I often do) or that I needed a reminder to look busy, it was that I so often make my Faith about being busy. Sometimes it just feels like… busyness. I left school that day, humbled by the fact I thought I could trick God into thinking I could “look busy.”  Sometimes we just need to get back to the basics; we need to be brought back the GOSPEL, the GOOD news.  And that news is good because it’s not about being busy but about a relationship that takes time and patience.

Jesus is coming but we don’t have to just “look busy,” we should look to Him.

Take a moment and ask God to help you get back to the basics of the gospel. Take a step back from the busyness and make it a priority to stop, listen, and soak in the Word of the Lord.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Today’s Friday. I don’t work Fridays, so I usually try to at least get a good work out in on those days. I wanted to go for a run this morning, but haven’t been able to find my iPod for a couple weeks. I texted Jonathan, complaining that I couldn’t find it and explained that I was trying to go for a run. He said (and I quote), “Awwww im sry. Jst run n talk to God.”

Hmmm. No music?

Okay, I said. And there I went, heading off with my thoughts as my only source of entertainment.

I was running for probably only five or six minutes before I wanted to stop, but I didn’t want to stop because I hate acknowledging the fact that I’m out of shape. I hate doing things I’m not good at, and whenever I realize it, I just want to stop. Just ask Jonathan–whenever I get upset, I stop whatever it was that caused me to be upset because I don’t want to feel that way if I don’t “have” to.

So I started walking. And immediately, I was overwhelmed in good thought about the difference between walking and running in my life. I mean, how many times have we heard the terms “walk with God” and “walk with the Spirit”? We both know the answer.

But I have to admit something. In my life, I expect to just run without ever having walked. I don’t understand why I do it, either. It was so enjoyable to physically go for a walk this morning that I can’t even put it to words. I was able to actually take in what was happening around me. I was able to clear my head. I was able to think for once, and even have enough focus to finish a thought, of which I usually can’t even finish one in this busy day-and-age.

The parable? God is encouraging me to slow down and to actually e-n-j-o-y my walk with him. He’s not the one asking me to run right now–yet I’ve been the one who is so demanding. He’s not the one who expects me to be in perfect spiritual condition–yet I’ve been the one who has had unrealistic expectations.

If you remember, at the mission trip I mentioned a verse in Hebrews 12. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

As I continued walking this morning, that verse came to mind and I was thinking about it–specifically why it says “run.” I was sort of asking God why it would say that. And as I pondered this, it really felt clear to me that “running” looks different for everyone. The only commonality is that running implies a level where someone is pushed beyond their capacity. Challenged. It’s not meant to be easy. And if we could just really get that clearly in our heads, understanding that we really only grow with God when indeed we are challenged, we will eventually acquire the stamina to finish the race.

We’re not competing against each other, either. We all have the same finish line, yes, of course! That is God. In fact, we are meant to help each other finish strongly. I am so thankful for Jonathan in my life, who encouraged me to seek God this morning. We will always be surrounded by non-believers–that’s inevitable–but great things happen when we surround ourselves by people who truly long to see growth in our lives. To see us look more like Christ.

Even as I walked this morning, and seriously began to enjoy it, I felt attacked (no, no one came up and tackled me). I felt spirtually challenged, which always happens after I have some sort of godly realization. I saw another woman leave her house–a woman who looked better than I did. She had her hat on, ear phones, a matching running suit, and a face teeming with perseverance. And there I stood in 10-year old blue soccer shorts, a mis-matching long sleeved t-shirt which reads “I’M A HAPPY CAMPER,” and my tube socks pulled up as far as they go, because I have hairy legs.

For a moment, I was tempted to get upset again by comparing myself with her. But I realized that’s exactly what my enemy wants me to do. My enemy wants me to feel inferior, not good enough, and to do whatever he can to stop me from thinking about God.

Knowing this, I turned to her and said, “Good morning.”

“Good morning,” she said back.

And I kept walking.

Karen