Matthew 7 ~ Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Rembrandt Van Rijn:The Return of the Prodigal Son

Matthew 7

7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.


7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Ask, knock, seek find. Where, what, when. Jesus moved, in his adult life, to Capernaum. Jesus was most impressed with the Centurion who waited only upon God's Word.

I've observed and been interested, all my life, in people and what makes them tick. I think I always expected God to be stuck in the second picture. Always weeping. We always joke about Jewish Mothers - but when Adam was created - God was still holding on to Eve's rib. Meaning God is a Jewish Mother. He had no need for Jesus to be anything but cloned, and God chose a Jewish Mom named Mary for Jesus - who sometimes upset Jesus - even as He traveled to Cana and stayed with Mary for a few days.

God expected Mary to tell Jesus - there, there, there and GET BACK into the Game.

Would you doubt that the Prodigal's Father later gave him a list of Team Chores.

In the old vein of it's all dire:

I heard a Priest explain his baptism of a parishioner's baby daughter with Down Syndrome. He looked at the parents and her mother was copiously weeping. Her father was beginning to tear up from his wife's reaction. The Priest stopped the readings to say something about Expectations. Their daughter would not live up all their dreams for her. And God is in the same boat. We will not always please Him. Nor live up to expectations.

God is like the Old God of the Old Testament.

Not the reformed God.

Recently I met a man without forearms. These days I look closely at people without hands, my daughter was born without her left hand. This is something I guess I will always do. This trait runs in my grandmother Anita's side. And I looked at this man with his arm clamp on one arm and saw something I was so very glad to see. His eyes spoke of joy. And his wife came over and talked with us and their small daughter. They talked of buying a horse. His wife had no pity or sorrow. She Loved her husband and expected him to bounce.

Recently I met a man who is deaf and is a Disc Golfer. He was playing in the State Championship of Texas and we had met the month before. Last month, his game was fluid and what I saw was this - a very likable man determined to communicate when the game allows that. I saw some hurt at how easily others communicate. And I saw his shoulders straighten and he communicated until he was satisfied. I saw the ability he had to speak clearly. I heard him use great noises, he cannot hear, to entertain others.

The fruit from his tree - was what God sees in the World and says Life is Good. People saw his effort and bent over to make sure he was affirmed. This is a very likeable man.

So much so that, this weekend, when the Championship started and he was very less-than-pleased - you knew you could speak up to encourage him. He was not going to whine with you giving him confirmation. (Not much anyway!) And when you passed him a written note, some surprise, but more appreciation that it's not comfortable to reach out. Taking your advice that the hail and hearty man who just greeted you suffers - to a deeper understanding that life calls us to Shake things off. Strive again. Strive again? That man did Well in the Championship.

Mean God - He gives us imperfect lives and opportunities? That Wrathful God of the Old Testament.

Hebrews 11
11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.

3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.


32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about...

That Wrathful God of the Old Testament -

Choosing Abraham to be the Father of Nations. Abraham who asked God for mercy. Went to bat against the Lord God. Then distrusted God enough to think God would want Isaac instead of boldly proclaiming 'NO.' Did that Wrathful God dessert Abraham the sinner? Nope.

The Horrid God who would let Jacob be labelled a Thief of only a Verbal Blessing...

Jacob is loved and held dear for fighting for Blessings - Blessings Jacob willingly bestowed on Sons who deserted Jacob. Jacob is Chosen. And Comforted.

How Dare that Wrathful GOD provide Opportunities for a Solution of Faith.

Imagine allowing Samuel to work for HIM for years. What is that? A violation of Child Labor Laws. And Samuel hears God's plan and says - "OH NO. Don't Send Me!" Yep. Samuel Prophet of God is a complainer. Goes God ZAP Samuel. No. God says, "Oh Samuel, please stop mourning Saul." God picks Samuel because... Samuel can Love.

Gad rushes in to tell King David - forgiver of many men who did not follow him and he welcomes them as he comes to his throne - Gad the Prophet rushes in to say "You Blew IT. Pick death or horror." David, who is picked for many things, says "God will be more merciful, He must pick."

God is merciful. He fires Gad!

Nathan sweeps in to make David weep over a lost lamb. God is going to keep Nathan around - even comforting and guiding a feeble David who knows David is going Home to his Father God.

The hand of blessing. The hand of adversity. From God?

40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Life rests in no particular angle for a long time. Victory is God's.

Psalm 119:28

My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.

1 Peter 5:10

After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.…

In Jesus Christ Our Hero. The Lord!

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