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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Psalm 47 ~ He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet.

Psalm 47

1 Clap your hands, all you nations;
shout to God with cries of joy.
2 How awesome is the LORD Most High,
the great King over all the earth!

3 He subdued nations under us,
peoples under our feet.

4 He chose our inheritance for us,
the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.
Selah

5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy,
the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets.

6 Sing praises to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises.

7 For God is the King of all the earth;
sing to him a psalm of praise.

8 God reigns over the nations;
God is seated on his holy throne.

9 The nobles of the nations assemble
as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings of the earth belong to God;
he is greatly exalted.

The South has a saying - Living in High Cotton.

The early Old Testament has a tradition. Moses found God's name to be "I Am" from a trip to a  Mountain.

Acts 7
33 “Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground."

The Children of Israel found Mount Gerizim to be a place of Blessings. Later the Samaritans would live here and Jesus would first announce Himself to be the Messiah among them.

Moses stayed on Mount Nebo overlooking the land of milk and honey. Jeremiah, in Maccabees, hid the Ark of the Covenant knowing the Temple days were numbered on this Mountain.

David conquered the city of Jerusalem for the Tribe of Judah and then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in Mount Moriah.

Luke 22
39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. To pray.

The Transfiguration occurred at the top of a Mountain.

Luke 9
35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”

Even when the Temple was proposed by David. Isaiah 66 tells us "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be?"

How are we to incorporate the high places, the Temple, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit?

Jesus also spoke of the Beatitudes. Jesus, the Son of God, was so comfortable, HE sat to teach the people on the mountains leading from the Sea of Galilee.


Matthew 5
3 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

14 “You are the light of the world."

God tells us to be Salt and Light. Being the people we are basically created to be. With components of examining our souls, mourning and comfort, gentleness and great inheritance (God's Promises in our expectations), to hunger and thirst for righteousness, obtain mercy from God and give mercy, purity of heart (sincerity), peacemaking,

~ these qualities are those of Children of God.

These are the aspects Jesus has for the Work of Men. To believe God - He is so comfortable with this, Jesus sits to teach us today. To imbibe, exude, and manifest these into our words, work, and attitudes. God Planning each of us and equipping those qualities within us, to function as His unique Children.



All of them Saints of God, and I pray - God help me to be one, too.
In Jesus' name. Amen.

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Matthew 7:7-11 ~ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

Matthew 7:7-11

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!


Jesus gives us, today, preparation, His Words to you  -  advice. You are blessed to believe. Expect God.

John 20:29
Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”


Simeon is known for millenniums for his earnest work to find Jesus.

Luke 2

22 Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”),[b] 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
Simeon Sees God’s Salvation

25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:

29 “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation
31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”

33 And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against."

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Romans 8:28
“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

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Matthew 6:16-18 ~ will reward you

In John 6:35, Jesus tells us that He is the bread of life. It is also interesting Jesus doesn’t suggest to us that we should fast, He says 'when' we fast.


Matthew 6:16-18

16 "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you

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Genesis 49 ~ When Jacob had finished this charge to his sons, he drew his feet into the bed, breathed his last, and joined his ancestors in death.

Genesis 49


Then Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come.

2 “Assemble and listen, O sons of Jacob,
listen to Israel your father.

3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn,
my might, and the firstfruits of my strength,
preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.
4 Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence,
because you went up to your father's bed;
then you defiled it—he went up to my couch!

5 “Simeon and Levi are brothers;
weapons of violence are their swords.
6 Let my soul come not into their council;
O my glory, be not joined to their company.
For in their anger they killed men,
and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen.
7 Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce,
and their wrath, for it is cruel!
I will divide them in Jacob
and scatter them in Israel.

8 “Judah, your brothers shall praise you;
your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;
your father's sons shall bow down before you.
9 Judah is a lion's cub;
from the prey, my son, you have gone up.
He stooped down; he crouched as a lion
and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?
10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,
until tribute comes to him;
and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
11 Binding his foal to the vine
and his donkey's colt to the choice vine,
he has washed his garments in wine
and his vesture in the blood of grapes.
12 His eyes are darker than wine,
and his teeth whiter than milk.

13 “Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea;
he shall become a haven for ships,
and his border shall be at Sidon.

14 “Issachar is a strong donkey,
crouching between the sheepfolds.
15 He saw that a resting place was good,
and that the land was pleasant,
so he bowed his shoulder to bear,
and became a servant at forced labor.

16 “Dan shall judge his people
as one of the tribes of Israel.
17 Dan shall be a serpent in the way,
a viper by the path,
that bites the horse's heels
so that his rider falls backward.
18 I wait for your salvation, O Lord.

19 “Raiders shall raid Gad,
but he shall raid at their heels.

20 “Asher's food shall be rich,
and he shall yield royal delicacies.

21 “Naphtali is a doe let loose
that bears beautiful fawns.

22 “Joseph is a fruitful bough,
a fruitful bough by a spring;
his branches run over the wall.
23 The archers bitterly attacked him,
shot at him, and harassed him severely,


24 yet his bow remained unmoved;
his arms were made agile
by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob
(from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel),
25 by the God of your father who will help you,
by the Almighty who will bless you
with blessings of heaven above,
blessings of the deep that crouches beneath,
blessings of the breasts and of the womb.
26 The blessings of your father
are mighty beyond the blessings of my parents,
up to the bounties of the everlasting hills.
May they be on the head of Joseph,
and on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers.

27 “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf,
in the morning devouring the prey
and at evening dividing the spoil.”
Jacob's Death and Burial

28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each with the blessing suitable to him. 29 Then he commanded them and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 in the cave that is in the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah— 32 the field and the cave that is in it were bought from the Hittites.” 33 When Jacob had finished this charge to his sons, he drew his feet into the bed, breathed his last, and joined his ancestors in death.

The Scriptures are so real. Who would have remembered, except one who loves Jacob, to add the last sentence.


Job 1:21
and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."

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Matthew 1:18-25 ~ Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel

Matthew 1:18-25

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

In the 1970s, Christmas Trees took on a new theme. Sort of a let's go on a hayride and drink out of mason jar look. Almost like a picnic. This was also the era Americans politely said to you, "Are you a Christian?" And it was perfectly acceptable to reply, "Lutheran, Catholic, Episcopalian, Methodist, Baptist." "Church of Christ, Jehovah's Witness, Pentecostal." And usually you'd get a smile and a nod back. Thank you, you've pegged you for me.

We were all Christian. And the denominations were reading the Bible. My Step-Grandfather Tate was an Episcopalian Priest and he was dire about the acceptance of divorce in the Episcopalian Denomination meetings - he said it would run down the country. I thought that was a Bit harsh. However the first thing people argued about in Christian circles was if Mary was really a virgin. Looking back on that, that was a little rude wasn't it. Bit presumptive.

We certainly forgot a few things. And don't we continue to forget the real picture of Jesus' birth.

This is God's Son. God conquered death.

We often ask our friend's parents - So wink, wink, nudge, nudge.

Angels sang - so this was Holy...

No. This was gritty saddle travel. In a place where the people did not invite them to sleep in beds. A Pregnant Woman placed on a plodding animal. Each 80 mile had a man walking beside a very pregnant woman. First time birth, a virgin birth, in a non-sterile environment.

Talk surrounded them.

Who is this?

This could very well have been Mary, Mother of God.

Unless. Compassion came from the uninformed. The Victim. The old duffer, we like to think. (We really think God would place His Son with an infirm, aged man - not a Biblical idea really. The Bible really states Jesus had siblings and Mary was their mother.)

Instead of a Palace: Immanuel - God with us - even explained how ~


Isaiah 7 (The passage God tells Ahaz “Ask a sign of the Lord your God Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel)

21 In that day a man will keep alive a young cow and two sheep, 22 and because of the abundance of milk that they give, he will eat curds, for everyone who is left in the land will eat curds and honey.

23 In that day every place where there used to be a thousand vines, worth a thousand shekels of silver, will become briers and thorns. 24 With bow and arrows a man will come there, for all the land will be briers and thorns. 25 And as for all the hills that used to be hoed with a hoe, you will not come there for fear of briers and thorns, but they will become a place where cattle are let loose and where sheep tread.

Rare 1698 view of Bethlehem by Dutch artist Cornelius de Bruijin

The Works of God. Involve:

The Extraordinary.

Sometimes Camouflaged in the ordinary involving eyes of faith. Unless they Sing Choirs of Angels.

Involving ordinary people. Who are. Bewildered. Afraid. Pressured and unbelieved by the world.  And called.


The Bible is Far from saccharin sweet.
Why?
Why wouldn't God make life easy?

Luke 5:32
I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Remember with me, even Mary was sometimes in disagreement with Jesus. Meaning even Mary, the Mother of God, requires a Savior.

The Bible tells us ~

Luke 18:19
"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone."

The Real Christmas Story -

1 Corinthians 1
18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26a  worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.

27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,

29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written,
“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

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