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Abundantly. That's the best answer I could come up with for Jesus' question. See, my wife and my mother LOOOVE HGTV. When we had cable, at our house, we had 5 channels we switched between: NickJr. and Disney for the kids, TBS for me (when TBS was cool and airing Braves baseball games), and HGTV and TLC for the wife. OK, make it 6. Throw the Food Network in there, too.
One thing bothers me a little about watching so much HGTV. Granted, other channels, including my beloved TBS, has this problem too, but we watch a lot of HGTV, so I shall pick on them. So much programming surrounding homosexual couples. Hear me. It is simply the lifestyle that bothers me. Plus, the gay men HGTV, and others, put on tv seem, well, gay. I'm sure these are fabulous people, but their lifestyle is in direct opposition to God. This is not my point.
This is: "If [we] then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts,... how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:13 NRSV
See, tonight on Deserving Design With Vern Yip, two female roommates received a new home office and guest room. I don't know if they were gay. Unfortunately, anymore, one assumes they are before finding out. Two women, living together, on HGTV... That's not the point.
This is: Their sexual preferences aside, it got me to thinking about how much God loves us. The purpose of these shows is to give someone a blessing. Be it a new kitchen, bathroom, whatever. Houses are remodeled and redesigned, and the recipients are usually ecstatic. So, take a homosexual couple, their lifestyle in direct opposition to God, they still receive a blessing. A new this; a remodeled that. I know the couple doesn't have to be homosexual to be in sin. We don't always know if and when we see the ones who are having an affair on their spouse, or the ones who cheat at work, or the ones who are in to drugs and alcohol, and so and so forth.
As I was watching this show, God just spoke the following verse to me.
Matthew 7:11If 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! (NIV)
Luke 11:13If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (NIV)
I really don't think the two women were "a couple". Just roommates. But the point remains the same. If we who are evil, homosexual, alcoholic, abusive, promiscuous, deceiving, etc, can give good gifts to those who are also evil, then how much more will the Father, who is not evil by the way, give to us who ask!
Luke 11:9-10 (Amplified Bible)
9So I say to you, Ask and [a]keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and [b]keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and [c]keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you.
10For everyone who asks and [d]keeps on asking receives; and he who seeks and [e]keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and [f]keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened.
So, if those who are living in sin can be blessed in such a way, how much more does God want to bless those who are actually trying to live for him. How much more will he bless those who chase after him? Why don't we take hold of that more often? Can you imagine how much more? How much more!
A New Vantage Point - Evening and Morning
2 years ago
These verses are still fresh on my mind. I was reading them late Monday night in a book about the Holy Spirit. It says to ask, believe and receive.
It amazes me how difficult we make the simple task of asking and receiving. I think we often fall short on the believing end of things.
Of course, I'm not saying God is this pie in the sky fairy that will give us anything we ask for. Not at all. I think scripture is clear on the "requirements" of our asking and receiving.
According to the verses you listed out we must have a desire that doesn't just fade over night. We must "ask and keep on asking." There's a certain amount of determination on our part that must be present.
The other requirement I find in scripture is that what we ask for must be in alignment with His will and plan for our lives. And sometimes we are amazed at the discovery of what really is in His will and plan...from the smallest to the largest.
Okay...that's enough from me this morning. I should probably get my own blog.
Good stuff!!
First of all, let me just say I watch HGTV also (and love it!), but I do catch myself at times thinking about these people who host the show/on the show. Sometimes so much, that I forget what the show is even talking about. Even though they may be homosexuals, or have those people on the shows, they ARE still able to bless people. What a great verse to follow all of that!
I think sometimes we forget that we are all sinners. No matter how big or small the sin, it's still sin! So if those people who are non-Christians are able to bless people, how amazing would it be if ALL Christians used the gifts/talents God gave to them to bless others?!
God wants us as Christians to bless others as He has blessed us!!
Just some thoughts~!
**And Toby, I wrote alot too (but some things go better on other people's blogs! lol)
I'm with you, babe. Let's keep on keeping on so we don't miss anything. I love you.
Bridy