Ask, Seek and Knock: An Antidote to Lust.

(By Diego Cuartas)

I am so thankful for how simply Jesus offers us a reason to pray. There are 3 action words (verbs) that describe one and the same thing: ask, seek and knock. In these three words we find the simple revelation of what we can do when we experience desires or deep needs. Prayer, according to Jesus, is where we need to begin as we experience personal need or that deep, ongoing desire we call lust.

Before we consider Jesus' teaching found on Matthew 7:7-11, let's make sure we are on the same page with regard to the word I am using here--lust. Lust does not refer only to sexual desires we may have. Lust is a strong desire for something. So lust can take us on any given day to desiring more food, a better car, the phone upgrade, a relationship, admiration, power, sexual fulfillment or a certain position. The list goes on as long as any desire we can list. Elsewhere in the Bible (James 4:2-4) we learn that often times we don't have what we want because we don't ask or because we ask for the wrong motives.

In Matthew 7:7-11, I find two key realities we can consider to address our lust and even our personal needs (two different realities here). Consider what Jesus says:

 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?  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!”

The first reality is that Jesus promises to those who actively ask, seek and knock that they will receive something in return. It is as if Jesus is letting us in into his heart and revealing the fact that he wants us to ask, seek and knock.

The second reality is that Jesus points us to the character of our heavenly Father. By comparing our heavenly Father with our earthly fathers, Jesus assures us that our heavenly Father is good and knows how to "give good gifts" to His children--especially to those who ask! This reality in and of itself can offer us comfort. Our asking is met by someone who has our best interest in mind.

One of the benefits of bringing our needs and lusts to our heavenly Father is that we will be more prone to align our heart's direction with His will for us. Asking, seeking and knocking will also prevent us from rallying our own resources or strategies to supply for our own needs and lusts at whatever cost.

What a loving act on Jesus' part to give us exactly what we need to address our needs and lusts: three active imperatives in the present time that are applicable at any moment of our lives--ask, seek and knock!

Interesting that Jesus also gives us in our English language an acrostic to easily remember what is best for us to do regarding our needs and lusts: A.S.K. (ask, seek and knock!).

What are your personal needs or lusts today? First A.S.K.

Christians Don’t Always Look Like You

I’ve always been fascinated by subcultures.  As a child, my dad was really into Christian rock music.  While much of it was admittedly pretty lack-luster, it was the subculture I was raised in, going to music festivals and listening to Petra tapes in the car.  By high school, I was solidly into the “underground Christian alternative music and skateboarding” subculture.  Sure, it was a niche group, but it actually existed, complete with it’s own magazine.  I suppose it was it’s own subset of the  “underground music and  skateboarding” subculture.  (Does that make it a subsubculture?)  Anyway, I was also into the “hiphop” subculture a little, as well as the “youth group coffeehouse” subculture.  

As I grew into adulthood, my ties to these subcultures faded, and were replaced by new subcultures.  I consider myself a part of the “tech nerd” subculture, among others, and I enjoy finding and identifying subcultures that I’m not a part of.  It’s sort of my own little Audubon Society for subculture spotting.

In the American church, and in our own church, there is no shortage of subculture.  Form the “Duck Dynasty loyalists”, the “mainstream quasi-hipsters”, and the “social libertarians”, to the “Bible-study intellectuals”, the “uber-conservative Christian right”, and the “red-letter liberals”, our culture is full of subcultures.  And this is reason to celebrate.  

The fact that we serve the same God, read the same scriptures, and are so very different from each other says something about our Father.  It can also teach us something about grace. And it’s not always easy.  

What comes easily is deciding to what degree someone is a follower of Jesus.  Things like, “well he goes to church, but he drinks,” and “he votes differently than I do, so he must not be a true Christian,” tend to roll off of our collective tongues.  Does God feel this way, or does he accept each of us as we are?  Some Christians smoke, some go to movies, some are racist, some are gay, some drink, some sin more than you, some sin less, some curse, some aren’t very nice.  The hardest part of this for me is that, when people do things that I don’t think are very Christ-like, it’s much easier to judge them than to love and accept them.  

The wide range of subcultures in the church should underscore what a loving and graceful God we have.  We all have our messes.  The beautiful thing is that God meets us in our messiness, embraces us, and moves us toward holiness.  Not in a get-yourself-together sort of way, but in a real way.  In a way that serves others, clothes the poor, loves enemies, shares Jesus with the lost.  That’s the type of subculture I want to be a part of.

Jeff Hyson

Slowing Down to Relate May Cause You To Push Social Media Aside.

Ed Welch offers a helpful perspective regarding how the use of social media forces us to relate at a pace that is not fitting to our humanity. At our church, we have been focusing on 4 values we are encouraged to pursue these days:

• Spend less
• Worship fully
• Give more
• Love all

In order to implement these values we may need to consider the pace of our relationships and what may be substituting what Welches calls "slower relationships" in our lives. Click here and read Welche's blog. I hope it helps you assess what dynamics or attitudes may need to change in your life in these days so at to love others well.

May God bless you,

Diego Cuartas

Why Conspire?

For the last few weeks our church has been discussing “Advent Conspiracy” and how we as followers of Jesus are called to live especially during the Christmas season. There are four themes or practical applications: “Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, Love All” and it has all the feelings of idealistic change and charging in and living radically and getting caught up in the something big. (Obviously I am exaggerating wildly so I’d recommend you check it out for yourself.) My life and schedule are a little chaotic right now and carrying around a growing baby inside me doesn’t help so maybe that’s why it all sounded overwhelming and, frankly, unappealing to me. Something along the lines of, “Ughhh, I just don’t have time to radically change the entire landscape of Christmas commercial culture right now. Maybe next year.”

It all just seemed a little too big to carry home from church and do something with, until I started thinking about it.

Strangely enough, when I started considering the implications of “spending less” and “giving more” and the impact on my schedule and priorities this holiday season, the first emotion I felt was RELIEF. As if for the first time ever, I realized I had a choice in how I spent my time and money from Thanksgiving to Christmas. It almost felt euphoric, like a kid running out of school on last day of class. I felt FREE. If Christmas is all about Jesus and Jesus cares like crazy about people, could that mean I am free to care about the things on my heart - on Jesus’ heart - at Christmastime and not a set schedule of obligations I have to follow?

I don’t mean to imply that every past Christmas season has been a list of tasks I begrudgingly accomplish. But I do mean that there’s something about taking authority over my choices that I didn’t feel I had before- the ability to say no to things that don’t matter and say yes to the people to do matter. For example, I love giving gifts that make people feel known and loved. But often times, that means I drive myself crazy trying to find sales in order to afford more lavish gifts instead of something smaller or simpler. What really matters is loving that person well and that doesn’t need to include them feeling “spoiled” by the amount of money I spend on them.

This season, my “Advent Conspiracy” change might be as small and simple as taking time to catch up with a friend over hot chocolate or planning some extra movie nights with my family and a little less time spending a fortune on Christmas cards. That’s okay, because what I am most excited about is a newfound perspective that allows me to see this Christmas full of joy and cheer and as the celebration that it truly is. 

Jessica Noblett

Where Is The Joy of Advent?

I am pleased to announce that John Piper is making his book "The Dawning of Indestructible Joy" available to all at no cost. The link provided below will re-direct you to the webpage where you can download your free copy. 

Consider Piper's thought which I believe is a good representation of how we are as humans:

"I am prone to be dull, spiritually drowsy, halfhearted, lukewarm. That is the way human beings are, including Christians, even about great things. Peter knows it and is writing to “awaken” or to “stir up” his readers so that they don’t just know but also feel the wonder of the truth." (page 7)

So why consider reading these daily devotionals? Because we all need to be awaken or stirred up deep inside to the reality of true joy in our lives. You could say that joy requires fighting for it-- not because we can generate it or obtain it on our own but because our souls lack the capacity to feel and entertain constantly the indestructible joy Jesus knows and wants for us!

http://www.desiringgod.org/books/the-dawning-of-indestructible-joy 

May our joy increase this Advent season,

Diego Cuartas

The Holidays: Not the Cover of Better Homes and Gardens

(By Lois Robinson)

WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO FELL AND THINK ABOUT THE HOLIDAYS?

 AHHH, the holidays! For some it is an, “AHHH, I can’t wait until the Holidays are over!” And yet others say, “AHHH, Yeah! I can’t wait for the holidays to be here!” Whereas others say, “I’m numb, and it really doesn’t feel like the holidays because of very significant losses that have happened.”

I admit, I have experienced all of the above to some degree. But usually I find myself getting very self-focused and wanting to experience a form of utopia, sometimes literally expecting that picture on the front of a magazine where the whole family is gathered in the beautifully decorated BIG home with the fireplace aglow while everyone smiles and laughs with little appetizers in their hands. The table would be set with more silverware than I know what to do with, the huge delectable turkey in the middle of the table and everyone holding hands thanking God for His blessings. Dinner would be wonderful! No uncomfortable silences, everyone engaged with each other, not a cross word would be exchanged. We would all connect in meaningful ways. Then the coffee and MANY pies would be served. More laughing would occur as we moved into the huge living room with the fireplace (can’t leave that out!) as we began to play games as a family- fully knowing each other, connecting and engaging. Oh, can’t leave out the 6 inches of snow that spontaneously began to fall as well! AHHH, the Holidays!

 FUN WOULD BE HAD BY ALL!!!

 Well, I can honestly say, I have never really experienced that scenario with my family. What I have experienced is some of the above- the fireplace all aglow, some laughing, many awkward silences, forced conversation with some, ministering to some, holding my tongue with others and at times tactfully rebuking inappropriate behaviors demonstrated by the Christians in our family. I believe my family represents a microcosm of the world.

VERY MESSY AND UNCOMFORTABLE

Why is this?? Aren’t the holidays supposed to be celebratory? Hmmm. Yes, but we must remember what we are celebrating!

Is Thanksgiving a time when we engorge ourselves and say thank you out loud for everything we have but make sure we keep it short so the food doesn’t get cold? Laughing and getting a buzz?  Kicking back because, “Darn it, I deserve a break from all the stress!” Christmas has its own scene going on, and unfortunately it doesn’t involve the manger scene- that gets squeezed in where it can fit. It has become a HUGE event that the advertisers enjoy showing more and more commercials of what we need, what to buy so we can be cool (of course) and where to get it. Pipe in the Christmas scents through the store ventilation, play the music and put up the Santa so people will help us make more money for the stores revenue!!! YEAH!!!!!

Friends, is that what the Holidays are really about?  NO!

Thanksgiving is a time that we celebrate what we are thankful for. In the Christian faith, we are primarily thanking God for who He is, what He has done through Jesus and how He has provided for us. It’s not about us. Christmas is about us celebrating Jesus. Yes, Jesus. He came to save us from our brokenness- our broken families, our broken lives, even our broken hearts when our idealistic holiday picture didn’t happen the way we imagined. He came for the picture I described my family to be.

I wonder what your experiences are with the holidays. Where are you in your life? What are you looking forward to? What you are dreading?  Or you may just  want to wake up when it’s all over. I don’t know where you are, but I know where I want to be. I want to keep focused on the One the holidays exist for. I want to be a part of the holiday where I can be used by the Savior Himself to bring about change in a broken world, a broken family, my own broken life. I know that Jesus says in John 12:32, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself (ESV).”

I would encourage all of us to be focused on this verse during the holiday season. I do believe that when we live that verse out, we will actually get closer to the picture I dream about. 

Hmmm, new thought. Maybe that desire I have is actually from God. When we get to the Great Banquet in Heaven :) A promise for all those that have placed faith in the One we celebrate,  Jesus Christ.

                          Blessings, My Friends