Be impudent! Ask. It's not because you are his friend, it is because you won't leave him alone until he helps you. Another translation says because of the friend's "importunity" he will rise. Persistence in asking. For God's sake ask! Be persistent. He's telling us to ask. Get it?

Luke 11:5-9

And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves,

for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’;

Renee Shupe
photos

and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’?

I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.

And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Bible Gateway link

One of my favorite verses in the bible! It deserves KJV. Naomi was a loving, faithful soul. I never knew my mother-in-law, but I feel this way about her son, my dear husband.

Ruth 1:16-17

And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge:
thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

Bible Gateway Link (King James Version)

When things are complicated we need the wisdom of the ages. It's reassuring. The spark of God in all of us recognizes truth and wisdom whenever they appear.

Proverbs 15:1-3

Brad Boydston photos

Brad Boydston
photos

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.

Bible Gateway link

Marriage! The woman is barren, yet she doesn't question. She immediately goes to find her husband, Manoah. The first thing he does is ask God for help. Our world would be better if every marriage worked this way. Let's give our men a chance to be the spiritual head of the household.

Judges 13:6-12

Then the woman came and told her husband, “A man of God came to me, and his appearance was like the appearance of the angel of God, very awesome. I did not ask him where he was from, and he did not tell me his name,

but he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and

bear a son. So then drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’”

Then Manoah prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, please let the man of God whom you sent come again to us and teach us what we are to do with the child who will be born.”

And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman as she sat in the field. But Manoah her husband was not with her.

So the woman ran quickly and told her husband, “Behold, the man who came to me the other day has appeared to me.”

And Manoah arose and went after his wife and came to the man and said to him, “Are you the man who spoke to this woman?” And he said, “I am.”

And Manoah said, “Now when your words come true, what is to be the child's manner of life, and what is his mission?”

Bible Gateway link to story of Samson's birth

We are moving today and tomorrow after 23 years in the same place. I offer to God a sacrifice of Thanksgiving. Hallelujah!!!!

Psalm 50:14-15

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High,

and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

Bible Gateway Link

As humans we are so fixated on wealth. Aren't we blessed that Christ ransomed his life for us? IT DOES SUFFICE! Sometimes life may be the pits, but for those of us who believe, we are promised eternity with God.

Psalm 49:5-12

Why should I fear in times of trouble,when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me,

those who trust in their wealth and boast of the

abundance of their riches? 

Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life,

for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice,

that he should live on forever and never see the pit.

For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others.

Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they called lands by their own names.

Man in his pomp will not remain; he is like the beasts that perish.

Bible Gateway link

Many of the heroes in the Old Testament tested God. And He tested them. We have no need to test God, He has already answered with Christ.

Judges 6:36-40

Then Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said,

behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece

alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.”

And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water.

Then Gideon said to God, “Let not your anger

burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only,

and on all the ground let there be dew.”

And God did so that night; and it was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew.

Bible Gateway link