ASK AND IT WILL BE GIVEN

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'; 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 importunity he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you,

Ask, and it will be given you; 

seek, and you will find; 

knock, and it will be opened to you.

Luke 11:9

For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

-- Luke 11: 5 - 13

GOD SENT

In John 13:20, Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives any one whom I send receives me; and he who receives me receives him who sent me."

Whenever we need help, a person comes along whom we acknowledge as God sent. This is how we see Jesus in others and we thank the Lord for bringing such persons to us at a precise time and moment.

My friendship with the Lord has brought me to new places and communities where I continue to learn and grow in faith. I have found new friends whom I believed were all God sent. We all share on thing in common, our love for God!

With Jesus you are never alone. He will surely send a suitable partner or companion who understands what you are going through and will help you solve anything that bothers you.

In receiving whoever the Lord sends, the flood gates of heaven are opened up for you to receive all of God's blessings, healing and miracles.

Lord Jesus, thank you for all the people you have sent that have made my life full and complete.

The Teacher

Jesus said, "Go into the city to a certain one, and say to him, `The Teacher says, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at your house with my disciples'" (Matthew 26:8).

A specific instruction was given by the Lord to His disciples. He wants them to take action that will lead them to a certain person who has regarded Jesus as his Teacher. This person although not named in the bible is a true believer of Christ for he willingly opened his house for the Lord. He is a friend of God!

Whatever his Teacher says, he obeys unselfishly.

Friendship with the Lord is a relationship that requires continues learning and obedience. You must unselfishly give up all things that matters to you and allow God to fill you up with new things. Only then will you experience the awesome greatness of God's presence in your own dwelling place.


Lord, thank you for your word that teaches me everyday.

I open up my house to you today so that you may dwell in it. Fill this house with grace and blessings and use it for your greater glory and honor.

This house and all that is in it is yours for you alone is the giver of all things!

Friend of God in Service

These many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends (Luke 15:29). And he said to him,

"Son, you are always with me, 

and all that is mine is yours. 

It was fitting to make merry and be glad, 

for this your brother 
was dead, and is alive; 

he was lost, and is found." 

Luke 15:31-32

Alas, my dear brethren, the man who lives according to the direction of his passions and abandons the service of God is both unhappy and capable of so little!

Put an army of one hundred thousand men around a dead man and let them employ all their power to bring him back to life. No, no, my dear children, he will not come to life again.

But let someone who is despised by the world, but who enjoys the friendship of God, command this dead man to take up life again; immediately you will see him arise and walk.

We have other proofs of this too. If it were necessary to be wealthy or to be very learned to serve God, a great many people would be unable to do it. But, no, my dear children, extensive learning or great wealth are not at all necessary for the service of God. On the contrary, they are often a very big obstacle to it. Yes, my dear brethren, let us be rich or poor, in whatever state we may be, learned or otherwise, we can please God and save our souls. -- St. John Vianney

Jesus pleads for His Friend

On behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend (Job 16:21).

He calls together his Friends

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."

So he told them this parable:

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, `Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

"Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, `Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.' Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

-- Luke 15: 1 - 10

Friend, Go Up Higher

Go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you,

`Friend, go up higher'; 

then you will be honored 

in the presence of all 

who sit at table with you.

For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

-- Luke 14:10-11