Ask, Seek, Knock…

Ask: If we have a need for answers we ask questions. It starts as a verbal action that we learn as a small child because we really desire to know. Growing up I apparently asked a lot of questions; and if I didn’t get an answer that I was satisfied with I would persist and follow up with more questions; to the point that I remember being told, nicely or otherwise, that I needed to put it to rest for a bit!

Being young and vulnerable we tend to accept the answers that we are given. But I was determined to find out! I just asked other people, consulted the dictionary, a book (keep in mind this was pre-Internet) or an Encyclopedia on the matter at hand. I would try and discover it myself. I began to seek…

Seek: My “asking” was then encouraged to search deeply for the answers I was looking for. Who IS God? Who or what is this Devil being? Why did God have to sacrifice His Son? Why would He want a relationship with me? Questions brought answers, but they also brought more questions and a longing to belong to something or Someone bigger than myself.

Born into a godly home I was taught about God, His Son Jesus, we heard and read many Bible stories and listened to lots of sermons; learned about the salvation offered by God, attended Christian summer camps, family camps, and memorized Bible verses. Somewhere in this time I began to feel that He was seeking me! I felt and heard a “knocking” in my soul!

Knock: Knocking seems to indicate a door of which is closed (not locked, necessarily, but closed) announcing someone’s presence and seeking admittance. Someone was respectfully seeking admittance into my soul. He didn’t pass by my door (He didn’t want to), He didn’t barge in (He could have but didn’t), He patiently knocked until I opened the door of my heart, soul and mind to Him. As time went by, I found myself moving halfway across the country and enrolling in seminary. That opened my eyes to how many churches operate. They could save the lost but had no idea how to keep the saved, feed the sheep, and lift up the fallen. Some taught and preached nonbiblical teachings; some taught their own opinions; many had cliques that tended to keep others at arm’s length making it a struggle to form relationships with others. Most were lacking ministries to assist single parents, grieving and hungry people, troubled teens and so forth.

A handful of years ago I began to feel rejected by people whom I thought cared for me and called themselves friends. Had God forsaken me too? My career was in turmoil due to various plant shutdowns. We experienced financial hardships, and I was diagnosed with a major heart issue that needed surgery. We lost our house and had to move. I had sunk to the point that I didn’t care if I ever entered a church again in my life. I found myself, yet again, needing to move within a short time frame and could not find a place. I was depressed, anxious as the deadline drew near. I found that I was knocking again…and the door was opened to us in the form of

Jesus’ hands and feet: Love INC

Love INC: Love INC has welcomed and embraced us, put a temporary roof over our heads; you have fed us while teaching us how to tame our financial splurges, by budgeting, saving and investing. You have taught me how to keep from killing a plant in the form of a potted tomato plant – it survived – even though it looks like a Charlie Brown plant. I have learned how to prepare a meal in a Fresh Start cooking class. I took a class on exercise and eating healthy (I think I failed that class). And the Bible based courses and studies have been so enriching. I have helped move furniture and never thought that I would be up here this evening peaking in public again. I have met some of the greatest people I have ever had the privilege of meeting! And I have found a few ways that I can help people too.

You, churches and volunteers, that are working together to help facilitate this spiritual way of life are to be commended. You have SHOWN the love of Christ, not just to those who might not know Him, but to those of us who almost lost our way and are once again in need of His ministry.

Rev. 3:20 “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” NIV

-Anonymous