From Mastication of Mind to Mouth

• Matthew 7:7-8:
  ". . . [7] Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. [8] For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. . . ."
  
  This is very interesting. You see, we know that when we ask or do something of the like we don't always get what we were trying to get at. So what is Jesus saying? We can ask, seek, and knock for things to God in prayer, but we don't always seem to get an answer. (I do believe Jesus is speaking especially about our relationship with the Heavenly Father.) This is what I say: God always does answer, show, and open, but we don't always notice it. If we ask God a question, He may not answer the way we think He should because He knows that we only need so much or a certain type of answer. When we ask God for something, He shows it to us, perfectly; we are not perfect, so for us to think that we have the perfect idea about what He will show us is absurd. God always does these things, but since we are oftentimes selfish and inward of thought, we don't see it or appreciate the answers and other responses He gives us. This is very encouraging, and you know why?Because it means that when we ask for all these things--wisdom, understanding, alleviation of confusion, etc--He does answer us. Those little ways we see we've gained wisdom; those little ways we grasp a hold of some understanding; those little amounts of relief we find from confusion--those are all exactly methods by which God is directly answering us! It's great. In fact, it seems to me that God is most glorified when He uses the little, seemingly impractical, or mundane things as mediums of His almighty, eternal, omnipotent words and works in our lives. Think of it this way: we know God can do what He desires with less than a blink of His eye, but instead of doing that simple, easy thing, He does it the "hard" way; He orchestrates all sorts of events throughout the cosmos all the time just so that He can simply show how He loves us, from the beauty of a swirling leaf blown by the wind to understanding why we've been so hateful in recent hours.
  
  Another interesting bit is Matthew 7:21-23^a. No amount or method of good works provides any bettering of our relationship with Christ, and thus God, unless our hearts are in the Spirit, trusting God, loving Him, guarding our minds.
  
  ^a = Matthew 7:21-23:
  ". . . [21] Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. [22] Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' [23] And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' . . ."
  
  
• "The Minstrel Boy"
  by Thomas Moore (1779-1852)
  
  The minstrel boy to the war is gone,
  In the ranks of death you'll find him;
  His father's sword he hath girded on,
  And his wild harp slung behind him;
  "Land of Song!" cried the warrior bard,
  "Tho' all the world betrays thee,
  One sword, at least, thy right shall guard,
  One faithful harp shall praise thee!"
  The Minstrel fell! But the foeman's chain
  Could not bring that proud soul under;
  The harp he lov'd ne'er spoke again,
  For he tore its chords asunder;
  And said "No chains shall sully thee,
  Thou soul of love and brav'ry!
  Thy songs were made for the pure and free
  They shall never sound in slavery!
  [later added:]
  The minstrel boy will return one day,
  When we hear the news, we will cheer it.
  The minstrel boy will return we pray,
  Torn in body, perhaps, but not in spirit.
  Then may he play his harp in peace,
  In a world such as Heaven intended,
  For every quarrel of Man must cease,
  And every battle shall be ended.
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Minstrel_Boy
  
  
• Green beans will make your day better . . . in fact: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnHksDFHTQI.