May 31 –Thoughts

Isaiah 55:8

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. (NASB)

If only our thoughts could be like the Lord’s thoughts—pure and holy. We can strive for that as a goal. Have you heard about taking every thought captive? See 2 Corinthians 10:3-6. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.” Imagine a little army marching up to your words and putting a rope around them—taking them captive—throwing them into the hoosegow, the bad words jail. Good words and thoughts that bring God glory don’t get detained —those are released to be put to good use.

Our thoughts come from a mind that needs continual renewal. Romans 12:2 says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” We should strive to renew our minds—our very thought process and then to take our every thought captive in obedience to the Lord. So how do we renew our minds? It maybe that a thought process needs to be redirected and scripture memorization is a good way to do that. Choose a scripture verse or passage that will encourage you to think better thoughts, or just one that focuses on God like, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might,” Deuteronomy 6:5. Feast on the Lord’s words and take them captive into your heart and soul.

Lord, may our thoughts, words and actions bring You glory and honor—not a prison sentence.

 

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved

May 30 - Dwelling Places

John 14:2-3

“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places, if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you; I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”

This verse was one of my Mom’s favorite verses, and one that is commonly heard at funerals. Jesus promises us a hopeful future. He is so creative—look at all the variety of plants, rocks, and animals that He created here on earth. Even the clouds are all uniquely different. Imagine what creative structures He is preparing in Heaven. It is mind boggling to think about that. Architects have created awesome building here on earth—simple, like those of Frank Lloyd Wright, and dramatic, like Sicilian Baroque Church of Santa Caterina. Will there be numerous different design styles in Heaven?

Jesus promised that He would prepare a place for us. In the Hebrew custom, when a couple became engaged, the bridegroom would add a room onto his father’s home. Their marriage would not happen until the father said that the dwelling place was ready for the new couple. It couldn’t just be thrown together. It had to be well constructed and approved by the father. He was like the building inspector—no shabby construction project on his family home. When everything was in order the father would send for the bride from her father’s home and for the wedding guests. When they arrived at the bridegroom’s home, a weeklong marriage party would begin. A feast with the groom and bride.

All we can be assured of is that when the time is right, when our new home is ready, God the Father will send His Son to get us (the bride—His church) and take us there to His heavenly home. Then we will have a feast at the King’s Banquet Table with the King of Kings providing a bountiful meal fit for His bride.

Heavenly Father, I can hardly wait until you sent Jesus to bring us home to heaven. I am so looking forward to seeing the remarkable dwelling that He is even now creating and to taste the magnificent food at Your banquet table. Thank you for your Son and the promise of a new home in Heaven.

 © 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

May 29 - Pruning

John 15:1-17 

(v2) "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.” (v 16-17) “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. This I command you, that you love one another.” (NASB)

Growing up we had cherry and apple trees that were delivered by the mailman. My Dad was so delighted when those trees arrived and he worked hard getting them planted and spraying them every spring and into the summer months. Then we’d pick cherries, can and freeze them…and make lots of cherry pies. Those cherry trees bore an amazing amount of fruit. Likewise the apple trees bore fruit, and Dad had planted several varieties, so we had lots from which to choose. In the fall the rotten or wormy apples were fed to the pigs. Every winter it was a big job pruning those trees. Eventually the varieties that didn’t bear much fruit were chopped down and became fire wood for friends who wanted the fragrant wood for smoking meat.

Jesus was teaching us about bearing fruit in our lives in this passage from John 15. What kind of fruit do you bear? Kindness, goodness, gentleness, self control (Galatians 5:22-23). Or is it rotten fruit like bitterness, rudeness, jealousy, or selfishness? We make our choices and sometimes, like a typical three year-old, we just want to do what we want to do. In the end, that may result in the branch of our “fruit” being taken away, pruned. Jesus tells us in this passage that He chose us! That has always been an awesome thought to me. Out of the billions of people in time, He looked down from Heaven, and said, “I choose you.” My response to that is, “Wow—thanks. I accept being chosen.” There is no way that I would reject that offer. Now He expects me to “bear fruit” and I have to be pruned. Part of me is going to be cut off. Would that be the bitterness, rudeness, jealousy, or selfishness? I hope so. I never really enjoyed those traits anyway since those are such downers. So trim away, Jesus. How about you? Are you willing to be “pruned,” too?

Jesus, Thank you for choosing me to be part of your vine. Prune away at my life and show me how to be even more fruitful for You.

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

May 28 - Cheersfulness

Proverbs 15:15

All the days of the afflicted are bad, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast. (NASB)

The black heart, like that of the evil queen in Snow White, is as far removed from cheerful as it can be. Afflicted with selfishness and envy she covets the beauty of Snow White, making her own life miserable. Her days are bad. When Snow White goes to live in the forest her cheerful heart makes everyone around her also cheerful. Well maybe not the dwarf Grumpy, but the animals and the other six dwarfs are certainly happy. That is what makes the story so enduring—happiness. Living happily ever after.

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine, from Proverbs 17:22 (KJV). Cheerful, merry, happy, joyful. This is a person who is beyond content. He is truly blessed, happy. A content person describes his situation in Philippians 4:11, “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.” Ecclesiastics 9:7 tells us, “Go then, eat your bread in happiness and drink your wine with a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works”. (NASB) From these scriptures it seems like a person with a truly cheerful heart has it made. They’ll have a continual feast—never wanting anything and what they’ve done, their “good works”, God has already approved. To have God’s approval on your activities is a great milestone. Note that I said “milestone”, not “millstone”. A milestone is an important or significant event, whereas a millstone is a great burden or responsibility. Having God’s praise or endorsement for something that you’ve done is wonderful—so is a continual feast. Continual, not just occasional. Can you imagine having a continual feast? That would mean never being hungry—never having any unmet desire for food or drinks.

What about a continual spiritual feast? Would that mean that there would be no doubt or questions concerning spiritual issues? Every spiritual question you have would be answered, understandable, comprehendible. That is what it will be like in heaven.  All our questions will be answered. I’m not sure where that comes from—but many people have told me that over the years.

Spiritually happy, joyful, joy filled. The fruit of the Holy Spirit includes joy, as well as love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control (Galatians 5:20-21).  Feast on this fruit constantly. But what do we need to do to be filled with the Holy Spirit you may ask? Just that, ask and you will receive. We have to confess our sins to enter into salvation, and we just need to ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit. We aren’t promised that life will be perfect, just that we will have the perfect savior, Jesus, to guide and direct us—to love and encourage us—to never leave us or forsake us. For what more could we ask?

Lord, please continue to guide and direct us and fill us with Your Holy Spirit, that we would have cheerful hearts and experience Your continual feast.  

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

May 27 –Long Life

Psalm 91:14-16

“Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him. I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. He will call upon Me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With a long life I will satisfy him and let him see My salvation.”(NASB)

Sixty-nine years is a long time to live, although there are lots of Biblical characters who lived a whole lot longer. People who lived before the flood lived for an extremely extended time, like Adam who lived 930 years, in contrast to one after the flood, Moses who lived 120 years. Consider the current life expectance of people in different countries of the world according to Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancy (15 May 2012). Those in Japan in 2010 were expected to live the longest of any nation in the world, an average of 82.6 years, while those in the United States expectancy was only 78.2 years. So my husband, Jerry, who is celebrating his 69^th birthday today, by these statistics, is still a young guy. It is encouraging that he is in good health and that he has a deep respect for the Lord, so he is promised a long life. He honored his parents, although their favorite story of him as a child was that he said, “I’ll do the dishes but I’m not going to do ‘em good.” Just a little bit of rebellion there. We see that same rebellion in our children and now our grandchildren. It is a normal human response. Rebellion doesn’t shorten our life span unless it is taken to the extreme.  In Jeremiah 28:16 the prophet Jeremiah is speaking to the prophet Hananiah, "Therefore thus says the Lord, 'Behold, I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. This year you are going to die, because you have counseled rebellion against the Lord.'"  (NASB) So it seems that sometimes rebellion can end in a shortened lifespan. Rebellion against the Lord and against parents is a character trait that parents need to nip in the bud—to try to remove it from their child’s character before they are five years old. Children need to learn to respect their parents. Of course, we realize that most teenagers go through a rebellious stage as part of growing up and becoming independent of their parents—almost like a stage in childbirth and or in death. The tearing away from the familiar to start a new phase in life.

Living a long life is so important to most people. To me, a high quality of life is more important than an extended quantity, but then I personally haven’t had to face my own death, yet. I don’t want to live to be 99 years old and be a vegetable—I want to live life to the fullest—walking with the Lord day by day until my days are over. Walking is important, physically and spiritually. We need to exercise almost every day to keep our bodies in shape. Spiritually we need to exercise every day, too. Reading and studying God’s word for ourselves keeps us spiritually fit and shows God that we do indeed love Him. These verses in Psalm 91 promise us that if we love and honor God, He will honor us. What more could we want out of life?

Lord, thank you for being part of Jerry’s life and I ask that You would continue to guide and direct him, giving him wisdom for all the days of his long life ahead of him.

Happy Birthday, Jerry!

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

May 26 – No Bread of Idleness

Proverbs 31:27

She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. (NASB)

Bread of idleness—would that be like a cake of corruption? Well, maybe not that bad. Idleness is more than just being lazy or without a job—it is an attitude of heart that projects worthless and frivolous talk.

Scripture admonishes us to not be idle or lazy. Proverbs 19:15 says, “Laziness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle man will suffer hunger” (NASB). “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all” 1 Thessalonians 5:14 (ESV). “At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention” 1 Timothy 5:13 (NASB). Probably one of the biggest dangers we’re warned about it is not to get involved in gossip, which really displeases God. In 2 Corinthians 12:20 it says, “For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbance.” “He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, therefore do not associate with a gossip” Proverbs 20:19 (NASB). There are times when we all want to just kick back and do nothing—and that is not laziness or idleness. At the end of a stressful day I feel the need to just unwind and not do anything in particular. Yet at other times I think that we are just too “entertained.” Muse means to think deeply or meditate, whereas amuse means to appeal to someone’s sense of humor. Amuse is basically mindless and is the root word for amusement. Do we want to think deeply or to take part in a mindless activity?

The Proverbs’ lady is an energetic lady who is always busy doing something to keep her family and her household going. She doesn’t have time for idleness, for frivolous amusement, or for worthless gossip. What a good example she is for us!

Dear Lord, help us to be like the Proverbs’ lady who is so industrious and such a hard worker for her family.

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

May 25 – Give Us This Day…Bread for Night and Day

Proverbs 31:15

She rises also while it is still night and gives food to her household and portions to her maidens. (NASB)

The sun sets and rises and people move about their daily life---eating, working, eating, working, eating, sleeping. And then rising to do it all again.  From Ecclesiastes 2:11, “Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.” Is our life all in vain?

The Proverbs’ lady gets up in the dark, getting her family’s breakfast started as the early morning light streams over the hills and into her kitchen window. Her menu plans and meal preparations are all in order—she knows what she is preparing and has all the ingredients at hand. She doesn’t wait until she gets up to decide to fix. Her activities are planned out—not in vain. Mrs. Proverbs loves her family and her servants. She wants them to succeed in the day that is about to begin, so she fixes them a good breakfast. We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

Serve up some scripture with breakfast. Starting with devotions is a spiritually healthy way to begin the day. In Matthew 6:11 we read the familiar verse, “Give us this day our daily bread.” That includes spiritual food as well as physical food. Incorporate this along with Psalm 3:5, “In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice; in the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.” In addition, Jesus gave us an example, “In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there,” Mark 1:35. Years ago I was taught to spend seven minutes with God in the morning to start my day. The first 30 seconds of that time are just to quietly reflect on who God is, what my relationship is with Him, and confession if necessary. The next four minutes are spent reading scripture, and then the final time is for spontaneous prayer and praise reflecting on the scripture read. Can you arrange your morning schedule to include seven minutes with God? Spiritual food is usually scripture, but it can be other religious writing that provides guidance, encouragement and direction. In the Proverbs 31:15 passage it is possible that Mrs. Proverbs is serving up some spiritual nourishment, too. Proverbs 31:30 tells us that she fears (respects) the Lord. At the time this passage was written, perhaps by King Lemuel (which may have actually been another name for King Solomon), sometime between 950 and 700 BC there may have been copies of the Torah or Pentateuch, the first five books of what is now known as the Old Testament, but it is certain that God’s word was passed on as an oral tradition. As a good Proverbs wife she would know the oral tradition and likely passed it on to her children and servants.

Do you pass on to your family whatever you know about God and the Biblical heritage that is so richly ours?

 Lord, help us to remember to spend time with You each morning for the spiritual nourishment that we all need. Give us this day our daily bread.  

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

May 24 –Importing Food

Proverbs 31:14

She is like merchant ships; she brings her food from afar. (NASB)

Some of the best food is ethnic food that is imported. There are so many countries and tasty cuisines from which to choose: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Philippine, Thai, Indian, African, Israeli, Egyptian, Turkish, Greek, Italian Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Poland, Russian, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Ireland, England, Mexican, Caribbean, South American, Hawaiian, as well as regional dishes within the United States. Many grocery stores across the United States carry specialty foreign foods and cooking supplies. The internet provides copious recipes so that people can make anything their imaginations can desire. My family loves good Thai food and sushi!

We can have any food we want—the merchant ships and trucks bring it right to us. God has provided such a wide variety of foods year around for us to consume. I was recently shopping in a big Asian market near Seattle and it was amazing to see foods from probably ten different countries sitting side by side on the shelves. Fish from Morocco and chilies from Mexico were just waiting to be combined with Korean red peppers and noodles from Viet Nam.

Spiritually we don’t have import our food—it is all right in front of us in our Bibles—in a language that we can read. There are passages that we don’t refer to often or aren’t even very familiar with, like some of the Minor Prophets, Zephaniah and Habakkuk. Those books were provided to give direction to the Hebrew people before the time of Christ and to give us insight into New Testament writing. It is good to study these old books and gain an appreciation of them. Habakkuk was written in 607 BC by the prophet Habakkuk, whose name means embracer, because of his love for God. The book was written just before the Hebrew people of Judah were taken into captivity to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. Habakkuk asked why God permitted the evil in Judah to go unpunished and then how God could use the wicked people of Babylonia to punish the Jews? Both good questions—and Habakkuk defends God’s goodness and power although evil exits.

So are you delving deep into God’s word and finding nuggets of truth from distant lands that fill your heart with hopes and dreams?  God’s promises from long ago are still relevant today and given for us as well as for those people in the ancient Bible times. Claim a promise today—here’s one from Zephaniah 3:9-10, "In the end I will turn things around for the people. I'll give them a language undistorted, unpolluted, words to address God in worship and, united, to serve me with their shoulders to the wheel. They'll come from beyond the Ethiopian rivers, they'll come praying—” (from the Message). It is encouraging to know that “in the end” God will turn things around, so don’t give up hope. Seek the Lord with all your heart and when you find Him---or find more of Him, you’ll be rewarded.

Lord, Thank you for the great variety of food from afar that You provide and for Your spiritual food that enriches our lives and blesses us.     

Thai Squash Curry

1 Tbsp Red Curry Paste

2 Tbsp Fish Sauce
3 Tbsp Yoshida’s (or each Soy Sauce & Sugar)
1 can coconut milk
1 Butternut squash, cubed
1 clove of garlic
1 cup asparagus cut in 1” pieces
1 pound shrimp
Cooked rice – ½ to 1 cup per person
Fresh basil to garnish

Saute garlic in olive oil, add squash and cook for about 5 minutes, add milk and cook until tender. Add red curry paste, fish sauce, and Yoshida’s. Then add the asparagus and shrimp and cook for about five minutes or until shrimp are cooked. Serve over rice with fresh basil. Enjoy.  

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

May 23 – Advice for a Grandson

Deuteronomy 6:1-2

Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the judgments which the LORD your God has commanded me to teach you, that you might do them in the land where you are going over to possess it, so that you and your son and your grandson might fear the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. (NASB)

Imagine standing looking into the Promised Land…getting one last piece of advice from Moses. The great spiritual leader of the Hebrew people was sending them into the Promised Land. He wasn’t going with them--just giving them advice and sending them off. Moses wanted to protect the Hebrew people from themselves by advising them of the things they’d already been told---or that God had told their ancestors. Years earlier the Israelites had been given the Ten Commandments and direction for living a life pleasing to the Lord, but they had disobeyed the Lord and so He had let them wander in wilderness for another 40 years. Now it was time for them to go into the Land that God had promised to give their ancestor, Abraham, and to them.

If we don’t observe the commandments, the statutes and judgments of the Lord, will we have to wander another forty years in the wilderness of our lives? Where is your wilderness? What does it mean to “fear” the Lord? 1 Samuel 12:14 says, “If you will fear the LORD and serve Him, and listen to His voice and not rebel against the command of the LORD, then both you and also the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God.” Psalm 22:23 tells us, “You who fear the LORD, praise Him; all you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, and stand in awe of Him, all you descendants of Israel.” So to fear the Lord is to respect Him by not rebelling against Him and to exalt Him with glory and honor. Moses further instructed the Israelites to diligently teach the Lord’s instructions to their sons, to talk about them at home and when they were walking, to bind the scripture to their head and arm and to write them on the doorposts of their homes. Having framed scripture passages as decorative items on our walls is a great way in our day to keep the words of the Lord constantly before us. Several years ago I had a picture frame that I wrote scripture in and changed the verses every week to encourage my children to memorize. As a teenager my daughter would write scripture out and put it on her mirror to help her remember it. Just as in Moses time, remembering God’s word is important. Guidance from His instructions gives us hope for the future and  love for God, ourselves and others.  

Today is my oldest grandson’s birthday. I’ve tried to share the Lord with him, and demonstrate my respect and honor of the Lord by my actions---although he doesn’t see me reading my Bible daily since we don’t spend a lot of time together. He does see me attending church with him and his family—and I often read Bible stories and pray with him and his sisters whenever I visit them. Zander is a great kid---very talented in drawing, painting and Lego construction! He may become a terrific engineer. He has memorized the names of the books of the New Testament—an astonishing accomplishment for a six years old. He is already the grandchild in Proverbs 17:6.  “Grandchildren are the crown of old men, and the glory of sons is their fathers.” My hope is for all my grandchildren to grow and learn to respect the Lord—and to live by the Lord’s commandments, statutes and judgments. So what are your hopes for your grandchildren---for yourself?

Lord, bless Zander today and always. Give him wisdom to help him to make good decisions, to respect and to know You more deeply every day.

Happy Birthday, Zander!

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

May 22 – Portions of Food

Proverbs 30:7-9

Two things I asked of You, do not refuse me before I die: Keep deception and lies far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is my portion. That I not be full and deny You and say, "Who is the LORD?" Or that I not be in want and steal, and profane the name of my God. (NASB)

If you were to take a poll about wealth or poverty most people would probably say they’d rather be rich than poor. I do know one person who chooses to be poor. Well, actually he is not poor. He inherited a few acres of land and has a couple of small houses with no debt. He just chooses to live an almost austere life style. He is not in want and wouldn’t steal or certainly not deny the Lord. He just doesn’t feel that he needs to work long hours and live a rich lifestyle for which many other people strive. He had a near death experience that changed his life, health, and values such that having seen Heaven, he doesn’t desire worldly goods. Personally, like the writer of this passage of Proverbs, I wouldn’t want riches or poverty. I’m content, as we read in 1 Timothy 6:6-10, “But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” Being content is the key to a peaceful life—where sharing is easy since there is an abundance.  

Feed me with food that is my portion. Obesity is such a problem in the United States today. Everyone from Michelle Obama, Bill O’Reilly, and Martha Stewart’s radio program to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are talking about it. We have super sized ourselves. That contributes to a lot of super sized health problems, too. I could stand to lose 10-20 pounds, but I’m not obese. Portion control, and more exercise, will take care of these excess pounds, with discipline. Feed me food that is my portion.

Spiritually what is my portion? My daily bread? When reading the Bible the one way to determine your “portion” is to have a set reading schedule—and a plan on reading the Bible through in a year or two. Another way is to read until you feel that God is speaking to you. Then write down the passage that is meaningful and the promise or direction that God is giving you. You may have to read several chapters—or only a few verses before you feel led, taught or directed.

 Lord give us this day our daily portion of food and spiritual blessing.

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

May 21 – Givers and Takers

Proverbs 28:19

He who tills his land will have plenty of food, but he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty.  (NASB)  

Life is all about food. Can’t live without it. It takes some kind of work to have a constant supply of food, to have plenty of food. Whether growing our food in a garden or farm or else earning money to buy food; we have to work.

Following empty pursuits is like chasing the wind---you can never catch it, never hold it in your hands. You can feel the wind, but never grab hold of it. There may be plenty of wind, or plenty of food, but with a purposeless mission there is emptiness, an unfulfilled dimension to one’s life. What is your purpose in life? Have you discovered that yet? Are you seeking the meaning to your life? Do you live to serve or to be served? I was once told that there are two kinds of people in this world: the givers and the takers. The givers are the ones out there working who will have plenty of food for their family and they readily share with others. The takers are the ones who are always looking for someone to take care of their needs and wants; they are willing to be served, to be on the receiving end of any situation. I think that in most situations there are givers and takers and at some time people will be one or the other in varying degrees. But it is the takers who will be in poverty, even if they have obtained plenty of food. Does this cover spiritual issues as well?

Spiritually there are those who are givers, encouraging others spiritually. And there are the takers who follow empty pursuits, seeking after their own desires and pleasures. A friend recently showed me a diagram that is useful in any interaction, but specifically was related to our relationship to God. There are only two responses to God, “Yes” and “No”.  So if someone is doing something in a “Yes” response to God, they will feel peace, joy, contentment and other positive feelings. If their response to God is “No”, then they’ll feel sadness, anger, bitterness, resentment. Wow! I’ve felt that way when I know that I’m either doing or not doing what I know God would want me to do. That equates to a positive response providing “food” and a negative response resulting in “poverty” or time without God. God has promised us that He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 5:13), but He still gives us free will to choose to obey Him, or not.

Lord, fill me with the desire to help others---to be willing to serve and encourage others, just like You. I want to be a giver, not a taker.

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

May 20 – Are You Poor?

Proverbs 28:3

A poor man who oppresses the lowly is like a driving rain which leaves no food. (NASB)

Where I live in eastern Washington State we get less than 10 inches of rain in the entire year. Summer is fast approaching and it may be a long hot summer this year. People think that Washington State is all green---but actually the naturally green areas are generally on the western slopes of the Cascade Mountain range where it does rain more. Seattle receives about 37.5 inches of rain a year, mostly in the wintertime. During the long hot summers the eastern side of the state is green only where there are irrigated crops. When it rains here there are the complainers and the rejoicers. Rain is a welcome change to hot windy days. But if the rain comes when the Bing cherries or the wheat fields are ripe and ready for harvest then people will nearly be in tears since a hard rain can split the cherries or cause an entire field of wheat to lay down with the wheat kernals on the ground, ruining either crop. Thus it is true that a driving rain leaves no food. I have seen cherry and wheat crops devastated.  

There is a story told by Jesus in Matthew 18:21-35 about a slave who had just been forgiven a huge debt who went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him one hundred days wages. The forgiven slave had his fellow slave, who couldn’t pay his debt, thrown in jail. How could that poor man ever pay back his debt if he is in prison? He couldn’t work and earn any living behind bars. That is just an example of a poor man oppressing the lowly. It is a sad situation similar to what we often hear about in the news reports today. Crime is noted to be associated with low economic areas. The poor. The poor we will always have with us.

What about the poor in spirit? In the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:3, Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs in the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus came to bless. This “poor” person is one who is lowly, afflicted, and destitute of the Christian virtues and eternal riches. Since he is spiritually empty, humble, he is able to be filled, to be seeking spiritual guidance and is promised the kingdom of heaven, unlike the poor slave in Jesus parable, who was seeking monetary restitution. We are told in Philippians 4:11“ Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.” To be content with what we have is easy when we have enough, but what about when people are truly poor. Happy is that one who is seeking Jesus, as Jesus is promising him a place in heaven. Oh what a glorious day that will be. A home, a mansion in heaven and a seat at the banquet table with The King.

Are you poor? Poor, oppressing the lowly, or poor in spirit? Seek Jesus and He will bless you.

Lord, we seek you, admitting that we are poor in spirit, lacking wisdom. Give us wisdom, as well as the hope of heaven.

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

May 19 – Goat’s Milk

Proverbs 27:27

And there will be goats' milk enough for your food, for the food of your household, and sustenance for your maidens. (NASB)

I love goats’ milk cheese. It is tangy and tasty on a salad or even on pizza. Now my mouth is watering, wanting a taste of good goat cheese. Goats have a reputation for eating everything in sight, but actually they will not eat inedible material like tin cans. Goats are raised in countries around the world. In reviewing various websites with goat production statistics it was interesting to note that China is the country with the most goats, although apparently they use the animals for meat more than for milk production. Bangladesh produces the most goats’ milk for any one country. Since goats’ milk is similar to cows’ milk in lactose (sugar) it is unfortunately not valued as a replacement for those who are lactose intolerant. So although I’d rather have a cheese and milk that is good for the lactose intolerant, the goats’ milk cheese still is tasty.

In the Proverbs 27:23-27 passage Solomon talks about paying attention to knowing and raising flocks of sheep and goats. They are valuable animals that will provide the shepherd’s family and household with milk, food and monetary income. God provides.

Sheep and goats are symbolic of the righteous and the unrighteous people that God deals with in the end times. See Matthew 25:32-34, 41. “All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world’” “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels’…”  I want to be among the sheep when the Lord calls us to Heaven. How about you? Will we have goat’s milk cheese in Heaven? God is so creative that we can be sure that whatever He serves, it will be exemplary. Below is a good spring salad recipe. I hope that God serves strawberries in heaven…and goat cheese, too.  

Lord, as shepherd of the human sheep and goats please guide and direct our paths that we would be pleasing to you. Thank you for providing all that we need.

Spring Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad

Ingredients – Serves 8

• 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts or 1 lb raw turkey breast, cubed (about 2 cups cooked meat)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing
• 1 bunch fresh spinach, rinsed and dried
• 1 pint strawberries, sliced
• 4 ounces crumbled goat cheese
• ½ cup pecans or walnuts, coarsely chopped.
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

Directions

1.      Place the meat into a skillet with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinaigrette over medium heat; cook and stir until the meat is browned, no longer pink in the center, and the juice has nearly evaporated, about 10 minutes. Remove the meat to a bowl and let cool.

2.      Place the spinach into a salad bowl; scatter the strawberries, goat cheese, and nuts over the spinach. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar over the salad and top with the meat. Serve slightly warm or chilled.

3.      For variety, instead of chick or turkey, you may want to try using a pound of ground lamb---season with snipped fresh thyme and basil. Enjoy!

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

May 18 – Hungry Enemies?

Proverbs 25:21

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. (NASB)

Who is your enemy? I have asked myself this several times in the last few years. Of course we may have “enemies” of national concern in a political sense, but most people don’t view them as personal enemies. Our family has a young friend who has an aggressive form of leukemia and his “enemies” are the cancer cells in his blood and bone marrow. The chemotherapy that he is undergoing seems to be attacking those “enemies” and destroying them—but making him sick as well. He will continue to have more therapies in the coming weeks and I pray that God will defeat those evil cells. For me, I have come to the conclusion that my own attitude is my worst enemy. Thoughts can be powerful allies or adversaries.

The Book of Proverbs was written by Solomon somewhere around 950 – 931 BC. What kind of people would have been his enemy? Solomon’s enemies included: Hadad of Edom (a kingdom to the south) (1 Kings 11:14 & 25), Rezon of Zobah (the kingdom of Syria) (1 Kings 11:23), and one of his officials named Jeroboam who was from the tribe of Ephraim (who later after Solomon died became king of the northern tribes of Israel) (1 Kings 11:26; also see chapters 1 Kings 11-14). Scripture doesn’t tell us that Solomon ever gave any of these men food or water. It seems kind of ironic that Solomon would give wise advice and not follow it. By this time in his life his heart had turned away from the Lord and he was following other gods (see 1 Kings 11:9-11). Solomon didn’t keep our God’s commandments and statutes so God promised a downfall of the nation of Israel. God did honor Solomon’s father, King David, by allowing one tribe of Israel to be given to Solomon’s son, but they also were rebellious and did not honor God. They became like enemies of God, but God continued to give them food and water. What a great God we serve!

Jesus taught, as recorded in Matthew 5:43-45, “You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” We don’t have to love cancer cells or bad attitudes, but prayer is powerful and those enemies can be destroyed. In Proverbs 15:29 we have a great promise, “The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.”  Another promise we can claim is found in James 5:16, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” I love that powerful prayer can bring about changes. God hears our prayers and responds. Pray for your enemies, your adversaries---those who are antagonistic whether it is cancer cells, your child, or the driver ahead of you. God will hear your prayers and may allow rain to come down on them…in a spiritual or physical way.

Lord, hear our prayers today for there are enemies around us. Help us to rely on You for comfort, strength, and even for the food and water that You have taught us to serve up to our enemies.

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

May 17 – A Lesson in Quietness

Proverbs 17:1

Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it than a house full of feasting with strife. (NASB)

There was a song back in the late 1960’s, Silence is Golden. “Silence is golden, golden, but my eyes still see.…” It was a song about someone mistreating another, and she just didn’t see that she was being deceived. Should her friend tell her, or just keep cool? What would you do? Keep quiet, since silence is golden? In this case, that silence could cause strife later in her life. There is a difference between silence and quietness. Quietness is associated with peace and relaxation whereas silence is the absence of sound or noise, and that can be without peace, just the noise withheld or subdued. Contrast the quiet with strife which is a bitter, sometimes violent conflict or dissension.

Quietness is something I continually desire. I especially find and revel in it when I escape to the mountains in the summer. Even far away from crowds, at least once a day an airplane flies over and disrupts our tranquility, reminding us that we are part of a greater population. Moments later, the plane is gone and the tranquility returns. I’ll take that any day. Serve up tranquility with a dry crust of bread rather than a banquet feast, with noise and fighting.

How are things around your dining room table? Noisy? Arguing? Recently the pastor at our church gave an example of how he prevented conflict with his nearly teenage son and elementary age daughter. He taught them what to say---how to respond. He asked Luke to do something and then told him what the proper response was to be. It went like this, “Luke, I want you to take out the trash (or whatever chore needed to be done) and your response will be, ‘Yes, Dad, I’d be happy to do that.’” So Luke responded with, “Yes, Dad, I’d be happy to do that” and he took out the trash. No conflict. It may not have been something that Luke particularly wanted to do, but there was no arguing or whining. Merely a suggested response and action. Sometimes even adults need to be taught what to say, how to respond. Ah. Quiet. No Strife.

As I recently posted, food doesn’t digest properly if you are upset when you eat. Strife will definitely make anyone upset. I know that if I’m really upset with someone, which doesn’t happen very often, I don’t even want to eat. I long for quiet---and would settle for dry toast and tea rather than a big steak with a baked potato and all the fixings. How about you? Do you long for peace and quiet? Sometimes that is something we have to ask for---to show others how much we value it with them. Teach those around you that peace without whining can be of value to everyone; that quiet is better than strife.

Lord, instill in us not only the desire for peace and quiet without strife, but also the ability to teach others the value of quietness.

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

May 16 – Helping the Helpless

Proverbs 22:9

He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor. (NASB)

Some people give donations of food at Thanksgiving and Christmas time. It is just a good thing to do and there are numerous food drives at that time of the year. In fact there are so many food give aways in my community that the agencies providing food monitor who gets it—so that some families don’t hog the resources. I remember a few years ago delivering food from my church to a needy family and when we arrived at their home that family had already received three boxes of food for their Christmas dinner. But what about food donations the rest of the year? Most of the agencies are constantly advertising that food and hygiene products are needed. Do we give?

In his wisdom Solomon is telling us that we will be blessed by giving. I do try to do just that---give year around, but I will admit that unless I plan ahead time slips by without me making a contribution. Now that I have this reminder I will make a shopping trip just for that purpose---to help replenish the shelves of the Jericho Road Ministries here in the Tri-Cities area of eastern Washington State. It is a local agency that provides food, clothing, and support like school supplies, and bridge kits (for those in a variety of transition from homelessness to foster care), and help with utilities or medical treatment. I hope that there are such agencies in your area---if not maybe you can start a food or clothing closet to help those with needs. God will surely bless your efforts and you.

Jesus said in Mark 14:7, “For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me.” In Matthew 25 He discusses with His disciples taking care of those in need. Verses 35 and 36 of that chapter say, “'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.” When we take care of those in need, Jesus sees it as us taking care of Him. What an example! We should treat everyone like they are Jesus Himself! Do you treat others like they are Jesus? Try it today---regard everyone you encounter throughout the day as if they were Jesus.

 Lord Jesus, help us to see others as You see them and help us to treat them like we would treat you, with respect, honor and generosity. Thank you for all that you provide for us to share with others.

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

May 15 –Open Your Eyes

Proverbs 20:13

 Do not love sleep, or you will become poor; open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with food. (NASB)

Sleep is very important. But too much of a good thing is also harmful. It is known to cause back pain, depression, obesity, headaches, diabetes, heart conditions, and increased risk of death. A lot of those medical conditions are also attributed to too little sleep. Our bodies need a balance.

Work demands that one be rested, but too much rest makes a person lazy, like the sluggard or slothful person in Proverbs 6:9. If people sleep the day away they can’t possibly work enough to put food on the table for their family unless they have a night job. The lazy person is doomed to be poor. Not that everyone has to be rich. No, but to take care of yourself and your family, and not depend on a handout from others is of great value in life. Then there is the other side of the coin also, the rich person who has eaten too much, as in Ecclesiastics 5:12, “The sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep.”

 Open your eyes and find a happy medium in life---not too poor or too rich. Just be satisfied with what is right for you and your family. 1 Timothy 6:7-9 tells us, “For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.”  Being content brings a lot of joy into my life since I don’t have to strive for something I don’t have…actually that I don’t even want. And when I get something, like a gift, then I am overjoyed and really enjoy it and the person who gave it to me. I think that being satisfied opened my eyes and that gave me further satisfaction with life, with the food I eat and with the spiritual food that I seek every day. Try it for yourself. Choose to be satisfied, to be content with your life.

Lord, I praise you for a rich feeling of satisfaction with my life, my food, and with knowing You. Please give me a deeper wisdom to know You more.

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

May 14 –Vegetables Served With Love

Proverbs 15:17

Better is a dish of vegetables where love is than a fattened ox served with hatred. (NASB)

May is asparagus time of the year. Someone is out in the fields early in the morning bending over with a sharp knife cutting those asparagus spears one by one. Hard, back breaking work. Some farmers have had to let their crops go because they just don’t have the workers to harvest their crops. It is not the type of produce that everyone grows in their garden, like tomatoes. It takes a year to grow the plants from seed, and then the harvesting begins in the second year of growth. The asparagus crowns can produce for 15 years, but it takes a lot of work, and love.  Serve up my favorite spring vegetable, roasted asparagus. I could make a meal of just that especially when eaten with other people I love, who are also crazy about asparagus.

I’d rather eat just fresh seasonable vegetables any day with family and friends than to eat a nice juicy steak with someone who hates me, or whom I dislike. The tension never allows the food to digest properly when you are eating a meal with someone with whom you are in conflict. It may just sit in your stomach, churning. No digestion—no value to your body.

Love is a special thing. The Bible tells us in 1 John 4:16 that God is love. “We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” When we love God, it is easier for us to love others. I know. I was a harsh tongued and cruel person before I came to really know God. God changed my heart and my life. He changed my tongue to speak “tasty” words, encouraging to others rather than cutting them down. This is love. Serve that up with some fresh seasonal vegetables.

Lord, help us to show your love to others by the way we treat them. Give us tasty food to share with all in love.

Roasted asparagus

  2 pounds asparagus
  Olive oil
  Course ground salt
  Fresh ground pepper

Thoroughly wash asparagus and break off the tough end (discard), usually about one inch. Heat the barbeque or oven to 400 degrees. Place the asparagus on aluminum foil or a perforated barbeque roasting pan. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast on the BBQ or in the oven for about twenty minutes. Time may vary depending on the size of the asparagus. Turn after about 10 minutes. Remove when they are still tender, before they are charred.  Serves 8-10 people.

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

May 13 – Satisfied?

Proverbs 13:25

The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the stomach of the wicked is in need. (NASB)

Is your appetite ever satisfied? What does that for you? Is it the finest chocolate or a nice big juicy steak? Eating your favorite food until you are full? Is that really satisfying? What does it take to be righteous? It is characterized by uprightness or morality, acting in an upright, moral way; virtuous; blameless. So what food satisfies a virtuous person? And the wicked---who are they? Those who are morally bad, who displease God---who chose evil ways. This verse says their stomach is in need---that they are hungry. Is it that insatiable hunger that drives one to sneak food and cheat on diets? Are you hungry now?  So many questions---so little time! Everyone feels hungry at some time, the righteous and the wicked.   

I could eat most any time of the day…at least a little snack, continually grazing until I am satisfied. Like an old cow on our farm, just eating grass and hay and then sitting around chewing her cud---looking very satisfied. Being a Christian, and living in an upright moral way, I do consider myself to be seeking to live righteously. In an effort not to gain any extra pounds as I get older, I find myself seeking to curb my appetite. A week ago or so my sister-in-law posted her "top ten best foodie moments" and encouraged others to share their favorite awesome meal, actual bite of food, or time around a table. I didn’t post mine yet, but thought about some favorites during my lifetime of eating and enjoying food. One of my favorites includes making chocolate chip cookies with my grandson, Zander, eating them warm from the oven and then writing a recipe story about cooking together. The best cookie ever, though was my Grandmother’s soft buttermilk ginger cookies that seemed to come from a bottomless cookie jar and always just melted in my mouth. I wish I had the recipe for those! An awesome meal was a seven course gourmet dinner aboard a river boat on the Elbe River in Germany, on our way to Prague; ending the meal with cheese and nuts. That was after dessert---and such a delightful and tasty final course. Then there was the Lobster in Maine! We had the lobster cooked at the fish market and took it back to our “home” on wheels---and ate it with a fresh green salad, with produce from a local market. Simply the best! A recent favorite was barbequed oysters at Mike’s Restaurant in Ocean Shores, Washington. Yummy! That is only five favorites for now. How many favorites do you have? Spiritually, my favorite “meal” has probably been reading the book of Ruth, and I’ll have to say that memorizing Psalm 1 which I can recall after nearly fifty years always leaves a wonderful “taste” that I find satisfying.

Proverbs 13:18 tells us that poverty and shame will come to those who are not disciplined. So the righteous person, being disciplined enough to seek, follow, and share the love of the Lord will not come to shame. Part of that discipline may be memorizing scripture that will satisfy and encourage your spirit. Are you including some spiritual food on your plate today?

Lord, satisfy our appetites today with tasty food and with words from your Word that would encourage and strength us.

Happy Mother's Day!

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

May 12 – Come and Eat

Proverbs 9:5

Wisdom calls out, “Come, eat of my food and drink of the wine I have mixed.” (NASB)

How often do you receive an invitation to dinner? Of course there are holiday and birthday dinners with family and friends—but otherwise how often do you socialize with others? That probably depends on your personality. Those who are more extroverts tend to socialize more, while those of us who are more introvert, keep to ourselves. It is good to be around the table with other people, sharing food, ideas, concerns and cares. Healthy for the body and the spirit.

Here’s an invitation you don’t want to pass up. Come, eat my food and drink my wine. This will be the best food—food that is from Wisdom itself. Will it make us wise? What can we expect? Proverbs 8:11 says that wisdom is better than jewels; and all desirable things can not compare with her. Even food!? Wisdom is the ultimate food for the mind and the spirit. Christ is the revelation of God’s wisdom as described in 1 Corinthians 1:24,30. He is wisdom from God. Christ is the ultimate wisdom. As Christ offered Himself as bread and wine during His last Passover meal with His disciples, was He offering us Himself as wisdom? He said of the bread and wine, as recorded in the oldest New Testament book, Mark (Mark 14:22-24), “Take it; this is My body.” And “This is My blood of the covenant, which is to be shed on behalf of many.” We are to remember Christ, what He did for us as we take those elements of sacrament, the bread and wine. In remembrance.

Proverbs 8:35 says, “For he who finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord.” Wisdom is calling out to us and offering us life---that would be eternal life with Christ. That means for those who seek wisdom and find it, they will be seated at Christ’s banquet table, feasting on His bounty. So what tasty morsels can we expect? Are you seeking wisdom?

Lord, As we seek Your wisdom, help us to find it and may it feed, not only our body and our minds, but richly nourish our spirits as well.

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.