Banquet With The King

Tuesday, September 29, 2026

Teach Me to Pray

You can fold your hands and pray.
Or you can just talk to God...
like you would to any friend.
Eyes open - heart engaged.
PRAY - ACTS

Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." Jesus said, "This is how you should pray: Father, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. Give us each day the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don't let us yield to temptation." Luke 11:1-4

Meditate on prayer.

Have you ever been “taught” to pray? Have you listened or read closely just what Jesus responded when His disciple asked Him to teach them to pray? This is part of the classic Lord’s Prayer that you may already know. If not, look it up. It is a good one to memorize.

Jesus made it a custom to go off by Himself regularly—usually early in the morning to spend time chatting with His Father. What a good example. The best way to start your day is to pray—but you may wonder just how to do that? There’re a couple of acronyms that might help you. One is ACTS which stands for Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplications. Another is PRAY for the actions of Praise, Repent, Ask, and Yield. Both are like the prayer Jesus taught in that the initial part is to give honor, adoration, or praise to our Heavenly Father. He is worthy of our praise and as Jesus taught, we should put the Kingdom of God first in our lives (Matthew 6:33). Repenting and confessing, are the same as asking for forgiveness, which will draw us closer to God, seeking His will and His Kingdom. Next, we are encouraged to ask and to offer thanksgiving, analogous to Jesus’ request for daily bread, which can be both physical and spiritual food. The yielding not to temptation and supplications are similar in that both are again focusing on God’s provision in our lives. Jesus has stated that God loves us, as we love our own children and families, and He wants what is best for us. Matthew 7:7-11 tells about giving what is requested, like bread, not a rock. Seek God, ask Him for what you need, and keep knocking and asking.

When are we to pray? Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 that we are to pray continually. Prayer is just talking to God—so keep a constant conversation going with Him. Through that prayer and scripture, the Holy Spirit can guide you as to what you need to do, show you where to go, and what to say. The Holy Spirit is amazing that way!

What do we specifically learn about Jesus in this passage today? How can you apply it to your life? Does it bring you closer to Jesus, or establish a relationship with the Holy Spirit?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and I worship You, as well as our Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit. Forgive me for not praying continually…and even for getting side-tracked by thinking about things that could have been different. Thank You for all that You so generously provide to me, my family, and friends. We continually have a bounty of food and are grateful for the homes You have provided for us and spared in the recent fires. Please continue to prepare us for the coming cool days and nights ahead. Winter will be here soon. Help us all to be ready, not only for this change of seasons, but also for Your return. Please give us opportunities to share with others who don’t know You as their Savior. I feel so blessed to know You—and to have the assurance that I will be serving You forever in God’s Kingdom. Thank You.

Verses of Salvation ~ Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God's mysterious plan that the Good News (of salvation) is for Jews and Gentiles alike. Ephesians 6:18-19

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Monday, September 28, 2026

What One Thing is Important?

Is the Word the One Thing...
that is important to you?

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord's feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, "Lord, doesn't it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me." But the Lord said to her, "My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:38-42

Meditate on the One Thing about which Jesus spoke.

Years ago, when discussing this scripture passage, I was impressed that Jesus was saying that one dish was enough. There didn’t need to be a big variety of foods that took hours to prepare. Just a big casserole to feed everyone. Did the Jews at that time even make casseroles? Ha! Just some hummus, pita bread, and fresh fruit. How about a

But Martha was slaving away. She wanted to serve a glorious banquet for Jesus and their other guests. Someone had to do the work—cleaning, washing not only the fresh fruits and vegetables, but the whole house. Cooking the meat was a chore in itself. The wood had to be chopped and carried to the oven, then build the fire, roast and baste the meat. You wouldn’t want it to dry out. Is the bread ready? Even pita bread takes some time and energy. Can’t Mary help out? Jesus recognized that Mary had chosen the only one thing worth being concerned about. His teaching. Couldn’t Martha set aside all the tasks and come join them? She could benefit from His teaching, too. One dish was enough. Teaching from the Holy Rabbi was enough. I imagine that He had not forgotten the recipe for feeding five thousand, so He could actually feed a couple dozen people at Martha’s home easily. Why didn’t Martha ask Him to help?

What do we learn about Jesus from this passage? Does it give you the desire to seek Jesus more?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, I long to sit at Your feet, read Your word, and learn from You. But there is always work to do. Like the Little Red Hen, I ask, who will get the garden ready to plant, who will plant, who will water, who will weed, who will harvest, who will prepare the vegetables, fruit, and grain for the meal? Who will cook, clean, and preserve the food for the winter? I answer, I will. And I will sit at Your feet and savor Your every word. There is only so much time in the day—so please, Lord, help me to manage my time wisely, using it to learn more about You and to serve You graciously.

Verses of Salvation ~ So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God's obedient children. Don't slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn't know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, "You must be holy because I am holy." 1 Peter 1:13-16

Comment below.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Sunday, September 27, 2026

Who is My Neighbor?

Will you help this stranger?
Is he your neighbor?

The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied with a story: "A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, 'Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I'll pay you the next time I'm here.' "Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?" Jesus asked. The man replied, "The one who showed him mercy." Then Jesus said, "Yes, now go and do the same." Luke 10:29-37

Meditate on mercy.

Who is my neighbor?

Who is your neighbor?

How do you show mercy?

What do we learn from Jesus’ story in this scripture passage?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, Your method of teaching is to provide an analogy in a parable or story that tells us just what we need to do. Please give us ears to hear just what You are teaching. In this case, I think that everyone is our neighbor. As Paul taught, we need to consider everyone’s needs above our own: Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. Philippians 2:3-4. As Your brother James taught and wrote…But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace-loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. James 3:17. Thank You for showing us mercy and love--certainly above Your own.

Verse of Salvation ~ For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, 'The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.' There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. Acts 4:11-12

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Saturday, September 26, 2026

God’s Plan in Action

Ten Commandment

One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: "Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus replied, "What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?" The man answered, "'You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.' And, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" "Right!" Jesus told him. "Do this and you will live!" The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Luke 10:25-29

Meditate on love.

All you have to do is love…. But who is my neighbor? The Jews at Jesus’ time had the books that we know as the Old Testament. There are no direct references to “eternal life” in those books, but there are verses that refer to a promise of everlasting life.

Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace. Daniel 12:2

Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And there the LORD has pronounced his blessing, even life everlasting. Psalm 133:3

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:6

Some verses explain that it is God who lives forever.

But you are always the same; you will live forever. Psalm 102:27

The Jewish man questioning Jesus knew Moses’ scripture, the Law

Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. And, you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:18

These verses sum up all the Ten Commandments—like Jesus did.

Jesus replied, "'You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments." Matthew 22:37-40

How do you show your love to God? How do you show your love for others…and for yourself? Loving God will give us eternal life. Believe.

What do you learn about Jesus from this scripture passage?

Prayer – Lord, have mercy. Let us show our love to You and others constantly as we accept the love You have for us. Wildfires plague our area. Have mercy!

Verse of Salvation ~ God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:8-10

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Friday, September 25, 2026

Love Revealed

At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, "O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way. "My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." Then when they were alone, he turned to the disciples and said, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you have seen. I tell you, many prophets and kings longed to see what you see, but they didn't see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn't hear it." Luke 10:21-24

Meditate on things that are revealed to you.

Have you ever felt that God was revealing something to you as you read something from the Bible? We should all pray before we read—and ask the Holy Spirit, God to reveal something to us. To know one part of God, as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is to know the other parts of the Trinity, too. In this passage from Luke, I liked that Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit as He prayed to the Father. Praying has that effect—filling us with joy even as Jesus takes our burdens on Himself.

I did a study years ago through the Navigators that encouraged reading a few verses of Scripture—until God spoke—each day and then writing what it meant to me. It was like journaling—and a very good exercise and habit to form. The past few weeks, I have been doing another study for five days for six months, as suggested by Navigators. The schedule is:

Monday – Deuteronomy 6

Tuesday – Psalm 51

Wednesday – Matthew 5-7

Thursday – Romans 6

Friday – Ephesians 4

It is a good repetitive study that grounds us in God’s word by reading and reflecting on the passages. I think that God reveals more of Himself anytime we purposefully focus on Him through His word. Not just reading it—but reflecting and talking (praying) to Him about it. God loves us and really does want our attention—but He is just such a gentleman that He doesn’t force Himself on us. Unlike the actions of that ole wiley Devil who prowls around like a hungry lion looking for someone to devour.

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. 1 Peter 5:6-9

Count on God to reveal Himself to each of us—because He loved us enough to give up His only Son as a sacrifice for us. That’s a lot of love.

Have you learned something new about Jesus in this Scripture passage today?

Prayer – Lord God, please continue to reveal Yourself to each person reading this blog and fill each of us with Your love and grace that we would keep focused on You, seeing and hearing what You would show us.

Verse of Salvation ~ But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-7

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

Today is my granddaughter Liberty’s birthday. She loves to cook and bake—like so many of our family do! She made these amazing cookies for her Dad’s birthday, since he is an original Cookie Monster, as designated by his Grandmother! Give them a try—they are sure to bring you joy! There are lots of recipes found on Pinterest. Here’s the one Liberty recommends.

Cookie Monster Cookies
Cookies and photo by Liberty Shultz

Cookie Monster Cookies

Yield: 20 cookies

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 ¼ cups brown sugar

½ cup white granulated sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 cups all-purpose flour

½ cup Chips Ahoy chocolate chip cookie pieces

½ cup Oreo pieces

¾ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

1 cup chocolate chips

Blue Food Dye (consider a natural dye)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large mixing bowl, add the softened butter, brown sugar, and white sugar. Mix together until combined. Add in the eggs and vanilla extract and blend until smooth. Dye the wet ingredients with a generous amount of blue dye to get a deep blue color. Mix until the color is evenly distributed.

Pour the flour, baking soda, and salt into the wet ingredients and fold together with a rubber spatula until a thick dough forms. Fold in the chocolate chips, crushed Oreos, and crushed chocolate chip cookie pieces, mixing them until incorporated into the cookie dough.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to chill.

Use a large scoop to scoop large balls of Cookie Monster cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Top the dough balls with extra Oreo and chocolate chip cookie pieces.

Bake in the oven for 14 minutes, until puffy. Enjoy while still warm.

Happy Birthday, Liberty!

You are a sweet Cookie Monster!

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Thursday, September 24, 2026

Rejoice Because Your Name is Written in Heaven!

New Life...like the butterfly.
Will a new life...an eternal life with Christ...
begin with your name in the Book of Life?

When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, "Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!" "Yes," he told them, "I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. But don't rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven." Luke 10:17-20

Meditate. Read God’s word and listen to what He is saying.

Your names are registered in heaven. What a wonderful thought. As God’s children, we are given the authority to be recorded in God’s Book in Heaven! It is a Jewish tradition that at the beginning of the New Year (which just recently happened for 2026) everyone needs to seek forgiveness of others and of God so that their names will be written in the Book of Life for that year. This Book of Life is referred to in a couple of places in the Bible, and those whose names are in it will have eternal life because they belong to Jesus Christ, to God.

At that time (during the end times) Michael, the archangel who stands guard over your nation, will arise. Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence. But at that time every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued. Daniel 12:1New

Erase their names from the Book of Life; don't let them be counted among the righteous. Psalm 69:28 (David’s request of God concerning his enemies.)

All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names fromWill the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine. Revelation 3:5 (Jesus’ letter to the church at Sardis.)

And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand. Revelation 13:8-9

Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty--but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Revelation 21:27

Paul also writes in his letter to the Philippians about his coworkers whose names are written in the Book of Life. Jesus points out to His disciples, who had just returned from a time of witnessing, healing, and worship in small towns, that they are protected because they believe in Him. They won’t be harmed by the enemy’s (Satan’s) evil because they belong to Him. To prove it, their names are written in the Book of Life. No fear. Jesus will protect them from evil. What a reassurance.

Is your name written in the Book of Life?

What do we learn about Jesus from this scripture passage?

Prayer – Lord Jesus—please look again. Just take a quick peek. Is my name written in Your Book of Life? I’m sure it is. I believe in You as my Lord and Savior. I so look forward to living in heaven eternally and serving You. I praise You now and forever.

Verse of Salvation ~ Sing a new song to the LORD! Let the whole earth sing to the LORD! Sing to the LORD; praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does. Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be feared above all gods. Psalm 96:1-4

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Are You Weary?

The Autumn Season is here.
Take a rest under a tree created by God.

At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: "O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." Matthew 11:25-30

Meditate. Are you bone tired? Who can give you good rest?

Jesus had just spoken to John’s disciples and then a crowd of people about John the Baptist. He also condemned cities He had visited who had not repented. This prayer and invitation to salvation followed. People do think of themselves wise—but what they feel is not God’s wisdom. God reveals Himself to whomever He wants and it is not to those who are self-righteous. Jesus said that God shows or reveals, this way of salvation to the childlike…those who are open to accepting the truth. It seems like those who consider themselves wise are creating a barrier between themselves and God—so that they will not learn the truth—Jesus IS the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Jesus told him (Thomas), "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:6. The only way to understand the Father God is to understand—to have an open heart to the Son, Jesus Christ.

Jesus knows how weary we humans can be…physically and spiritually. He was once a man Himself—so He can identify with us. He got tired, too. Come to Him—give all your troubles, burdens, confusion, and grief to Him. He has strong shoulders; He can carry your load. What does giving up your burden have to do with being wise? Only those with God’s spiritual wisdom can truly understand what Jesus was saying—come to Him. Seek and receive salvation in Him. Learn from Him, as He comes alongside of you—yoking Himself to you to carry your problems. Perhaps those who consider themselves wise can’t humble themselves enough to look Jesus in the eye and ask for His help. Do you consider yourself wise and clever…or can you humble yourself and seek Jesus’ help through life?

Jesus teaches those who are teachable. He said...Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Find rest...sweet rest. Ahhh—aren’t we all looking for that? I am. Right now, I’m so very tired! I need rest for my tired and weary bones...and for my soul as well. When I am rested, I am more useful to the Lord—I can be of greater, more devoted service. How about you?

What do you learn about Jesus in this scripture passage today?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, thank you for providing the rest that I need! Like one of Your trips on the Sea of Galilee, wake me up if there is a storm—otherwise, let me sleep. Food and water are very important when a person is tired. I remember that You were tired at Sychar, resting at a well when Your disciples went for food, and You asked a Samaritan woman at the well for water…and then offered her living water. Who rested the most? Her life was changed, and I’m sure it became restful. You had a great moment of teaching with her and with all of her village. She was teachable. I think I am, too.

Jesus, take my burden—my trials, temptations, regrets, and unmet expectations—and guide me in Your way—Your everlasting pathway. May others find strength in You as they ask for spiritual wisdom from the Father…not worldly wisdom.

Verse of Salvation ~ I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ's return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God. Philippians 1:9-11

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Portions reused from June 4, 2016, Banquet With The King blog.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.