Banquet With The King

Monday, October 19, 2026

Sabbath Healing – He Touched Her

Will you take care of your donkey...
on the Sabbath?

One Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, he saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, "Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!" Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God! But the leader in charge of the synagogue was indignant that Jesus had healed her on the Sabbath day. "There are six days of the week for working," he said to the crowd. "Come on those days to be healed, not on the Sabbath." But the Lord replied, "You hypocrites! Each of you works on the Sabbath day! Don't you untie your ox or your donkey from its stall on the Sabbath and lead it out for water? This dear woman, a daughter of Abraham, has been held in bondage by Satan for eighteen years. Isn't it right that she be released, even on the Sabbath?" This shamed his enemies, but all the people rejoiced at the wonderful things he did. Luke 13:10-17

Meditate. Consider this woman in bondage to an evil spirit for eighteen years.

This event occurred on the Sabbath day. A day set aside for no work—for anyone. There were similar healing accounts on Sabbath days in the following passages:

A man with a deformed hand – Matthew 12:9-14; Mark 3:1-6; and Luke 6:6-11

A few people in Nazareth – Mark 6:1-5

A blind beggar - John 9:8-15

A lame man at the pool of Bethesda – John 5:1-15.

The Pharisees challenged Jesus about working on the Sabbath at each healing occasion. They were just looking for a reason to discredit Him and to kill Him. Was it a simple case of jealously? They couldn’t heal on any day, let alone the Sabbath. Was Jesus the Messiah? From whom did He get His power? There were lots of questions. The Pharisees didn’t have the answers, but they didn’t trust Jesus.

Do you trust Jesus? He still has the power to forgive sins, to heal, to be your Savior, the Messiah.

What do we learn today about Jesus from this passage of Scripture?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, thank you for healing that woman with the evil spirit, and each of us. Without You and the forgiveness You offer, we would be blinded by a heavy load of sin and shame just like that woman.

Verse 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

Happy Birthday Blessings, dear Linda M!

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, October 18, 2026

Enjoy the Figs

Then Jesus told this story: "A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener, 'I've waited three years, and there hasn't been a single fig! Cut it down. It's just taking up space in the garden.' "The gardener answered, 'Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I'll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.'" – Luke 13:6-9

Meditate on the wisdom of care and feeding…and the sweetness of figs.

Figs growing on my tree!

My sweet husband gave me a fig tree several years ago for my birthday! Almost immediately we were blessed with a few ripe figs—small, but very tasty! I am thrilled since I love figs! My Grand kiddos have been equally excited about picking and eating them! I can imagine how disappointed this man was at not having any figs on the tree when he was hungry for figs…and the tree was barren. Three years seems like a long time to wait for figs…or any fruit. I experienced a few years of no fruit after I planted my fig tree in the ground. I waited…no growth. I thought I’d killed that precious fig tree, but I babied it for several years—some fertilizer and lots of water. The result…several stalks grew from that one spindly tree and we finally had LOTS of fruit. This year I had probably over forty figs!

This narrative that Jesus told isn’t really about figs…but the fig tree represents the nation of Israel and the story is about being spiritually fruitful. Jesus spoke right before this about repenting. He wanted the Jews to be obedient. Repent or perish (Luke 13:5). He was giving them another chance. According to the Biblical commentator Matthew Henry, this fig tree is grown in a garden well-tended by the gardener. The church of God is the garden and we are the fig trees planted in that garden. God expects us to produce fruit—giving Him glory and honor. For three years the owner, God, came and found no fruit. That is very sad. No fruit—no honoring God. Are we like that? God wanted the tree cut down, but the gardener, Jesus, wanted to give that fig tree another year—another chance. That’s our Lord Jesus—the giver of another chance. Giving us special attention so that we can use our opportunities to honor the Heavenly Father—to produce fruit.

Are you producing fruit? The fruit of the Spirit.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23

Let the Holy Spirit work in your life…produce His fruit.

What do we learn about Jesus from this scripture passage?

Prayer – Lord, may Your Grace be evident in my life and change me—that I would honor You in everything I think, say and do. May the Gifts of the Spirit in my life draw others to You.

Verse of Salvation ~ And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7

Portions reused from July 24, 2017, 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.

Saturday, October 17, 2026

It is Time for a Choice

About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple. "Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?" Jesus asked. "Is that why they suffered? Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God. And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem? No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too." Luke 13:1-5

Meditate on the value of repenting.

Sundial - keeping God's time
Matino Park, Spokane

Repent or perish. Pretty straightforward. The choice is for each of us to make. Repent. Turn back to God. Do it now…before it is too late. We all have the same amount of time… what matters is how we use it. You’ve time. Time to think. Time to focus on your attitude towards God…towards Jesus. Time to return to the life that God wants for you.

But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. 2 Peter 3:8-10

We don’t know when the Rapture (removal of believers from the earth) or the Day of the Lord (day of God’s judgment) will happen…but Jesus told us to be ready.

You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected. Luke 12:40

Part of being ready is repenting. Do a Biblical search for yourself on “repent,” and you’ll find lots of encouragement to repent.

Gather before judgment begins, before your time to repent is blown away like chaff. Act now, before the fierce fury of the LORD falls and the terrible day of the LORD's anger begins. Zephaniah 2:2

How often do you read Zephaniah? Bet it has been a while since you cracked open that minor prophet. The message is there…repent. Act now. The choice is yours. How are you using your time?

What do you gain about Jesus’ character from this scripture passage focus today?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, You said…My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father's hand. John 10:27-29. I am listening to Your voice.

Verse of Salvation ~ "The time promised by God has come at last!" he (Jesus) announced. "The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!" Mark 1:15

Portions reused from April 4, 2020, 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

Friday, October 16, 2026

Paid in Pennies?

Depiction of Roman Coins.
Biblical era.
Are they worth pennies?

When you are on the way to court with your accuser, try to settle the matter before you get there. Otherwise, your accuser may drag you before the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison. And if that happens, you won't be free again until you have paid the very last penny. Luke 12:58-59

Meditate on disagreements that could go to court.

I’ve never understood the whole idea of keeping a person in prison or jail until they have paid their fine. How can they pay when they can’t work to earn money? Did their family have to raise the money? Was there a possible servanthood established to work off the payment? The same thing happens in the court system today. A person can be fined as well as sentenced to jail or prison time. How do they pay? The pennies all add up.

Jesus recommends that the person try to settle the matter with the accuser before going in front of the judge. No jail time is involved unless the court assigns it. Wise advice.

Consider who the judge is if you put this into a spiritual context. Jesus is our ultimate judge.

What do we learn about Jesus from this passage?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, You give such wise advice. I guess that is because You know everything! Thank You for providing us insight into any problem we might have—especially those we create for ourselves. Most of all…Thank You for taking our sins to the cross. We would be lost, forsaken, and eternally dead without You. You’ve shown us amazing grace.

Verse of Salvation ~ You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. Colossians 2:13-15

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

The key to enjoying a good meal is to have good health. Good health depends on a good immune system. Garlic is a healthy food that supports our immune system to prevent disease and to help restore good health. Garlic is very effective at destroying bacteria and viruses. Interestingly, garlic is only eliminated from the body via the respiratory system. As it goes, it takes the bacteria and viruses with it. So breathe deeply…always…and have some garlic and honey regularly.

We can’t live on bread alone. Sometimes, we just crave a little something sweet. A spoonful—even a very small spoonful—of honey may be just what we need. Honey is a great anti-inflammatory food with antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. Combine it with another antibacterial and disease fighting food, garlic, you actually get a symbiotic effect. The two together work better than either one alone. To combine these two miraculous foods, you can pickle or ferment garlic in honey.

Cold season is upon us…and the flu is not far behind. Remember the old adage…Feed a cold, starve a fever. I find that with a cold and sore throat, some chicken soup is best along with some lemon and honey. Actually, fermented garlic honey is the very best. I still had a little left from last year and have brewed up a couple more pint jars with local honey and fresh garlic from my garden to use this fall and winter.

Essence of Garlic-Honey

Heads of roasted garlic.
You can ferment these with honey.
To your health!

A head of fresh garlic

Local pure honey

Simply crush the cloves of one head of garlic and place in a sterile pint jar. Cover with raw, unpasteurized local honey, filling to within one-half inch of the top of the jar. Seal and set on your counter for a few days, turning the jar over to gently shake it a couple of times daily. After about a week, simply use the honey, by the spoonful in anyway you would use honey, and use the garlic in the way you normally use garlic. Both together would be good in salad dressings, in meat or vegetable marinates, or even in soup or stew. Store for a month at room temperature.

Over the years, I’ve had a bit of a sore throat, from postnasal drip—not Covid—and a tiny spoonful of this honey-garlic mixture amazingly takes away that scratchy soreness. Recently, I drizzled it over thinly sliced apples for a quick dessert. You could do that for a snack, too. Yum.

Do you like honey? Don't eat too much, or it will make you sick! Proverbs 25:16

Portions of Friday’s Feast comes from March 4, 2016, and January 21, 2022, Banquet With The King blogs

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, October 15, 2026

Are You a Weather Watcher?

Then Jesus turned to the crowd and said, "When you see clouds beginning to form in the west, you say, 'Here comes a shower.' And you are right. When the south wind blows, you say, 'Today will be a scorcher.' And it is. You fools! You know how to interpret the weather signs of the earth and sky, but you don't know how to interpret the present times. Why can't you decide for yourselves what is right?" Luke 12:54-57

Meditate. Consider signs of the times.

Are you a weather watcher? You can tell how the day will be by the sunrise and sunset, cloud patterns, temperature, and wind directions, but do you watch for the current political and religious signs? What is going on in the Middle East and around the world? Do you pray for wisdom for the leaders of all nations…or even just the country in which you live? Why can't you decide for yourselves what is right?

Biblically, God has given us directions as to what is going to happen at the end times. Read Ezekiel 38 where a description of terror is foretold for Israel…and other nations.

But this is what the Sovereign LORD says: When Gog invades the land of Israel, my fury will boil over! In my jealousy and blazing anger, I promise a mighty shaking in the land of Israel on that day. All living things--the fish in the sea, the birds of the sky, the animals of the field, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and all the people on earth--will quake in terror at my presence. Mountains will be thrown down; cliffs will crumble; walls will fall to the earth. I will summon the sword against you on all the hills of Israel, says the Sovereign LORD. Your men will turn their swords against each other. I will punish you and your armies with disease and bloodshed; I will send torrential rain, hailstones, fire, and burning sulfur! In this way, I will show my greatness and holiness, and I will make myself known to all the nations of the world. Then they will know that I am the LORD. Ezekiel 38:18-23

This is just one of God’s eye-opening descriptions that warn us of what is to come. There are notes of the last days in both the Old and New Testaments. Paul and Peter write about these with advice.

You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 Timothy 3:1

Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. 2 Peter 3:3

Jesus was asked about the end times by His disciples. Here is briefly His response. Read more of Matthew 24 for additional clues.

Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, "Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?" Jesus told them, "Don't let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah.' They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don't panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won't follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. ... "Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. ... Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come. Matthew 24:3-7, 9, 12-14

Did you read the October 12, Banquet With The King blog, that listed some of the things we should do to get ready? Jesus told us to be prepared. We may or may not be alive when Christ returns, but we are told to be prepared. Are you watching the weather of the times? Are you ready for any storm?

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

Prayer – Lord Jesus, I am seeking Your face and hope that I am living up to Your expectations. There are so many scriptures of which I need to be aware in order to Be Prepared. Holy Spirit, if I’m missing something I NEED to do…please show me what I should be doing. I praise You. Lord God, and joyfully anticipate these last days, even if it means difficult times.

Verses of Salvation ~ All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance--an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. 1 Peter 1:3-5

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, October 14, 2026

Did Jesus Come to Bring Peace?

Should we pray for peace for Jerusalem?
In this sign in Israel, they asked us to do that.
Pray for peace for all the world?

I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished. Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or two in favor and three against. 'Father will be divided against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.'" Luke 12:49-53

Meditate. Consider God’s guidance in Scripture. Read God’s word and listen to what He is saying.

Jesus said… Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? What do you think? At Christmas we give and receive cards that say “Peace on Earth” because that is just what is recorded that the angels said when Jesus was born.

Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger." Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, "Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased." Luke 2:9-14 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Just before His arrest, Jesus spoke plainly to His disciples, and then prayed to our Heavenly Father concerning them. He was encouraging them not to worry about Him, but to have peace.

Jesus asked, "Do you finally believe? But the time is coming—indeed it's here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." John 16:31-33 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Jesus wanted them to have peace and not be afraid. Here in the scripture today, a bit earlier in His ministry, Jesus is telling His disciples and a crowd of people that He came to divide people. What divide people? That’s what He says. Some people, even in the same families, will be for Him and some will be against Him. We see that today with families who have different points of view on religion—to the point of not even speaking to each other. Hmmm. Is this what Jesus was referring to? God also gives us a little insight into the desire for peace in Paul’s letter to the Colossians.

For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross. Colossians 1:19-20 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Many of the Old Testament authors write about peace. Do a search for yourself and discover promises for peace and that there will be no peace. Paul also proclaims his desire for peace to the Colossians.

Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11

Peace is a desire for no conflict, a feeling of security which all of humanity may strive for and not attain. Peace can be a quality of satisfaction, an absence of conflict, or a state of tranquility. It is also an assurance of salvation. Peace is one of the nine qualities of the Fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23.

Do you have or seek peace for your soul?

What do we learn about Jesus in today’s scripture emphasis?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, I do seek Your peace through the forgiveness of my sin and in the hope I have in You for a lifetime of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Thank You for Your love…for me…and for all of mankind. You’ve said that there will be conflict within families, but I praise You for the love that my own family finds in You and that we see in others because of You.

Verse of Salvation ~ How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns! Isaiah 52:7

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

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

Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Be Ready – Much Will Be Required

"You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected." Peter asked, "Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?" And the Lord replied, "A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. But what if the servant thinks, 'My master won't be back for a while,' and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful. And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn't prepared and doesn't carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required. Luke 12:40-48

Meditate on what is required.

Graves at the Mount of Olives
Jerusalem, Israel
Will they see Jesus when He returns there?

For the last couple of years, I’ve been noticing that there are a lot of people who are afraid to die. Even some Christian people who are assured of an afterlife in the glories of heaven aren’t looking forward to death. That is why I embarked on a journey to look at death, fear, and dying. Personally, I am looking forward to a great banquet with the King—my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ—on that day that I am taken home to Heaven. Time is irrelevant in Heaven. I am looking forward to walking the streets of gold and seeing this new heaven and new earth that Jesus is preparing for us. I am not in a hurry to go there…certainly wouldn’t do anything to cause that journey to begin any earlier than God has planned…but Jesus told us to be ready.

Ready for what you might ask. Death? Rapture? Prepared, prayed up, and ready for Christ’s return to take His church to Heaven? Either way…be prepared. We are given more examples in the Bible of being prepared…being ready. See yesterday’s blog.

The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! Luke 12:37

Be ready to go to heaven…but in the meantime…be ready to serve God here on earth.

Are you afraid to die…or afraid to live? Have no fear, but be prepared to know what you can do to help yourself and others dealing with grief—from any loss, whether it is a person, job, home, or something that you treasure. It is helpful to most people to have someone to talk to or a group of people, not necessarily at the same time. A minister at our base chapel years ago (my husband was in the Air Force) said that if a person has five friends in whom to confide, then they’ll never need to seek a psychiatrist or counselor. You can always take your cares directly to the Lord in prayer. Jesus is still the Great Physician, mentally, physically, and spiritually.

Note that Jesus also warns about what is required of believers.

And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn't prepared and doesn't carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required. (Verses 47-48).

Think about what God wants you to do—wants each of us to do with the Spiritual Gifts we have been given. Those gifts are meant to be used in service to the body of believers. Do you do it? Do you do what God, the master, expects?

What do you learn about Jesus, His characteristics, His expectations? How will you respond?

Prayer – Jesus, thank You for Your promise…"When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am." John 14:3. Come quickly, Jesus. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. Psalm 23:4

Verse of Salvation ~ And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. 1 Peter 1:5

Portions reused from May 12, 2020, 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