Banquet With The King

Sunday, October 4, 2026

Many Believed…Can You?

He went beyond the Jordan River near the place where John was first baptizing and stayed there awhile. And many followed him. "John didn't perform miraculous signs," they remarked to one another, "but everything he said about this man has come true." And many who were there believed in Jesus. John 10:40-42

Meditate on believing.

The Holy Spirit in the form of the Dove.
Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit.

Everything that John said about Jesus came true. What did John say about Jesus?

"I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I'm not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire." Matthew 3:11-12 (Underlined for emphasis.)

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one I was talking about when I said, 'A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.' I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel." Then John testified, "I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. I didn't know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, 'The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God." John 1:29-34

At this time, John the Baptist had died, but his followers knew that Jesus had lived up to His teaching and miracles. Jesus had shown that He was greater than John the Baptist, and He indeed did take away the sins of the world. While John was still living, Jesus talked with his disciples…

Jesus told them, "Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen-- the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor." Matthew 11:4-5

Jesus continued to fulfill the expectations of His Father to perform various miracles. He was the Chosen One of God. Many followed and believed in Jesus. Would you? Do you?

What do we learn about Jesus from this passage of scripture?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, You are amazing. It must have been a little déjà vu, returning to the place where John had baptized You. Were You listening for God’s voice…And a voice from heaven said, "This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy." Matthew 3:17. Were You looking for that dove, the Holy Spirit, who descended at Your baptism? I wasn’t there—but I believe in You as the Son of God and the great miracle worker. I praise You.

Verse of Salvation ~ Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God's promises because of their faith and endurance. Hebrews 6:11-12

Happy Birthday, Lisa!

Blessings on you…today and always—with Much Love and Prayers.

Enjoy your Happy Place!

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 3, 2026

Stoned for Blasphemy?

Could these be stones that would have been
thrown at Jesus?
Rocks in a wall in Israel.

Once again the people picked up stones to kill him. Jesus said, "At my Father's direction I have done many good works. For which one are you going to stone me?" They replied, "We're stoning you not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God." Jesus replied, "It is written in your own Scriptures that God said to certain leaders of the people, 'I say, you are gods!' And you know that the Scriptures cannot be altered. So if those people who received God's message were called 'gods,' why do you call it blasphemy when I say, 'I am the Son of God'? After all, the Father set me apart and sent me into the world. Don't believe me unless I carry out my Father's work. But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don't believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father." Once again they tried to arrest him, but he got away and left them. John 10:31-39

Meditate. Read God’s word and see His works.

Which of the miracles of Jesus most impressed you? Feeding the five thousand, healing the man blind from birth, healing the lame man whose friends let him down through the roof, healing the lepers, saving the man with the demons, raising a little girl from the dead, restoring the widow’s son to life? Or some other amazing action? He interacted with each of His disciples and countless other people, like the woman with the bleeding issue, the father and his son who threw himself into the fire, the Mary who anointed Him with oil, and raising Lazareth from the dead. Jesus did all His miracles at the request of His Father. Which do you think offended the Jewish people enough to stone Him? But Jesus escaped. It wasn’t His time—so Jesus was protected.

What do we learn from this passage of scripture about Jesus that will improve our relationship with Him?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, You are the great miracle worker, and I am in awe of all the wonderful things You did. I believe in You, and I certainly would not throw any stones. How could they want to do that? Couldn’t they see that You are in the Father…and the Father is in You, guiding and directing You in all that You’ve done? Together You are wise, merciful, compassionate, and loving. Thank You.

Verse of Salvation ~ So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak? And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose. Hebrews 2:3-4

Happy Okinawa Birthday, Lisa-Chan!

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 2, 2026

Are You Afraid of Being Snatched Away?

Jesus replied, "I have already told you, and you don't believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father's name. But you don't believe me because you are not my sheep. 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. The Father and I are one." John 10:25-30

Meditate on God’s love—no snatching.

Sheep grazing in Israel.

Imagine yourself to be a sheep grazing peacefully in a grassy field with your shepherd watching over you. He’s not going to let any wolf, lion, or even a coyote snatch you away. He loves you and is going to keep you from harm. Well…he might eat you himself after a few years…maybe not until your lifespan is up at ten to twelve years. But until then, you are valuable to him for your wooly coat…and the love you share. Basically, it’s all about love. In Jesus flock, there is no end of life. He gives eternal life to those who follow Him. They truly belong to the Father and… No one can snatch them from the Father's hand. And, just as importantly, none of them will perish.

If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won't he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn't wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father's will that even one of these little ones should perish. Matthew 18:12-14

Do you feel protected? You should. I do. I know that harm can come even though I love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, but spiritual harm will not happen because I belong to the Lord God Almighty. No one, nothing, can snatch me away from Him. Like the sheep, I listen to hear His voice—even the still small voice of the Holy Spirit calls to me. Do you hear it? Are you listening? Are you afraid that something will snatch you away from God?

Seek Him. Learn more about God and His love for you. It is the responsibility of each of us to develop our relationship with Him, like the sheep following the shepherd, knowing His voice.

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

Prayer – Lord God, thank you for Your protection and love. I am overwhelmed by the mere thought that I am important enough to You that You would protect me. No one can snatch me away from You. Amazing love…how can it be?

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

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

This is the end of the Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot. It is a joyful celebration of the harvest and remembrance of the Lord setting them free from the slavery of Egypt and providing for them for forty years in the desert on their way to the Promised Land (see Leviticus 23:43). There is no one particular food associated with this festive time, just seasonal fruits and vegetables. For my Small Group fellowship, I recently used zucchini and apples in this favorite apple cake recipe.

Simple Apple Cake - Variation Z

½ cup avocado oil or applesauce

2 eggs

2 cups + 2 Tbsp flour (can be whole grain and unbleached flours)

2 tsp vanilla

4 cups chopped apples and zucchini mixed – don’t peel

1½ cups sugar (less if a very sweet apple)

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp salt

½ cup chopped pecans, optional – plus extra to sprinkle on top of cake before baking

Combine all ingredients, using one apple and whatever zucchini to total 4 cups of fruit and veggies. Pour into a 9X13-inch pan. Top with chopped nuts or decorate with whole nut pieces before baking.

Bake at 350 degrees for 65 minutes. This will store and keep fresh for a week or more.

Enjoy warm with ice cream or whipped topping.

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 1, 2026

Chronological Walk With Jesus

Model of the Temple with Solomon's Colonnade.
Imagine walking with Jesus.
Jerusalem, Israel

It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication. He was in the Temple, walking through the section known as Solomon's Colonnade. The people surrounded him and asked, "How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." Jesus replied, "I have already told you, and you don't believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father's name." John 10:22-25

Meditate on believing.

Jesus did the work that His Father—our Heavenly Father—asked Him to do. He frequently prayed—probably constantly—to be sure He was doing His Father's will. So, what did He do? He healed the sick, restored sight to the blind, made the lame to walk, and fed thousands. What were the people expecting from the Messiah?

Jesus was open and honest with those with whom He walked with at the Temple, but they didn’t believe in Him as their Messiah. Jesus is still telling us by the works He does through the Holy Spirit that He is the Messiah. Are you looking for His works? What do you see Him doing in your life and in the lives of those around you? How will you respond to Him today?

What do you learn about Jesus from this scripture today? Do you believe?

Prayer – Jesus, please continue to do Your works of healing and mercy in our lives. Thank you that You have shown mercy to our family and their neighbors during a recent fire.

Verse of Salvation ~ But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. 1 Thessalonians 5:8

Portions reused from April 22, 2014 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.

Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Please Give Me Some Bread

Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: "Suppose you went to a friend's house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, 'A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.' And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, 'Don't bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can't help you.' But I tell you this—though he won't do it for friendship's sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence. And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him." Luke 11:5-13

Meditate on persistent prayer.

Friends take care of friends. In this passage, a friend persistently asks for what he needs for his guests. And his neighbor—who is his friend—fulfills his request. That’s what friends are for…like in the song of that title…

Keep smiling, keep shining/
Knowing you can always count on me, for sure/
That's what friends are for/
For good times and bad times/
I'll be on your side forever more/
That's what friends are for...

Written by: Peter W. Allen, Burt F. Bacharach, Christopher C. Cross, Carole Bayer Sager
So to your friends…and God…ask, seek, knock. Then, when they come knocking at your door…seeking and asking, be prepared to help them out with whatever they need.

Read this scripture passage (Luke 11:5-10, also found in Matthew 6:33) with your family. Then discuss what friends do for each other—providing food, shelter, care, and encouragement. Teach your kids the “Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God” song. Read the scripture (Matthew 6:33) before this passage so that you can explain that God will provide everything we need—those are the things that shall be given to you (added unto you). Note that we are provided the things we “need,” not everything we want.

Think about what friends you’ve depended on in the good times and bad times. Who counted on you during their times of joys and sorrows? Did you take them some bread…or a whole meal? Is it someone with whom you seek God together? Sharing that common purpose in life—glorifying God—brings together some of the best friendships. Is Jesus one on whom you count as “friend”

What do you learn about Jesus from this passage?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, I depend on You—my friend—and the Holy Spirit to always be with me…and to provide all I need and to give help to others in whatever ways I can—spiritually and physically. Lots of hurting people out there. Thank You for the many blessings You so generously provide to me. Particularly, encourage and reveal Yourself to the people in Israel—who are still looking for their Messiah. Can’t they see it is You?! You are that Bread of Life!

Verses of Salvation ~ Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. For they don't understand God's way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God's way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. Romans 10:1-4

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

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

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Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

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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.

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