Banquet With The King

Daily Devotional focusing on spiritual "food" at the King's Banquet Table. In 2024 this blog will explore verses to meditate on as we examine our "choices" daily, pursuing a deeper relationship with God as we grow in Christian maturity. This web page has had over 230,000 page views by people in over 135 different countries who are seeking God through His Word. God has promised if you seek Him, you will find Him. May you be blessed reading Banquet With The King.

Saturday, October 31, 2020

I AM with You

Meditate.

Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

Jesus is the great I AM. He is with us. I love that Jesus promised that He is with us always…ALWAYS! No matter what…He is with us. In the good times and in the bad times. When we call out to Him…or when we blissfully ignore Him. He is still with us. To the end of the age…for eternity. Do you feel His presence in your life? Do you beckon to Him and ask Him to be with you? Hey. He has promised to be with you. No need to ask Him to be with you…He is there. Pause and feel His presence. Rely on Him to help you, to encourage you, to give you His joy and peace, so you can feel His love. That is what you want isn’t it…to feel His love? I recently heard that to receive, you must give. To receive generosity—give generously. To receive compassion—give compassion. To feel love—love others. Great advice. Can you live that? Give and receive? Jesus gave and gave…but He also received. He gave obedience and received love from His Father who said…This is my beloved Son who brings me great joy, listen to Him (see Matthew 17:5).

Jesus’ commandments were a summary of the Ten Commandments. Love God, love others. Nothing new. It was the command of the Heavenly Father. All wisdom and knowledge comes from Him. Jesus and the Holy Spirit listen to Him and convey His message. Love. God is Love. Do you follow Jesus’ command to make disciples? By loving God we draw others to Him…helping them to know God and to become His disciples. Do you have a plan…an intentional goal of making disciples? How have you been discipled? Are you using that as an example or do you need some guidance, ideas or training? Ask for help from others…or even from me via the comments section of this blog.

As always, life is about choices. Love is about choices. How well do you display your love for God in the choices you make and the actions you take?

Prayer ~ Lord Jesus, You told Your disciples and us…Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20. Help us, guide us to follow Your command to make disciples.

Verses of Salvation ~ So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin's control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. Romans 8:1-3

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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Friday, October 30, 2020

Listen to the Warning

Meditate.

I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends. Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen. 2 Peter 3:17-18

Have you ever been walking or hiking and lost your secure footing? Once when I was trying to take a photo of a 50 foot high waterfall I kept stepping back to get the whole waterfall in the photo, and whoosh! The loose gravel and sand that I stepped into gave way and down I went…slowly, but I twisted my knee. Ugh! I got the shot, although it was not as award winning as I was picturing. I hobbled back to our car with the help of my husband. I spent the rest of our weekend camping trip stretched out in a lounge chair, leg up, iced and applying essential oils that a friend had along with her. Be on guard. Don’t get carried away by loose gravel or the errors of wicked people and lose your secure footing. Just as the loose rocks deceived me, loose people can deceive any of us. They may not look like wicked people, but are they following God’s commands, rules, and guidance? Judge for yourself—using the Bible and your own Christian mentors for direction. Jesus answered His disciples when they asked Him about the end times. We’ve been warned. (Read Mark 13:3-37 and Luke 21:7-36.)

Jesus replied, "Don't let anyone mislead you.... Watch out! I have warned you about this ahead of time!” Mark 13:5, 23

What are wicked people like?

What are worthless and wicked people like? They are constant liars, signaling their deceit with a wink of the eye, a nudge of the foot, or the wiggle of fingers. Their perverted hearts plot evil, and they constantly stir up trouble. But they will be destroyed suddenly, broken in an instant beyond all hope of healing. There are six things the LORD hates—no seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family. Proverbs 6:12-19

Here are some encouraging words that God gave to Paul to write to the church at Thessalonica. We can take these words to heart today.

Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer. But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. And we are confident in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we commanded you. May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ. 2 Thessalonians 3:2-5

Jesus and Peter have given us a warning…Be on guard…Don’t be misled…Be ready. Will you listen to the warning? I am.

Prayer ~ By Your divine power, God, You have given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know You and Your Son, Jesus, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, You have given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable us to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires. In view of all this, we need to make every effort to respond to Your promises, Lord. Supplement our faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. From 2 Peter 1:3-7

Verse of Salvation ~ While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. Even though Jesus was God's Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. Hebrews 5:7-9

Jesus is the source of our salvation.

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

It is pumpkin time of the year. After Pumpkin Cookies and Pumpkin Rolls, one of my favorites is pumpkin soup. So good on cold days like today. Here’s a lightly spicy blended soup.

Pumpkin-Curry Soup
1 sweet white onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
¼ cup unsalted butter
½ tsp salt
Pepper to taste
2 tsp spicy curry powder
3 cups chicken broth
3 cups pumpkin, cooked and mashed, or canned
2 cups half and half or milk depending on fat content you want

Melt butter and cook onion and garlic. Stir in the curry, salt, and pepper and cook for one minute.
Add the broth and pumpkin bring to a simmer, and cook uncovered for 20 minutes.
Stir in milk just before serving.

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Thursday, October 29, 2020

While You Are Waiting

Meditate as you wait.

And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight. And remember, our Lord's patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him—speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction. 2 Peter 3:14-16

Are you waiting patiently for the Lord’s return? God is waiting patiently for people to make their decision about salvation. Waiting can be a very challenging thing to do. Do you enjoy waiting? If you have a good book to read…or a game to play on your phone, you may be content waiting. Peter is encouraging us to live peaceful, pure and blameless lives while you are waiting. Think back to Jesus’ last words to His disciples right before His ascension. It would be a good activity for us to incorporate into our wait.

Jesus is the light of the world.
Share Him with others today.

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20

I can think of no better way to spend my time…even though this is really outside of my comfort area. I’m not a gifted evangelist, but my mantra for years has been…be mentored, be a mentor. Mentoring someone is like discipling them. I consider this blog about as much of an evangelistic outreach as I can do…or even imagine. We all need to learn more about Jesus, about God the Father and about the Holy Spirit every day. Please go beyond the walls of your home and tell someone about Jesus today. If we can encourage others to do just that, we may reach that one last person for the Lord. Then our waiting will be over.

Prayer ~ Lord God, I know that You don’t want anyone to perish— it is not my heavenly Father's will that even one of these little ones should perish. Matthew 18:12-14. May Your plan and love for the world come to fruition.

Verse of Salvation ~ And this is God's plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God's children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. By God's grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News. Ephesians 3:6-7

God’s Good News is the salvation that is available to everyone through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

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Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Everything Is Going to be Destroyed?

Meditate. On this cool fall day...think about the destruction of fire.

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. Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God's righteousness. 2 Peter 3:8-13

Our God is a merciful God. He created us…and just wants us to love and respect Him. To be obedient to His commandments that He gave us on how to live to please Him. The big Ten that can be summarized, as Jesus did, into two basic directives: Love God. Love others. Simple. Effective.

FIRE

God is merciful. He doesn’t want anyone to be destroyed. He wants us to repent, knowing that we are human and can’t totally keep His commandments perfectly. He gives us a second, third…and ultimately final chance. But are you afraid of fire? You should be. That is what is going to happen to the whole earth someday. Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. Yes. That fear of fire should be a real thing for us to make us change our ways to live holy lives. How is that working for you? Do you want to be repentant in respect and love for the Lord? Do you want to be destroyed? It is one thing to know that everything…homes and stuff…the world will be destroyed, but consider lives. Those who do not love the Lord God will be destroyed by fire. Ugh. Fire is terrifying. Think of the wildfires that are happening in California and the western United States now. Terrifying for those homeowners. Is that what God has in mind? That is just what Peter is telling us. Everything around us is going to be destroyed…. I just pray that this does not include any of my family, friends, neighbor, associates. I pray that they will know Jesus as their Savior. That is what Jesus came to do…save. Consider that for yourself and those for whom you care deeply. Fire or Salvation. That is the choice for each person.

Prayer – Lord Jesus, help us to choose wisely. Open our eyes and hearts to see You for who You are…our Savior. As that day approaches that will be our last day…whether by death or Rapture, may we have made the right choice and be under Your protection from the wrath of God.

Verses of Salvation ~ Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords. Revelation 19:11-16

Jesus is the Word of God, the King of kings and Lord of Lord. He is our Salvation.

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Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Water and Fire

Meditate.

Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, "What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created." They deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood. And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed. 2 Peter 3:3-7

Watch out for those scoffers. They are all around us now, saying that Jesus isn’t coming soon. Hey. Look at what is going on in the world. Surely you have heard of the Abraham Peace Accord between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain? Is that the peace treaty that is prophesied in the Bible? Possibly. How about all the earthquakes lately? Are those the ones prophesied in the Bible? Possibly. One day is as a thousand years…and a thousand years as one day in God’s timeline. So it may still be a thousand years before Christ returns for His church, but still we must consider Jesus’ words…"You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected." Luke 12:40.

Replica of Noah's Ark - Amsterdam

Water and fire. I think it is interesting that John the Baptist said that he baptized with water, and that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire (see Matthew 3:11). Fire. The fire of the Holy Spirit purifies. Similarly, judgment will result in fire…and then destruction. We don’t often think of fire destroying the ungodly people…but that is just what Peter is conveying in God’s word here. That is the fire of hell in the Day of Judgment. Only the unbelievers, the ungodly people, will have to face that just like the ungodly of Noah’s day went through the flood that cleansed the world of sin. Something to think about. Water and fire. During Noah’s time life went on just like normal—people partying and living their lives until the deluge of water covered the earth. That is what will happen again…up until the time that Jesus returns for His church. Life will go on. Work, marriages, parties, and then the Rapture will take away the Bride of Christ…the church. Then later fire will ensue and wipe out the ungodly. Are you ready? Which group will you be in? Those who are Raptured…or those who are left behind to face God’s cleansing fire? The choice is totally yours. No one else can make that decision for you. Not your Mom or Dad, Grandma, spouse, children, friends, neighbor, coworkers—even God Himself. You choose.

Prayer ~ Lord God, I choose You. I want to be with You always. I know, that like all others, I am a sinner, and I repent of my sin. Please forgive me and take me into Your family that I would live with You forever. Thank You, Jesus, that You have taken my sin to the cross…and that I am forgiven. The fire of the Holy Spirit has purified my soul forever.

Verses of Salvation ~ Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, "Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, "Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?" He replied, "The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. Acts 1:4-9

Be witnesses for Jesus about your salvation telling people everywhere about Him. You don’t have to travel to Jerusalem, Judea or Samaria…or to the ends of the earth. The mission field is at your door. Begin in your own home…your neighborhood and your community. Do others see Jesus in you?

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Monday, October 26, 2020

Don’t Be Deceived

Meditate. Consider Jesus’ words.

For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day. For it is my Father's will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day." John 6:38-40

Are you ready for the last day? Do you know you’ll have eternal life if you believe in Jesus? That is a big IF. It is the biggest decision that anyone ever makes. God sent Jesus down from Heaven—like any Dad would to save his other kids. Jesus was the obedient, perfect Son—doing His Father’s will. We should all be like Jesus…obediently following our Father’s will. The best part is that Jesus promised that He’ll raise up all the believers…His brothers and sisters…at the last day. But don’t be deceived.

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. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come. Matthew 24:3-8

He doesn’t want to lose anyone.

God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Sheep in Israel
Has one wandered away?
Look for the lost one...God does.

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

Don’t be lost…and don’t be deceived.

Prayer ~ Lord God, Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Psalm 25:5

Verse of Salvation ~ And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. Ephesians 1:13

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Sunday, October 25, 2020

No Troubles—No Worries

Meditate.

Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father's home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. John 14:1-3

Jesus is getting a new place ready for you…and for me…for each and every person who trusts and believes in Him. He said, “There is more than enough room in my Father’s home.” His home in Heaven. It is beyond the capability of our finite brains to even imagine what that house will look like, but everyone tries. Have you? How long does it take to build a house? The United States Census Bureau survey in 2018 estimated that it takes about 7.7 months for construction of a new home. Now there are about 2.4 billion Christians. An interesting website lists the number of church members in each century from the first to the nineteenth century as estimated by an English historian, Sharon Turner in about 1810. When her numbers are tabulated that results in about 1,481,500,000. So with this historical estimate and the number of living Christians, you can guesstimate that there are well over four billion Christians including the living and the dead. That is a lot of people—so it means there will have to be a lot of homes in Heaven. No wonder it is taking so long. Additionally, God doesn’t want anyone to perish. Consider what Jesus said to people at the Temple one winter day when He was there to celebrate Hanukkah.

My sheep hear my voice.
Are you listening to Jesus?
Are you worried?

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. 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. John 10:24-29

Everyone makes their own choice—but God won’t let them be snatched away from Him…if they choose to believe. No troubles. No worries for those who belong to the Lord. Where do you stand with the Lord? Are you one of the more than four billion who will be calling Heaven “home” one day soon?

Prayer ~ Heavenly Father, LORD, look down from heaven; look from your holy, glorious home, and see us. Where is the passion and the might you used to show on our behalf? Where are your mercy and compassion now? Isaiah 63:15. I eagerly wait Jesus coming to take us to Your Home in Heaven. It will surely be a glorious place. Show us Your mercy and grace, but please allow Jesus to come soon.

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

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Saturday, October 24, 2020

Can You Wait Patiently?

Meditate.

Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord's return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near. James 5:7-8

Be patient. Persevere and longsuffering. Don’t lose heart. Hang in there. Jesus has promised that He will return… I will come and get you….

It was the Jewish custom for the bridegroom to add a room or more onto his father’s house when the couple was betrothed. When the father of the home, not the bridegroom, decided that the new home was ready for the bride the wedding would take place. Then the couple would move into their new abode. So Jesus has gone to build a new home for His bride, the church…those who believe in Him as Savior. This new home will be adjacent to His Father’s house in Heaven and as soon as it is ready god the Father will call His bride to come to the wedding feast and the new home. I can hardly wait! But of course, we are told to be patient.

Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD. Psalm 27:14

Balloonists wait patiently to lift off.
The weather and wind must be just right.
Can you wait patiently?
Wait for the Lord to return.

This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. Habakkuk 2:3

Wait patiently. So that’s what we have to do. Can you do that?

Prayer ~ Dear God, when I make a promise to God You, I won't delay in following through, for You, dear God, take no pleasure in fools. I will keep all the promises I make to You. From Ecclesiastes 5:4

Verse of Salvation ~ "And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory. So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!" Luke 21:25-28

Salvation is near…nearer than you may think. Look around you.

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Friday, October 23, 2020

Where is Your Citizenship?

Meditate.

But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. Philippians 3:20

Where is your citizenship? Here on earth…in what nation?

A glimpse of heaven through the clouds.

I am a citizen of heaven—where my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ lives and reigns. I eagerly wait for His return. Will it be soon? Only God the Father really knows. He has set a timetable. Trumpets will sound as the end draws nearer and those trumpet sounds will result in hail, fire, blood, stars falling and the sun, moon and stars grow dim, locust attack, and people dying from plagues,

When the seventh angel blows his trumpet, God's mysterious plan will be fulfilled. It will happen just as he announced it to his servants the prophets." Revelation 10:7

The first angel blew his trumpet…. Revelation 8:7

Then the second angel blew his trumpet….. Revelation 8:8

Then the third angel blew his trumpet…. Revelation 8:10

Then the fourth angel blew his trumpet…. Revelation 8:12

Then the fifth angel blew his trumpet…. Revelation 9:1

Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet….Revelation 9:13

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices shouting in heaven: "The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever." Revelation 11:15

Read these verses for yourself. Be prepared. Some of this will likely happen after the Rapture…Christians will not be around to see it. They will have taken up their citizenship in Heaven. Where is your citizenship?

Prayer ~ Lord Jesus Christ, You have gone to heaven. You are seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept Your authority. From 1 Peter 3:22. You are awesome…and I worship You…in spirit and in truth…as You reign forever and ever!

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

A friend just gave me this recipe for a crazy cake that she has been making for years. You’ll be amazed at how moist, light and fluffy this cake turns out! Heavenly.

Crazy Cake
Mix
3 c flour
1 tsp salt
2 tsp soda
2 c sugar
6 Tbsp cocoa

Mix and add to dry ingredients
¾ c oil
2 tsp vinegar

Add, stirring with a fork or wire wisk until well blended.
2 tsp vanilla
2 c cold water
Pour into an ungreased 9x12 pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until testing with a toothpick comes out clean.
Cool and frost if desired.

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Thursday, October 22, 2020

God’s Rest

Meditate.

Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the LORD made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. Exodus 20:8-11

God hasn’t forgotten the importance of the day of rest…of observing the Sabbath.

God's promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it. For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn't share the faith of those who listened to God. For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said, "In my anger I took an oath: 'They will never enter my place of rest,'" even though this rest has been ready since he made the world. We know it is ready because of the place in the Scriptures where it mentions the seventh day: "On the seventh day God rested from all his work." But in the other passage God said, "They will never enter my place of rest." So God's rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news failed to enter because they disobeyed God. So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted: "Today when you hear his voice, don't harden your hearts." Now if Joshua had succeeded in giving them this rest, God would not have spoken about another day of rest still to come. So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who have entered into God's rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall. Hebrews 4:1-11

Today when you hear his voice, don't harden your hearts. Those who harden their hearts become obstinate or stubborn towards God. Is that a good choice to make? Each person must choose for themselves.

Another promise that we can note in this passage from Hebrews is…there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. According to the Outline of Biblical Usage in the online Blue Letter Bible the “special rest” or “Sabbath rest” is the blessed rest from toils and troubles looked for in the age to come by the true worshippers of God and true Christians. Rest…looked for in the age to come. Ahhh. What a great promise. Rest. If you are experiencing feelings similar to mine during this COVOD-19 situation due to the added stress which is draining, then you may feel like you need of some special rest. The Sabbath for Jews from the time of the Ten Commandments until now is Saturday. The Sabbath changed to Sunday for those who chose to celebrate it on the day that Christ rose from the dead. I know people that still debate over which day we should celebrate as our Sabbath. I think that the main thing to remember is to spend the day in rest, honoring God in all that we do—whether it is on Saturday or Sunday. The author of Hebrews is encouraging us to do our best to enter that rest. Are you looking for rest…a blessed rest from toils and trouble…now or in the age to come? That rest will be so wonderful. God’s people are waiting for a special rest and a special rest still waiting for the people of God. Will you observe a special rest?

Prayer ~ Lord, Blessed are all those who are careful to do this. Blessed are those who honor Your Sabbath days of rest and keep themselves from doing wrong. From Isaiah 56:2. I want to honor You in all that I think, say and do…on Your Sabbath…as I wait for Your return, Jesus.

Verse of Salvation ~ This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it." Isaiah 30:15

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Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Choose Wisely

Meditate.

How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it's gone. What you ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that." Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil. Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. James 4:14-17

Our lives here on this earth are short—poof! And it’s over. But spiritually we last forever. Everyone does. Some last forever in Heaven…and some last forever in Hell. The surprising thing is to some people is that each person controls their own destiny. It didn’t just begin today. Moses gave the Israelites God’s words before they even crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land.

"Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. ...Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the LORD, you will live long in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." Deuteronomy 30:15, 19-20 NLT

We have the same choice today. Choose life…and get eternal life in Heaven. Choose to reject God is to choosing to take the roadway to Hell.

You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. Matthew 7:13-14

As always…the choice is your…just you for yourself. It can’t be a choice that your parents, spouse, best friend, children or pastor makes for you. This is a very important decision between each person and God. Choose wisely.

Like this old rock anchor
at the Sea of Galilee,
Jesus is the rock of my salvation.

Prayer ~ Today, Lord, I love You will all my heart, soul, mind and strength and choose to serve You. But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD. from Joshua 24:15. You are the rock of my salvation.

Verse of Salvation ~ My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins. James 5:19-20

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Tuesday, October 20, 2020

An Invitation

Meditate.

Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:7-9

We can only wait for His glorious return.
Take time to fellowship with Jesus today.

God is faithful to the Christians. Paul wrote to the Christians in Corinth… to all Christians after that time. Those are the ones who believe in God’s Son as their Savior. Jesus Christ is the one who took everyone’s sins to the cross…the one who made them blameless. As we wait eagerly for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ we can rely on God to keep us strong to the end. The end. Yet the end is the like a new beginning. We actually begin our eternal life with Christ when we first believe in Him…but when He returns it is the beginning of our eternal life in Heaven with Him. Hallelujah! What a great promises God has given us! He is faithful to do just what He has said. We will be blameless as we stand before God on His Throne in Heaven. Blameless because Jesus has taken our sins to the cross Himself. We have been absolved of those sins. How great is that?!

You are cordially invited into a partnership, fellowship or relationship with God and with God’s Son, Jesus Christ. What would such a relationship look like? Sharing of everything that each one has; relying on the other; having the same mind-set; and enjoying the blessing from the intimate fellowship. Our greatest need in life is to be loved. Jesus offers the deepest level of love we can experience. He laid down His life for His friends…us. No greater love has a person than that. Can we offer Him any less love? He deserves more than we can even imagine.

Prayer ~ I Praise You, LORD! I give thanks to You, LORD, for You are good! Your faithful love endures forever. From Psalm 106:1.

Verse of Salvation ~ This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners"—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen. 1 Timothy 1:15-17