How’s Your Relationship with God and Others?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, You examine my heart and know me even better than I know myself. Just as David asked, I ask You… How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don't let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:12-14 

Love God. Love Others

Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands: "I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don't tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. But I have this complaint against you. You don't love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don't repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches. But this is in your favor: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do. Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.” Revelation 2:1-7 (Underlined for emphasis.)

 

Meditate. Consider your relationship to the Lord.

 

Who is this one who holds the seven stars and walks among the seven gold lampstands? It is Jesus—our own Savior and Messiah.

 

Is Jesus really your Messiah? Do you have a relationship with Him? This letter may have been written to the 144 thousand Jews that will recognize Jesus as their Messiah during the End Times—but it is also appropriate for Christians today to apply this word—to listen to the Spirit and understand what is being said. Jesus examines everyone’s hearts and He knows everything we do—our hard work and patient endurance. But look for yourself. Do you love Him as you did when you first accepted Him as your Savior? Do you…or did you ever…share that burning love in your heart for Him with others? Jesus tells us to listen to the Spirit. Return to Him…repent. I have to do that daily for some little and not so little things. I want to be victorious—and receive from Jesus that fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God. How about you? Are you hungry enough for that fruit that Jesus is offering to turn back to Him whole heartedly and love Him and others the way you did when you first accepted Him as your Savior? How is your relationship with Him and with others?

 

Verse of Salvation ~ Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you. 1 Timothy 4:14-16

 

© 2023 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

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

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

 

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stori

Gather Four Kinds

Prayer – Lord, in preparation for celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles, I’m searching for the four kinds of branches that You directed Moses to have the Israelites gather. This is a festival of joy—and I want to share this time with family and friends—joyfully celebrating all that You provide for us. 

"Remember that this seven-day festival to the LORD—the Festival of Shelters—begins on the fifteenth day of the appointed month, after you have harvested all the produce of the land. The first day and the eighth day of the festival will be days of complete rest. On the first day gather branches from magnificent trees—palm fronds, boughs from leafy trees, and willows that grow by the streams. Then celebrate with joy before the LORD your God for seven days. You must observe this festival to the LORD for seven days every year. This is a permanent law for you, and it must be observed in the appointed month from generation to generation. For seven days you must live outside in little shelters. All native-born Israelites must live in shelters. This will remind each new generation of Israelites that I made their ancestors live in shelters when I rescued them from the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God." Leviticus 23:39-43

 

Meditate. Consider God’s guidance for His Feast Days.

 

Have you ever felt like you were wandering in the wilderness like the Israelites on their exodus from Egypt? A longing for the homeland…that you just don’t know where it is…but you want to go there? Celebrate Sukkot!

 

Sukkot—also known as Feast of Booths or Feast of Tabernacles—is a joyous actually eight-day celebration that God established to meet with His people and for them to remember how they lived in temporary dwellings in the wilderness and how God provided for them there. This year Sukkot begins at sundown on September 29^th and continues until sundown on October 7^th. It is a time to gather with friends and family and remember what God has done in your lives this past year…and what you’re looking forward to in the year to come.

 

So, gather a lemon; a palm leaf; a branch from a leafy tree, like a myrtle tree; and a branch from a willow tree. These are the traditional plants as initially listed by Moses in his instructions to the Hebrew people and as still used by Jews and others celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles today. Sometimes they use sheets, tapestries, a tent, or actual wooden structure for their initial construction and then add the plants. Traditionally, the plants are also bound together and used in a waving ceremony like an offering to God.  It is interesting that this Feast Day follows soon after an earlier fall festival in which Jews repented of their sins—Yom Kippur. Now is a time of joyous observance. I like their idea of looking at the how God has worked in your life and sharing—testifying to that with the people closest to you. How do you see God working in your life? Additionally, having a hope for the future—goals for the coming weeks, months and year—is important to everyone, young and older. If we fail to plan, we plan to fail, as so aptly stated by Benjamin Franklin.

 

What are your spiritual goals for the coming year? What will you do in the months, weeks, and days ahead of you to reach those goals? Who will you lead to Christ? Who will you disciple or mentor…and who will mentor you? Just as Moses directed the Israelites to choose four types of foliage for their sukkot—who are the four people that influence your life…or that you want to encourage? Think about that as you gather the four plants for your home or sukkot.

 

Verse of Salvation ~ Those who heard Jesus use this illustration (of the gatekeeper) didn't understand what he meant, so he explained it to them: "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.” John 10:6-11

 

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

It is time to celebrate during this Feast of Tabernacles. Jewish people for centuries have built little shelters using three, four or more natural and fresh branches. Then they eat at least one meal a day under their “shelter” serving foods they prepare in their kitchen. What foods are usually served in sukkahs?

 

According to sites on the internet, people celebrating Sukkot, or Feast of Tabernacles, serve harvest foods like butternut squash soup, tossed green salad, apple salad, stuffed veggies like peppers, zucchini, or cabbage, challah bread, and strudel for dessert. I'll be serving those along with naan and hummus instead of the challah bread. Of course, we'll have apple strudel, too. One of my favorite fall soups is butternut apple soup. Whatever you serve during this holiday do it with joy in your heart. God has richly blessed us all… spiritually and physically.

 

This soup is a combination of two butternut soup recipes good for fighting off the flu or just combatting a chill on a cool fall evening.

 

Apple Butternut Squash Soup    6-8 servings

1 tablespoon unsalted butter or olive oil

2 medium leeks, white part only, diced

1 red onion, chopped finely

1 green chili chopped finely

4 cloves garlic, grated

2 inch piece of fresh ginger, grated

1 butternut squash (about 2 pounds), peeled, seeded, and chopped

4 golden or Jonathan apples, peeled, cored, and chopped

1 cup of sliced or chopped mushrooms

2 teaspoons coarse salt

1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin

½ teaspoon ground coriander

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 cups homemade chicken or vegetable stock

2 ½ cups water, plus more if needed

Toasted pecans, for garnish (optional)

Sour cream, for garnish (optional)

 

Melt butter or heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add leeks, onion, garlic, ginger, and chili; cook, stirring occasionally, until it becomes soft, about 4 minutes. Add squash, and mushrooms cooking, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 10 minutes. Add apples, salt, cumin, coriander, cayenne, black pepper, stock, and water, just enough to cover. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, and cook about 30 minutes, until squash and apples are very soft.

 

Puree in batches in a food processor or blender until smooth, and return to saucepan. Heat over low, thinning with more water if necessary. To serve, ladle into shallow bowls; garnish with sliced apples, toasted pecans, and sour cream if desired.

 

Are you building a sukkot…and eating and sleeping in it? I think I’ll make a little corner of the pergola on my deck into a sukkah…and maybe even take a nap out there…if it doesn’t rain! Not sure I’d sleep overnight…camping in my yard?! Blessings on you as you remember the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, the provisions that God gave them…and now how He provides for us. Celebrate Sukkot!

 

© 2023 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

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

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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

 

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

 

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

God Can Be Trusted

Prayer ~ Lord God, I trust You to keep Your word…Your Promises. You’ve told us that You cannot lie—so it is with eager anticipation that I look forward to being welcomed into Your Holy Place…Your home one day—whether it is when I die…or when You call for each believer to come up there to You. I trust You. 

And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God's house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:19-25 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Meditate.  Remember how the curtain in the Holy of Holies tore when Jesus died on the cross?

Just as we can count on trees
to change color in the fall...
we can trust God in all we do!

Who do you trust? The author of Hebrews told us that we can trust the Lord. It is repeated more than fifty times throughout the Bible. We just have to rely on our relationship with Jesus, the Almighty God, and the Holy Spirit to guide us.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

This passage in Hebrews goes on to encourage us to think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

 

Think! Think! Think! How can you encourage others? Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.       

 

It is never too early or too late to consider the feelings and needs of others. Love God. Love others. It reminds us of the Golden Rule which says to treat others the way you want to be treated. Good advice.

 

Additionally, this passage today directs us to meet with other Christians. Fellowship is a good thing—that gives us another opportunity show God’s love, to share, encourage, and serve others. Since Covid kept everyone home for a while, some of us just got out of the habit of going to church. We’d just watch church on YouTube or Facebook. Worship is just not the same on a video as it is in person. No interaction before or after the service to “fellowship” and get to know others. It is good to be back in person—learning and growing with those who attend together.

 

Do you see the “day of His return drawing near?” Someday that day will come. We need to be prepared…and to trust God. He can be trusted.

 

Verse of Salvation ~ Jesus replied, "I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don't be surprised when I say, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can't tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can't explain how people are born of the Spirit." John 3:5-8

 

© 2023 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

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

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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

 

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

 

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Prepare for Your Future

Pure.
White as snow.
Every snowflake is different! 

Prayer – Lord, open my eyes that I would see just what I need to do to “be prepared” for the future. It’s so easy to just sit back and let each day go by…dealing with only the urgent things that need to be done…laundry, vacuuming, food shopping and preparing meals. Spiritually what can I do? Holy Spirit, cleanse my heart and make me pure as snow (Isaiah 1:18.) Forgive my sins--cover me with the blood of Jesus and make me holy.

So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to 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." And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as "foreigners in the land." 1 Peter 1:13-17

 

Meditate. Consider God’s word. Stop, look, and listen to what He is saying.

 

Do you consider yourself and your actions “holy?” Are you prepared spiritually for today and tomorrow?

 

Holy. That is just what God is…and what He expects of us. He doesn’t say that we have to make ourselves be holy…because I don’t think we can do that. It takes the power of the Holy Spirit to create in us a clean heart, to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. But it takes an effort on our part to humble and submit ourselves to the Lord—to live according to His standards. Live in fear--respect--of the Lord.

 

Peter warns us that we need to not allow ourselves slip back into our old ways living to please ourselves. We ought to be living to please God—to be righteous—to live sanctified lives. That means to be set apart and live exceptional lives now here on earth. We don’t have to wait until we get to Heaven to be pleasing to God. It is our choice to live for Him now. Today and tomorrow. Prepare for the future.

 

Verse of Salvation ~ So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. 1 Peter 1:6-10

 

Happy 80^th Birthday to Lynn

 

© 2023 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

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

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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

 

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

 

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Don’t Be Misled

Prayer – Lord, open my eyes to see the truth—I don’t want to be deceived. There are wars…and rumors of wars…yet again. Yes, famines and earthquakes—as well as floods, fires and other natural disasters. The world is in turmoil—is this travail? You said not to panic…so, I’m waiting patiently for your return—about to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles with joy! 

Looking at the city of Jerusalem from the
Mount of Olives.
Israel

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

 

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

 

Are you hearing anyone claiming to be the Messiah? I haven’t, but there are plenty of reports of war—especially in the Ukraine—even involving countries like Germany. One YouTuber reported that World War III had started. Such exaggeration to get attention and more video views! Jesus said, “Don’t panic.” So chill. I think I need to focus on another of Jesus’ directives… “Make disciples.”

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

Note that Jesus had a promise in this mandate. That was that He would be with us always, even to the end of the age. Are we at that time now? The end of the age? Some people think so—but whether we are or not, it’s not time to give up following Jesus’ teaching and orders. Make disciples and teach them—disciple them. That includes encouraging believers—new and old—to read God’s word—to know it and to know God—to really have a relationship with Him. Love God and love others.

 

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Don’t be misled…and don’t mislead others.

 

Verse of Salvation ~ We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation. For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. 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 6:9b-12

 

© 2023 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

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

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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

 

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

 

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Repentance

Prayer – Lord, forgive me—as well as my family, friends, neighbors, community, and the world—for all the offensive thoughts, words and actions. In particular, I have just had such an empty feeling—and I know that You can forgive me, fill me, refresh me, and renew me in my spirit—so, please cleanse my heart and fill me with Your love, grace, and mercy. I so look forward to life everlasting with You. Thank You—thank you—thank you!  

 

For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. 2 Corinthians 7:10

 

Meditate. Consider repentance.

 

How’s the Day of Atonement fasting going for you? When we give up something that is precious to us—food—and submit to the Lord, it honors Him. Our fasting can be from food, or anything…like TV, video games, sports, reading books other than the Bible, or whatever draws our attention away from the Lord.

 

Repentance is the key to this Day. If we spend the day focusing on not eating…then we haven’t really met the intention of God’s plan for this festival. On this High Holy day, being forgiven when the priest entered the Holy of Holies this one day of the year for the repentance of the nation’s sins, the Jews of earlier times were assured that their names were written in the Book of Life for another year. Additionally, their sins were cast onto a scapegoat that was released into the wilderness.

 

Today, Jews spend the day at their synagogue focusing on prayer and in the afternoon, they read the entire book of Jonah. Why that book, you might ask? It focuses on sin, divine judgement, repentance and forgiveness. Interesting that Jonah was sent to a Gentile city of Nineveh with God’s command to repent, and they subjected themselves to the God of the Jews—the God of all creation—and atoned of their sins so that God would not destroy their city.

 

How big was that fish that swallowed Jonah?

Jonah didn’t want God to forgive those Gentiles Ninevites and so he headed for Tarshish to escape from God and His orders. God’s plans were fulfilled when a storm focused on Jonah’s disobedience and caused him to be thrown overboard where a big fish swallowed him. Jonah had a personal repentance experience when he found himself in the belly of a big fish and he prayed.

As my life was slipping away, I remembered the LORD. And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple. Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God's mercies. But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the LORD alone. Jonah 2:7-9

Does God need to have us swallowed by a big fish to get our attention for us to repent of our sins? Repentance is vital to a healthy relationship with our creator—our Almighty God.                    

 

Verse of Salvation ~ Help us, O God of our salvation! Help us for the glory of your name. Save us and forgive our sins for the honor of your name. Psalm 79:9

 

© 2023 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

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

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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

 

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

 

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories