Banquet With The King

Saturday, January 13, 2024

What is God’s Will?

Prayer – Lord God, what is Your will? That is a really good question. Please give me insight to understand You better. As found in Psalm 143:10 NKJV: Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.

Jesus came down from Heaven.
Believe in Him.

"For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:38-40 NKJV

Meditate. Consider Jesus’ words and listen to what He is saying.

What is your will—what do you desire to have happen? What do you think God’s will is? According to Jesus, God’s will is that no one should perish. There are some people that are just not interested in spiritual things—and God is spirit. We have a spiritual aspect to our lives, too. No denying it. God is especially interested in children—for they grow up into adults—who are still precious in His sight. He knows that the sooner one believes, the more likely they are to keep their faith. The disciples at one point wanted Jesus to send the children away—and focus on teaching adults, but Jesus blessed and taught the children, actually admonishing the disciples. Here’s a little of Jesus’ teaching but read all of Matthew 18 for more of the story.

Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. Matthew 18:10-14 NKJV

Jesus was submissive to His Father. Remember how He prayed—just before He was arrested, tried, and then crucified?

Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done." Matthew 26:42 NKJV

Your will be done. Jesus knew that He was going to the cross to face an agonizing death—but he obediently did what was expected of Him. Can we do that? Do what is expected of us by our Heavenly Father? Do we even know what is expected of us? Search the scriptures for yourself. What is God’s will for you?

Verse of Salvation ~ (from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians) Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 NKJV

All scripture quoted from the New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted.

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Daily Devotional for Building Character

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Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Friday, January 12, 2024

Thy Kingdom Come

Prayer – Heavenly Father, may Your name be holy and may Your Kingdom come soon. May Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need—physical and spiritual, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don't let us give into temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. For Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen (From Matthew 6:9-13)

Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; "nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you." Luke 17:20-21 NKJV

Meditate. Consider God’s Kingdom.

The Kingdom of God is within you. That is what Jesus told the Pharisees. What is He telling you? In the prayer that He taught His disciples, He told them to talk to Father God.

So He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven...." Luke 11:2 NKJV

When we accept Jesus as our Savior, God—actually in the form of the Holy Spirit—comes to live within us. So, as believers, the Kingdom of God is within us. After we have searched for Jesus…and found Him…we don’t have to go looking for the Kingdom of God. Just as Jesus told the Pharisees, we don’t have to wait for a particular day, it is within us. Other translations say, “the Kingdom of God is “among” you. Jesus was right there before them. They didn’t need to search any further. They were just blind to the truth. Are people still blind to the truth that Jesus is the Messiah—that He is God? Do you believe? The ultimate “Kingdom of God” will be the New Heaven one day—but we will not have to search for that either. You can search your Bible in Matthew 24 and all through Revelation for facts and insights about this New Heaven. Believers will be taken there—automatically. No works involved. Just become a faithful follower.

Verse of Salvation ~ Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down…" Revelation 12:10 NKJV

Christmas is over....but not Winter.
Serve up some hot soup...
for yourself and guests.

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

Winter is here—and bitter cold is on its way for much of the Northwest and Midwest—the whole country—and the Northern Hemisphere. Winter! Good time to serve up some nice warm soup. One of my favorites is Butternut Squash Apple Soup—but I’ve blogged that several times in the last twelve years--so you can search on this blog site for that recipe, if you like.

What is your favorite…chicken noodle, tomato, minestrone, clam chowder? How about some white bean soup—vegetarian style. I’ve been considering going vegetarian—good way to prevent kidney stones—except I’ve got a bit of salmon, chicken, and beef in my freezer. I’ve given up beef and am just trying to cut back on other meats, although limited amounts of fatty fish are on the list of good foods for prevention of kidney stones. The beans provide good plant-based protein and fiber that is wholesome for any healthy diet.

White Bean Vegetarian Soup

1 cup dried white navy beans – soak overnight in water, drain (or two cans of white beans, drained and rinsed)

¼ cup olive oil

1 large sweet onion, finely diced

1 clove of garlic – microplane grated

1 large carrot – diced

1 celery rib – finely diced

5 cups vegetable broth

1 – 1 lb can diced tomatoes

1 tsp dried thyme

1 tsp dried summer savory or oregano

1 bay leaf

Salt and pepper to taste

2 Tbsp freshly chopped parsley – garnish

½ cup sour cream or yogurt

Sauté onion, carrot, celery, and garlic in oil. Add drained beans, stock, tomatoes (with juice), and herbs. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 2½ hours or until the beans are soft. Allow less time for canned beans.

If a thicker soup is desired, transfer about half of the soup to a food mill, blender, or another pot and use an immersion blender. Puree. Stir the puree back into the rest of the soup. Season with salt and pepper. Serve in warm bowls and garnish with sour cream or yogurt and parsley.

Enjoy with a whole grain crusty roll or crackers.

All scripture quoted from the New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted.

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

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

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Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Thursday, January 11, 2024

Do You Choose Life?

Prayer – Lord God, I believe in You…and pray that Your name be honored.

Love the Lord Your God
Choose Life
Baptism in the Jordan River
Israel

See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them." Deuteronomy 30:15-20 NKJV (Underlined for emphasis.)

Meditate. Consider Moses’ orders to the Israelites. Is it the same for you?

Love the Lord your God…where have you heard that before? God had Moses remind the children of Israel that they were to choose life, to love the Lord their God and he gave them instructions for their lives as they were about to enter into the Promised Land. But Moses wasn’t going with them. He had rebelled against God—so he wasn’t allowed to enter the Land that God had sworn to give to His chosen people.

Now there was no water for the congregation; so they gathered together against Moses and Aaron. And the people contended with Moses and spoke, saying: "If only we had died when our brethren died before the LORD! Why have you brought up the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our animals should die here? ... So Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and they fell on their faces. And the glory of the LORD appeared to them. Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals." So Moses took the rod from before the LORD as He commanded him. And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?" Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank. Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them." This was the water of Meribah, because the children of Israel contended with the LORD, and He was hallowed among them. - Numbers 20:2-4, 6-13 NKJV (Underlined for emphasis.)

Moses and those children of Israel who didn’t trust and believe God didn’t get to go into the Promised Land. Moses was a friend of God who served the Lord for over forty years. He was a good man who believed in God—but he wasn’t allowed to go into this special place that God had for His chosen people. What did Moses do that upset God? He did not believe God. He did not show respect to God and show the Israelites that God is Holy and to be set aside…to be honored. He didn't speak to the rock; he struck it.

If Moses was a devout believer and faithful follower, but didn’t get to go into the Promised Land, how will we ever get to go into the next Promised Land—Heaven? Will Moses someday be in Heaven? It is likely that he will. I’m sure God has forgiven him for not trusting and honoring Him at Meribah. God has promised that those who believe in Jesus will have eternal life (John 3:16). We can only believe and trust. Have you done that? Are you a faithful follower? Can you believe and trust in God daily?

Verse of Salvation ~ For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be. And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days. Mark 13:19-20 NKJV

All scripture quoted from the New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted.

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

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

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Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Classic Choice

Prayer – Lord, Joshua gave the Israelites a classic and most important choice. Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. That is something that we all have to ask ourselves and others every day. Whom will you serve?

Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD! And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:14-15 NKJV (Underlined for emphasis.)

Meditate. Consider your choice today.

Choose today whom you will serve.
Dome of the Rock...or prayer at the Wall.
Jerusalem, Israel

Joshua wisely chose for himself and his family to serve the Lord—as he had already done as he obediently trekked into the Promised Land to spy it out at Moses’ request. Later he served as the leader of the Israelites when they actually crossed the Jordan River. But he didn’t force the people to choose God—he gave them the option. Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. It is a classic example in the Bible. For you…what or who will it be? God Almighty…or some other god…or money, job, sporting events, entertainment celebrities or video games? It is a daily choice. God gives us free will—He lets us choose. There is power in choice.

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24 NKJV

Take control of your life—choose today whom you will serve.

Verse of Salvation ~ But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 NKJV

All scripture quoted from the New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted.

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

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

By Grace

Prayer – Lord, please be gracious to me…and have compassion on me…as well as on my family, friends and neighbors. Grace…Your unmerited favor.

(In a discussion between Moses and God…) So the LORD said to Moses, "I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name." And he said, "Please, show me Your glory." Then He said, "I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion (to anyone I choose)." But He said, "You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live." Exodus 33:17-20 NKJV (Another translation uses the word “choose” as in the parentheses.)

Meditate. Consider God’s choice of mercy and compassion.

God said it Himself…just as Moses recorded there in Exodus. God chooses to whom He will be merciful and compassionate. Do we choose? You bet. We choose each day to respond to others mercifully with feeling of the Fruit of the Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that is an option to us. It is an option to those who love the Lord and allow His love to flow through them.

Walk Upright in God's Grace
Trail to Candy Mountain
Richland, WA

Like Moses I’d like to find grace in God’s sight and say to Him…"Please, show me Your glory." How do we find grace in God’s sight? The key here is to walk uprightly, to be pure, and sincere. That can only be done by God’s grace…by submission and obedience.

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11 NKJV

Choose today how you will respond.

Verse of Salvation ~ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10 NKJV

All scripture quoted from the New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted.

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

Monday, January 8, 2024

Choose – Life is as Good as It Gets

Prayer – Lord, I choose You. I want to live my life without complaining—but sometimes life is tough and it is hard not to moan and groan a bit. Sorry about that. Forgive me and help me to realize how good I’ve got it. Life is good—because of You.

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: "Speak to the children of Israel, and get from them a rod from each father's house, all their leaders according to their fathers' houses—twelve rods. Write each man's name on his rod. And you shall write Aaron's name on the rod of Levi. For there shall be one rod for the head of each father's house. Then you shall place them in the tabernacle of meeting before the Testimony, where I meet with you. And it shall be that the rod of the man whom I choose will blossom; thus I will rid Myself of the complaints of the children of Israel, which they make against you." So Moses spoke to the children of Israel, and each of their leaders gave him a rod apiece, for each leader according to their fathers' houses, twelve rods; and the rod of Aaron was among their rods. And Moses placed the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness. Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, and behold, the rod of Aaron, of the house of Levi, had sprouted and put forth buds, had produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds. Then Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD to all the children of Israel; and they looked, and each man took his rod. And the LORD said to Moses, "Bring Aaron's rod back before the Testimony, to be kept as a sign against the rebels, that you may put their complaints away from Me, lest they die." Numbers 17:1-10 NKJV

Meditate. Consider God’s method of dealing with rebellion.

The Israelites were on their way from Egypt to the Promised Land—but they continually were rebellious and disrespectful to God and to Moses. Finally, God had enough and wanted to show them that He was tired of the complaining.

"And it shall be that the rod of the man whom I choose will blossom; thus I will rid Myself of the complaints of the children of Israel, which they make against you." Numbers 17:5 NKJV

Choose. God chose the tribe of Aaron. He not only made the rod blossom, but note, it had actual almonds! Beyond blossoms to the real fruit.

Blossoms will yield Fruit
As Good as its Gets

God will do that in each of us, if we submit our lives to Him. No complaining, like those Hebrew people in the Exodus. No grumbling. The fruit we can hope for in our lives is the fruit of the Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV

No grumbling, so God doesn’t have to rid Himself of our complaints. Instead, He has given us a great promise known as the Fruit of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a bonus that all Christians get when they accept Jesus as their Savior. Living life pleasing to God results in the gaining that fruit of the spirit—feeling the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control permeate one’s life. That’s as good as it gets!

Verse of Salvation ~ The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the LORD. Lamentations 3:25-26 NKJV

All scripture quoted from the New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted.

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

Sunday, January 7, 2024

What Choice?

Prayer – Lord, help me to make good choices—beginning with today. What can I do for You today?

Finally Abram said to Lot, "Let's not allow this conflict to come between us or our herdsmen. After all, we are close relatives! The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want the land to the left, then I'll take the land on the right. If you prefer the land on the right, then I'll go to the left." Genesis 13:8-9 NLT (Underlined for emphasis.)

Meditate. Make a choice.

We make choices every day from the moment we wake up until we close our eyes and try to go to sleep. Have you ever considered or actually counted how many choices you make every day? Too many choices. Of course, the biggest choice of our lives is choosing to have Jesus as our Savior. He gave up so much to be the sacrificial lamb for the sins of mankind. That was the Heavenly Father’s plan from the beginning. The greatest love than anyone can experience is God’s love. Good choice.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:16-17 NKJV

When I began to look at “choices” in the Bible, I found that “choice” applied most often to men, servants, sheep, goats, chariots, food, plants or trees, as well as silver and gold. In the focus scripture above for today Abram gives his nephew a choice of land. Their combined household were having conflicts and taking up too much space together, so Abram wanted to divide the groups. Lot chose the lush Jordan area, so Abram and his household went to the land of Canaan—which became the “Promised Land” that God had promised. That turned out to be a good choice for Abram and his family…and generations to come—and even today to the nation of Israel. God had a plan. He made the choice.

Will you choose God’s way? Will you choose to serve Him?

Verse of Salvation ~ "For so the Lord has commanded us: 'I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.' " Acts 13:47 NKJV

All scripture quoted from the New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted.

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