Banquet With The King

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Trust that The Lord Will Show You the Right Path

Prayer ~ Lord Jesus, I realize that I become the slave of whatever I choose to obey? I can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or I can choose to obey You, God, which leads to righteous living. Romans 6:16. I choose to obey You…You are my God, my King, and my Messiah. Show me Your path…and Your way of life.

Crossroads sign in Israel.
Let God show you the right path to take.
Trust in the Lord.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT

Which path? Make your decision…but follow the Lord. Let Him show you the path to take.

Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. Proverbs 2:11

Just as God spoke through Moses before the children of Israel entered the Promised Land…we can claim the same promise today. We have a choice to choose between life and death…blessings and curses.

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 30:19-20

Day by day…moment by moment we make choices. Some of those choices could be life altering. I personally, like Joshua, have chosen to serve the Lord—to honor Him with my life.

But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD. Joshua 24:15

To me serving the Lord begins with reading and studying my Bible to learn as much as possible about God, and specifically about Jesus’ life. It means loving others like Jesus did…sharing what I have physically and spiritually, caring about others—no matter who they are. Writing this is convicting because I realize that I don’t totally do this. I share when and where I can…but I don’t give money to the guy begging at the grocery store parking lot. I’ve heard he drives a fancy car. I give discriminatingly. Where is the path that God wants me following on this? I trust God to show me—and I listen to that still small voice of the Holy Spirit to guide me in making the right decision—moment by moment.

Who are those who fear the LORD? He will show them the path they should choose. Psalm 25:12

What path are you choosing to follow today?

Verse of Salvation ~ A psalm of Asaph. The LORD, the Mighty One, is God, and he has spoken; he has summoned all humanity from where the sun rises to where it sets. From Mount Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines in glorious radiance. Our God approaches, and he is not silent. Fire devours everything in his way, and a great storm rages around him. He calls on the heavens above and earth below to witness the judgment of his people. "Bring my faithful people to me—those who made a covenant with me by giving sacrifices." Then let the heavens proclaim his justice, for God himself will be the judge. Interlude ... Repent, all of you who forget me, or I will tear you apart, and no one will help you. But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God. Psalm 50:1-6, 22-23 NLT

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

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Tuesday, March 5, 2024

What Does the World Love? What do You Love?

Prayer ~ Jesus, I do not love this world nor the things it offers me because I chose to have the love of the Father in me…from 1 John 2:15.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17 NKJV

Meditate. Consider God’s love.

Love God...Love Others.
Live in harmony like these daisies and echinacea.

What does the world love? Who is the world? Are all the people outside of the “church” or those who don’t love God considered to be “the world”? Aren’t we supposed to love those who are not part of the church so that they can experience the love of God…and then seek to know God themselves? Love your neighbor as yourself?

I think what John was writing about…Do not love this world nor the things it offers you…is saying not to put other things before God. Don’t love money, fame, fancy cars, clothes, food, sports, movies, other entertainment or people more than you love God. If you love the things that the world tries to entice you with, instead of putting God first in your life, then it really shows that you don’t love God the Father…or have His love in you. Pretty straight-forward. That is just how God is. He has made it simple. Love Him. Love others. Love yourself. In speaking with the Pharisee…

Jesus replied, "'You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments." Matthew 22:37-40.

In teaching more about God’s plan, Paul wrote, from prison.

So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don't be ashamed of me, either, even though I'm in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News. 2 Timothy 1:8-10

There is nothing we can do or say that entitles us to anything that God offers mankind. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, or eternal life. None of those are ours. They are a gift from God. What a wonderful gift! All wrapped up—like a precious birthday present. Open it. It is God’s gift of love to you…and you alone. Are you going to accept God’s gift…or are you going to love the world and the things it offers you instead? What do you choose?

Verse of Salvation ~ For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:10 NKJV

Remembering a sweet Christian Lady who has gone to be with the Lord.

Happy Heavenly Birthday Flo!

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

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Reused and refreshed from April 8, 2019

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Monday, March 4, 2024

Do I Deserve Compassion and Mercy?

Prayer ~ Jesus, I adore You. I do love You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. Moment by moment it may not seem like I have much love flowing out of me…but I know that You live in me…and will never leave me or forsake me. So let Your love flow through me…back to You and to those around me. Provide me with the spiritual food I need every day, renewing my strength, guiding me along Your righteous pathways, protect me and show me Your abundant and enduring love that will guide me to our Heavenly home to be with You, forever.

You have put a desire in my heart to worship You, and I will never leave You… Jeremiah 32:40.

But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. Psalm 86:15

Meditate. Consider God’s compassion.

Our Compassionate Lord
Cross from Medjugorje depicting His life.

This passage is a prayer of David. It is always good to look at the verse in context.

Bend down, O LORD, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help. Protect me, for I am devoted to you. Save me, for I serve you and trust you. You are my God. Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am calling on you constantly. Give me happiness, O Lord, for I give myself to you. O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help. Listen closely to my prayer, O LORD; hear my urgent cry. I will call to you whenever I'm in trouble, and you will answer me. No pagan god is like you, O Lord. None can do what you do! All the nations you made will come and bow before you, Lord; they will praise your holy name. For you are great and perform wonderful deeds. You alone are God. Teach me your ways, O LORD, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you. With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name forever, for your love for me is very great. You have rescued me from the depths of death. O God, insolent people rise up against me; a violent gang is trying to kill me. You mean nothing to them. But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. Look down and have mercy on me. Give your strength to your servant; save me, the son of your servant. Send me a sign of your favor. Then those who hate me will be put to shame, for you, O LORD, help and comfort me. Psalm 86:1-17

David is pleading with God for His help, offering his praise and his thanksgiving. David was truly a man after God’s own heart. We can only do the same, recognizing that God is faithful, compassionate, and loving to us.

I love that He is compassionate and slow to anger. I’ve had a problem with anger in the past sixty plus years, but God has graciously helped me get that under control. It is a matter of self-control--a fruit of the Spirit--that He wants us all to deal with and ultimately master. I guess I can pretty much say that my Irish temper is, if not under control, at least is surrendered to the Lord. I am so grateful for God’s unfailing love and mercy. Great is His faithfulness. Who am I to deserve His love, compassion, mercy and faithfulness? Now that I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I am a child of God. What father doesn’t care for his children? So, although I am undeserving, I am a child of God and He cares about me. Are you part of the family of God?

But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. Psalm 86:15.

Do you desire and love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength? Do any of us deserve compassion and mercy?

Verse of Salvation ~ Do not hide Your face from me; Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation. Psalm 27:9 NKJV

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) 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

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Sunday, March 3, 2024

Is It Time to Renovate and Renew?

Prayer – Jesus, help me, as well as my family and friends, to renew our minds that we would be more pleasing to You in all we think, do, and say.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

Renew your mind. Put in some new stuff—read in God’s word that is cleansing and refreshing. It can renovate your mind, soul, and spirit.

Spring tulips. Clean and fresh.
Renew me...like the tulips.

Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit in me…Psalm 51:10.

Beginning fresh with a clean heart is a good thing to consider during lent…and a desirable way to embark on spring. Plan ahead to set yourself a new course. I think I’ll do just that. Evaluate where I’ve been this year so far…and where I’m going for the rest of the year…spiritually. Where have you been…where are you going?

Meditate. Jesus is inviting us to renew our minds…to seek to be more like Him and to do God’s will. What will you choose to do as you respond to Him today?

Verse of Salvation ~ For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:3-7 NKJV

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

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®,

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

Saturday, March 2, 2024

What is God Calling You to Do?

Walk humbly.
Which way are you headed?
How do you walk to please and honor the Lord?

Prayer – Lord, I understand that You… requires us to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with You, God. From Micah 6:8 NKJV.

So Samuel said: "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king." 1 Samuel 15:22-23 NKJV

Meditate. Consider God’s call to obedience in your life.

Saul lost a lot when he was disobedient to God. God requires purity—and He needed King Saul to cleanse the Promised Land of the wicked people who lived there. He wanted obedience. Sure, God could have destroyed the Amalekites Himself—but He wanted Saul and his army to take care of it. They failed. You can read the story in 1 Samuel 15 beginning with God’s command and expectations.

Samuel also said to Saul, "The LORD sent me to anoint you king over His people, over Israel. Now therefore, heed the voice of the words of the LORD. "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. 'Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'" 1 Samuel 15:1-3 NKJV

The story goes on…and ends with God rejecting Saul as king…and He is sorry that He made Saul king over Israel. God specifically told Saul what He expected of him. Do you ever feel like God is directing you to do something? He certainly doesn’t tell us to go destroy the Amalekites—but there is still a war going on in the Middle East where people are being destroyed—men, women, children, and babies. It is a very sad situation.

Samuel has pointed out that the most important thing in life is obedience to God. Rebellion—that is being disobedient—is worse than the sin of witchcraft. Witchcraft is a pretty bad sin during Old and New Testament times…and today. Nothing has changed. Note that sorcery and divination are the same words translated in different Bible versions. God specifically had Moses advise the Israelites not to practice witchcraft. Paul goes on to describe sins and blessing of the Spirit in his letter to the Galatians.

Do not eat meat that has not been drained of its blood. Do not practice fortune-telling or witchcraft. Leviticus 19:26 NLT

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:18-23 NKJV

Being obedient to God is the best thing we can do. How do you plan to obey the Lord? What does He want you to do? Looking back through my notes from a recent writing meeting, I feel like the vision that God has given me is…To share Christ with others and encourage them to be like Him. I do this through this blog and the books I have written. What is the purpose and goal for your own life? How do you see God working in your life? What is He calling you to do?

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 NLT

Happy Heavenly Birthday to Uncle Leonard.

See you there someday...along with all believers!

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

Friday, March 1, 2024

Another Good Day for God

Prayer – Lord Jesus...Thank you for giving us choices as to whether it is a good day…or not. I choose to have a good day—like You did after You created the sun, moon and stars. Good job!

God set these lights in the sky to light the earth, to govern the day and night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And evening passed and morning came, marking the fourth day. Genesis 1:17-19 NLT

Meditate. Think about “good.”

Another evening and morning passed—and God counted the fourth day. It was another good day for God. He had several of those…and probably years of good days until mankind turned his back on our Creator.

I’m sure you have good days, not so good days, and totally rotten days. That’s how I classify mine. Generally, I have good days—but with kidney stones and dreary skies some of my days lately have not been in the “good” category. I know…life is what you make it and I can choose to be happy. If I’m “happy,” is it good day? Today, I just feel like a little more sleep…some extra rest and I’ll regain my strength and vigor. God told the Hebrew people to rest…like He did on the seventh day of creation. And then we have some wise advice in Proverbs about being lazy and sleeping too much.

Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest-- then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber. Proverbs 6:6-11

That is definitely convicting for me. I’d rather be like a wise ant…not a lazybones! I choose to be happy and productive…for the rest of today anyway! What is your choice today? Are you choosing to call this a good day...and allowing God to guide you along the way to please Him?

Verse of Salvation ~ Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. Philippians 2:12-13 NLT

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

God made Adam and Eve and gave them perfect food…in a perfect garden—with beautiful lights in the sky.

Then God said, "Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground." So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Then God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground." Then God said, "Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground--everything that has life." And that is what happened. - Genesis 1:26-30 NLT

Edible nasturtium blossom.
Add to a salad--nibble and enjoy!

And that is what happened. God gave them seed-bearing plants. Nearly every plant—flowers and edible plants have seeds with which they reproduce. What is your favorite edible seed-bearing plant? Wheat? Rice? Tomatoes? Lettuce? How about Nasturtiums or lilacs? They have edible flowers.

It is time to plan and get ready to plant your garden. This year I plan to include some edible flowers like nasturtiums. I recall the first time I saw them in a salad, I thought they were just a garnish. Then someone reassured me that they were actually edible. Yum. The leaves and flowers have a sort of a peppery flavor similar to watercress. In researching their use I was very pleased to discover that the seeds can be made into capers. That will be a fun thing to try later in the summer.

For now…it is planning time…and time to get that soil ready. Where I live here in the Columbia Basin we can still expect freaky spring frosts, so it is best to wait until mid-May before actually planting seeds outdoors. They can be started indoors now and transplanted in May. Below is a list of a few favorites with edible flowers that can be easily grown including some that we think of as herbs. Google and research for yourself a few edible flowers and pick up some seeds at your local nursery, hardware, big box home improvement store or on-line mail-order nursery. Let me know what you think as they grow and you use them to add some flavor and color to your salads and other dishes.

Edible Flowers and Herbs

Aylssum – add the flowers to salads, soups or omelets.

Basil – use the flowers as you would the leaves in salads, soups or pasta.

Borage – try freezing flowers in ice cubes. Consume in small quantities.

Lilac – mix flowers with cream cheese and serve on crackers.

Nasturtium – use leaves and flowers in salads or to garnish casseroles. Pickle the seeds into capers.

Pansy – use flowers in salads or desserts.

Peony – use flowers in salads or cook for a treat. Use in water or to garnish punch.

Plumeria – use flowers in salads or steep as a tea.

Primrose – garnish salads, cakes or other desserts.

Squash & Pumpkin – use flowers in salads, pastas, soups, or egg dishes. Can be fried and filled with cream cheese.

Rose – if petals smell good, they will taste good. Also use rose hips in jellies. Use only if organic—no chemical sprays.

Rosemary – use with pork and beef dishes. Flowers are also good in breads.

Enjoy a feast of lovely flowers created just for you by the King of Kings. Good eating

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

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

Revised and reused from February 2, 2019 and April 20, 2018.

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