Banquet With The King

Sunday, August 18, 2024

Do You Delight in God’s Word?

Prayer – Lord, it is my greatest joy of the day to just sit and read Your scripture…and to dig into the meanings of different words finding them in other verses. There are so many things pulling at my time—cooking, cleaning, laundry, shopping, just living and taking time for others. Still, You are the joy of my life and I do delight in spending time with You. Open my heart. Give me wisdom and understanding as I try to apply what I read and study. Show me how I can share your word with others.

A Tree Planted by the River
Yakima River
Near Richland, Washington

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. For the LORD watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction. Psalm 1:1-6

Meditate. Delight in God’s word.

Delight. That word is still stuck in my head from yesterday’s blog. Do you delight, appreciate, find satisfaction or pleasure, or just enjoy God’s word?

When I was about twelve years old, I went through a Confirmation Class at my church, and we had to memorize Psalm 1. It has been a favorite of mine ever since. David was blessed with such wisdom…and conveyed it in writing so many of the Psalms. This one in particular give guidance for right living. I think that’s why our pastor had us memorize it—although at the time it was just an exercise in scripture memory and in fulfilling the requirements to become a church member. Over the years I’ve come to understand the meaning of this passage—and as I’ve contemplated it, I appreciate that God tells me just what I need to be doing and not doing.

Don’t hang out with wicked, evil people, or those who mock God and Christianity. Instead dig into God’s word and find joy in learning about God through studying His word. Meditate—think about what God is teaching you…not just when you read it, but all through the day and night. That should be what you are thinking about as you fall asleep—not the last Netflix movie. David suggests that we should be like a tree planted by a river—where there is an abundance of water. Water is necessary for healthy leaves, for growth, year around so that blossoms form, then the ripe fruit can be harvested. Living in a semi-desert area with less than ten inches of rain a year, I can appreciate how a tree flourishes as it grows on a riverbank.

David goes on to describe evil, wicked people as worthless and doomed to annihilation as a judgment decision. God will ultimately deal with those sinful people who are headed down a road to destruction. They won’t have any place with God’s people. The Lord protects those who believe in Him—the godly people. That’s love. Protection. The Lord watches over the path of the godly…those who seek to know and please Him. They are those who find joy, delight in God’s word.

To live as the wicked or the righteous is a choice each person has the opportunity to make. What is your choice?

Verse of Salvation ~ I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight. Psalm 119:174 KJV

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

The Authorized Version or King James Version (KJV), 1611, 1769. Outside of the United Kingdom, the KJV is in the public domain.

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Saturday, August 17, 2024

Does the Lord Delight in You?

Take my hand.
Let me lead you along this narrow path.
Kim & Amelia - Badger Mt. Richland

Prayer – Lord, do You appreciate me? Do you delight, take pleasure, or are satisfied with what I do for You? Over and over I read in the Old and New Testaments that I should listen and obey. I’m trying to do just that. I know that it is hard in this evil world—but as Moses pointed out it is not too difficult. Help me. Open my eyes, ears, and heart to not only hear Your words, but to obediently follow the path that You have set before me. Thank you.

The LORD your God will delight in you if you obey his voice and keep the commands and decrees written in this Book of Instruction, and if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and soul. This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you to understand, and it is not beyond your reach. It is not kept in heaven, so distant that you must ask, 'Who will go up to heaven and bring it down so we can hear it and obey?' It is not kept beyond the sea, so far away that you must ask, 'Who will cross the sea to bring it to us so we can hear it and obey?' No, the message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it. "Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. For I command you this day to love the LORD your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy. But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods, then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy. Deuteronomy 30:10-18 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Take my arm.
The Lord delights in you.
Kim & Amelia
Charleston

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

Delight. That’s a great word. You may think of it more for ice cream or some other dessert, but it is a great word to think about with some people. I’ve know a couple of ninety-seven years old ladies that I would describe as delightful. Always with a smile on their face and an encouraging word on their lips. They bring joy to others. That is probably a quality that God is looking for in us as we obediently follow His commands, decrees, and regulations. He is finding joy in us…as we are finding joy in serving Him. Joy. That is another synonymy for delight. Do you delight and find joy in the Lord? Does He find joy in you?

Moses wrote this portion of scripture for the Israelites just before they crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land. The same directives can apply to us. Where is our “Promised Land” today? We find God within our hearts—so you might feel that our spiritual being is our Promised Land. Otherwise, it is Heaven. For those looking forward to going there, there is one major step. Accepting Jesus as your Savior. Jesus told us that the only way to the Father was to know Him, to trust in Him.

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. ... Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:1-3, 6

The Father is in Heaven. How are you going to get there? Just being “good” is not good enough. Jesus died on the cross for everyone—He took all of our sins upon Himself. Would you rather die on a cross for your own sins…or accept that Jesus has already done that for you? It’s a choice to make. Those turning their hearts away—not accepting what Jesus has done for them—not listening—will be destroyed. Those who choose to serve Satan will ultimately end up in the Lake of Fire that has been prepared for Satan and his followers (see Revelation 20:14-15). I certainly don’t want to go there. I’ve accepted what Jesus did for me. It’s humbling to admit that we are all sinners—but we are. It is our human nature since the fall of Adam and Eve. God made a plan—a provision—for a way out. It is the way back to Him through Jesus along a straight and narrow path. I delight in following that path. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We have a choice between life and death. Choose life.

Verse of Salvation ~ Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Psalm 51:12

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

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Friday, August 16, 2024

One Final Thing

Prayer – Dear Jesus, You are first in my life—and the last…the final thing. You are the true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. I praise and adore You.

One Final Thing
Morning Glory
Jerusalem, Israel

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8

One final thing. There is always that last word of advice that you want to give those you really care about when you are ending a letter, text message, e-mail or phone call. One more thing…. Paul was addressing his “dear brothers and sisters” in the church at Philippi. They had become dear to him. Treasured. Close to his heart. Consider other believers, friends or family members that you are dear to your heart. Who are they? Why are they dear to you? Is it just a family tie or are they such close friends that they feel like family? Is it something about their character that is pure, wholesome, or an endearing quality, like a precious sense of humor? Do they always make you feel loved and valued? That is the kind of people I treasure in my life. Family and friends that I know care about me…and about whom I care deeply.

What can you do to create those bonds of value with others in your life? Oh, to be more like Jesus is the thought that comes to my mind. Most people loved Jesus dearly…and many followed Him. But were they following Him because He was a charismatic individual, because of His healing touch, His generous nature—feeding more than 5,000 people at one time—or because of His love for them? Wasn’t that love shown through His healing touch, His mercy, His honest teaching and kindness to others? The Pharisees were often rude and obnoxious to Jesus and His words to them weren’t particularly kind to them, although He gave the wisdom of the key to eternal life to Nicodemus. How can we show the kind of love that Jesus showed? He told us to love one another. How do we do that?

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. James 1:27

Doing what God has commanded us to do. That is love. That is the final word we give to those who are dear to us. Care. Caring for others…caring for our neighbors—those around us—like we care about ourselves. I don’t know about you…but I make sure I have three good meals a day, clean clothes to wear, a sturdy house in which to live…create fun times with family and friends and take time to worship God regularly. That caring…that is love. Jesus matters most to me. That is what life is about. I care about how I live…so I need to care about how others live, too. Love God…love others. Do you? You have a choice to make.

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

Do you have a Ninja or Instant Pot sitting on your counter? You’ve got the best way to make homemade yogurt at your fingertips! I’ve tried it several times and surprisingly it is a no fail—even when I scorched the milk—it still ultimately turned out OK. I just poured the warmed milk out into another pot, washed the Ninja Pot, and went on. If you like yogurt, give this easy method a try.

Homemade
Yogurt

Homemade Yogurt

1 quart of milk – use whatever you like. Even grain (oat) or lactose free works.

1 Tbsp plain yogurt with active live cultures

Optional: 2 tsp vanilla extract & ¼ cup honey

Heat the milk to 180 degrees Fahrenheit in the Ninja Pot on the Sear/Saute setting, Medium, stirring frequently so it doesn’t scorch or burn.

Let the milk cool to 110 degrees, again stirring it often. You can stir in or skim off any “skin’ that forms.

Stir in the yogurt. Top the pot with the Pressure Lid with the release valve in the Vent position. Do not use additional heat. Allow to incubate for 8 hours.

Put the yogurt in a glass container and refrigerate for 4 hours. Add vanilla and honey, if desired, but it is great without the added flavor or honey. Enjoy. Keep unused portion in the refrigerator.

Adapted from the Ninja Foodi cookbook.

Happy Birthday Sweet Michelle

May the Love of the Lord continue to bless others through you!

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

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

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Thursday, August 15, 2024

The Key To Your Life

Prayer – Lord, everyone is looking for the key to life—to what is important and ultimately the secret for a long, fulfilling life. To eternal life. Don’t they get it? You are the answer—You are the KEY to life—to everlasting life. You told us that numerous times as You spoke to Your disciples. Well…I’m going to explore the key to life. Thank You for Your guidance and most of all for Your love. I think love is the true key…and wisdom.

"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 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Meditate. Consider your choices.

In this passage of scripture Moses was speaking to the Israelites at the end of their Exodus, as they were about to enter into the Promised Land. He spoke to them about life, loving God, and obeying Him. That is the key to life…for them and for us. Obedience. Additionally, Solomon penned words of wisdom in the book of Proverbs that give us another view of the key to life. Wisdom.

My children, listen when your father corrects you. Pay attention and learn good judgment, for I am giving you good guidance. Don't turn away from my instructions. ... My father taught me, Take my words to heart. Follow my commands, and you will live. Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don't forget my words or turn away from them. Don't turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you. Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment. ... My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life. I will teach you wisdom's ways and lead you in straight paths. When you walk, you won't be held back; when you run, you won't stumble. Take hold of my instructions; don't let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life. ... My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don't lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. ... Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don't get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. Proverbs 4:1-2, 4-7, 10-13, 20-23, 26-27 (Underlined for emphasis.)

There we have it. Love. Obedience. Wisdom. Those are our keys to life. By loving God and following His commandments, we can repent of our wild, earthly ways and obediently follow the straight narrow path that Jesus has laid out before us. That path will lead us to eternal life…walking along a golden path with the tree of life that monthly bears twelve kinds of fruit (see Revelation 22). What a wonderful world God has created for our eternal future with Him. Solomon gives good advice. Don't get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. I appreciate that directive. It is easy to get sidetracked and to lose sight of our goal. The tyranny of the urgent takes over and we do the little things that must be done, or that we’ve always done, rather than keeping our eyes on the goal. We easily get distracted, and our attention diverted to things that aren’t important. Make your choice. What is important to you in your future and what will you do today to reach that goal? What is the key to your life?

Verse of Salvation ~ Though the LORD is very great and lives in heaven, he will make Jerusalem his home of justice and righteousness. In that day he will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the LORD will be your treasure. Isaiah 33:5-6

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

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Wednesday, August 14, 2024

Are You Feeling Loved?

Prayer – Lord – Lord God, Your commandments say, "You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet." These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: "Love your neighbor as yourself." From Romans 13:9. Show me how to intentionally love my neighbor and myself. By serving others, I am serving You…loving You and loving others as I love myself.

ו ‎ [Waw] LORD, give me your unfailing love, the salvation that you promised me. Then I can answer those who taunt me, for I trust in your word. Do not snatch your word of truth from me, for your regulations are my only hope. I will keep on obeying your instructions forever and ever. I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments. I will speak to kings about your laws, and I will not be ashamed. How I delight in your commands! How I love them! I honor and love your commands. I meditate on your decrees. Psalm 119:41-48

Meditate on God’s love, laws and commands.

Waw, vahv or va-v is the sixth letter in the Hebrew alphabet. Imagine a poem written in English with every stanza written beginning with the sixth letter of our alphabet…F. What words, or phrases, can you think of that begin with F that can be associated with love and God? Faithful, forgiving, fair, feeling, forget, future with hope, fantastic, forbearing, fond, fond, firm, fearless, and friend.

Are you feeling loved? Everyone needs to be loved--it is a basic need. God offers us unfailing and unconditional love. Ezra, who wrote this Psalm, was pleading with the Lord to be loved with an unfailing love. Give me Your Love. Do you want His love? Are you feeling His love? With His love are you delighting in and obeying His commands, decrees and instructions? To know God, you need to know what He stands for and what He expects of those who know and love Him. What He expects is obedience.

Love and obedience are the keys to knowing and loving our God. Love is the key to having a good relationship with God…with anyone. Look at what the Apostle John wrote in reminding us to love one another.

I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning. I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward. Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son. 2 John 1:5-9

One of the most popular children’s songs is “Jesus Loves Me” and it is well known that it is all about love. Jesus’ love is written about all through the Bible. Paul wrote about loving one another in his letter to the church at Thessalonica, encouraging us as we wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen. 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13

Amen. Let it be so. Love one another. Love God. Love your neighbor as yourself. Always a choice. Are you feeling the love? Do you love yourself?

Verse of Salvation ~ LORD, give me your unfailing love, the salvation that you promised me. Psalm 119:41

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 June 10, 2021, Banquet With The King, blog

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

Tuesday, August 13, 2024

Work Ethic?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, I want to be like You. You were always fair, just, compassionate, humble, and honest. As a carpenter, or stone mason, I imagine that You were known for Your devotion to excellent work, obeying Your bosses by not shorting them with lazy, shotty work efforts. You served others—may I show my love for You and for others by the work I do serving You and the people around me.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites. Colossians 3:22-25 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Meditate on serving others.

How’s your work ethic? Paul directs the Colossians to work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Would you work any differently for some person or organization than you would for Jesus Christ Himself? Essentially, what is your work ethic? There are examples of working for the Lord in the Old and New Testaments. (Underlined for emphasis.)

Model of the Temple in Jerusalem.
Israel.

Then David continued, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don't be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the LORD is finished correctly.” 1 Chronicles 28:20

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. 1 Corinthians 15:58

Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Ephesians 6:7

What kind of work do you do? Is it worthy of the Lord…or can it be used to honor God? Do you do it passionately and intentionally finish what you start? Everything we do is by choice… decisions for or against particular alternatives. Life is what we make it, so make your decisions with ethical outcomes with which you can be pleased. Note that no matter what you do...God has no favorites.

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

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

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