Banquet With The King

Saturday, June 7, 2025

How Do You See God Working In Your Life?

Good question that I ask myself …and others…that occasionally. I know He is always with me—and daily I claim the promise “I will never leave you or forsake or abandon you” from Deuteronomy and Hebrews

So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you." - Deuteronomy 31:6

Don't love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never abandon you." Hebrews 13:5

Yet how do I describe how, when, and where God is actually working in my life? Show me the evidence.

Peace and calm in my very soul when there is conflict or turmoil brewing in my life. Sometimes I’m tempted to curse—yes say an actual swear word under my breath when I’m exasperated with someone or something, but then the Holy Spirit checks me—and I confess that that wasn’t appropriate. “I’m sorry Lord.”

Another example of God at work s just turning my granddaughters’ and my health issues over to the Lord. My worry doesn’t change anything—so I’ve given that to the Lord. He says to cast all our cares upon Him. I still care very deeply—and continue to pray for them for healing, protection, strength, and even joy.

When I get inspired answers to simple prayer requests—like how to deal with a neighbor’s barking dog, I know God hears my prayers. What happens?! Quietly singing “Amazing Grace” calms the dog—and me. No barking and I can be out in my peaceful, quiet backyard. Love it!

Seeing prayers answered for others experiencing pain relief and salvation are super encouraging.

How do people who don’t know the Lord cope with their problems? Darkness and evil influences are scary.

Turn to the light—and who is the Light? Jesus is the light of the world. He was speaking to people at the Temple, teaching them, when the Pharisees brought in woman caught in adultery whom they were hoping to have Jesus condemned to be stoned for her sin.

Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you? She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more” Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life." John 8:10b-12

Darkness. Gloom. Despair. Evil.

Heartache disappears —with Jesus. Light. Hope. Joy. Love fulfilled.

Which do you choose? We don’t have to have evil in our lives. We can choose good—purity. Don’t let others put you down for choosing good— for choosing the light of the world. Choose wisely.

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

Prayer – Lord Jesus, it is exciting to see You working in my life…and in the lives of family and friends around me. We are not alone. Please continue to work in our lives and open our eyes to opportunities to serve You as You are such an important part of our existence. Our Creator, Sustainer, our Savior...our God.

Meditate. Consider how God works in your life.

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. Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Philippians 2:12-15

My gratitude for today: Knowing that God is working in my life. A legacy of hope, love and joy that encourages me, my family and friends. An existence that centers on God—and His promises.

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

Friday, June 6, 2025

Is it Harvest Time?

Harvest Time is any time. In our gardens and in the farm fields, plants are still growing—generally not ready for harvesting. Just this week I saw some amazingly huge cauliflower that were grown at the local Master Gardeners plots. Those people really know what they are doing! How much Miracle Grow did they use?

The harvest that Jesus was talking about with His disciples is about people—not crops. People learn about Jesus, His resurrection, and eternal life—that is the “planting” and the “harvest” is when people believe. Send out the workers. That is just what Jesus was doing when He sent His disciples out to towns that He would be visiting (see Verse of Salvation for today) advising them that there were few workers. He wanted them to work—spreading the message of salvation.

Have you heard that same message? It hasn’t changed—salvation is still available to all who will believe. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is the light of the world—bringing salvation to all who believe in Him. Trust Him. Believe, repent, and you will be saved from your sin. It’s easy. The choice is yours.

Then Jesus explained: "My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. You know the saying, 'Four months between planting and harvest.' But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! You know the saying, 'One plants and another harvests.' And it's true. I sent you to harvest where you didn't plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest." John 4:34-38

Prayer – Lord Jesus, You spoke about planting and harvesting. It seems to me, You do both. The fields are ripe for harvest with so many believers. This has been going on for ages—and some people are joyful at memorial services celebrating the lives of those who have already gone to be with You. Yet there is always a sadness with those left behind. We eagerly await the day when all those faithful believers will be “called” home…gathered together for You in a rapture. Help us to be good workers for You here and now that the message of Your life and resurrection would be evident in all that we do and say—that our lives would reflect You.

Meditate. Consider the planting and harvesting—plants and souls.

Verse of Salvation ~ Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them out ahead of Him, two by two, into every city and place where He was about to go. He was saying to them, "The harvest is abundant [for there are many who need to hear the good news about salvation], but the workers [those available to proclaim the message of salvation] are few. Therefore, [prayerfully] ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest. Luke 10:1-2 AMP

My gratitude for today: I’ve planted my garden…waiting for harvest time. Joy in knowing that there are many saved souls…and they can become workers to proclaim the Good News. Our very lives “speak” or proclaim God’s message by the way we live.

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

What would you fix for dinner if Jesus came to visit you? Make it a simple meal so you have plenty of time to focus on His teaching and fellowship. When fresh tomatoes are available, and possibly in abundance in your garden, consider creating a fresh tomato pie for supper.

Fresh Tomato Pie

1 nine-inch pie shell or springform pan lined with pastry, baked
1½ lbs fresh tomatoes, sliced in 1/4” rounds
½ small sweet onion, chopped
4 slices of cooked bacon, chopped, optional
½ cup mayonnaise
2 cups Gruyere or white cheddar cheese (or mixture of cheeses of your choice), grated
½ cup shredded mozzarella or parmesan cheese
8 large basil leaves, chopped or thinly sliced, plus more for garnish if desired
Salt and pepper – grind fresh

Be sure to bake the pie crust at 450 degrees for about 20 minutes or until browned. Allow to cool.

Slice tomatoes, sprinkle lightly with salt and allow to sit for ½ - 1 hour for the water to come out to the tomatoes. You may place them in a colander to drain or simply arrange slices on paper towels. Drain well before use. You don’t want that extra moisture in your pie.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place chopped onion on pie crust. Top with about half of the well-drained tomatoes. Sprinkle with half of the basil. Top with the bacon, if desired, and then the remaining tomatoes and basil. Add some fresh ground pepper. Mix the mayo with half of the Gruyere cheese and the Mozzarella cheese. Place the cheese mixture on top of the tomatoes. Top with the last cup of grated cheese. Bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes or until the cheese is lightly browned. Garnish with fresh basil leaves, if desired. Enjoy with some fresh sliced cucumbers or a fresh garden salad. Leftovers are good cold.

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

Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMP),

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

Thursday, June 5, 2025

Wells, Blessings, Oaths and a Feast

Throwback Thursday…From January 12, 2012

Read Genesis 26

There’s another famine in Canaan—but the Lord tells Isaac to stay there in Gerar—not to go to Egypt. God confirms His covenant with Isaac that He had made with Abraham. In fear of being killed Isaac tells the local men that his beautiful wife Rebekah is his sister—but King Abimeleth catches on, confronts Isaac and tells the people that whoever touches Isaac or Rebekah will be put to death. Isaac sowed in the land and reaped one hundredfold. The Lord blessed him.

The Philistines are jealous of Isaac’s prosperity—so they fill up his wells with dirt. Isaac left Gerar, moving to the valley. There he dug more wells—which the local herdsmen claimed. Isaac moved to Beersheba where the Lord blessed him. King Abimelech, recognizing that the Lord blessed Isaac, came to him and made an oath with him. Isaac prepared a feast for Abimelech and his staff.

The Lord has promised to prepare a feast for us in the presence of our enemies (Psalm 23). Although David wrote that long after Isaac, it is notable that the promise it there. In this case the oath that Abimelech made with Isaac took away the status of “enemies.”

Have you considered creating an oath with those who would treat you as Abimelech treated Isaac—asking him to leave their town? What does creating an oath entail? Do you offer a feast to those who aren’t your closest friends?

Consider how our Lord treated those that treated Him unjustly—how He ate with the unloved and unlovable people. Can you do any less?

Prayer ~ Lord, help me to treat others justly, as you would, to be honest and willing to serve those we may consider as “enemies”.

Happy Birthday, Harriett

Blessings & Prayers

Throwback from January 12, 2012 Banquet With The King blog..

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

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Plant Now for Harvest Later

Will you harvest potatoes?

I’ve been working in my garden. Hopefully it will be a rewarding experience this year. Things are growing! Plant and harvest. You get what you plant…plant potatoes, harvest potatoes. Plant basil, harvest basil, not wheat. That is pretty logical. There’s some essentially basic and yet wise advice about planting and harvesting in the Bible.

And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. James 3:18

Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you. Hosea 10:12.

Seeds of peace reap righteousness and that results in love. Harvest righteousness…and then plant it—how do you do that? Does it grow on a bush or a tree in your heart? Righteousness is right living before God, with integrity, virtue and purity of life. That is all goodness, pleasing to the Holy Spirit—God Himself. Doing good. It warms my heart to see and hear of others, doing good. I love it when I see others in my circle of Christian friends and family hugging and helping fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord. We naturally see lots of love sharing around the time of Thankfulness and the Remembrance of Christ’s birth, but I actually see it day by day… all year around.

Don’t get tired of doing good—that in itself is a blessing. So, choose to keep on doing good…blessing others by pleasing the Holy Spirit.

And don't forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God. Hebrews 13:16

Don't be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. Galatians 6:7-10

Prayer – Lord God, provide opportunities for each of us to “do good” and help us not to be misled. Open our eyes to show us what we are “planting” and “harvesting” for we want to live to please You.

Meditate. Consider the harvest.

Verse of Salvation ~ I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ's return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation--the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ--for this will bring much glory and praise to God. Philippians 1:9-11

My gratitude for today: Sunshine—part of God’s creation. Plants that grow…and will produce food. Knowledge of everlasting life…to share lovingly with others.

Revised from Banquet With The King blog, November 27, 2017.

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

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Nice

Have a "nice" day--on this smooth lake.
Sea of Galilee - Israel

Nice. Someone recently commented that the word “nice” was not in the Bible. What? I decided to check it out for myself. True, it is not in the King James Version, but it is in three passages in the New Living Translation and once in the New American Standard Bible. “Nice” is translated in other versions as “pleasant,” “smooth words,” and “fair.”

Think about how many times a day you use the word “nice.” Have a nice day. It is so nice to see you…or it’s nice today. That is a nice person, shirt, dress, car, dog…whatever. The Merriman-Webester Thesaurus online lists words like polite, good, pretty, desirable, blessed, tasty, fascinating, careful, or insightful among about a hundred other words. Nice is such a common word today but obviously was not used so commonly or extensively at the time of earlier translations. You might describe other Christians as “nice,” but would you describe Jesus or your idea of heaven as “nice?” Something on which to reflect as you sit and sip some iced tea or a cool drink on these hot summer days. No need to chase the wind—as that is a meaningless activity according to Solomon.

“Nice” is in some translations of the Bible. Search it for yourself. It’s a nice way to spend a few minutes with the Lord.

Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don't have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless—like chasing the wind. Ecclesiastes 6:9

They tell the seers, "Stop seeing visions!" They tell the prophets, "Don't tell us what is right. Tell us nice things. Tell us lies. Isaiah 30:10

It may be nice to live in a beautiful palace paneled with wood from the cedars of Lebanon, but soon you will groan with pangs of anguish—anguish like that of a woman in labor. Jeremiah 22:23

"For even your brothers and the household of your father, Even they have dealt treacherously with you, Even they have called aloud after you. Do not believe them, though they say nice things to you." Jeremiah 12:6 NASB20

Prayer – Lord, it is certainly more than “nice” to know You. Please bless us with a deeper knowledge and understanding of You—beyond “nice.”

Meditate on “nice.”

Verse of Salvation ~ God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:8-10

My gratitude for today: Pleasant days. Friends and family who are loving. An abundance of Biblical teachings.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) 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

Monday, June 2, 2025

What Does God Expect of You?

Do you need a reminder about God’s expectations of you?

Purity - White hollyhocks
Near Jerusalem, Israel

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don't recognize that we are God's children because they don't know him. Dear friends, we are already God's children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure. Everyone who sins is breaking God's law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God. And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is. 1 John 3:1-6 (Underlined for emphasis.)

What does He expect of His children? Purity. What else?

What can we bring to the LORD? What kind of offerings should we give him? Should we bow before God with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:6-8 (Underlined for emphasis.)

So, what are you doing today to respond to God’s expectations or requirements? The choice is yours. Choose wisely.

So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen. This is a trustworthy saying: If we die with him, we will also live with him. If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us. If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is. Remind everyone about these things, and command them in God's presence to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them. 2 Timothy 2:10-14

Prayer – Lord God, I am willing to endure anything—to live in such a way to please You. Help each of us, our families and friends make good decisions…day by day.

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

Verse of Salvation ~ So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness. 1 Peter 2:1-3

My gratitude for today: God’s presence in my life. God’s promise of never leaving or forsaking me. Creation that is evident of God’s handiwork.

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

Sunday, June 1, 2025

Who Do You Live to Please?

Reenactment of the Last Supper
Richland Nazarene Church
The loving mercy of Jesus Christ.
Who do you live to please? God or man?

Are you seeking the approval of God or of people? Or do you just live to please yourself?

As always, the choice is ours. It is up to each of us how we choose to live. What motivates your thoughts, words, and actions? Those are the things that subtly and perhaps even subconsciously guide our lives. Paul wrote to the church at Corinth about pleasing God by preaching, or sharing, the true Good News. What’s that you may ask? The Good News is the truth about Jesus Christ. His birth, ministry, death, and resurrection. He is the only god in the world who has come back from the dead. Beyond that, we know that by promises throughout the New Testament, Jesus Christ will be returning for His church, and we will live with Him forever—an eternity. Paul warns people not to be fooled by anyone that is preaching a false gospel. There were people who would intentionally, deliberately, tell lies. No truth comes from them. Who can you trust?

Now we can check anyone’s teaching against the very words of the Bible—but in Paul’s day not all of the New Testament was even yet written. Still, we have to be careful what we follow. Who can you believe? Compare what they preach with what God taught us through the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) as well as the other books of the New Testament. Do they appear to be the same message? God doesn’t change…and neither do the teachings He has provided to us. Choose wisely.

Who do you live to please?

I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ. Let God's curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you. I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed. Obviously, I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant. Galatians 1:6-10 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Prayer – Lord God, I choose You. Show me how I can serve and please You in everything I do. Help me to encourage others to deliberately seek You first in their lives—pleasing You above all. Guard our minds and hearts that we would not be deceived by someone distorting Your words as we know them from the Bible.

Meditate. Consider what motivates your thoughts, words, and actions.

Verse of Salvation ~ May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen. Galatians 1:3-5

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