Banquet With The King

Monday, October 7, 2024

Love God – Love Others – As Long As Life Lasts

Prayer – Lord, I will love You forever—for eternity—and I am certainly trying to “love others as I love myself” even when I I’m feeling a little empty. Fill me fresh with Your love—with the Holy Spirit.

Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don't believe it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation. For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God's promises because of their faith and endurance. Hebrews 6:9-12

Meditate. Consider spiritual indifference.

Do you ever feel that you are spiritually dull or indifferent?

Faithful with endurance. Those are the qualities—having faith and endurance—of believers who will get to go to Heaven—those who will inherit God’s promises. The church at Thyatira described in Revelation 2 has those attributes.

I know all the things you do. I have seen your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things. Revelation 2:19 (Underlined for emphasis.)

There hope beyond the destruction.

I think now of those Christians in western North Carolina, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee who have so much to endure after Hurricane Helene. Oh my! What destruction and so many deaths. No power or water. No home, no food, no clothes, no roads to lead away from the destruction. Just rain, mud, and now cold weather. May God give them strength and provide resources—but most of all hope! This is certainly an opportunity for all of us to care for other believers—beginning with prayer.

Love others and God as long as life lasts. For some of the hurricane victims…life has ceased. Very traumatic for the family, friends, and neighbors of those who have lost loved ones. We can only hope that they knew the Lord as their Savior. Now is the time to share the love of Jesus with everyone who comes into your life. That should give them and you hope. That encouragement to others might just relieve any spiritual dullness or indifference that you’ve experienced. You can choose to pray and encourage others.

Verse of Salvation ~ Listen to me, my people. Hear me, Israel, for my law will be proclaimed, and my justice will become a light to the nations. My mercy and justice are coming soon. My salvation is on the way. My strong arm will bring justice to the nations. All distant lands will look to me and wait in hope for my powerful arm. Isaiah 51:4-5

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

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Sunday, October 6, 2024

Time to Move Forward

Prosser Balloon Festival
Move Forward...
No Going Back.
Understand God.

Prayer – Lord Jesus, there is no going back. We must move forward, God willing.

And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding. For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come—and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame. Hebrews 6:3-6

Meditate. Consider God’s will.

Do you feel like you are moving forward?

Time is moving so quickly! Do you feel it? It has been almost a year already since the attack on Israel on October 7th last year! Now the conflict, dare I say war, continues and is escalating even as I write this. Is Israel standing alone? Almost. The United States is not wholeheartedly backing their actions. Israel must be aggressive if it is to win this against Hamas, against Iran. When people, or nations, stand together, there is strength. What will happen when Israel is alone?

A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12

The author of Hebrews, in this passage above, is indicating that people who have fallen or turned from God can’t go back. But forgiveness is a gift from God.

For the Scriptures tell us, "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith." When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it: "Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of sin." Romans 4:3-8

God’s will. What is that? Obedience is always the key. Jesus was obedient to our Heavenly Father. He came to do God’s will.

Then I said, 'Look, I have come to do your will, O God--as is written about me in the Scriptures.'" First, Christ said, "You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them" (though they are required by the law of Moses). Then he said, "Look, I have come to do your will." He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. For God's will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. Hebrews 10:7-10

God willing, we will move forward to further understanding. His will—what He permits or allows. Is our purpose in this life to do God’s will? Will we be moving forward? I trust that we will. What is your choice today?

Verse of Salvation ~ I will sing of the LORD's unfailing love forever! Young and old will hear of your faithfulness. Your unfailing love will last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens. Psalm 89:1-2

Birthday Blessing - Evelyn

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

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Saturday, October 5, 2024

Become Mature – Move Forward

Prayer – Lord, I want to grow as a Christian—as Your follower. Please give me boundless insight, wisdom and understanding to know You deeply…and to wisely apply Your words to my life.

No longer an ugly duckling--we are mature.
Mature in our understanding about Christ.
Move forward.
Disciple others.

So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don't need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don't need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding. Hebrews 6:1-3 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Meditate on moving forward.

Do you know the basic Christian teachings?

The author of Hebrews is challenging us to move on—to become mature in our understanding. Then what? Press on—move forward. We need to do what Jesus said to do just as He ascended into Heaven…

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20 (Underlined for emphasis.)

We need to use that knowledge, encouraging others to know Jesus Christ as their Savior and develop a relationship with Him. That is what it means to make disciples, to share the Good News of Jesus’ resurrection.

It is time to dig deeper into God’s word. You know the basics. What is next in God’s plan? Is it time for you to know more about God? The choice is yours.

Verses of Salvation ~ But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God's weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength. ... God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. 1 Corinthians 1:24-25, 30

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

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Friday, October 4, 2024

Grow to Maturity

Prayer – Lord. You expect us to grow to maturity. We see fruits and vegetables that are at their height of maturity now during this harvest season. Show us what it means to be mature as Christians…and how to attain that goal. We praise You and thank you for leading us by example.

Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11

Meditate. Consider maturity.

Are you a mature Christian?

What does maturity mean in a Christian walk or Christian life? Paul wrote about growing to maturity. Can one instantly become “mature” or is it a process? The author of Hebrews challenges Christians to step up to the plate and not look to be spoon fed anymore. That’s the walk for some Christians—just to go to church and have someone read some scripture and the pastor preach. It is like being spoon fed or just having a glass of milk for their spiritual meal. No digging into the real meat of the scripture.

There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don't seem to listen. You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God's word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn't know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong. Hebrews 5:11-14

Where are you at in your Christian walk? Do you read—really read—and study your Bible every day? Do you need someone to lead you through a study or can you discipline yourself to dig into God’s word and find meaning that you can apply to your life daily? We all know that we need exercise every day—and that includes exercising our spiritual body, too. Personally, I have to use self-control to discipline myself to continue to study daily—but there is no better way to spend time every morning…afternoon or evening…that really communing with God in His word. What is your choice today…study and become “mature” or just wait until someone can spoon feed you on Sunday?

Verse of Salvation ~ So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God's obedient children. Don't slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn't know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, "You must be holy because I am holy." 1 Peter 1:13-16

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

What food is on your plate today? Only milk and meat? How about some bread—and dip it in olive oil?

Olive oil was a mainstay in the diet and used for many things during Biblical times. Remember the story of Elijah who asked the widow of Zarephath to make him a loaf of bread—and then the flour and oil never ran out until the drought at that time was over? Read about it in 1 Kings 17. Amazing story.

Old Olive Trees
Garden of Gethsemane
Jerusalem, Israel

Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane on the night that He was betrayed. Gethsemane mean oil press. It was where olive trees grew and the oil was pressed out of the olives with a huge stone. Even today olives are pressed with the first pressing known as extra virgin olive oil. It is the purest. The olives are pressed again and that oil is labeled virgin olive oil. If a bottle that you purchase is not labeled as virgin olive oil, then it has been refined in some way, like heating it which can damage the structure of the oil and make it lose some of its health benefits.

Olive oil has been shown to decrease the LDL cholesterol level and increase the HDL cholesterol level. Heart disease is lower in countries around the world that consume more olive oil in their daily diet. You’ve probably read that one way to improve your health is to drink a tablespoon of olive oil a day. Glub-glub! I’ve tried it. The better the oil the easier it is to swallow!

One way to get your daily tablespoon is by dipping slices of French, Italian, or sour dough bread into some olive oil that has a splash balsamic vinegar and Italian herbs sprinkled on it. Yum! That is just what I plan to do to start a fun Italian dinner. I’ll be walking a lot tomorrow to walk off the bread and pasta of our Pasta Bar evening!

Happy Birthday Lisa!

Much Love and Blessing Today and Always!

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

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Thursday, October 3, 2024

What Are You Waiting For?

Prayer – Lord, people are once again panicking. They are racing out to buy toilet paper and water because of threatened long-shore strikes. They just want to “be prepared” in the event of a catastrophe. With the recent hurricanes and Middle East war strikes, people are just on edge—but You told us not to worry or to cast all our cares upon You. We can lay all of our burdens down at Your feet. What a freeing thought. The weight on the anxiety is gone. Thank you. Give us wisdom to prepare spiritually. You are what really matters.

Now there were four men with leprosy sitting at the entrance of the city gates. "Why should we sit here waiting to die?" they asked each other. "We will starve if we stay here, but with the famine in the city, we will starve if we go back there. So we might as well go out and surrender to the Aramean army. If they let us live, so much the better. But if they kill us, we would have died anyway." So at twilight they set out for the camp of the Arameans. But when they came to the edge of the camp, no one was there! For the Lord had caused the Aramean army to hear the clatter of speeding chariots and the galloping of horses and the sounds of a great army approaching. "The king of Israel has hired the Hittites and Egyptians to attack us!" they cried to one another. So they panicked and raced into the night, abandoning their tents, horses, donkeys, and everything else, as they fled for their lives. When the lepers arrived at the edge of the camp, they went into one tent after another, eating and drinking wine; and they carried off silver and gold and clothing and hid it. Finally, they said to each other, "This is not right. This is a day of good news, and we aren't sharing it with anyone! If we wait until morning, some calamity will certainly fall upon us. Come on, let's go back and tell the people at the palace." 2 Kings 7:3-9

Meditate on these verses.

What are you waiting for?

Like those lepers are you do you sometimes feel like you are just waiting to die or to be raptured? As they went into their enemies’ camp, they were given all they needed. Then they realized that they needed share that good news with others. Do we feel that need to share the Good News with others? No fear. No anxiety. Breath. Love God and love others. Keep reading that chapter in Second Kings. The people of the palace didn’t fare so well, in fact the king was trampled to death by his own greedy people. They rushed out to plunder and returned with provisions from the enemies’ camp, crushing the king on their way back home. It was predicted and it happened just as Elisha the prophet had said.

Are you familiar with the predictions of the last days as foretold in Ezekial by the priest Ezekial, in Matthew by Jesus, in Thessalonians by Paul, and in Revelation as recorded by John? Be ready. Read and study the end time prophecies for yourself. Do you see them happening just as anticipated? Israel is back in their land—the land promised to Abraham by God Himself. They are doing battle for their very existence there now. Pray for the Jews…that they would see Jesus as their Messiah and praise God for His perfect plan. It will get messy, but the purity that God requires will happen according to His schedule. No evil will remain in the end. God is holy and just. We can rely on Him as we wait for His perfect timing. Are you choosing to patiently wait on the Creator God to finish His design and purpose?

Verse of Salvation ~ The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, "The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!" The LORD is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the LORD. Lamentations 3:22-26

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

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Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Happy New Year – Rosh Hashanah

Prayer – Lord Jesus, may all the Jews seeking to have their names listed in the Book of Life seek to know You as their Lord and Savior…for that is the only true way to have one’s name in that book! Give me courage, wisdom, and understanding as I share the Gospel truth with others—that their New Year would be just that a new beginning.

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don't be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. Colossians 3:5-11

Meditate on God’s word and listen to what He is saying.

Are you Jewish…part Jewish…or Gentile?

Paul wrote to the people in Colossi about purity—no sin. Now is a good time for us to listen to that message, too. He said… because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. The anger of God is coming. With the situations of wars in the world right now…it may not be too long before we see the predictions of Ezekiel and Revelation come to pass. Are you ready? Sins repented and forgiven? Salvation secure? But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.

Painting of Jesus Christ
No one knows just how He looked--
But He is all that matters.
King of Kings.
Lord of Lords.
My Savior and My God.

Christ is all that matters, and He lives in all of us. He is only living in us IF we have asked Him to do just that; IF we have repented of our sin and accepted what He did for us on the cross about two thousand years ago. Where do you stand in your relationship with Jesus? No expectation—just come as you are once your sins are given to the Lord.

Celebrate the Jewish New Year by casting off your sins. As with the Jewish custom, throw some representative “sin” breadcrumbs into a nearby stream, river, lake or pond—so that eventually all those sins would go into the depth of the oceans never to be even remembered again. Jesus has taken those sins to the cross. Be thankful for His sacrifice. It is your choice—no arm twisting.

Verse of Salvation ~ He also says to the Son, "In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with your hands. They will perish, but you remain forever. They will wear out like old clothing. You will fold them up like a cloak and discard them like old clothing. But you are always the same; you will live forever." And God never said to any of the angels, "Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet." Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation. Hebrews 1:10-14

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

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Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Get Ready for the Feast of Trumpets - The Jewish New Year

Prayer – Lord Jesus, we are listening for the piercing sound of the shofar horn, bellowing from synagogues and from Heaven announcing the coming of the New Year—the new life. We don’t know the hour or the day, but we wait expectantly for Your return, as all Christians have since Your resurrection and ascension.

"Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. On the first day of the appointed month in early autumn, you are to observe a day of complete rest. It will be an official day for holy assembly, a day commemorated with loud blasts of a trumpet. You must do no ordinary work on that day. Instead, you are to present special gifts to the LORD." Leviticus 23:24-25

Meditate.

How do you celebrate a New Year? Staying up on New Year’s Eve? Favorite foods? Fireworks?

This day in the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred in September or October. This festival is celebrated today as Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. This year it begins at sunset on October 2^nd and ends at sunset on October 4^th. It is a time of introspection—of a reminder to come back to God. It is also a time of celebrating the birthday of the Universe and conveying wishes for everyone that their names will be sealed in the Book of Life for another year. That is important for the Jews.

Throw your breadcrumbs into the Columbia River.
Cable Bridge at Kennewick-Pasco

There are a few specific customs associated with the holiday. The first being the blowing of the shofar horn 100 times. Another is reading of scripture from Genesis 22 where Abraham begins to sacrifice his son Isaac, but God provides a ram instead. Great lessons in faith—read it for yourself. The foods that are served during the first day of Rosh Hashanah include apples and honey, to wish sweetness for the coming year. They also eat pomegranates, fish, and round loaves of bread. I think that the roundness of the bread, sometimes also served with honey, is interesting in that it is to remind the Jews of the circle of life, coming back to God. Another tradition involves throwing bread crumbs…and the lint from their pockets…into a lake, stream, or river as if they were casting their sins into the sea as noted in Micah 7:19.

Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love. Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean! Micah 7:18-19 NLT

Christians can celebrate any Jewish holiday since the Christian heritage is deeply entrenched in the Jewish roots. Have you ever considered researching Jewish customs and traditions and celebrating those festivals? The choice is yours. Steep yourself in a long and rich heritage of the Jews or continue to live day by day only celebrating the mainly westernized Christian holidays. Will you be celebrating this Jewish New Year? Please pass the apples and honey!

Verses of Salvation ~ But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:13-14

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