Banquet With The King

Monday, October 6, 2025

Be Patient

Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord's return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near. James 5:7-8

Meditate. Consider courage as you look to the future.

Don't be an old goat--
demanding your own way.
Love God--Love Others.

Be patient. When I was a frustrated young mother, a wise friend with several children and more parenting experience than me, advised me not to pray for patience. That only opens the door to additional trials and tribulations so that patience can grow.

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:3-8

Patience—part of loving others. Sometimes, we have to recognize that it takes patience to love somebody more than ourselves. We cannot be selfish and demand our own way—but look at the patience that God has with us. I see it within my relationship with God. He waits for me. He’s a gentleman and doesn’t force Himself or His will on me…or on anyone. Take a look at God and His intervention in your life. He lets you choose. How have you seen God working in your life today?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, I am waiting patiently for Your return. What else can I do? I can show patience to others in my life. Will they see You as I patiently endure trials and hope for the best? Please continue to show me what You want me to do and say to others. May You be glorified.

Verse of Salvation ~ Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. 2 Peter 3:14-18 ESV

Happy Birthday, Evelyn.

Blessings

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, October 5, 2025

Have You Cheated Someone?

For listen! Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. The wages you held back cry out against you. The cries of those who harvest your fields have reached the ears of the LORD of Heaven's Armies. You have spent your years on earth in luxury, satisfying your every desire. You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter. You have condemned and killed innocent people, who do not resist you. James 5:4-6

Meditate. What does God expect of you in the harvest?

Fall is here!

Have you cheated someone out of their pay? We are mid-harvest and most of the crops in this agricultural community where I live have been harvested. There are still some potatoes, corn, and grapes, as well as apples and pears to be harvested, but the cherries, wheat, melons, and alfalfa have all been plucked and taken away. Have the field workers been fairly compensated for their work? Many of the workers here are migrant—moving up from Texas to the Canadian border throughout the summer and fall. The calendar says it is Autumn and sure enough, the poplar and other trees are changing color with cooler weather we’ve had in the last couple weeks.

James reminds those living on the earth that they have lived in luxury, satisfying their every desire, and fattened themselves for the day of slaughter. Obesity is such a problem in the United States. Even little children are just plain overweight—fat! Too many calories consumed and too little exercise, as the general population sits in front of their phone, computer, or TV screen. I’m guilty of not enough exercise and a few too many inches around my once tiny waist. Doctors and nutritionists warn that that fat around the middle is what causes heart disease and Type 2 diabetes, neither of which I want to have. This luxury living is not healthy—but neither is smoke from forest fires that invade our area and we con’t control. The smoky air has been my excuse for not getting out and walking on a daily basis. Bad excuse. I don’t feel like I’m cheating anyone—only myself—because my health could be better. James accuses the people to whom he is speaking that they have condemned and killed innocent people, who do not resist you. That is a pretty stiff accusation. Killed innocent people. Remember that in His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told people that if they even thought of some sinful act, they were guilty of it. (See Matthew 5 as in the example below.)

You have heard that our ancestors were told, 'You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.' But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell. Matthew 5:21-22

We aren’t perfect—but we can be obedient to the Lord and seek His guidance on what we should do and how we should treat others. Can you do that? I know I can do better—yielding my wishes and desires to whatever Jesus wants me to do according to the convictions I feel from the Holy Spirit. James also reminded us that in an earlier verse that to know the right thing to do, and not do it, is sin. See James 4:17.

Know the right thing? Study God’s word and see what and how He wants us to live and treat each other. Jesus gave His life so that we could live eternally with Him. His sacrifice provided forgiveness for our monumental sins—both of omission and commission. Have you accepted Jesus’ gift of salvation and eternal life? For life here and now, Jesus taught and encouraged people to “Love God. Love others.” That would likely not satisfy the desires of some people. How about you?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, thank you for creating us and for Your sacrifice for the sins of mankind. We—or at least I—don’t deserve Your love that redeemed us. I am grateful and don’t want to live to harm anyone…but strive to love God and others. Give me the grace and fill me with Your mercy that I would please You in all that I think, say, and do.

Verse of Salvation ~ 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 10:2 AMP

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

Saturday, October 4, 2025

Birthday Blessings for Lisa

"Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders." Deuteronomy 6:4-8 NLT

One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" Jesus replied, "The most important commandment is this: 'Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.' The second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Nod other commandment is greater than these." Mark 12:28-31 NLT

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12:28-31 NIV

Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' Matthew 22:37 NIV

He answered, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Luke 10:27 NIV

(Underlined for emphasis.)

Meditate. Consider your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' Mark 12:30. This is my daughter’s favorite verse and today is her 50^th birthday, so I thought I’d make this our focus verse today. Loving God has been a command since very early teachings of the Israelites by Moses. Read again the scripture from Deuteronomy above. Moses is giving them specific instructions, “you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.” This teaching explicitly tells the parents—especially the fathers—that they should teach the commandments—meaning the Ten Commandments—to their children. This scripture passage is part of the Sherma which the Jews recite both in morning and night rituals. Jesus declared it to be the most important, as recorded in Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

Do you daily acknowledge that you love the Lord God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? Jesus, the Son of God and God Himself, has given us knowledge and specific teaching that helps us to understand God and to establish a relationship with Him. Those who believe will have an eternal home in Heaven. That can be you. If you acknowledge that Jesus is Lord of your life, you will be part of God’s family. Adopted. I’ve been “adopted” into God’s family. I know Lisa and her family have also. We’ll one day be in God’s holy heaven. This is love—to be with family and friends—and to know God loves us so much that He gave up His Son, Jesus, as a sacrifice for our sins. In the purity that the blood of Jesus provides, we are accepted into God’s family—adopted—to serve the Lord in whatever way He chooses. Choose God—choose life, eternally. Choose to love Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Prayer – Lord God, we thank You for Lisa and the blessings You have given her and her family. Continue to guide them as they seek and serve You, in love, with all their hearts, souls, mind, and strength.

Verse of Salvation ~ May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, "God is great!" Psalm 70:4 ESV

Happy 50^th Birthday Sweet Lisa

Love You Much

May God continue to bless you—as you seek and serve Him!

You are certainly serving Him through your family.

Hugs & Prayers

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, October 3, 2025

Where is Your Treasure?

Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. Your wealth is rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags. Your gold and silver have become worthless. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This treasure you have accumulated will stand as evidence against you on the day of judgment. James 5:1-3

Meditate. Consider your treasures.

This passage brings to mind part of the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus talked about storing up treasures. Treasures on earth, like gold, silver, metal items, and clothing made of fine silk and linen fabric will rust, rot, or just become worthless.

Don't store up old coins...
as your treasure.
Thieves will break in to steal.
Store up treasures in heaven.

Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Matthew 6:19-21

What do you treasure—what is it that you highly value, is a beautiful sweater, a passionate collectable, or an important hobby item? Have you ever pulled out a wool sweater when the weather got cold and realized that it had been a meal over the summer for some moth, that resulted in holes in that precious sweater? I’ve been frustrated by that very action. Who wants to wear a holy sweater anywhere outside of your home?

What wealth will eat away your flesh like fire? Can it be a metal that causes an allergic reaction, a food that will cause inflammation, or some dreaded disease that results from contact with someone or something? Be careful about that on which your wealth focuses. Jesus taught that “treasures” were to be stored up in heaven. What kinds of things can we take with us…or send ahead of us into heaven? It won’t be gold or silver…nor cashmere sweaters or even the artwork that graces our walls. Worldly riches corrupt and decay. Some of the treasures that we “store up” are love and affection (Colossians 3:2), hope and trust (Proverbs 18:10-11), joys and delight (Psalm 119:111), and our names written in the Book of Life in heaven (Luke 10:20). Can you add to that list? Click on “No Comment” below and add your comment.

When the Judgment Day comes…where will God see your treasure?

Prayer – Lord God, You are my treasure. Without You life would be meaningless. I want to know You more every day. Please reveal Yourself to me—and may I celebrate Your joy in relationships with You, as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with my family and friends.

Verse of Salvation ~ But LORD, be merciful to us, for we have waited for you. Be our strong arm each day and our salvation in times of trouble. ... 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 33:2, 5-6

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

This delicately delicious cake was served recently as a special Birthday Dessert in our favorite Japanese restaurant.

Mille Crepe Cake

For best results, do not substitute. Use all cake ingredients at room temperature.

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 Tbsp sugar

3 large eggs

2 cups whole milk

2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups heavy whipping cream, cold

3 Tbsp powdered sugar

Mix the dry ingredients (flour and sugar).

Combine the wet ingredients and gradually whisk into the dry ingredients. Beat until there are no lumps left in the batter. For the smoothest crepes, strain the batter. Let the batter rest at room temperature for about 30 minutes to relax the gluten.

Heat the crepe pan over medium heat until it is hot. Butter or lightly oil the pan, removing the excess. Pour ¼ cup of the batter in the pan and rotate the pan, swirling the batter to spread it out evenly and thinly. Cook 1-2 minutes. Flip and cook about 30 seconds or until it is a light golden brown. Cool completely on a rack before stacking. Repeat. Try to make the crepes of uniform size and thickness. This should make about twenty crepes.

In the refrigerator, for 10-15 minutes, chill the mixing bowl and beaters that you will use to whip the whipping cream. In the mixing bowl whip the milk, the powdered sugar, and vanilla at medium speed until stiff peaks form. Other flavorings (coffee, matcha powder, fruit puree) can be gently added at this point, but do not overwhip.

Assemble the cake by putting down a crepe, and spreading a thin layer of the whipped topping, spreading it with an offset spatula. Add additional crepes, pressing them down and spreading a little whipped cream between every layer of the crepes. Save the most attractive crepe for the top. On the top layer, spread with a thin layer of whipped cream and dust with powdered sugar, cocoa, fresh fruit, or chocolate shavings. Chill for at least two hours.

Dip a knife in warm water and wipe dry when cutting the cake. Serve and enjoy.

Happy Okinawan Birthday – LisaChan

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

Thursday, October 2, 2025

Are You Boasting About Your Plans?

Look here, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit." How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it's here a little while, then it's gone. James 4:13-14

What you ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that." Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil. Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. James 4:15-17

Meditate. Did Jesus ever boast?

Remember how Jesus fed the 5,000 men?
The disciples didn't rely on their own strength--
Jesus fed those people with only
...a couple of fish and loaves of bread.
Can we do less?
Give thanks to the Lord.
Fish & Loaves - Mosiac - Israel

Doing what the Lord wants you to do? Or are you following your own plans? Are you goal-oriented—with a fresh “Do List” every day? Do you actually pray over the list, asking God to guide and bless your words and actions? No boasting. We don’t do things all on our own—but rather we can do all things…because of Christ.

Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13

It is certainly easier said than done to put our faith in the Lord, and totally trust Him, rather than just make our own plans and execute them. Where is the dividing line between His predestined plans and the inspired ideas for things to do on our lists? Do we know what to do and then not do it? James tells us that if we know what to do…and then don’t do it, then we sin. Sin is an action that most people will try to avoid. At least, anyone who wants to please the Lord God—to live righteously. It boils down to those two commandments that Jesus gave…Love God and love others.

Give God the glory. No boasting.

Prayer – Lord God, whatever it is that You want me to do—show me what to do. May I submit my will to Yours, to follow Your lead, and rely on You in all that I think, say, and do. I’ve no need to boast. Glory to You God. Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil.

Verse of Salvation ~ Now to Him who is able to establish and strengthen you [in the faith] according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery [of the plan of salvation] which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now has been disclosed and through the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all the nations, according to the commandment of the eternal God, leading them to obedience to the faith, to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forevermore! Amen. Romans 16:25-27 AMP

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

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

How Do You Know What Your Life Will Be Like Tomorrow?

Meditate. What are you doing tomorrow?

What are you doing today…tomorrow? Have you got some plans? Are you wanting to make money by moving to another city? We don’t know what life holds for tomorrow…or actually even for today.

Sunset today, October 1^st, is the beginning of Yom Kippur that continues until sunset on October 2^nd the tenth day of Tishrei, following Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of the New Year. Yom Kippur is a Jewish Festival in which Jews fast, pray, and take time for personal reflection to atone for ones’ sins for the past year. As the most holy day of the year, Jews seek purification through forgiveness from God.

Do you practice a day of forgiveness…or even an hour of seeking forgiveness? Do you feel like you have to go to another town to get down to business with God—seeking forgiveness? Sometimes a “retreat” is necessary—but you can profit from any time that you spend with God. Get to know God…to know Jesus as your Savior. What will your life be like tomorrow?

Prayer – Lord God, forgive me for not meeting Your expectations and following Your Commandments. Feel my pain and see my trouble. Forgive all my sins. Psalm 25:18

Verse of Salvation ~ 'You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you." 2 Chronicles 20:17 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

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