Banquet With The King

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Time is Short - Grow in Wisdom

Meditate. Consider obedience to God as the key…to wisdom and to eternal life.

Who can comprehend the power of your anger? Your wrath is as awesome as the fear you deserve. Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. O LORD, come back to us! How long will you delay? Take pity on your servants! Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives. Psalm 90:11-14

Grow in wisdom. That is something to which we all should attain. Psalms and Proverbs gives us clues to obtaining wisdom. Respect or fear of the Lord is the central element to gaining wisdom—true wisdom is in and from God with the key being obedience.

Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. Praise him forever! Psalm 111:10

Wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to the old. But true wisdom and power are found in God; counsel and understanding are his. Job 12:12-13

No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God--his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. 1 Corinthians 2:7

The brevity of life occurs even as we seek wisdom. Time is running out. Our end time…life as we know it…may come or Rapture may occur, but it is likely that we will be snatched away anytime. We don’t number our days…God does. Look at these verses.

But let me say this, dear brothers and sisters: The time that remains is very short. So from now on, those with wives should not focus only on their marriage. Those who weep or who rejoice or who buy things should not be absorbed by their weeping or their joy or their possessions. Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away. 1 Corinthians 7:29-31

Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come. These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us. But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth. 1 John 2:18-20

As Gabriel approached the place where I was standing, I became so terrified that I fell with my face to the ground. "Son of man," he said, "you must understand that the events you have seen in your vision relate to the time of the end." While he was speaking, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground. But Gabriel roused me with a touch and helped me to my feet. Then he said, "I am here to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath. What you have seen pertains to the very end of time. Daniel 8:17-19

Prayer ~ Paul’s Prayer for the church at Ephesus…and my prayer for each person reading this.

Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God's people everywhere, I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. Ephesians 1:15-18 Let us sing for joy!

Verse of Salvation ~ The LORD is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? Psalm 27:1

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

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Tuesday, May 18, 2021

Praise the Lord - Our Healer and Redeemer

Meditate. Praise the Lord.

Like the butterfly...Christ has given us new life.
He heals and redeems us.
Praise the Lord!

Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle's! Psalm 103:1-5

I praise the Lord with my whole heart. Praise is a wonderful thing—besides focusing on the Lord—it is uplifting to the spirit of those who are offering the praise. I don’t think that I have ever praised the Lord and felt dejected, discouraged or depressed afterwards. So, what does that tell us? Praise the Lord in the good times, the uncertain times and all the time! We can never praise the Lord too much! “Praise the Lord” occurs in 161 verses in the New Living Translation of the Bible. God’s people spontaneously praised the Lord often when God directed their path; when their prayers were answered, especially when offspring were involved; when they were successful with rebuilding the Temple; when winning at battles for their land; and throughout the Psalms in worship. We can expect to do the same. We will be praising the Lord as a song of victory in Heaven just as John prophesied about what is going to happen in Heaven.

After this, I heard what sounded like a vast crowd in heaven shouting, "Praise the LORD! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God. ... And from the throne came a voice that said, "Praise our God, all his servants, all who fear him, from the least to the greatest." Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder: "Praise the LORD! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself." Revelation 19:1, 5-7

Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heaven! Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness! Psalm 150:1-2

Praise the Lord…

I will praise the LORD, and may everyone on earth bless his holy name forever and ever. Psalm 145:21

Prayer ~ Lord God…I praise You with all of my heart, with all of my soul, and with all of my might.

I will tell of the LORD's unfailing love. I will praise the LORD for all he has done. I will rejoice in his great goodness to Israel, which he has granted according to his mercy and love. Isaiah 63:7 Please Lord, continue to be merciful to the little children in Israel as they face turmoil and combat in their country.

Verses of Salvation ~ 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 1:11

God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near. Revelation 1:3

Time is short. Who are you reaching out to today to tell them about Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior?

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

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Monday, May 17, 2021

The Lord Rescues and Restores

Meditate. Consider what the Lord has done in your life.

I will exalt you, LORD, for you rescued me. You refused to let my enemies triumph over me. O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you restored my health. You brought me up from the grave, O LORD. You kept me from falling into the pit of death. Sing to the LORD, all you godly ones! Praise his holy name. Psalm 30:1-4

The Lord rescues and restores—not just during David’s time when this Psalm was written, but even today. People call to Him. Just think about your own life. When do you fervently call out to the Lord in prayer? Is it when things are going well…or is I when you are distressed and desperately need some help? Of course, it is when you need help or when family or friends are in need of assistance. Health issues are probably of the highest concern. Consider the prayer list from church or those with whom you associate. Cancer, heart problems, surgeries, death, COVID or other illnesses are at the top of the list. I think we all can rejoice and identify with people who have had their health restored through prayer.

Wailing Wall - Jerusalem
When I was there there were many ladies--
on the Women's side of the Wall.

Lift up your prayers to the Lord.

With wars and rumors of war afflicting Israel you would think that there would be a mass of people at the Western Wall—the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, but live video cameras show very few people there. Where do Jews go to pray? Maybe they are in their bomb shelters, praying. As earthquakes seem to be increasing in magnitude and frequency around the world are there people down on their knees in prayer? Do you suppose that the end is near, just as Jesus explained to His disciples when they asked Him about the end times?

Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives across the valley from the Temple. Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to him privately and asked him, "Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will show us that these things are about to be fulfilled?" Jesus replied, "Don't let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah.' They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don't panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won't follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in many parts of the world, as well as famines. But this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come. When these things begin to happen, watch out! You will be handed over to the local councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me. For the Good News must first be preached to all nations. But when you are arrested and stand trial, don't worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit. Mark 13:3-11

Jesus has told us not to worry. In another passage He instructs His disciples…and us…to be ready.

You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected. Matthew 24:44

What are you doing today in your relationship with Jesus…and in following His advice to be ready?

Prayer ~ Lord Jesus, just as Paul wrote to Timothy…help me to keep myself pure, so I can be a special utensil for honorable use. May my life be clean, so I will be ready for the Master, You Lord, to use me for every good work. From 2 Timothy 2:21. I praise You, Lord, for Your sacrifice for me, for Your healing touch on my life…and for the opportunity to serve You—forever.

Lord, please be mericiful to Your followers in the land of Israel today.

Verses of Salvation ~ When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. Romans 5:6-11 (Underlined for emphasis.)

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

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Sunday, May 16, 2021

The Lord Has Planted Great Oaks For His Glory

Meditate.

Mighty Oak near Beaufort, SC

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the LORD's favor has come, and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory. Isaiah 61:1-3

Comfort the brokenhearted. That is healing! Setting the prisoners free! That is healing! Consider that brokenhearted and those feeling like captives maybe experiencing mental health issues…mental illness. The Lord God cares about His people—healing them—setting them free. Once again He promises wonderful things…a crown of beauty, joyous blessing, and festive praise. Those are all things that most people desire…beauty, blessing and praise. Can you imagine—praise from God Himself?

This is the same scripture that Jesus read at the synagogue in Nazareth after He came back from His forty days in the desert being tempted by Satan. This scripture initiated the beginning of His ministry. He declared that He was anointed by God and He was filled with the Spirit, as it occurred at His baptism. Now He was promising to take away the mourning and despair that the people of Israel felt. Don’t you think that their first thought—their greatest desire—was freedom from the oppression of the Roman government? But Isaiah was prophesying and Jesus was declaring a spiritual comfort and freedom. Freedom from sin. Reward for righteousness. Promise of a covenant, honor, blessing and joy.

You will be called priests of the LORD, ministers of our God. You will feed on the treasures of the nations and boast in their riches. Instead of shame and dishonor, you will enjoy a double share of honor. You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours. For I, the LORD, love justice. I hate robbery and wrongdoing. I will faithfully reward my people for their suffering and make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants will be recognized and honored among the nations. Everyone will realize that they are a people the LORD has blessed." Isaiah 61:6-9

Do you want to be a priest of the Lord in eternal life? It will be a reward for those who seek the Lord…and find Him. Search out the scriptures for yourself.

Prayer ~ Lord God, I seek You first with all of my heart, soul and might. You alone are worthy of praise and I want to humbly and joyfully serve You forever.

Verses of Salvation ~ I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels. The Sovereign LORD will show his justice to the nations of the world. Everyone will praise him! His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring, with plants springing up everywhere. Isaiah 61:10-11

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

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Saturday, May 15, 2021

Health Restored

Meditate.

"I will give you back your health and heal your wounds," says the LORD. "For you are called an outcast--'Jerusalem for whom no one cares.'" Jeremiah 30:17

The ruins of Jerusalem. Rebuilt.

It is so sad when no one cares about you. Dejected. Ignored. Relegated to the lowest level of humanity. That is just what Israel has experienced many times throughout history. Sure, some of their rejection has been brought on by their disobedience to God. They chose to disobey God when He has been very clear that He expects obedience. Punishment was a warning from God…and it is what they got. Banishment. Exiled away from their beloved land. They had to serve their enemies because they did not serve their God. Read this entire chapter of Jeremiah. God felt like they were incurable (verse 12) because of their sins, but God is forgiving and healing. He promised here in Jeremiah to give them back their health and heal their wounds. He did restore them to their land. What a great promise He provided to them!

This is what the LORD says: "When I bring Israel home again from captivity and restore their fortunes, Jerusalem will be rebuilt on its ruins, and the palace reconstructed as before. There will be joy and songs of thanksgiving, and I will multiply my people, not diminish them; I will honor them, not despise them. Their children will prosper as they did long ago. I will establish them as a nation before me, and I will punish anyone who hurts them. They will have their own ruler again, and he will come from their own people. I will invite him to approach me," says the LORD, "for who would dare to come unless invited? You will be my people, and I will be your God." Jeremiah 30:18-22

Do you see God working in your life as you seek to please Him in all you do? Has your relationship with Him been restored, rebuilt or revitalized? Know that God cares for you…even when you may feel that no one else does.

Prayer ~ Dear God, I acknowledge that You are an awesome God—pure and holy. I confess to You that I have sinned—and like the Israelites, not lived up to Your expectation. Please forgive me. Thank You for providing all that I need even if I am unworthy—especially of Your mercy. Lead me, my family and friends into Your throne room—to serve You in eternity.

Verse of Salvation ~ For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. Romans 5:10

Bible Trivia ~ Where did Jesus often pray? Alone.

After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. Matthew 14:23

One day Jesus left the crowds to pray alone. Only his disciples were with him, and he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" Luke 9:18

But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer. Luke 5:16

Bible Trivia Question for next week ~ What is Pentecost?

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

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Friday, May 14, 2021

Love the Lord and His Healing Touch

Meditate. Healing.

But Jesus knew what they (the Pharisees) were planning. So he left that area, and many people followed him. He healed all the sick among them, but he warned them not to reveal who he was. Matthew 12:15-16 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Jesus was and is a healer. He healed all the sick among them. There must have been throngs of people following Jesus. This was before He fed the 5,000 men and their families, but when people are fed for free or healed for free—then of course they’ll want to keep on trailing along hoping to be fed and cared for again. Healing people must have been an enormously important event in Jesus’ time since it was a simpler time and the doctors and technologies we have today were not available. Even leprosy is curable now, but in earlier times the person was cast off from society and left to rot to death.

Healing. How often do we go to the doctor now for some ache, pain, or skin problem expecting him or her to heal us? I know several people who even consider themselves hypochondriacs because they head for the doctor so frequently. Do these same people spend as much time in prayer over their health issues? My grandparents on my mother’s side of the family followed the Christian Scientist religion, reading scripture daily and facing any health issues with verse and prayer. It didn’t keep them from dying from cancer or a perforated bowel, but they knew God’s word and loved the Lord.

What healing touch do you, your family or friends need from the Lord right now? You may have to wait for an answer to your prayer, but know that the Lord hears your every prayer.

Prayer ~ Lord God, in Your mercy hear our heartfelt prayers for ourselves, our family and friends who need a healing touch…mentally and physically…from You. You have told us that we have not, because we ask not…so we are pleading with You now that Your hand of mercy would touch our earnest requests. Thank You, Lord, for hearing our prayers.

Verses of Salvation ~ The LORD will comfort Israel again and have pity on her ruins. Her desert will blossom like Eden, her barren wilderness like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found there. Songs of thanksgiving will fill the air. "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. Look up to the skies above, and gaze down on the earth below. For the skies will disappear like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a piece of clothing. The people of the earth will die like flies, but my salvation lasts forever. My righteous rule will never end! Isaiah 51:3-6

There is hope for Israel!

Friday’s Feasting at the King’s Table

We can’t live on bread alone. I’ve been reading a wonderfully flavorsome book by Ruth Reichl, “Save Me the Plums” in which she includes a favorite family recipe for German Apple Pancakes that her mother would eat once a week when they went out to the Luchow’s Restaurant near their home. One of my family favorites is crepes for Sunday Brunch—served sweet and savory, so I tried Reichl’s recipe and adapted it to fit my style crepes.

German Apple Pancakes

2 tart cooking apples
½ lemon, freshly juiced
½ stick (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter
¼ cup brown sugar (or more as your sweet tooth desires)
½ teaspoon cinnamon
Sprinkle or small grating of nutmeg
3 eggs
¾ cup flour
Pinch of salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1 cup milk
Powdered sugar for sprinkling

Peel the apples, core them, and slice them thinly. Trickle the apple slices with about 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. Melt half the butter (2 tablespoons) in a medium skillet, and stir in the brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. If you want a really sweet dessert crepe you could add ¼ cup more brown sugar. (I prefer them not too sweet.) Add the apple slices and cook over medium-high heat for about 8 minutes, until they’ve become quite darkly caramelized and smell impossibly delicious. Remove them from the heat. While the apples are cooking, beat the eggs in a large bowl. Gently whisk in the flour, salt, and sugar. Add the milk. The batter should be thin. Melt a couple of teaspoons of butter in an 8-inch skillet or on a flat griddle, and when it’s hot, pour in a third of a cup of batter, tilting the pan or swirling the batter around, making a thin crepe. Cook just until set, about 2 minutes. Flip the crepe. (Alternatively, add the fruit now rather than later. Then add a little more batter, flip, cook and roll.)

Place a layer of apples into the middle of the crepe and allow the bottom to brown. Sprinkle with sugar and roll up the crepe with the fruit inside. Turn out onto a large plate, sprinkle generously with more powdered sugar, if you like, add a splash of lemon juice. Repeat this until you have six rolled pancakes or you have used all the batter. Serves 6

Adapted from Reichl, Ruth. Save Me the Plums (p. 253). Random House Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

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

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Thursday, May 13, 2021

May is Mental Health Month – Look to The Lord Who Heals

Meditate. Do you see the Lord as a healer today?

Then Moses led the people of Israel away from the Red Sea, and they moved out into the desert of Shur. They traveled in this desert for three days without finding any water. When they came to the oasis of Marah, the water was too bitter to drink. So they called the place Marah (which means "bitter"). Then the people complained and turned against Moses. "What are we going to drink?" they demanded. So Moses cried out to the LORD for help, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. Moses threw it into the water, and this made the water good to drink. It was there at Marah that the LORD set before them the following decree as a standard to test their faithfulness to him. He said, "If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you." Exodus 15:22-26 (Underlined for emphasis.)

The Lord who heals you. God looks out for those He loves and who are obedient to Him. Here in this example the water was too bitter to drink. Ugh! Have you ever tried to drink water that is smelly or bitter? It is awful. We camped one weekend years ago near a town where they had a lot of sulfur in their water. We certainly didn’t want to drink that water, let alone even consider bathing in it!

Jesus was concerned about the health of people in Israel. Healing meant to cure them or to restore to health. One of the purposes of Jesus’ life on earth was to heal, as He explained to John’s disciples.

At that very time, Jesus cured many people of their diseases, illnesses, and evil spirits, and he restored sight to many who were blind. Then he told John's disciples, "Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard—the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor. Luke 7:21-22 (Underlined for emphasis.)

He empowered His disciples to go out and heal others.

Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness. Matthew 10:1

Casting out evil spirits. Are those evil spirits causing emotional distress and mental illness? Read a couple of examples about how those possessed with evil spirits acted and how the families and people in their villages felt about them in Matthew 17 and Mark 5 and see if you consider these to be mental health issues.

At the foot of the mountain, a large crowd was waiting for them. A man came and knelt before Jesus and said, "Lord, have mercy on my son. He has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. So I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn't heal him." Jesus said, "You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me." Then Jesus rebuked the demon in the boy, and it left him. From that moment the boy was well. Matthew 17:14-18

So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out from a cemetery to meet him. This man lived among the burial caves and could no longer be restrained, even with a chain. Whenever he was put into chains and shackles--as he often was--he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones. Mark 5:1-5

May is Mental Health Awareness month. Jesus is still concerned about the health, including the mental health, of those who love and worship Him. The best thing we can do to promote good mental health is to know God by reading His word every day and acknowledge Jesus as our Lord, Savior and healer. Then put your belief into practice with prayer and caring practically for others. Prayer is a good beginning—it is essential to a good spiritual life, but it is only the beginning. We need to put our hands, feet and words into action by taking care of ourselves and others. Keep your body moving. Know your own boundaries—be willing to say “No” so that you don’t overcommit yourself. Talk positively to yourself and others. Encourage others…talk to someone everyday…even if it is just a phone call. Seek help from a counselor if you or your family is experiencing continued mental stress. You call a plumber is you have a plumbing problem…call a counselor for mental health assistance.

Prayer ~ Dear God, give us wisdom and understanding that we would be able to apply Your word to our lives and live in good physical and mental health. Thank You for the grace to know You and feel Your healing touch.

Verse of Salvation ~ Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind. Then when you call, the LORD will answer. 'Yes, I am here,' he will quickly reply. Remove the heavy yoke of oppression. Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors! Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon. The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. Isaiah 58:7-11 (Underlined for emphasis.)

PRAY for Israel. Pray for the safety of the children and families who are living in bomb shelters…and for security of those who need to be taking cover…but have nowhere to go. May God be merciful to His chosen people—especially the children.

Pray for peace in Jerusalem.
May all who love this city prosper.

7 O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls
and prosperity in your palaces.

8 For the sake of my family and friends, I will say,
“May you have peace.”

9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,
I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem. Psalm 122:6-9

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

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Wednesday, May 12, 2021

King of the Jews

Meditate. Who is the King of the Jews?

A sign was fastened above Jesus' head, announcing the charge against him. It read: "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews." Matthew 27:37

Charged with being a King! That was what sign above Jesus’ head read while He was hanging on the cross. Jesus was called “King of the Jews” at His birth and at His death.

"Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him." Matthew 2:2 (Question from the Wise Men who traveled to see Jesus.)

Now Jesus was standing before Pilate, the Roman governor. "Are you the king of the Jews?" the governor asked him. Jesus replied, "You have said it." Matthew 27:11

They wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head, and they placed a reed stick in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mockery and taunted, "Hail! King of the Jews!" Matthew 27:29

Jesus acknowledged that He was indeed “King of the Jews” but that didn’t mean that He would save Himself. During His crucifixion people expected Him to save Himself. His own salvation was not His mission in life. He came to save others. Little did those mockers understand what was really happening.

The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. "He saved others," they said, "let him save himself if he is really God's Messiah, the Chosen One." The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. They called out to him, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" Luke 23:35-37

Sculpture at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Jerusalem

We have an advantage of seeing the big picture—God’s plan for mankind. Jesus was sent to restore our relationship with God. He did just what He came to do. Just as He declared on the cross…

…he said, "It is finished!" Then he bowed his head and released his spirit. John 19:30

He is King of the Jews…He is King of Kings and will one day again declare that it is finished.

And the one sitting on the throne said, "Look, I am making everything new!" And then he said to me, "Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true." And he also said, "It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega--the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children. Revelation 21:5-7 (Underlined for emphasis.)

For the King of Kings is it really ever “finished” because life is eternal—never ending.

Prayer ~ Lord God, it is finished…and yet life begins with salvation. It has just begun. Salvation. New life. Freedom. Glory to You, God.

Verses of Salvation ~ For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, 'The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.' There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved." Acts 4:11-12

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

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Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Who In The World Can Be Saved?

Meditate.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!" This amazed them. But Jesus said again, "Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!" The disciples were astounded. "Then who in the world can be saved?" they asked. Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God." Mark 10:23-27

Gate in an old rebuilt section of the wall.
Jerusalem.

The eye of a needle? That would be impossible…but in Jesus time there was a very small special gate in the wall around Jerusalem that would allow travelers to enter the city when the main gates were shut for the night. That gate was narrow so as to allow only one person to enter at ta time…and a camel would have to kneel down and literally crawl through the gate. That was a difficult task, but not impossible. As Jesus reminded His disciples, “Everything is possible with God.” This is the same adage can be considered when we think about Abraham.

Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham's faith, God counted him as righteous. And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn't just for Abraham's benefit. It was recorded for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God. Romans 4:20-25

Abraham’s faith grew stronger…even when he had to wait for God’s promise. God has promised to all who believe in His Son Jesus Christ as their Savior.

For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17

Who can be saved? Anyone who believes. “Everything is possible with God.”

Where are you today in your relationship with the Lord God?

Prayer ~ Lord God—I believe in You Jesus as my God and my Savior. You are the Son of the living God.

Verses of Salvation ~ Statement by John the Baptist.

"He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else. He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them! Anyone who accepts his testimony can affirm that God is true. For he is sent by God. He speaks God's words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit. The Father loves his Son and has put everything into his hands. And anyone who believes in God's Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn't obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God's angry judgment." John 3:31-36 (Underlined for emphasis.)

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

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Monday, May 10, 2021

Train Up A Child

Meditate. Consider how God wants you to parent your child.

True humility and fear of the LORD lead to riches, honor, and long life. Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road; whoever values life will avoid it. Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it. Proverbs 22:4-6

Since Mother's Day was yesterday thoughts of parenting are still lingering in our minds. How does God want you to parent the children He has entrusted into your care? In this scripture passage consider the words “direct your children onto the right path” which in other translations has been “train up your child in the way he should go.” God wants us and our children to be like His Son, Jesus Christ. Mary and her husband Joseph had an enormous responsibility to raise Jesus to be the Son of God. Jesus was truly obedient to His Father…all the way to the cross. Obedience is a trait that has to be instilled in a child at an early age or they are rebellious, self-centered, selfish and inconsiderate. As we look at Jesus throughout the Gospels we don’t see any of those traits. Oh sure, Jesus got angry at the people in the Temple who were selling animals and temple coins.

Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. He said to them, "The Scriptures declare, 'My Temple will be called a house of prayer,' but you have turned it into a den of thieves!" Matthew 21:12-13

Anger is an emotion that is likely to occur in all of us, but obedience is not an emotion rather it is a character quality that must be learned and honed. When a parent gets their child going down the right path…in this case, the path of obedience a wonderful thing occurs. The child will be obedient to the parents and to God as well. Teach your children well. If that child is the first of two or more children then it is more likely that the younger children will follow their sibling’s example and be obedient than if the first child is allowed to be rebellious and all others follow that example. It is possible though to have opposites in characteristics, but obedience is a character trait that God values. An example of an obedient person in the Old Testament was King Jotham, although not many kings were obedient to the Lord.

King Jotham became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the LORD his God. 2 Chronicles 27:6

Jesus was the ultimate example for us in obedience and because He died on the cross as a sacrifice for the sins of all mankind, God the Father raised Him from the dead. Without that resurrection our faith would be hopeless. Now we all have the hope of our own resurrection on day—to live with Jesus forever. In the meantime, we all must struggle with and hopefully choose to be obedient to God every day.

Consider how our shepherd is always there for us.

He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young. Isaiah 40:11

That helps me want to obey God day by day…hour by hour. It is a choice. How’s that going for you?

Prayer ~ Father God, through Christ I have come to trust in You, God. And I have placed my faith and hope in You because You raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. From 1 Peter 1:21. I praise You…Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Verses of Salvation ~ Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people. Jude 1:3

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

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Sunday, May 9, 2021

Happy Mother’s Day!

Meditate. Ponder…your spiritual life and maturity. How did your Mother influence your spiritual growth?

All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. ... Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart. Luke 2:18-19, 51

Other translations of these passages say that Mary treasured or pondered these things in her heart. How often do you “ponder” something?

LORD, you are mine! I promise to obey your words! With all my heart I want your blessings. Be merciful as you promised. I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws. Psalm 119:57-59

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught about storing up treasures in Heaven, rather than on earth. That teaching is still good for us today whether it is a physical or spiritual treasure. Obviously we won’t be taking physical treasures to heaven, but hopefully a heap of spiritual treasures are being stored up there by each of us.

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 were the desires of Mary’s heart? As a mother she just wanted the best for her son…an education, a career, respect in the community, a knowledge and relationship with God, and maybe even marriage and a family. We only know the facts that are written in the Bible about Jesus’ life…so we can only imagine the details that are not included in the Gospel accounts. Like Mary, we can treasure and ponder these things in our hearts—always striving to know Jesus more. Teach your children, grandchildren and those you mentor to put their hope, trust, faith and love in our Lord Jesus Christ. Store up these things in your heart. Honor your Mom with the treasures of your heart.

Prayer ~ LORD, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws; our heart's desire is to glorify your name. Isaiah 26:8. With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name forever, for your love for me is very great. You have rescued me from the depths of death. Psalm 86:12-13

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. 1 Peter 1:13-15

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

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Saturday, May 8, 2021

Wedding Feast of the Lamb

Meditate. Consider the Banquet in the Kingdom of God!

Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder: "Praise the LORD! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear." For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God's holy people. And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb." And he added, "These are true words that come from God." Revelation 19:6-9

It will be a glorious meal—the wedding feast of the Lamb! Those saved during the Tribulation (see Revelation 7:13-14) will be wearing white clothes—of pure white linen—with no spots or wrinkles. For linen—that is a feat in itself! Linen wrinkles very easily. Paul wrote of this to the church at Ephesus when he compared the marriage relationship to that of Christ and His church.

For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God's word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. Ephesians 5:25-27

When will this Banquet take place? When?? The time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb. This same “feast” is referred to in Matthew 22. The time referred to in this Revelation passage is…

After this, I heard what sounded like a vast crowd in heaven shouting, "Praise the LORD! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God." Revelation 19:1

After “this” is after the destruction of Babylon (see Revelation 18). Babylon is fallen! When? Only God the Father knows for sure. It is His plan and He has it set in motion.

However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. Mark 13:32

We don't know the hour or the day.
Be prepared...be ready.
Wait.

So, we must just wait—wait…For the time (to) come for the wedding feast of the Lamb…. Our goal should be for more people to accept Christ as their Savior…so that there will be more people at the wedding feast of the Lamb. As you strengthen your relationship with the Lord others will see that and want Jesus Christ in their lives, too. Be strong. Be ready. Be prepared.

Prayer ~ Lord God, I will be strong and courageous, because I put my hope in You, LORD! From Psalm 31:24. My hope is for a banquet table filled with family, friends and fellow Christians. May it be so.

Verse of Salvation ~ 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 3:24-26

Bible Trivia ~ Where was Abram when he first worshipped the Lord? Near Bethel and Ai.

Abram traveled through the land as far as Shechem. There he set up camp beside the oak of Moreh. At that time, the area was inhabited by Canaanites. Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "I will give this land to your descendants." And Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the LORD, who had appeared to him. After that, Abram traveled south and set up camp in the hill country, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built another altar and dedicated it to the LORD, and he worshiped the LORD. Genesis 12:6-8

Bible Trivia Question for next week ~ Where did Jesus often pray?

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

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Friday, May 7, 2021

Who Would You Invite to a Special Dinner?

Meditate. Who would you invite to a special dinner? What would you serve?

Then he turned to his host. "When you put on a luncheon or a banquet," he said, "don't invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you." Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, "What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!" Luke 14:12-15

A Banquet begins with fresh foods...
from the Machane Yehuda Market.
Jerusalem

A Banquet in the Kingdom of God! What a great meal that will be. Everyone who believes in Jesus as their Savior will be invited! How often have I wondered just what foods would be served at such a banquet? Life seems to be all about food…of course, after scripture—which is spiritual food! If you look back over the years of posts in this blog you’ll see that question many times. What would be served at a banquet in Heaven? At the Marriage Feast Banquet? Will Jesus serve the food Himself or will I be serving alongside of Him? I always imagined that there would be humus, cheese, bread, pomegranates, dates, figs, fresh vegetables and perhaps lamb with wine and water—but lately when I’ve really stopped to realize the number of ethnicities that will be represented in Heaven, I think that there will be an enormous variety of ethnic foods represented on the Banquet Table. What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God! I love foods from Israel, India and Thailand, as well as those from Japan, the Philippines, and China. Even within many countries there is a diversity of cuisine. Yes. Heaven is going to be an epicurean adventure! When that banquet will happen is a good guess. I always thought it would happen for each person—as soon as they get to heaven, but only souls are there now…only Jesus is in His resurrected body. All other resurrected bodies will join Him there later, as I understand it. Let’s look tomorrow at just “when” the Wedding Feast will occur in Heaven. That is the Banquet for which we are all waiting!

Prayer ~ Lord God, help me wait patiently for the banquet in the Kingdom of God. I am hungry and waiting for that great meal…spiritually and physically. Life—even eternal life—is all about food. There are many people now, amidst this COVID pandemic, that are truly hungry. Meet their needs, Lord—physically and spiritually. I praise You, Lord, that You hear and answer our prayers.

Verses of Salvation ~ After this, I heard what sounded like a vast crowd in heaven shouting, "Praise the LORD! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God. Revelation 19:1

Friday’s Feasting at the King’s Table

We can’t live on bread alone. Imagine once again what will be served at the Banquet with the King in Heaven! Not just bread…and not just cheese or humus with that bread. God made so many tasty herbs and spices to be used with fruits, vegetables and meats…as well as breads. What is your preferred herb or spice? I tend to change every year or two. Thyme has been a go to of mine for several years…and before that it was basil. I also like fresh oregano. Spices? Cinnamon is scrumptious especially on roasted winter squash or in butternut squash soup—although it is not a spice that I would consider using with many vegetables or ice cream.

We are getting into ice cream weather—so consider what you like to have on your ice cream. Chocolate, caramel, strawberries, bananas, cherries, or hot sliced apples? Oh, yes. Cinnamon could be cooked up with the apples and topped with ice cream, caramel sauce, chopped pecans and whipped cream. Now there is a combination of flavors that would satisfy my sweet tooth! Yum! Cook some up for an after dinner treat tonight!

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

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