Banquet With The King

Thursday, August 19, 2021

Seek Knowledge – Get Peace and Grace

Meditate. How well do you know Jesus…how well do you want to know Jesus?

May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. 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 1:2-8 (Underlined for emphasis.)

The knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord includes knowledge and understanding of the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Heaven. Isn’t that the thing for which we’re all searching? True knowledge. Peter was telling the young Christians to whom he was writing that he wanted God to give them more grace and peace as they grow in their knowledge of God. Similarly, Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus—hoping for spiritual wisdom for them.

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

God has promised…as David told his son Solomon…if you seek God you will find Him.

Open the gate of your heart,
as you seek God and His Kingdom.

Gate to the Garden at Gethsemane.
Jerusalem, Israel.

And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the LORD sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. 1 Chronicles 28:9

That is what we are called to do…seek God and grow in the knowledge of Him. As you seek God, will you build your relationship with the Lord within His spiritual realm? Seek knowledge, get peace and grace.

Prayer ~ Lord—I seek You first…and love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength. I want to know more and more of You…to have knowledge and understanding of God and His Kingdom. To know You is to love You. As I find more of You…and understand You more deeply, help me share You with others.

Verse of Salvation ~ But--"When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life." Titus 3:4-7

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

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Wednesday, August 18, 2021

On This Rock

Meditate. Does a rock give you strength or cause to stumble?

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" "Well," they replied, "some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets." Then he asked them, "But who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means 'rock'), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven." Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. Matthew 16:13-20

The Gates of Hell
Site of the Temple for the Roman god Pan.
Caesarea Philippi, Israel

This is one of my favorite Bible passages—because it came alive for me when we visited Israel. "But who do you say I am?" Simon, whose name means “one who hears” was the only one to really hear and respond to that question. Then Jesus, speaking in Greek, changed Simon’s name to Peter, meaning rock. There are so many interpretations or views of this scripture. Was Jesus saying that He would build His church on Peter, the Rock? Or was He saying that He would build His church on Peter’s response…You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God? They were standing or seated before a great stone, or rock, hillside that was known as the Gates of Hell. Was this the Rock that Jesus meant…for Hell could not destroy His church?

Caesarea Philippi is in a beautiful region where the headwaters of the Jordan River begins and then flows all the way to the Dead Sea. As I walked along the Jordan River there it was a little rushing stream and I could feel the spray of the water as it bubbled and flowed over boulders along its path. The sound of rushing water is always invigorating and energizing—but that is nothing compared to the energy of knowing Jesus. Jesus had walked along that same stream, yet He created the water and the very rocks over which it flowed. Knowing that He is our magnificent creator and our Savior, and that He lived, walked the path and breathed the air right there where I walked was exhilarating. My Savior had been there and asked His disciples, “Who do you say I am?” We can ask the same question today. Who do you say that Jesus is? How do you describe to someone what salvation means?

Ponder those questions in your heart and be ready. Be ready to explain the hope that you have in Christ. Some translations of this verse below say to make a defense or give an answer. It is important to do this with gentleness and respect so that you draw others to Christ, not offend them or appear superior since you know Christ…and He knows you. Remember that God loves the world…everyone.

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. 1 Peter 3:15-16

Jesus was a gentle person. Look at His interactions and relationships with friends like Mary and Martha, all of the disciples, the people He fed and healed, and even the Pharisees. Jesus Christ does give us hope. Hope for being like Him…gentle, obedient, faithful, honest, true, light to others, respectful to the Father…and others. He is worthy of our love. Jesus is the Rock. Build your hope for a glorious eternal future on Him. He is the Way, the Truth, the Life and the cornerstone in the foundation of our life in Him. Have faith, believe in Him and trust Him. He can be a cornerstone not a stumbling rock in your life.

God warned them (the Israelites) of this in the Scriptures when he said, "I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that makes people stumble, a rock that makes them fall. But anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced." Romans 9:33

Prayer ~ Lord Jesus, You are the rock in my life. The cornerstone that supports me in all I think, say and do. May I always bring You and the Father honor and glory—and never disgrace You. I love you with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.

Verses of Salvation ~ You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:8-9

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

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Tuesday, August 17, 2021

Are You Ready?

Meditate. Think on these verses.

Look! The LORD is about to destroy the earth and make it a vast wasteland. He devastates the surface of the earth and scatters the people. Priests and laypeople, servants and masters, maids and mistresses, buyers and sellers, lenders and borrowers, bankers and debtors—none will be spared. The earth will be completely emptied and looted. The LORD has spoken! The earth mourns and dries up, and the crops waste away and wither. Even the greatest people on earth waste away. The earth suffers for the sins of its people, for they have twisted God's instructions, violated his laws, and broken his everlasting covenant. Therefore, a curse consumes the earth. Its people must pay the price for their sin. They are destroyed by fire, and only a few are left alive. The grapevines waste away, and there is no new wine. All the merrymakers sigh and mourn. Isaiah 24:1-7

The LORD is about to destroy the earth…. Hey. There is the warning. The LORD has spoken! God has a plan and it includes destroying the old earth and making a new heaven and a new earth.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. Revelation 21:1

Cleansed by Fire.

Will you be among those people suffering for their sin—and be destroyed by fire? The choice is for each person to make. Choose Jesus. I did. He took all our sin to the cross. There is no way for us to “pay” for our sin—but Jesus was sinless and He died for the sin of mankind. He paid it all.

And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as "foreigners in the land." For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but he has now revealed him to you in these last days. Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. 1 Peter 1:17-21

Just as Peter wrote…this has been “revealed” to us in these last days. I think the last days began when Jesus ascended into Heaven after His resurrection. When He returns to earth—you want to be on His side. There will be a great battle and this old earth will be destroyed…just as Isaiah predicted. Last days will end…and there will be a new heaven and a new earth. God keeps His promises. Are you ready?

Prayer ~ Dear God, You told Daniel…keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase." Daniel 12:4. It seems like the prophesy has been revealed—and is beginning to be played out before our eyes. Knowledge has increased. Please give us wisdom to understand and courage to humble ourselves before You and be obedient. For me…please forgive me, show me the path of righteousness to follow and the words to speak to others about You. Like Daniel—I praise You for You are an awesome God. You are my God.

Verses of Salvation ~

Is there any god like God?
    Are we not at bedrock?
Is not this the God who armed me,
    then aimed me in the right direction?
Now I run like a deer;
    I’m king of the mountain.
He shows me how to fight;
    I can bend a bronze bow!
You protect me with salvation-armor;
    you hold me up with a firm hand,
    caress me with your gentle ways.
You cleared the ground under me
    so my footing was firm.
When I chased my enemies I caught them;
    I didn’t let go till they were dead men.
I nailed them; they were down for good;
    then I walked all over them.
You armed me well for this fight,
    you smashed the upstarts.
You made my enemies turn tail,
    and I wiped out the haters.
They cried “uncle”
    but Uncle didn’t come;
They yelled for God
    and got no for an answer.
I ground them to dust; they gusted in the wind.
    I threw them out, like garbage in the gutter. Psalm 18:31-36 MSG

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

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Monday, August 16, 2021

Will You Enter the Kingdom of Heaven?

Meditate.

For I tell you, unless your righteousness (your uprightness and your right standing with God) is more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20 Amplified

Into the light of Heaven--a wonderful place.
Enter the Kingdom of Heaven right away.

Jesus was speaking in this scripture passage to a group of people who had followed Him along the Sea of Galilee and up a mountain—where they all sat down and He taught them. He was giving them instruction on the right way to live—not in a legalistic way—but in a way that would please our Heavenly Father and allow them…and us…to have good relationships with others around us. Life is all about relationships. Us to God—God to us—and us with other human beings. Right living—righteousness.

Going to heaven is the ultimate goal for so many people—even in Jesus day. Is that the Kingdom of Heaven? The phrase “kingdom of heaven” is only found in the book of Matthew. In Greek this word “heaven” refers to the seat of order of things eternal—or where God dwells. “Kingdom” refers to a territory subject to a ruler or a king. Additionally, the kingdom is of heavenly or divine origin and nature. Jesus used this phrase “kingdom of heaven” or “kingdom of God” to illustrate the perfect order He was about to establish. So since Jesus established this “kingdom,” it is already here. Usually it is something that people look forward to…after an earthly death. In Philippians 3:20 we read…For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…. Hebrews 12:23 tells us…that we are “enrolled” in heaven. Read Hebrews 12 for more heavenly discussion. The last two verses are encouraging…Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:28-29. The kingdom of heaven cannot be shaken. No earthquakes there…no tumbling down of buildings, no wars…or even rumors of wars. Heaven is a wonderful place. The best part of God’s Kingdom is that it begins when we accept Christ as our Savior…we enter into that kingdom right away. We don’t have to wait until we die. God opens His arm and we become His children…in His kingdom immediately. Do you feel those loving arms around you?

Jesus’ invitation today is for you to seek a righteous life, not a legalistic response to Laws …but a relationship with Him and with His Father. How will you respond to Him?

Prayer ~ Lord Jesus, I seek first a kingdom relationship with You and with our Heavenly Father, to live in a righteous way that is pleasing to You (Matthew 6:33).

Verse of Salvation ~ While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. Even though Jesus was God's Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. Hebrews 5:7-9

Happy Birthday Blessings ~ Michelle

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

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Sunday, August 15, 2021

Who has the Keys?

Meditate.

And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:30-34 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Jesus often spoke in parables to describe the Kingdom of God--or the Kingdom of Heaven.

Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant. He replied, "You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: 'When they see what I do, they will learn nothing. When they hear what I say, they will not understand. Otherwise, they will turn to me and be forgiven.'" Mark 4:10-12

The secret of the Kingdom of God was hidden in the parables. Something about the Kingdom of God was revealed only to those who understood the parables. Jesus didn’t just open the door to the Kingdom for everyone. They had to search for it…to seek it with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. The keys to the Kingdom were right there in the stories that He told His followers.

Here are several another stories and illustrations Jesus told:

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field." Matthew 13:24

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field." Matthew 13:31

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough." Matthew 13:33

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field." Matthew 13: 44

"Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls." Matthew 13:45

"Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind." Matthew 13: 47

"Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old." Matthew 13:52

Which of these parables speaks to you? Are you a farmer, a baker or a fisherman? Jesus aimed His parables at particular people so that they could identify with His stories. Where do you look for keys to understanding Jesus’ parables…to seek His Kingdom? Remember…Don’t worry....Today's trouble is enough for today. Seek God’s Kingdom. Trust Jesus—He has the keys to the Kingdom. God has promised that He will provide.

Prayer ~ Lord Jesus, please continue to reveal more of Yourself to us. You said to Thomas…”Blessed and happy and to be envied are those who have never seen Me and yet have believed and adhered to and trusted and relied on Me (Amplified Bible, John 20:29).” We do believe in You and rely on You Jesus…for Your blessings in our lives, daily. You are the key to the Kingdom. Knowing You and loving You is the way that we seek the Kingdom of God above everything else in our lives.

Verse of Salvation ~ For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. Titus 2:11-14 (Underlined for emphasis.)

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

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Saturday, August 14, 2021

Many Are Called, but Few are Chosen

Meditate. Are you called…chosen?

Jesus also told them other parables. He said, "The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come! So he sent other servants to tell them, 'The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!' But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business. Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them. The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town. And he said to his servants, 'The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren't worthy of the honor. Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.' So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn't wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. 'Friend,' he asked, 'how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?' But the man had no reply. Then the king said to his aides, 'Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' "For many are called, but few are chosen." Matthew 22:1-14

Purity in the Lord.
Do you have the purity of this water lily?
What garmet will you wear to the banquet?

Feasts and weeping…many are called, but few are chosen. Jesus used parables to teach His followers…but He often used a more direct approach in teaching His disciples, such as an actual occurrence involving a healing episode. On one such occasion Jesus was asked by a Roman officer to heal his paralyzed servant—just by saying so, not by going to the servant. The Roman officer displayed such a great level of faith in Jesus that He was amazed.

And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west--and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 8:11-12

Jesus used that wedding feast that we all expect to see in the Kingdom of Heaven as an illustration of a reward that believers will get…in contrast to what non-believers will get—the gnashing of teeth and great sorrowful crying. It will be a very sad time for those who reject Jesus Christ. This passage is only mentioning the Israelites who reject Jesus…but anyone who rejects Him will be eternally miserable. For the rest of us who know and faithfully love the Lord…happy days. Whether that banquet feast in the Kingdom of Heaven is one that has actual physical food—or only spiritual food—it won’t matter. Can you imagine feasting with the great Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?

Jesus uses the wedding feast that a king—like His Father—hosts to celebrate the wedding of His Son—Jesus—to illustrate the invitation of the guests to the wedding and the banquet. Proper wedding clothes must also be considered. What we wear does show a commitment—a way of caring about the event we are attending.

How often do you ignore an invitation to an event? Especially during this time of COVID social restrictions we aren’t getting many invitations to special occasions. Weddings, funerals, graduation and birthday parties happen with only a few people attending. Those who attend in larger groups invariably are putting themselves and others at risk of getting COVID. Is that reason to not attend gatherings? For those who are vaccinated or for those who are not…there is a risk. Compare that to the risk of ignoring Jesus or accepting the invitation to not just knowing Him, but believing in Him…and having a relationship with Him. Relationship. That is what counts…that is what matters in life. Food sustains us, physically and spiritually, but relationships make life worth living. Live for what matters and don’t ignore the invitations that God sends to you.

Prayer ~ Lord God, open my eyes and heart to Your truths and help me to see the invitations that You give me…not only to know Jesus as my Savior, but to the gifts You give me to use in service to others. I am so looking forward to celebrating the wedding feast one day with You. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10

Verse of Salvation ~ He called you to salvation when we told you the Good News; now you can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2:14

Bible Trivia Answer to the Question: What are we to “seek first” according to the Sermon on the Mount recorded in the book of Matthew?

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33

Bible Trivia Question for next week: What tree to we see at the beginning and end of the Bible?

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

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Friday, August 13, 2021

What Are You Eating?

Meditate.

For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up. Don't tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble. Romans 14:17-21

It doesn’t matter what we eat or drink…as long as we don’t do it to the detriment of others…and as long as it is in moderation. Listen to Paul’s advice.

Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:17-20

Use your head—use common sense. Don’t get drunk and make a fool of yourself. This is another example of love your neighbor as yourself…don’t drink if it will offend them. The Golden Rule—Treat others the way you want to be treated—can also apply. If eating or drinking something offends you, then consider how others feel about food and drink issues. Aim for harmony…in the church and with family, friends and neighbors. Paul’s teaching to the church at Philippi included consideration—in some translations it is “moderation”

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again--rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7

Note that even in that first century people were being reminded that the Lord is coming soon. It may be even sooner than we think. Are you ready? The first step in “being ready” is to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. It is simple—just talk to Jesus and ask for forgiveness of your sin. Everyone sins and falls short of the glory of God—Romans 3:23. So admit that you have sinned and realize that the result of sin is death, but if you confess your sin, you will be saved. Everyone who calls on the name of God will be saved—Romans 10:9-10.

With Christ as your Savior, you’ve become part of the family of God and spiritually entered into the Kingdom of God. Rejoice and be glad!

As Solomon wrote…

We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born. We can't take our riches with us. And this, too, is a very serious problem. People leave this world no better off than when they came. All their hard work is for nothing—like working for the wind. Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud—frustrated, discouraged, and angry. Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past. Ecclesiastes 5:15-20

So eat and drink whatever you want that doesn’t offend those eating and drinking with you. Enjoy life—rejoice in the love of the Lord.

Prayer ~ Lord, take away any clouds of frustration and discouragement that come my way. I want to rejoice and be glad—in this life You have given me. Thank you that You keep me so busy enjoying life—with family and friends—that I don’t have time to brood over the past.

Verse of Salvation ~ As for us, we can't help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation—a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:13

Friday’s Feasting at the King’s Table
We can’t live on bread alone, but some zucchini bread would be tasty, especially with chocolate. Did anyone put zucchini on your porch this week?

Death By Chocolate - Zucchini Bread
(Adapted from Facebook friends recipes)
½ c. melted butter or coconut oil
½ c. dark cocoa powder, plus more for dusting pan
1½ c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
¼ tsp. kosher salt
¾ c. sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 c. grated zucchini (about 1 medium sized)
2/3 c. chocolate chips
Flaky or freshly ground chunky sea salt, for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray or butter and dust a loaf pan with cocoa powder. In large bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.

In another large bowl, beat together sugar and eggs until smooth, 1 minute. Add melted butter and vanilla and mix until smooth. Add zucchini, then slowly add flour mixture. Fold in chocolate chips. Transfer batter to prepared pan and bake 50 minutes.

Let cool slightly in pan, then transfer to a cooling rack. Sprinkle with sea salt and serve.

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

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Thursday, August 12, 2021

Kingdom of God

Meditate.

One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, "When will the Kingdom of God come?" Jesus replied, "The Kingdom of God can't be detected by visible signs. You won't be able to say, 'Here it is!' or 'It's over there!' For the Kingdom of God is already among you." Luke 17:20-21

The Kingdom of God. Both John and Baptist and Jesus initially declared that people needed to repent…

- Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Matthew 3:2

- Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God's Good News. "The time promised by God has come at last!" he announced. "The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!" Mark 1:14-15

What is the Kingdom of Heaven, you might ask? We are told to…

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33

The Holy Spirit as a dove.
The Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.
Spiritual life...in the Kingdom.

Seek—look, strive for, pursue. But what if you don’t know what it is…then for what are you looking? Jesus gives us a hint…the Kingdom of God is already among you…. He was referring to Himself. He often referred to Himself and the Son of Man. The kingdom…the territory that belongs to God. God is a spiritual being—so I surmise that the Kingdom of Heaven…or the Kingdom of God…or even the Kingdom of the Messiah…is a spiritual realm. As recorded in a discussion with the Pharisee leader, Nicodemus, Jesus said that a person must be born again…spiritually to enter the Kingdom of God.

Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God." "What do you mean?" exclaimed Nicodemus. "How can an old man go back into his mother's womb and be born again?" Jesus replied, "I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life." John 3:3-6

Spiritual life. That is the key to entering the Kingdom. In the focus passage of scripture from Luke Jesus continues teaching on “the Son of Man” who is of course, Jesus Himself.

Then he said to his disciples, "The time is coming when you will long to see the day when the Son of Man returns, but you won't see it. People will tell you, 'Look, there is the Son of Man,' or 'Here he is,' but don't go out and follow them. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so it will be on the day when the Son of Man comes. But first the Son of Man must suffer terribly and be rejected by this generation. When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah's day. In those days, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came and destroyed them all. Luke 17:22-27

The Kingdom of God is at hand…where Jesus is, the Kingdom is there. When Jesus is in your life…then you are part of the Kingdom. You don’t have to wait to die…to go to heaven…to be part of the Kingdom. Choose Jesus as your Savior and enter the Kingdom right now!

Prayer ~ Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. Matthew 6:9-13

Verse of Salvation ~ Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, "It has come at last--salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth--the one who accuses them before our God day and night. Revelation 12:10

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

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Wednesday, August 11, 2021

Hug Before the End of the World

Meditate. Consider how you love and are loved.

The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 1 Peter 4:7-10

Love – Love – Love. The greatest of all gifts is love. Love from the Father…and our love for one another. Love is the key to life. Consider again a study from the thirteenth century that began to see what language babies would speak if not spoken to, as well not touched. Those babies died. Yes, they died from lack of love. We must be touched, cuddled, hugged and loved with words and actions. It is quite obviously a basic necessity. God lavishes His love on us…spiritually, by giving us His Son as a sacrificial offering…and physically, by giving us people around us who give us attention—parents, siblings, other relatives, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and even acquaintances, like teachers, doctors, pastors, and grocery store clerks. Even if we are not regularly now in a “hug zone” we still thrive with attention. Physical touch is essential to life. I remember researching and writing about that. See part of the January 3, 2013 “Banquet With The King” blog post, below.

Recent reports on studies have shown that everyone needs at least 10 hugs a day to thrive. Virginia Satir, a respected family therapist, said “We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need twelve hugs a day for growth.” Twelve—that’s a lot of hugs. Physical touch is important. Hugging strengthens the immune system, builds self-esteem, and creates trust in a relationship. Jesus said, “let the little ones come unto me” and I image that He hugged them and their parents, too. We need to do likewise. So, open your arms and your heart—give a hug. Share the love of Jesus with family and friends today. Keep everyone healthy. January 21 is National Hugging Day—a world-wide event. Put it on your calendar…but don’t save all your hugs until then.

Have you hugged anyone today? If you are in COVID isolation, you may just have to give yourself a hug. If not, ask the Lord to send someone to you to hug. I always look forward to hugs from my grandkids!

Prayer ~ Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love--not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 1 John 4:7-10.

You are love, Lord God. Help me to show and share Your love…and You…with others around me.

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

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

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Tuesday, August 10, 2021

Are You Watching the Calendar or the Clock?

Meditate. Time is illusive.

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. 1 John 2:18

You may have heard…live each hour as if it is your last. What will you be doing when Christ calls you home? Will it bring praise to our God who gives us strength? Are you prepared to face trials and persecution as is noted in 1 Peter 4? A couple of days ago I blogged about Paul’s admonition that we will have to suffer. See Romans 8:15-17. Now here below Peter is telling us that we need to be ready to suffer, too.

So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. You won't spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols. 1 Peter 4:1-3

How do you “prepare” for suffering? Good question. The best place to start is always prayer. Ask God to help you…and to help your family, friends and neighbors. We rarely suffer alone. Those around us will be impacted, too. Note that this scripture in First Peter is concerned with attitude. Be ready to suffer. Satan is going to attack us in a venerable area of our lives. Attitude is key to our thought process, actions and even what we say. For me, my attitude is what keeps me going…or stops me in my tracks. During this recent pandemic my attitude hasn’t been very good and has been an excuse to stay home, veg and not interact with others. That hasn’t exactly helped me “prepare” for Christ’s return.

Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 1 Peter 3:8

How about you? How’s your attitude? Is it affecting your relationship with the Lord? Are you getting prepared for His return? Are you watching the calendar or the clock? We don’t know the hour or the day…but we can be assured that He will return. Will it be in our lifetime? Prophetic things are happening quickly in the Middle East. Keep you eyes open…and your heart prepared.

Prayer ~ Lord God, as David wrote…Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. Psalm 34:12-15. As David did, Lord, I’m praying that You would help my attitude that I would bring You glory and honor by doing good, searching for peace and working to preserve it. Peace in my heart, my home and my life as I await Your return.

Verse of Salvation ~ But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:14-15

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

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

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

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