Banquet With The King

Friday, November 24, 2023

How To…Trust God

Prayer – Lord, I trust You…with all that I am, and give You my life. Actually, I seek protection in You as a refuge from the storms of life—even though my trials and tribulations are miniscule compared to some peoples’ situations. Thank You for always being there for me.

Seek shelter beneath the wings of God.

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Psalm 91:1-4 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Meditate. Consider God’s promises.

Trust…have faith and believe, hope, confidence, and dependence. Trust in the Lord.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones. Proverbs 3:5-8

There are so many verses in the Bible that deal with trusting the Lord.

Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desires. Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. Psalm 37:3-5

Solomon wrote that we should seek God’s will in all we do. Good advice. In seeking God, we have to trust Him. Trust that He won’t leave us or forsake us—as He promised. Trust Him that He will provide. He has a plan and it includes His chosen people, the Jews, as well as all those who believe in Him. Trusting the Lord takes a choice, a commitment, a decision and a desire for a relationship or deeper association with Him. Can you trust Him?

Verses of Salvation ~ Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:5-8

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

One of my favorite foods is peanut butter. The best is just ground peanuts—nothing added. It’s easy to find in the natural foods sections where I grind it myself—or rather it is ground at the time I purchase it. How do I eat it? Sometimes just a spoonful. It is also good on crackers, in salads, in soups, and as the all-time comfort food: Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches. Here’s some of the nutrients that you get in two tablespoons (32 grams) of natural peanut butter includes:

Vitamin E
Niacin (vitamin B3)
Manganese
Vitamin B6
Magnesium

Peanut butter is also a good source of copper, a mineral that helps maintain our bone health, immune function, and blood vessels.

Do you like peanut butter? What is your favorite way to eat it? I hope that you don’t have a food sensitivity to peanuts. Enjoy a spoonful today—and give thanks to the Lord—who created peanuts and packed them with nutrients.

Happy Birthday – Jan

Happy Birthday Marv!

We are grateful for the example you show in serving the Lord!

Blessing on Monica & Neal as they welcome their baby!

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

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

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Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Thursday, November 23, 2023

Give Thanks

Prayer – Lord, You are great! I praise You and offer my thanksgiving. This may be a day of Thanksgiving in the United State—but every day is a day of gratefulness—of thanksgiving—for all Christians in all times around the world..

Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds. Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the LORD. Search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek him. Psalm 105:1-4

Meditate on being grateful.

Give Thanks to the Lord.
Be filled with joy.

Great is the LORD—and He is worthy to be praised. Give thanks with a grateful heart. Tell someone today about what God has done for you!

Verse of Salvation ~ But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, "The LORD is great!" As for me, since I am poor and needy, let the Lord keep me in his thoughts. You are my helper and my savior. O my God, do not delay. Psalm 40:16-17

Happy Thanksgiving to All

Blessings

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

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

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

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Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

How To…Follow

Prayer – Lord, You are perfect. It’s hard to follow perfection—to be like You—but our Heavenly Father has called us humans to do good and follow Your example. Help me to do just that. To follow in Your footsteps.

For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls. 1 Peter 2:21-25

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

Fishing with a net on the Sea of Galilee.
Israel

Peter—the great apostle that we think of as bold, strong, and impetuous—wrote God’s advice for us to do good…to follow in His (Christ’s) steps. Remember that Jesus Himself called Peter to “follow me.”

One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!" And they left their nets at once and followed him. Matthew 4:18-20

Jesus Christ never sinned—although He was tempted just like we are. Never sinned! We can only wish that we could attain that. Never deceived anyone. Wow—that would mean that we can trust all the words of Christ that we read—He didn’t, hasn’t and won’t lie. Can everyone trust what you say and do? I think that I could rate myself pretty high on that. I repented of any deception—including lying—when I became a Christian—actually when I rededicated my life to Christ. It took me a couple of tries to get the whole “do good” thing of Christianity right, even though I’d been going to church all my life. Christ did a miraculously wonderful thing by going to the cross—taking all of our sins on Himself—so we wouldn’t have to die spiritually. We have been rescued and redeemed. He is the guardian of our souls. That is an awesome thought. He not only purified us with His blood so that we can approach and stand before the throne of the Almighty God, but He is our Shepherd standing guard over us—protecting us from the evil one.

I think that He is worthy of us “following” Him. How do we do that? By choice. Put one foot in front of the other—putting Christ first—doing things His way. To find “His way” we must be reading His word. Find the straight and narrow path or road.

You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. Matthew 7:13-14

The choice is for each individual to make. Our relationship to Jesus—to God—is a personal thing. One to one. I choose to follow Him. To be a faithful follower.

Verses of Salvation or Rescue ~ Those who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble. I long for your rescue, LORD, so I have obeyed your commands. I have obeyed your laws, for I love them very much. Yes, I obey your commandments and laws because you know everything I do. O LORD, listen to my cry; give me the discerning mind you promised. Listen to my prayer; rescue me as you promised. Psalm 119:165-170

Happy Birthday, Barry!

Blessings as you continue to seek and serve the Lord!

Love You Much—Dear Brother

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

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

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

How To…Obey God’s Instructions

Prayer – Lord, help me to follow Your instructions…to be strong and courageous like Joshua.

Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:6-9

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

Steps at the Mt of Olives.
Follow the right path.
Be strong and courageous.
Jerusalem, Israel

Be strong and courageous. That was God’s instruction to Joshua. He would be successful if he would:

Follow Moses instructions.

Don’t turn to the right or left—just keep on the right path.

Study His word – continually—all the time.

Meditate on His word day and night, like all the time!

Don’t be afraid or discouraged. No fear. Don’t be defeated.

Be strong and courageous.

Obedience is a choice.

Don't you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. Romans 6:16

Joshua challenged the Israelites, giving the classic response, as underlined below:

"So fear the LORD and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD alone. But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:14-15

Do you want to be a slave to sin or live in righteous obedience to the Lord as a faithful follower? How to obey God’s instructions? Read and study God’s word, meditating on it. Choose obedience.

Verse of Salvation ~ Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Psalm 51:12

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

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

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

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Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Monday, November 20, 2023

How To…Delight in God’s Word

Prayer – Lord, rescue me. I feel like that lost sheep as I’m drifting away—draw me back to You. Bring me closer and closer that I would not only hear Your precious words—but apply them to my life. You are merciful and full of grace. Thank You for all that You do to save those who are lost. Help us all to delight in Your word—for it is full of encouragement and comfort.

O LORD, listen to my cry; give me the discerning mind you promised. Listen to my prayer; rescue me as you promised. Let praise flow from my lips, for you have taught me your decrees. Let my tongue sing about your word, for all your commands are right. Give me a helping hand, for I have chosen to follow your commandments. O LORD, I have longed for your rescue, and your instructions are my delight. Let me live so I can praise you, and may your regulations help me. I have wandered away like a lost sheep; come and find me, for I have not forgotten your commands. Psalm 119:169-176

Meditate. Consider God’s guidance in scripture.

I have not forgotten Your commands. Some people may feel that the Ten Commandments are outdated and since they are part of the Old Testament, they are not important, but to me they are the very essence of life. Love God and love others. In this scripture below that Jesus spoke, it shows that God will do anything for those that are of His flock. He trusts that the ninety-nine will be obedient while He goes out to rescue that one lost sheep.

If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won't he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? Matthew 18:12

Do you identify with that lost sheep…or with one of the ninety-nine who have already been rescued?

If you’ve been rescued, you know what it is to “delight” in God’s word—to savor it like a favorite comfort food. God’s word brings me such joy and peace. Yes, some of it is difficult to understand. God has hidden a mystery there for only those who are willing to really search His word to discover and appreciate it. Can you find God’s unknown message hidden there just for you? Will you delight in searching for it and discovering the treasure—like a pearl.

Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it! Matthew 13:45-46

Is God’s word like a precious gem to you?

Verses of Salvation ~ Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and declared, "It was necessary that we first preach the word of God to you Jews. But since you have rejected it and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we will offer it to the Gentiles. For the Lord gave us this command when he said, 'I have made you a light to the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.'" When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message; and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers. Acts 13:46-48

Happy Birthday Sylvia!

Friends are a gift from God. I thank God for you.

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

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

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Sunday, November 19, 2023

How To…Read God’s Word

Prayer – Lord, I love to read Your word. Please give me wisdom and understanding…to know not only what You mean, but why and how it is applicable to my life.

Joshua then read to them all the blessings and curses Moses had written in the Book of Instruction. Every word of every command that Moses had ever given was read to the entire assembly of Israel, including the women and children and the foreigners who lived among them. Joshua 8:34-35

Meditate. Read God’s word for yourself and listen to what He is saying.

One of the ways to improve any relationship is by really knowing that person—that goes for knowing God, too. How do we know God? Know a person by reading what they’ve written. I’m part of a writers’ group—STORYWRITERS—and it is true that you learn a lot about people through their stories—whether fiction or memoirs.

Read God's word...
...in a language you can understand.
Scripture in Hebrew--
--as seen at the Yardenit baptism site--
--along the Jordan River. Israel.

God wants His word read…by leaders, kings, and anyone who can read. Additionally, He wants His word read to those who cannot read it for themselves. When the Israelites wanted a king to rule their nation, God gave them guidelines for their king. That included knowing God’s word by copying it for himself and frequently reading it. Note that knowing God’s word would give the king respect for God and prevent him from becoming too conceited and self-reliant. God had a plan for those kings.

When he sits on the throne as king, he must copy for himself this body of instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. He must always keep that copy with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the LORD his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees. This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way. And it will ensure that he and his descendants will reign for many generations in Israel. Deuteronomy 17:18-20

Can you read? You must be able to if you are reading this. Ha! Are you willing and able to read God’s word? How about copying it for yourself as God required of His king? Considering that this is recorded in the book of Deuteronomy, the portion that they had at that time would only have been the Pentateuch—the first five books of the Old Testament written by Moses. Can you at least read those books? I’ve read them, but it has been a few years since I read through the entire Bible, so I am challenging myself to begin reading it again, soon. Why wait until January 1^st? Will you join me in this challenge? Put a comment in the box below.

Verses of Salvation ~ How long, O God, will you allow our enemies to insult you? Will you let them dishonor your name forever? Why do you hold back your strong right hand? Unleash your powerful fist and destroy them. You, O God, are my king from ages past, bringing salvation to the earth. Psalm 74:10-12

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

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

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Saturday, November 18, 2023

How To…Call on the Lord--in Scripture Prayer

Prayer ~ Dear Lord…You are my shepherd. You make me to lay down in green pastures, You lead me beside still water—where I am safe. You renew my strength. You guide me along right paths, bringing honor to Your name. Even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely Your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:1-6 (adapted from NLT). Jesus—You are my Lord. I praise You. Thank You for delighting in me.

He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me. They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, but the LORD supported me. He led me to a place of safety; He rescued me because He delights in me. The LORD rewarded me for doing right; He restored me because of my innocence. 2 Samuel 22:18-21

Meditate. Consider praying scripture.

Call upon the name of the Lord. Say “Jesus” out loud. There is power in the name of the Lord. Just as He rescued David from his enemies, including Saul, He will rescue you. He delights in you. Doesn’t that make you feel special just to know that someone delights in you? I am so glad to be known by Jesus…to be part of His family. Adopted into God’s family.

So now Jesus and the ones He makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them His brothers and sisters. Hebrews 2:11.

Holy, pure…innocent. Do you see a common theme there? Because of Jesus’ journey to the Cross—His sacrifice—we are seen as holy before our Heavenly Father.

Call upon the name of Jesus. Just as Paul wrote to the Corinthians…you are holy.

I am writing to God's church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be His own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as He did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours. 1 Corinthians 1:2.

Key to Praying Scripture is to know the Word.

In the last few years I’ve learned that there is great power in praying scripture—and in quoting memorized verses.

Although I still remember my phone number from when I was a kid, I’ve always struggled with memorizing. With God's help, no one is too old to memorize scripture. We don’t know when we’ll be without our Bibles, so if you have scripture memorized—hidden in your heart—you have a great resources and power.

I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11.

As with David, there is a promise…the Lord will reward you for doing right. Memorize His Word—and use it in a prayer to Him.

Verses of Salvation ~ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Cry out, "Save us, O God of our salvation! Gather and rescue us from among the nations, so we can thank your holy name and rejoice and praise you." 1 Chronicles 16:34-35

Revised and reused from March 6, 2017 "Banquet With The King" blog

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

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

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories