These friends were the first ones to show hospitality to us years ago at their church and I still fondly remember the meal they served - chicken and homemade noodles. I still think of Jeanene and Bob whenever I prepare a meal with my (non-homemade) noodles. Isn't it interesting what reminds us of others? Sometimes a favorite scent, or a flavor will recall a memory. For some, the scent of roses reminds them of Jesus, the 'Rose of Sharon'. For me, whenever I am at a party like tonight, and see a 'head table', I'm reminded of a unique experience I had at another anniversary celebration. My friend, Dora and her husband had some of their family at the head table with them, when some of the children came over and said to me that 'Mama has a place for you at the head table.' I demurred, they insisted. I asked Dora if I understood correctly. She said yes, and I wondered aloud that I thought those places were only for family. She looked into my eyes and said, "You are family, you are my sister in the Lord." I got pretty overwhelmed when we were each asked as a member of the family to share a toast or tribute. I was so touched and honored. I felt I'd done nothing to earn that special honor - that I was only there by grace and love - adopted and grafted in as a family member. A lot like the banquet Jesus is preparing for us.
How appropriate then is today's name of God - Jehovah-Rohi (or Raah, or Ro'eh). Meaning - The Lord who Shepherds or Pastors Me. (Ro'eh means to pasture).; Lest you think I am saying that Jesus wants to put me out to pasture (smile)... it really says that He is the one who feeds me , cares for me like the sheep I am, and prepares and provides me refreshment. Imagine that - Jesus pasturing me. Tonight I sat at table with friends. Psalm 23:5 from the Message says of Jehovah Ro-eh:
You serve me a six-course dinner
right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
my cup brims with blessing.
I may have some enemies in this world, but if so they are only servants of the enemy of my soul. Satan or his helpers occasionally have me believing lies until my head is drooping and I am discouraged or depressed and I don't even know why. I wonder why there is even room in my heart that the enemy can fan an ember to make me long for dead things or feel an unnamed sadness. But God...right in front of the enemy, feeds me royally - with a banquet of life and encouragement and bounty that is endless. He revives my drooping spirit and keeps pouring in until my cup brims, and runs over with blessing. In CS Lewis' Screwtape Letters, one of the Christians only needs to find a piece of cheesecake in the back of the refrigerator to forget about the fellowship and banquet that is waiting for him. I pray not to be that one, but to turn to the Lord and receive the waiting banquet.
Tonight's banquet:
Italian salad, Italian sausage, prime rib and green beans. I happily admit that I had another half serving of the beef and more of the green beans than is shown. I wished I could eat more, it was so good.
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