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Resist the Holiday Rush: Accept a Gift from God’s Table

November 9, 2021Jeannie Waters38 Comments

Dear friend,

Pull up a chair and notice the gift on the table. The tag reads: “From: God, To: You.”

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Yes, this present is for you. Take a deep breath and lay aside your to-do list for a moment. Ready?

Now, remove the ribbon. Lift the lid and move the tissue paper aside. Is that not the most beautiful gift you’ve seen in ages? What? You don’t see it? The box looks empty?

That’s the beauty of it, my friend. The box is empty by design. When I explain, you’ll love your one-size-fits-all, yet personally designed, very-much-needed present.

Rest is one of the many gifts God places on His table for us.

Within this gift, you’ll find margins. Yes, margins. My first-grade teacher taught me to leave margins on my papers. They create a neat appearance and make the writing more attractive and easier to read.

What about margins in our daily calendars?

Margins are bits of unscheduled time for resting, creating or otherwise enjoying the day. Lately, I’ve read several blog posts about this topic. Maybe the idea of setting margins is popular because of our fast-paced lives.

We’re tempted to fill the days with countless chores and opportunities and then become frustrated when tasks are left undone, leaving no time for relaxation. Can anyone identify?

The best news? God designed rest for us because He knows we need it. Rest and margins are among the many gifts our heavenly Father gives us.

Imagine with me the table the psalmist described when he spoke to God,

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
Psalm 23:5 NKJV

How can we fight the spiritual enemies of fear, worry, doubt, and discouragement if we refuse God’s gift of rest until we become bone-tired?

Jesus said to His disciples,

Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while. For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.
Mark 6:31 NKJV

Although I know Jesus rested and instructed His disciples to do so, I’ll confess. I’m a calendar crammer. (My husband may tell me to practice what I preach if he reads this post!)

Even when weeks are full, I slip extra events and chores into tiny pockets of time, erroneously thinking I’ll get to all of it. That practice creates stress and frustration I don’t need.

Here’s a better way.

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:15 ESV

We obey the last part of the verse, especially during this Thanksgiving month, but we often ignore the first part of the verse in our rush to join the Holiday Rush!

The lives of Christ-followers can overflow with peace and gratitude, but it’s difficult to embrace the peace of Jesus when we’re in a frenzy from a jam-packed agenda. In addition to prayer and Bible study, we need times of rest and relaxation.

The lives of Christ-followers can overflow with peace and gratitude, but it’s difficult to embrace the peace of Jesus when we’re in a frenzy from a jam-packed agenda. Share on X

We need time to allow the peace of Christ to rule our hearts. We need to savor His peace and allow it to fill our minds and direct our decision-making.

Two conversations led me to rethink the way I make holiday decisions.

A dear friend shared her plans.

I’m going to make and freeze a pound cake ahead of time, bake fruitcake cookies, and make nut cookies. That’s all I’m baking this year. I’ll buy some chocolate goodies and cheese straws. I want to honor the Lord and enjoy a calm, joyful time with my family instead of being exhausted when they arrive.

Another friend confessed, “I’m dreading the holidays already! Everyone comes to my house and it’s so much work. I want them to come, and I’m happy to prepare for them, but I end up exhausted and grouchy.”

Sound familiar? It’s a blessing to serve others, but it’s also hard work. Thanksgiving opens the door to the Christmas season and the rush is on before we know it. Food, gifts, programs, cards, dinners, company…and the beat goes on.

What can we do to prepare for a joyous, peaceful holiday season?

I hope you’ll join me and try this four-step process to prepare for the holidays, and more importantly, to “let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.”

Invite Jesus to Fill Your Heart with His Peace

Stop.
Sit still long enough to pray and seek God’s gift of rest.
Ask the Prince of Peace to fill your hearts and direct your plans.
Proceed with holiday plans and take intentional steps to share His peace with others.

Look into your box again. Pull out those margins of rest and put them into your calendar. It’s refreshing to have time to pray, take a walk, doodle or thumb through a magazine, listen to music, sketch a picture, or read.

Take one more deep breath. (Surely, we have time for at least two a day, right?)

Like the margins on my first-grade papers, unscheduled time makes our lives neater and more appealing as the joy and peace of Christ fill our hearts and overflow to others. Time spent with Him and the addition of margins will bring smiles and fortify us to resist the holiday rush.

Your friend who’s learning to add margins,

Jeannie

Please share the ways you accept God’s gift of rest and add margins to your calendar. Let’s help each other.

P. S. I promised to share holiday appetizer recipes, and I will soon. Until then, here’s a reminder of some old favorites.

Pigs in a Blanket

Cut canned biscuits in half or use crescent roll dough.

Add a mini sausage and some sharp cheddar or another cheese.

Roll up and bake at 375 until golden brown.

Stuffed Celery

Stuff celery sticks with pimento cheese.

Garnish with extra pimento slices.

Use the celery leaves as a garnish to create a pretty appetizer plate.

Disappearing Snack Crackers

Spread softened cream cheese onto a round, salty cracker.

Add a dollop of green pepper jelly.

Coming soon: Hearty Olé Appetizer, veggie dip, pickle sandwiches, Cheese Crispies, and more

Appetizers for Effective Conversation

October 27, 2021Jeannie Waters32 Comments

Whether we’re dining with friends and family or waiting for our table with strangers, we can offer warm greetings as an appetizer to fruitful conversation.

Let’s think about dinner appetizers.

Imagine sitting on your friend’s sofa as she serves an appetizer tray. You pop a small slice of green fruit into your mouth and immediately wish you hadn’t.

One eye closes involuntarily like you’ve been sucking lemons all day, and you shudder to the core of your being. Your mouth purses into fish lips as the inside of your cheeks pucker and meet in the middle.

Green persimmons do not a tasty appetizer make.

Imagine instead popping a bite of your favorite cheese into your mouth. A much better introduction to a meal, wouldn’t you say?

Just as cheese, shrimp cocktail, and veggies with dip provide a smooth transition into a hearty meal, warm greetings pave the way to conversation. Whether we meet strangers or friends, cordial exchanges wake up the palate of the human heart to enjoy conversation and create relationships.

Whether we meet strangers or friends, cordial exchanges wake up the pallet of the human heart to enjoy conversation and create relationships. Share on X

Paul, a communicator inspired by God, included warm greetings in the letters he wrote. Those letters, now books of the Bible, still encourage us today.

Paul inspired readers and listeners of his words to acknowledge and welcome each other and then asked them to share his messages. In Colossians 4:7-9 he mentioned two co-workers by name, Tychicus and Onesimus, whom he sent to visit fellow believers. He intended for them to encourage hearts and share ministry news.

The greetings in Paul’s letters and those he extended in-person forged relationships. They also opened the door for instruction and offered motivation to serve others and continue the work of sharing the gospel.

How can we offer warm greetings like delectable appetizers to spark fruitful conversation and build relationships? How can we acknowledge, include, and serve others?

A few smiles and cheery words can welcome those who may be on the periphery of a group. People feel ostracized and unworthy to participate when we ignore them and fail to involve them in conversation. Without the appetizer of a greeting to welcome them, they may not engage in listening or contributing.

God provides conversations and leads us to encourage those we meet and share the joy of walking with Jesus. If they lack hope, we can share the hope we have in Christ. He blesses us with opportunities to serve others for His glory.

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you.
1 Peter 3:15 ESV

Let’s strive to notice people and show genuine interest in them. Warm greetings truly offer opportunities to engage in fruitful conversation and may help build or strengthen relationships.

Here’s a recipe with ingredients that foster engaging conversations.

Conversation Appetizer

1. Consider the needs of each participant.

2. Add generous dollops of warm smiles and eye contact during a group meal or gathering.

3. Sprinkle in a few questions to include everyone in the conversation.

4. Season the greetings with attentive listening.

This recipe yields encouraging conversations to open the door to deeper or new relationships and spark opportunities to share the love of Christ.

people sitting in front of table talking and eating

Your comments are encouraging. Please tell us the ways others have greeted you warmly and embraced you in conversation. How do you include others and open conversations?

If my posts are a blessing to you, would you consider sharing the link with a friend? New subscribers will receive a free download of easy appetizers and hospitality tips. I’d appreciate that, reader friend.

Finding God’s Gifts at the Table

October 13, 2021Jeannie Waters32 Comments

Our grandchildren’s eyes widen when they see the focal point of family birthday celebrations—the coffee table laden with gift-wrapped packages. Throughout the year, our daughter-in-love notes the toys the children admire, and she considers their needs and interests. Her process ensures the gifts will be both delightful and appropriate.

My husband and I join our co-grandparents and contribute to the purchases. Then we all enjoy watching the children open gifts, selected especially for them.

Our grandchildren’s mom spends more time with them than anyone else, and she knows their preferences, needs, and sizes. Therefore, the gifts—some needed and some desired—are well-chosen. Wished-for gifts that are unsafe or unwise never make it to the coffee table.

Our heavenly Father also provides gifts for His children. How does our family’s gift-giving tradition compare to God’s provision?

Psalm 23 gives us insight. David praised God as His Provider while he lived under a roof of blazing sun and twinkling stars. If I’d been with David, I would have requested a palace bed instead of a grassy knoll on rocky hillsides with smelly sheep.

However, I’m grateful for God’s plan in David’s life, for his pasture lessons birthed beautiful words that reveal characteristics of our heavenly Father.

David expressed gratitude for the table prepared before him.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.
Psalm 23:5 NKJV

According to Phillip Keller in A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, the table David referred to could have been a high plateau or a mesa, land the shepherds prepared for their sheep before allowing them to graze there.

Keller describes his own shepherding experience as an arduous process that required the removal of harmful weeds, the clearance of winter debris from water holes, and the protection of the flock from predators. ¹

Jesus, our Shepherd, prepares a table for us—a place of fellowship and provision with Him. As the good Shepherd, He supplies all we need. Instead of feeding on the poisonous weeds of false teaching and the cluttered trials of self-effort, we can find gifts on His table to calm our hearts and teach us more about Him.

Instead of allowing the enemy of our souls to devour us like a prowling lion that threatens sheep, we can seek our Shepherd’s protection and embrace the gifts at His table designed to defeat our enemy.

In addition to the shepherd analogy, some scholars describe the Lord as the Host in Psalm 23:5 and His children as guests at His table. In verses 5-6 the psalmist used hospitality-related words, such as table, oil, cup, and house. ² God’s buffet of blessings is always available.

He invites you to His table to exchange discouragement for joy, fear for peace, and doubt for faith. Empty your plate of false guilt and fill it with His acceptance. Defeat the enemy of pride with an opportunity to serve with a humble heart. Fight against a critical spirit by speaking words of encouragement. His table is filled with every provision we need.

Speaking of tables, back to my question …

How does our family’s gift-giving tradition at the coffee table compare to the provisions at God’s table?

The coffee table serves as a focal point for our celebrations, but when God’s table is our focal point, we find far more generous gifts—blessings we need and blessings that delight us. God knows us better than anyone else. As our good Father, He chooses wisely.

Some of His gifts may not be on our list, but we can trust Him as the Giver of good gifts (James 1:17). Some of what we long for may be omitted for a while because God knows the future and works from His sovereign plan. He’s a wise and loving Father.

If we are Christ-followers, children of God, His gifts are ours to embrace.

If we are Christ-followers, children of God, His gifts are ours to embrace. Share on X

What are you longing to find at His table? We don’t know what today will bring, but God knows which gifts will meet our needs and help us defeat the enemy. Has one of His gifts surprised you lately? Please share with us in the Comments below. We’d love to hear from you.

If this post blessed you today, perhaps you’ll share the link with a friend. Thanks for reading.

¹Keller, W. Phillip. A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1970), 91-95. ² The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2028), 966 (a reference to Psalm 23:5).

Are You Feasting at the Table Where God Fulfills Your Needs?

September 28, 2021Jeannie Waters25 Comments

When my brother and his wife invited my husband and me to observe elk in their natural habitat, they failed to mention one detail—the nine-mile, single-lane dirt road that wound up a high mountain and down again.

We navigated curves that doubled back on themselves like a snake changing directions. The window view on my side of the car included an almost non-existent shoulder and steep, rocky terrain.

When we descended from the heights and drove into a valley, I unclenched my teeth and took a deep breath. Near dusk, we parked beside a grassy meadow that bordered a forest and waited.

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When the sun neared the tops of the oaks and birch trees, a gigantic bull elk swaggered into view. His size commanded our attention. Soon a cow, a female elk, followed. After they gauged their distance from onlookers, they grazed on luscious grass, their evening meal.

We sat mesmerized as one by one other members of the herd emerged from their camouflaged haven in what appeared to be a choreographed entrance. A calf following his mother, an older bull with a large rack, then more cows braved the unsheltered dining area.

Although I observed an occasional ear twitch, the majestic elk ate in peace, oblivious to camera clicks and human visitors.

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If the animals had cowered in fear amid the trees and ignored the bountiful provision of the pasture, their menu would have consisted of ferns, other plentiful plants on the forest floor, and bark. The tasty tender-blades-of-grass delicacy would have remained beyond their reach.

Later that night, when I scrolled through my cell phone pictures, Matthew 6:26 came to mind.

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Matthew 6:26 ESV

God provides for the birds. He provides for the elk. He provides for me. Not only food and shelter, but salvation in Christ Jesus, and myriad other blessings.

In Psalm 23:2, David mentions green pastures of rest as one of God’s blessings. The fifth verse reads,

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
Psalm 23:5 ESV

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The elk, grazing in the valley’s grass-filled pasture, created a lovely portrait of God’s table. Among other blessings, He offers His children peace, joy, rest, and prayer, as well as opportunities to serve others and lessons He longs to teach us.

When gripped by fear, we sometimes sit at the world’s buffet and consume a plentiful and steady diet of comparison, people-pleasing, and worry-producing meals. Like an elk who remains in the forest, we miss the wondrous feast our heavenly Father prepares.

Imagine with me …

What if…after asking for God’s help, and forgiveness where needed, we use a spatula to scrape our plates of any anxiety or unsettling thought whose origin is worldly influence, our own desires, or the enemy of our souls?

When we pull up a chair each day to enjoy God’s Word and seek Him in prayer, His truths rinse our plates clean of toxic scraps and fill our hearts and minds with servings of His grace.

Then, what if we praise and worship the Lord, approach His table, and partake of His blessings—the ones He’s chosen just for us this day? God is a wise Father. He doesn’t grant our every wish and whim, but He promises to meet our needs (Philippians 4:19).

The gifts on God’s table are tailor-made for you. Pause to write down today’s needs and lift them to Him in prayer. Maybe you’ll request joy, peace, strength for daily responsibilities, wisdom for a difficult relationship, or an opportunity to help someone. We can ask Him to teach us lessons we need to learn as well.

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Pray with trust. He provides for His children according to His wisdom, which far surpasses ours. Then, watch expectantly for the way He answers with His perfect timing.

We can begin each morning with this message of encouragement:

Empty your plate of the world’s diet and feast at the table God prepared for you.

Please share: How do you partake of the gifts on God’s table? What need has He met lately? Does He ever surprise you?

Taking the Plunge Against Fear

September 7, 2021Jeannie Waters35 Comments

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Today I’m honored to share a guest post written by Barbara Latta, a writer friend. You may hold your breath during part of her story, but you’ll also be encouraged to trust God as she was. Barbara’s bio and information about her writing are underneath the post. Here’s Barbara:

I stood on the edge of the swimming pool garbed from head to toe in neoprene and encased in an inflated vest hooked to a heavy tank of air. Sparkling H₂O lay before me ready to swallow my reluctant body if I would only jump in.

After my husband and our sons took a scuba diving course, they thought it would be a wonderful idea if Mom joined in the fun. There was just one problem. I was terrified of this type of baptism.

The water was my enemy. Instead of the recreation other people looked forward to, I saw an abyss that wanted to drown me.

The instructor yelled at me for holding up the class which persuaded me to hop in. I watched the surface fade into a distant memory as my body sank to the bottom. My heart pounded like a jackhammer. Instead of the slow, deep breaths a diver is supposed to take, mine were rapid and shallow.

After a few minutes at the bottom and some terrifying events caused by my anxiety, we surfaced. I couldn’t climb the ladder fast enough to get out. My nose burned from the chlorine I had sniffed into it. I took all my equipment off, threw it on the ground, and said, “I am leaving, and I won’t be back.”

My husband drove me home. I was embarrassed but couldn’t control the tears that ran down my face. I felt like a coward, yet I was too terrified to go back.

But I was so tired of being scared. I had lived with this apprehension all my life, and I was ready to get rid of it.

I asked the Holy Spirit for guidance, and He led me to this verse:

“If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me.”
Psalm 139:9-10 NKJV

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I decided to return to the class. I memorized that scripture and kept it in my mind every time I got into the pool. At the end of the training, the smile in my picture on the certification card reflected the relief I felt.

The problems I encountered while submerged were because panic paralyzed me and kept me from thinking clearly and performing the tasks I had been taught. My focus was on what the water could do to me instead of the resources I had.

I was equipped with air. I was surrounded by people who could help me if I got into trouble. Most importantly, God was with me. If my thoughts had been on enjoying the adventure and learning a new skill, trepidation would not have won.

When we concentrate on our fears, we can’t go forward and follow our Father’s directives. If all we look at are the possibilities of failure, pain, or suffering, we are under the control of those negative thoughts.

When we concentrate on our fears, we can’t go forward and follow our Father’s directives. If all we look at are the possibilities of failure, pain, or suffering, we are under control of those negative thoughts. Share on X

Once we take that first step and do whatever we are afraid of, we conquer dread with faith in God. He knew what we would face in this life and left us instructions all through His Word not to cower with timidity. We have His Spirit for comfort and peace, and we know we will never be alone. His power is within us.

When I did change my thinking to the scripture the Lord gave me, I calmed down and finished the course.

Later, on a trip to the Caribbean the ocean loomed before me. Waves lapped against the diving platform I stood on. Panic threatened. After I stared at the sloshing adversary for a few minutes, I knew terror would only grow the longer I waited. I splashed into the sea and calmed myself with the fact that if I had done this before I could do it again.

Feelings of distress can return, but they can also be overcome each time.

I will never be Jacques Cousteau, but I reached my goal of becoming a certified diver. And the best accomplishment was because I didn’t let faintheartedness stop me.

With the Almighty’s help, we can all take the plunge against fear.

Please share in the comments: What scriptures help you when terror threatens your peace?

Learn more about Barbara

Barbara Latta is the author of God’s Maps, Stories of Inspiration and Direction for Motorcycle Riders and has contributed to several anthologies and written for online devotion and article sites. Her latest contribution is to The Power to Make a Difference published by Lighthouse Bible Studies.

Barbara loves to travel, garden, snap photos and ride with her husband on his motorcycle. She is pursuing a certificate in biblical studies through Charis Bible College.

Her desire is to share the truths she has learned through the Word of God to help those in bondage to negative emotions become free and have an intimate relationship with our heavenly Father. Her blog can be found at www.barbaralatta.blogspot.com. You can also connect with Barbara on Twitter @barbaralatta, Instagram @blatta2 and follow her on Facebook.