Scripture

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

~Psalm 23:5, NIV

Quote

To cultivate a heart that delights in the LORD Jesus is the first step toward the abundant life that is full and overflowing.

~Warren W. Wiersbe

The image of a Christian as a pilgrim is not new. Luke said in Hebrews 11, These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. The saving grace of the LORD Jesus has set us on an upward journey and this world is not our home. In principle and practice, we are already in the Kingdom and the journey has begun, but we have yet to experience the fullness of all that has been promised. We are strangers in a strange land, travelers on their way, but not home yet.

Being in Christ does not mean that all our troubles are over. It does not mean that we will not face danger and difficulty, pain and sorrow. It does mean we have a Shepherd and a Host. He is able to prepare a table for us while we are here among the enemy. The fruit trees of heaven bend over the walls: we can pick some fruit here and now. If someone prepares a table for you it is an indication that they love you and want to honor you. In the old days, parishioners did it for their pastor all the time. Those days are gone. Some of my greatest memories center around the fellowship at tables prepared for me. In Psalm 23 the LORD is the host and the one who prepares the table: in what ways has He sit a table before you? His Word is one! The fellowship of a body of believers is another. His provision at a time of need is another.

I could probably tell you a hundred stories that happened around the table, but one that comes to mind was when June and I were in our last year of seminary and we served a little church is Scott County, Mississippi, just a few miles below the home where Scott Sides who grew up in Attala County and the city of Kosciusko. We were in Revival and Junior Hill was our evangelist and we were eating lunch in the home of Belle Sessums who made the best rolls in the world and she wasn’t bad at frying chickens. Mrs. Belle’s daughter-in-law was at the table and Junior told her that she looked a lot like his wife. She waited for awhile but took the bait: she said, “Bro. Junior, would you happen to have a picture of your wife?” “I sure do,” said Junior and he pulled out his wallet and showed her a picture of the ugliest woman you’ve ever seen, her neck was a foot long and her nose about four of five inches. The picture took her breath away: she gasps. No one except Junior knew what was going on. Then she realized he was pranking and she laughed. Of course every one at the table wanted to see the picture. Only Junior could get by with stuff like that: I didn’t dare try it, ever.

Extra

We got more rain last night and this morning. I wish my rain gage worked. I bet we have had 15 inches in May but I am not complaining: it beats a drought. The corn is growing like weeds not and I have to get my fence up in a week or two are the coons will be coming to town.

Please pray for our cancer warriors. Chemo treatments are no fun.

We are in Philippians 1:9-11 tonight: Paul’s prayer for the beloved Philippians. I think I will be back in the pulpit at Danville Sunday night and doing another Psalm. One you have not heard. Comes from my new study of Psalms. It is not a repeat. Some of the Grace Point folks say, I turned on YouTube last Sunday night and you were preaching the same thing you preached here. That was true then but not now.

Have a great day and thank for reading the blog.

This came from my Chicken Farmers friends in Harperville, Mississippi: Jimmy and Renee Hurdle. Salt of the earth folks. That’s Jimmy bush hogging. {JK, not Jimmy}