One of my favorite memories as a kid was attending family parties for holidays or special occasions. It didn’t matter what kind of event or where it was, there was always an excitement in the air. I couldn’t wait for the fun to begin. Anyone remotely related to us would show up. So did our friends. When it came time for dinner, all of the kids were relegated to the assigned “kids table”.
I was always so glad to not have to sit with the adults. They were just so boring. Their conversations were things we didn’t want to hear. Our table was far enough away from the adults, so we could do and say what we wanted. Typically our table was already set up with kid friendly empty plates and cups. Sometimes we had place cards with our names written on them, so we knew where to sit. Our table had lots of napkins; our parents anticipated our messes. Which always seemed to happen.
Food and drinks ended up on the floor. Much to the delight of pets.
It was up to our parents to fill our plates with food. And they did just that. More food than we could possibly take in. Our plates were always overflowing. Usually we couldn’t eat it all. Most of us kids picked around at our food. We would stuff the food we didn’t like into our napkins, with disdain. But really, nothing went to waste. Leftovers made their way into Tupperware containers. For the next week or so our parents magically transformed those leftovers into amazingly good new meals.
Forgive us God that We the Church typically act like kids and stay far enough away from You so We can do and say what We want.
Forgive us God that We the Church tend to pick around in Your Word, selecting things You say that We don’t like and stuffing them into our napkins with disdain.
Forgive us God that We the Church can relegate ourselves to the “kids table” when it comes to telling others about Jesus that are remotely related to us, including our friends. Because talking to them about Jesus is just so boring and they don’t want to hear it.
Maybe We forgot that You are a Good Parent and give us kids full plates of joy, hope, love, faith and peace. So much so that it is overflowing and abundant. More than we could possibly take in. He does just that. (Romans 15:13)
Maybe We forgot that You are kid friendly and anticipate us to make messes, which always seem to happen. So You have lots of napkins and willingly clean us up and pick us up off the floor when We ask. (1 John 1:9)
Maybe We forgot that You make sure that nothing We experience goes to waste. Good and bad things alike get packaged into Your Tupperware containers as leftovers. And You magically transform them into things amazingly good. (Romans 8:28)
You are not at the kids’ table. You are not at the adult table.
You are seated at His table.
Because You are His Royal Priesthood.
You get to sit right next to Him.
There’s an excitement in the air.
He can’t wait for the fun to begin.
He has already given You everything You need. (2 Peter 1:3)
His table is already set up for You to indulge in His overflowing grace.
You just need to walk up to His table and pull out Your chair.
He’s put Your name on Your place card.
It’s reserved eternally just for You.
Much to the delight of Him!
PRAY FOR:
Fred Jordan Mission on the streets of Skid Row in Los Angeles has been feeding hungry families Thanksgiving meals since 1944. They are serving thousands again this year. They need people to actually help them serve the meal on November 26th. Plus they need financial help to make this happen. Go to fjm.org
PRAY FOR:
Calvary Chapel South Bay as they join Hope Central Watts in a Thanksgiving Community Dinner Outreach on Friday November 20th from 5-8pm
The address is: 1464 E 109th St. LA. They need volunteers to help serve dinner.
Go to ccsouthbay.org.
PRAY FOR:
Kings Harbor Church and St Andrews Presbyterian will be serving a Thanksgiving meal to those who may not otherwise have a Thanksgiving in Redondo Beach on November 25 @ 2:00pm at St Andrews on Avenue D and PCH.
Many other churches are doing or have done events similar to these. Pray for salvation to take place this Thanksgiving in many lives throughout our nation.
Questions/Comments? Go to: shellynotw@gmail.com.