Enjoy meals together!

"The Prayer Before the Meal" 1660 by Jan Steen

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith. Proverbs 15:17

Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. Eccl. 9:7

... it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour Eccl. 5:18

Amazing how the condition of one's heart plays a role at the dinner table. Even the Bible mentions how mealtime can be effected by situations. It suggests that eating and happiness should go together.

Mealtime is a great time to connect. It is good to have meals together as a family. When you don't have a family to enjoy dinner with, share mealtimes with friends from time to time. One can arrange turns in hosting the dinner. Invite a lonely soul for dinner, and you both will be blessed.

The best of meals loses its attraction if there is friction between the family members. People don't feel like eating when they are upset. Really it doesn't do them any good, since their stomach is all in knots. Stress and a bad mood destroys the appetite. So this should be avoided at all, if we want to get nutrition from a meal.

We have always considered mealtimes another opportunity to have the whole family together, although we had no heavy conversation going on at the dinner table. Mealtimes with friends can be enjoyable and is a good opportunity for fellowship.

It is also true that food gets better digested when consumed in a happy and peaceful environment.

I'm glad we had most of the meals together with our 4 children. It was a delight to cook for them because they loved everything I prepared.
With this we may learn that the one who prepares the meals gets extra blessed by having the family together at mealtimes while all enjoyed the food and fellowship.

God is good and He is even involved at the dinner table!

The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek Him: your heart shall live for ever. Psalm 22:26

Next time around, think of some ideas to make mealtime more enjoyable for all who take part at the dinner table, even more so since the Lord has provided.

In the service of the Kingdom of God.

Dr. Trudy Veerman

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Why is change needed?

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The story of the eagle is a great analogy. It is a myth and metaphor intended to encourage and strengthen people.

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The eagle can have a long life-span, up to 70 years.

But to reach this age, the eagle must make a hard decision in its 40st year.

Its long and flexible talons can no longer grab prey which serves as food.

Its long and sharp beak becomes bent.

Its old-aged and heavy wings, due to their thick feathers, become stuck to its chest and make it difficult to fly.

Then, the eagle is left with only two options: to die or go through a painful process of change. which lasts 150 days.

The process requires that the eagle flies to a mountain top and sit on its nest.

There the eagle knocks its beak against a rock until it plucks it out.
After plucking it out, the eagle will wait for a new beak to grow back and then it will pluck out its talons.

When its new talons grow back, the eagle starts plucking its old-aged feathers.

And after five months, the eagle takes its famous flight of rebirth and lives for... 30 more years.

Author unknown.

Comments:

Now you know why change is needed... physical survival!

Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings... Jeremiah 35:15

There is a spiritual significance to this story.

The severity of this needed change, makes me think of Christians who start out strong in faith and conviction.

Over the years they have accumulated burdens of old feathers. Their spiritual tools (beak and talons) have become useless in catching the "fresh food" of God's word and digest it. Also, these same inadequate tools have paralized the individual and made him incapable of fighting the enemy of the soul.

They have allowed themselves to become spiritually run down; taking in that which was not of God, but of the carnal mind and this world.

Come, and let us return unto the LORD Hosea 6:1

Now what?.... are the such willing to make a change or rather give up and die? Will they shake off their heavy burdens and give these to God, or will they crumble under its weight. They need to make a fast decision and call upon God before darkness will take over completely. A drastic change is needed, will they heed to the voice of the Lord?

But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. Ezekiel 33:5b

Now you know why change is needed... spiritual survival!

And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Joel 2:13

In the service of the Master,

Dr. Trudy Veerman

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