My Dining Room Table

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My dining room table is a collecting spot, a study place, and a mentoring area.  It is used for family conversations, sorting notes, having coffee with friends, and yes, even for the rare times we want to eat there.  Today it has many jars of canned tomato juice and green beans waiting to be put away, a plastic container that is ready to be returned to a sweet friend who gifted us with some yummy Cinnamon Apple Coffee Cake, and a glass carafe from the coffee maker that ‘died’ and I don’t know what I’m going to do with it.  What’s on yours?

In Psalm 23 we are told that God prepares a table for us.  David was also very specific about where this table was placed – – in the presence of our enemies.  What does that mean?  Why, in the midst of a battle, would someone do that?

psalm-23God prepares the table for me.  While I’m watching and waiting.  He sets out the gleaming silver, the shining glass, the sparkling crystal.  He provides the absolute best for me while my enemies are watching, their eyes popping out of their heads, and their mouths watering.  The battle is still going on around me and He serves a sumptuous meal, complete with my favorite dessert.  Why?  Because he wants them (my enemies) to see how He provides for me.

My enemies, your enemies are real.  Perhaps it is the stress of your job…Perhaps you have experienced the meanness of one you thought was a friend… Perhaps someone has spread some vicious, untrue gossip about you…

God is calling you to the table.  While there He will serve you in the way only He can.  He is a compassionate listener and will delight in having coffee with you.  He knows your favorites and will serve you with love and grace.  His merciful meatloaf is better than anyone else’s.  He dishes up a forgiveness fruit compote that will ‘knock your socks off’. The water in your cup is full of life and never goes dry.

I can hardly wait for Him to seat me.  How about you?

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

 

 

20 thoughts on “My Dining Room Table”

  2. I love the picture you have painted for me to fully grasp God going before me. It brings total peace and comfort. Thanks so much for being a part of Fresh Market Friday….so honored!

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  3. The table that God sets before us in the presence of our enemies speaks so much of this power and abundance. And meatloaf in heaven……YES!!!! It’s one of my favorite foods, so i’m sure hoping it is there. Thank you, Marie, for joining us at The Loft this week. Sweet blessings to you.

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    • My pleasure, Leah. Of course there will be meatloaf in heaven. I keep telling my husband that there’s more to Jesus than fish and chips. He saves the good stuff for the Prodigals and that’s us. So there will definitely be the fatted calf.

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  4. thanks, marie – I need to remember the merciful meatloaf phrase – thinking some may not think it merciful – haha – please let me know your thoughts on my book. (if you get a chance – I know we’re all busy with our tables!)

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  5. Marie, what a wonderful picture! Yes, He will prepare the best table for us. 🙂 Blessings to you! I’m your neighbor at #FreshMarketFriday.

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  6. Louis and I once had a lovely dinning room set. My brother and sister-in-law had my parents very first dinning room set then he asked if they could buy ours because theirs was falling apart because it was getting old and the back off the chairs were made of whicker. So we did sell it to them. Sometimes I wish we had kept it.  Linda 

    Linda Arceri https://about.me/linda.arceri

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    • Thank you! The Twenty Third Psalm is one of the first scriptures I memorized as a child. Since then I’ve discovered so much about it. Glad it spoke to you!

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  9. Great post – I love a hearty heart-filled table, mess and all (you may like my book: Come to My Table: God’s Hospitality and Yours) – and I love a great meatloaf – especially a merciful meatloaf! Thanks for this.

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    • Thank you! My dining room table is one of my favorite places. I checked out your book and it will be in my next order. Blessings to you and yours!

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  10. Great post! I had really not thought that much about WHY He spreads a table in the presence of our enemies, but your line really makes me think, “Because he wants them (my enemies) to see how He provides for me.” Wow!

    Thanks for sharing at The Loft today!

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    • Hi, Jerralea! I’m delighted that this post encouraged you. God cares so much and I, too, love it that he wants our enemies to see that He is there for us, all the time. Blessings to you and yours!

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  11. Love this Psalm and I love this picture of sitting at a table with the Lord while in the presence of our enemies!
    Great word, Marie!

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