"This Side Of The Table"...
Have you ever thought of the importance of tables in our lives? You eat at them, maybe study at them, have family pictures (your heritage) on them and so much more. Tables were important in the Bible too. Psalms 128:3 "Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house your children like olive plants ALL AROUND YOUR TABLE." She shared that precious family time is usually spent around the table which is the very heart of your home. In Matthew 26:7 Mary anointed Jesus as he sat at the TABLE. The very act of her pouring the oil over Jesus is significant, but when she did it she also wiped His feet with her hair. The act of her hair hanging down meant come to me my lover...her Lord! Jesus calls us to come to the table to be with Him (as Mary did) daily for intimacy and to be transparent before Him, like the alabaster jar that held the oil Mary anointed Jesus with. Alabaster is almost transparent.
The other table that most everyone thinks of (maybe you did too at the start of this) is the table that served for the Last Supper. Here's some very interesting facts about that table. The tables then were only 2 cubits (36 inches) tall, so everyone sat on the floor. Also everyone only sat on one long side and the two ends of the table. Think about the picture of the Last Supper...where is everyone sitting? Do you know why??? That is because the other long side is where they were served from. Also, the three sides of the table may represent: the trinity....Interesting facts for you the next time you are thinking about the Last Supper. Anyway, back to where I was......When people would serve their guests at the tables in those times, they would give EVERYTHING they had...not just food, but they gave of themselves too. And because they didn't have chairs, they reclined, relaxed, leaned on each other, even layed down. They were NEVER in a rush for anything, they just spent the time being together, being intimate with one another. Jesus invites us to meet him daily at the table of our hearts and share this same type of intimacy and fellowship with Him. That is why the heart of your home is at the table!
Psalms 23:5-"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over." Our speaker translated this to what it means in Hebrew: I will lavish hospitality on you; you will lack nothing and I will do it all before your enemies. I will provide ALL things to you both life and Godliness. I will provide ALL things to you both body and soul. I will be your bountiful benefactor.
He is preparing fresh manna for you daily if you will come to the table and be with Him. Go to the table, lean on Him, be intimate with Him and ask him, "What Lord are you going to serve me today on the long side of the table?" If you choose to sit with Him he will give you:provision, protection, confidence, renewal, grace, fellowship, hope, faith and the promise to sit at His table for eternity.
I hope you enjoyed learning more about this side of the table....will you ever think about tables in the same way?? I hope not, cause what she shared was REALLY good!
After this breakout session, we all headed back in for the closing words by Margaret...here's a couple things she shared with us. Exodus 3:1-4...what if Moses would have walked away from that burning bush? How would things have been different? We must listen to God's voice and if he is speaking do what he says. Too many times we choose to think that what he is thinking might just be a bit crazy, so we don't do it....be obedient to His voice.
Psalm 27:4--God's beauty is captivating. Be drawn into His beauty and seek him, dwell with him daily. God invites us to fix our eyes on Him, and not be swayed by the trends and things of this world. The final thing she asked us was: "What do you love about Jesus?"
So as you can see...there are great things in Lubbock!!
The conference was really good, and the van ride was EXTREMELY long, but it was soooo much fun. We stopped in Brownwood, both going and coming back, for a great meal, and we took the time for a photo op while we were on the way home!!
The van ride was tons of fun...I mean a little over 6 hours (each way) in a van ...what are you gonna do but entertain yourselves. We shared funny stories, laughed (a lot), had Missa sing us such "beautiful" songs (HAHAHA.....it was very humorous singing), took lots of crazy pictures, received up-to-the minute text message score updates of the UT/Tech game all the way home, and even had someone breakdance in the Humphrey Pete's parking lot (that's where we had dinner on the way home)....so all in all it was a FANTASTIC trip, lots of fun, learning and laughter!!!
May you have a great day!
Jessica
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