BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

'Fine-Dining Experience' Real foodies don't eat for convenience's sake; they eat for experience. When I travel, I do a little research to fi nd out where the top restaurants are in the area. I endeavor to eat pretty healthy, so when I'm on the road, I like to look for farm-to-table restaurants that serve locally grown produce and natural meats. The food tastes so much better to me because it comes straight from farms nearby and hasn't been sitting on grocery store shelves for months. And on top of that, I get excited about the dinner experience. With the Lord, you will always have the "fi ne-dining experience." Remember that old song we used to sing in church, and the line that goes, "He brought me to His banqueting table, and His banner over me is love"? That line comes from Song of Solomon 2:4. The GOD'S WORD Translation says, "He leads me into a banquet room and looks at me with love." Before you even approach His table, you just believe that He loves you.If you are full of condemnation, you will not come. If you are always conscious of your sin and mindful of insecurities, you will not come. If you think you don't measure up or that you've messed up too big, you'll stay at the kiddie table and refuse to accept His invitation. It takes courage to come. It takes faith to believe that you have a seat at the table—that you have something to bring to the table, and that you are always welcome at the table. Don't Show Up Empty-Handed As you open the door to His banqueting room, you have to see Jesus with His arms open wide to you and a smile on His face. If you've missed it, repent, cry out for mercy, and then move on and take your seat. Don't miss out on the main course! He will never hang your sin over your head: His banner over you is love. The Message translation of Song of Solomon 2:4 reads, "All I want is to sit in his shade, to taste and savor his delicious love. He took me home with him for a festive meal, but his eyes feasted on me!" Oftentimes, when I've been invited to a dinner party, I ask the host, "Is there anything I can bring?" I never want to show up empty-handed. Neither do I want to show up empty-handed when I take my seat at the Lord's table. The two things I can bring are my heart and my faith. Hebrews 10:22 says, "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith." There are two things we need when we come into His presence: a heart that genuinely loves Him, and faith that is fully sure of Him. Jesus is the Master Chef. He has spent all His time in the kitchen preparing the perfect meal for you. In fact, He slaved over it: took stripes just for you, went to the Cross just for you, laid down His life just for you. He did all the work! Now He rings the dinner bell and shouts, "IT IS FINISHED! COME AND GET IT!" Now, there sits before you a dish full of healing, a pitcher of joy, a plate of peace, a platter of protection and prosperity. Will you come and eat?Grace sets the table. Faith eats! I have found that nothing on earth satisfi es my soul like a meal with Jesus. He is the only One who can completely satisfy and still leave me hungry for more. Psalm 107:9, New International Version, says, "For he satisfi es the thirsty and fi lls the hungry with good things." Although the table has been set with plenty on it to appease your appetite, God will never force you to eat. In His grace, He will bring you to His banqueting table, but you still have to eat by faith. It is easier said 2 2 : B V O V B V O V : 2 2 i Sarah Pearsons and her husband, Jeremy, are founders of Pearsons Ministries International and pastors of Legacy Church in Green Mountain Falls, Colo. For more information, visit them online at pearsonsministries.com or legacychurch.family. Watch Jeremy & Sarah on Sun. 2:30 a.m. | 8:30 a.m. Wed. 11:30 p.m. | 3 p.m. Thu. 8:30 a.m. | Sat. 4:30 p.m. ET Watch C H A N N E L Sarah on Sun. 2:30 a.m. | 8:30 a.m. C H A N N E L Listening to teaching that doesn't bring you abundant life is like taking in empty calories." "

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