By Dr. Debbie McFarland
The invitation came 3 weeks ago, embossed in brilliant gold and drenched of some fragrance that stimulated memories from long ago but Sarah just couldn’t grasp. Just holding the paper made her feel wanted and loved – strange but oh so welcome. It was almost like she could hear singing coming from the envelop from a song her dad sweetly sang her to sleep as a little girl. Sitting on her back porch she pondered how this envelop was delivered. In the parking lot of Wal-Mart this beautiful woman approached her. She was wearing a flowing dress with colors she had never seen before. Her voice flowed as a waterfall, dripping with pure honey as she spoke Sarah’s name. Looking fully in her eyes there was in intensity and passion that instantly touched her soul. The women only said a few words, “The King eagerly awaits for your presence” as she handed Sarah the envelop. When Sarah looked at what was in her hand, the woman disappeared as if into thin air.
The weeks flew by quickly as Sarah went about tending to her horses, caring for her 2 year old very energetic Olivia Marie and enjoying the time she got to spend with her husband of 4 years, Tim. All and all she have very little complaints but once in awhile she would find herself pouring over the one regret in her life. When she was pregnant with Olivia she had been pursuing a degree in worship ministry. From the time she was just able to walk Sarah had a dream to be a worship leader but she always knew in her heart that one day she wanted to be a singer/songwriter and travel the world with the songs in her heart. Well, she did have a wonderful life and she is able to be on the worship team so she settles for what she does have, which is pretty good.
The sound of the dishwasher gently swooshing and the dryer tossing the clothes does nothing eases her nerves. The stress of the day settling down heavy on her shoulders Sarah just starts to weep. “Everything in my life is just fine”, she thinks, “so why am I so unsettled?” The invitation catches her eyes.
Incredibly simple yet powerful, one sentence:
You are invited to the banquet table of the King
Funny, there is no time, no address, no date. Just an invitation. Geez, Sarah thinks, what is up with this?
“God!” she cries out, “I don’t know what is wrong with me! I have everything I need but feel so unsettled! What is wrong with me? I haven’t felt your presence in a long time, I hope you can even hear me now. I don’t know what I am supposed to be doing. Shouldn’t I just be happy with what I have? God, can you hear me? “
“That smell, there is that smell again” said Sarah as she was suddenly startled by the appearance of the woman from Wal-Mart. It may be her imagination but Sarah thinks she is even more beautiful that the first visit. Tears in her eyes, sweaty and tired her body just goes limp. All of the stress that must have been holding her up was gone. Her mind was clear, the first time in years. The woman touched her hand and guided her up out of her chair, almost as if she floated and took her to as if through a cloud to banquet room. She took Sarah right up to a man that was instantly recognizable as Jesus.
Jesus took her hand and walked her over to this table. This room was bigger than any room she had ever seen, 10 times bigger than the high school gym. There were jewels in the walls of every color imaginable. The carpet was alive, like fresh green springtime grass and the wildflowers of the meadow. The light was so intense yet there was no lamps or fixtures anywhere to be seen. The aroma of food was overwhelming and she was suddenly aware of a hunger she had never known, a powerful hunger that consumed her soul.
“Sit and eat” says Jesus. You can have anything and everything you want. This banquet was made especially for you. Every morsel of food you eat represents my provision for you for some aspect of your life. Some dishes represent your current financial needs, some are your physical needs, some are for the health and safety of your daughter and your husband. Over here, he points, is your dreams and those things that only you and I know about and some you can’t even begin to imagine. You can not eat too much.
“Before you eat, however I want to show you what you have eaten so far in your life.” With this table the size of 3 football fields long in front of her, Jesus opens His hand and shows her a few grains. “This is all you have consumed your entire life Sarah, this little bit. This table has been set before you since the day you were born. This is YOUR table, no one else’s. What you chose to eat is up to you and only you.”
“I have appeared to you many times in your life, through worship, through whispering in your ear, through songs, through Olivia in her play and dancing and every time you just take a nibble. Sarah, I love you so much I want to you to see what is laid before you. This food is me. Sarah, please don’t nibble me anymore. Taste me and see that I am good. I am the answer for your every need. “ Jesus is crying and holding Sarah close to His breast. “Sarah, I made you beautiful. I made you to raise Olivia as she has a destiny that will change your city beyond belief. I made you to be the support for Tim that he needs. I made you for your dreams for I gave you those dreams. But you just nibble. You get a taste and love it but then stop. Don’t stop, please.”
Jesus stops talking and sits her at the table.
Amazing, all of her favorite foods were all there. Famished she abandons all thought of politeness and grabs food with both hands. The first bite tasted like love, oh….whew, does this taste wonderful. The next bite tasted like peace as it filled her veins. All muscles relaxed and her heart beat had actually changed its rhythm, now sounding more like a song. Confidence was there guarding her as she had partaken of it’s fragrant morsels. It seemed that she had eaten more than she could hold and yet the hunger wasn’t even close to being satisfied. Way over on the other side of the room there was a glowing bright cake – chocolate (OF COURSE). “Jesus, what is that cake?” “Go, my child, and partake. You tell me”. By now Sarah has confidence, love, peace, joy, encouragement, hope and favor. She skipped, danced and sang her way over to the cake. When she got to it she felt dwarfed just by it’s size. Chocolate flowed out of this cake from every crevice, glowing with life. Crying and falling to her knees she instantly knew what this cake was. Her dream. It was her dream of being a singer/songwriter. She could see nations in the layers, the souls of many countries, the crowns of many kings.
“Jesus, how can I even start to eat this cake? It is too big for me. I am just a homemaker. I didn’t finish school. I am nothing in the worship community. “
“The cake has everything you will ever need. The cake will take work to eat. You start with the first bite and don’t stop for the rest of your life. “
Sarah woke up in her kitchen with chocolate frosting on her lips, in her hair and all over her hands.
“Tim, wake up, I have to tell you something! I am going back to school.” | 
