Have you ever waited at a restaurant, while your table was prepared? On certain days in restaurants there are busy crowds and available tables are few. As soon as one party finishes a meal the bus boy or waiter quickly prepares a table for the next guest. They rake off crumbs, wipe tables free of debris and stains, clean seats and rearrange the notions on the table. When all is ready, then you are ushered to your seat. While you wait, portions of the meal are served, such as bread and butter, water and other nicetiesnecessities. Very few patrons would dine at a restaurant that would attempt to serve them at an unprepared table. On some rare occasions, some patrons who were impatient about waiting have been known to help waiters prepare tables to speed up the process, but even then the table is prepared for diners before the meal is served.

   Professional waiters, now called servers, earn a living by insuring that patrons at restaurants are pampered. They work hard at the trade because most parts of the restaurant industry only pay a basic wage of 2.25 an hour to waiters. They earn their money through the generosity of their patrons. Tips make up the bulk of their pay, which for some gets as high as 200 a day. To earn that tip, waiters learn to pamper guests. Among the ways that guests are pampered is the waiters ability to secure them a well prepared table, clean, convenient and quiet. Food seems to taste better when served on a well prepared table.

   If we all enjoy the prospect of dining at a well prepared table, we should enjoy the table that God has prepared for those who believe and trust in him. Its more than a table of pork chops, collared greens, black eyed peas and okra. Its a table with more than food stuffs. The table that God has prepared for those who believe in him is a table of blessings, prepared in heavens kitchen daily and served by angelic waiters who only expect a 10 percent tip.

   As Christians, we thank God for his blessings every day. We graciously sit down to sip with him and share the blessings we have received. He prepares a table for us and invites us to share our blessings with anyone who is willing to listen and hear. We expect great things when we dine at a table prepared by the Lord because 1 Corinthians 2:9 says, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

   Today, go forward with a smile. You can't imagine what God has in store for you!