July 3, 2025 • 33 mins
Episode 29: Jesus at the Table – Connection, Healing & True Nourishment
✨ Part 6 of the Biblical Food Series
What if mealtime wasn’t just a daily task… but a holy invitation?
In this powerful finale of the Biblical Food Design series, we pull up a seat at the most sacred table in history—where Jesus ate, taught, healed, and revealed the Kingdom through food. From beachside breakfasts to the promised feast in heaven, this episode unpacks how Jesus used meals to offer connection, healing, and deep spiritual nourishment.
But we’re not stopping there. You’ll also discover how God designed your table—yes, even the one covered in crumbs and toddler chaos—to be a place of sacred joy and Kingdom legacy. We’ll explore the unique way food draws our kids to us, just as hunger draws us to God, and how moms can begin modeling heaven’s food culture in simple, beautiful ways.
If you’ve ever wondered what it really means to “eat with Jesus”… this episode is for you.
💡 Plus, hear about what’s coming next: a practical series on helping your kids eat more veggies (without the drama!). Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss a single bite.
Find the Jewish food prayers here.
SHOW SOME LOVE: If this episode encouraged you, I’d love for you to leave a quick rating and review here. Your words brighten my day and also help more mamas discover the hope, healing, and joy they deserve.
WORK WITH ME TO RESTORE YOUR ENERGY + DISCOVER YOUR DESIGN FOR HEALTH AS A BUSY MAMA: Option 1) Join the Live Healthy, Mama coaching program today! Find all the details here.
Option 2) Work 1:1 with me to reach your wellness goals - without the overwhelm -and get total clarity on living the healthy and energetic life you were created for. Get the details here.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Jerusha (00:01):
Welcome to Tired Mommy Revival.
Hey mama.
Are you running on coffee fumes,feeling like brain fog, fatigue
and anxiety, or running the show?
Do you wake up dreading the dayahead already overwhelmed by the
endless to-do list, and unsurehow you'll make it through.
Do you long for the energyto enjoy motherhood?
(00:23):
And care for yourself, but feelstuck and unsure where to start.
Let me remind you ofsomething life changing.
You were created for more, moreenergy, more clarity, more joy.
Hi, I'm Jerusha, certifiedHolistic Wellness Coach.
Wife and mom to two wild boysand one baby girl in heaven.
(00:46):
I know the exhaustion you'refeeling because I've been there
barely making it through the day.
Relying on coffee and chocolate tosurvive and wondering why nothing
I tried ever made me feel better.
Then God stepped in andrevealed a powerful truth.
A woman's body is beautifullyand uniquely designed to thrive.
(01:07):
When we align with how God createdus, we can boost our energy bust
through fatigue and step into thevibrant, joy filled life he has for us.
Mama.
I'm living proof thatit's possible these days.
I wake up, refreshed, nourished my bodywith intention and navigate the chaos
of motherhood with patience and peace.
(01:28):
Most days, and I wannahelp you do the same.
If you're ready to swap exhaustion forenergy, brain fog for clarity and guilt
for grace, you are in the right place.
Each week we'll dive into practicalstrategies, faith-filled truths,
and empowering tools to renew yourhealth, body, soul, and spirit.
(01:48):
Are you ready for this?
Let's do it, mama.
This is the final episode in ourBiblical food design series, and I have
to tell you, this one might just be themost personal and powerful of them all
because today we're pulling up a chairto the most sacred table in history.
(02:12):
The one where Jesus sits, not justmetaphorically, but literally.
From his first miracle at a wedding feast,to his final moments before the cross at
a supper table, from post-resurrectionbreakfast on the beach to the
promised marriage supper of the lamb.
Jesus has always used food to tella deeper story, one of connection
(02:37):
of healing, of prophecy, and ofpreparation for the feast to come.
This episode isn't just about history.
It's about heaven, my friends.
And it's about your kitchen too.
So grab your coffee, or fold the laundry,or sneak out to the garden while the
(02:58):
kids are occupied, and let's talk aboutwhat it really means to eat with Jesus.
When you think of Jesus's ministry, youmight picture him preaching to crowds,
healing the sick, or walking on water.
But if you look closely, much of his mostimpactful ministry happened at the table.
(03:19):
He ate with tax collectors likeMatthew in Luke 5, where the table
became a place of grace and welcome.
He dined with Zacchaeus turninga sinner's home into holy ground.
He sat with Mary, Martha andLazarus, not rushing in and
out, but lingering over meals.
(03:40):
Jesus didn't just use food to feed people.
He used food to connect with them,to draw near, to extend belonging,
to restore dignity, to say, "youare seen and you are welcome here."
And moms.
Isn't that what we do too?
From the moment our babies areborn, food draws them to us.
(04:04):
They reach for us when they're hungry,not just for nourishment, but for
comfort, safety, and connection.
As toddlers, even when they don'twant what you made for them, they
still want what you are eating.
You could be sneaking kale in the pantryand they'll still ask, "can I have some?"
Even as they grow older,that hunger continues.
(04:26):
What's for dinner mom?
When are you going to the grocery store?
Food is their connection pointto us, and that's not random.
That's design.
God made hunger to draw us near, and hegave us mothers an opportunity to reflect
his heart every time we fill a plate.
But meal times with Jesusweren't just about connection.
(04:48):
They were also about healing.
In John 6, he feeds 5,000 peoplewith five loaves and two fish, and
then declares I am the Bread of Life.
That miracle wasn't just provision.
It was a signpost, a message, a prophecy.
I am the One who satisfiesyou, body, soul, and spirit.
(05:14):
In Luke 22, he picks up bread andwine at the Passover table and says,
"this is my body broken for you.This is my blood poured out for you".
A regular meal transformedinto a holy sacrament.
And in that moment, God redeemedsomething because in the Garden of Eden
(05:37):
it was a fruit that was the source ofthe demise, the sin of humankind, and
yet at the Passover meal, it is a food,the bread that symbolizes the Bread
of Life as it is broken, to remindus of what Christ did for us on the
cross of what was about to happen.
(05:57):
And so God redeemed the brokennessthat food brought into our life by
redeeming it through the food of bread.
That is powerful.
If God can redeem even those smalldetails, let me tell you my friend,
he is in the process of redeemingand healing everything for you.
(06:18):
Then we find in John 21 after Peterdenies him three times, Jesus comes back
and makes him breakfast on the beach.
There's no sermon, there's no rebuke,just grilled fish, gentle conversation
and restoration through forgiveness.
In the place of Peter's brokennessover what he did, the denying Christ
(06:44):
three times after he never thoughthimself possible of such a thing.
Jesus comes to redeem himand he does it over a meal.
Meals weren't just physical with Jesus.
They were deeply prophetic.
They healed hearts.
They revealed who he was, andthey brought people back to life.
(07:09):
Have you ever considered that Jesuswants to heal you through food?
Not through shame.
Not through restriction.
Not through another round of fad dieting.
But through nourishment, throughgratitude, through eating in rhythm with
how God made you, through letting go ofguilt and letting him into the kitchen.
(07:34):
What if every meal becamea sacred invitation to say,
"Jesus, feed me body and soul".
Everywhere Jesus went, he wasalso modeling rest and presence.
One of the most underrated qualities ofJesus was his ability to be fully present.
(07:54):
He didn't rush through meals.
Even on the night of his betrayal, whenthe clock was literally ticking down
to the cross, he reclined at the table.
He washed feet.
He shared wine.
He spoke peace over his friends.
He lingered in that place.
He chose presence, not productivity.
(08:17):
Food wasn't just something to get through,it was something to be present for.
And for us mamas, we may not be ableto linger for an hour long meal every
day, but what would it look like tobring presents into your kitchen?
Even just once a week, light acandle, put on some worship music,
(08:40):
make a meal that feels special.
Speak a blessing over yourkids as you plate their food.
It's not about perfection.
It's simply about intention.
So let's pause here a minute.
I want you to ask yourself,am I rushing through meals or
receiving them with gratitude?
(09:02):
Do I view food as a ministry, or simplyjust a task to get through in the day?
Where am I turning to foodinstead of turning to God?
And what would it actuallylook like to eat with Jesus?
You see, food has always been amirror, a daily, tangible reminder
(09:24):
of our need in his provision.
From Eden to now, every biteis an invitation to trust,
to connect, to draw near.
And we have seen the theme of thatacross the entire Old Testament,
from the Garden to the Wilderness,to the Promised Land, and even
(09:46):
following them into exile in Babylon.
"Trust Me. Connect with Me. Drawnear to Me, even through your food."
The truth is, is that you'restill invited to the table.
Let's lift our eyes for a moment fromour kitchen tables to the Kingdom
(10:07):
table, because scripture doesn't justtell us about meals Jesus had on earth.
It points forward to a feastone that's still to come.
Revelation 19 calls it the MarriageSupper of the Lamb, the wedding banquet
between Christ and his bride, which is us.
(10:27):
Isaiah 25 says, "God will prepare a feastof rich food, the best meats, aged wine".
So this isn't stale crackersand grape juice, but abundant
mouthwatering, celebratory food.
Jesus says in Matthew 26:29 thathe's awaiting to drink of the vine
(10:48):
with us in his father's kingdom.
He's saving his seatat the table, for you.
And he's waiting, he's abstainingfrom good things, even now, so that
he can enjoy them with us later.
It is also because when he descendedinto heaven from earth, he stepped
(11:09):
into the position of priest.
And while he's operating as priest,he's not drinking of the wine.
But when he comes back to set uphis kingdom, he will be the king.
And when he steps into the place ofKing, you better believe that he's
going to be ready to throw a partyand he's going to be asking who
(11:31):
is willing to come to the banquet?
Luke 12:37 even tells us thatwhen he returns, he'll dress
himself to serve and wait on us.
I don't know if you have watched TheChosen season five, but if you don't
know what I'm talking about, The Chosenis a TV show about God choosing his
(11:54):
disciples and his ministry here on Earth.
It's incredible and I highlyrecommend you go watch it.
It's free on Amazon Prime.
But they have this amazing scenewhere Jesus comes at the Passover
meal, he comes to wash his disciplesfeet, and they are appalled.
They are uncomfortable.
(12:16):
They are shocked.
And many of them are even tryingto tell Jesus, "no, no, no, no.
I will not let you clean the filthoff my feet from the streets".
Because that was a lowly servant's job.
And yet Jesus came to wash theirfeet and they are overwhelmed.
(12:37):
And that moment.
I can only imagine the things that theywere feeling, the maybe gratitude, but
also just the deep uncomfort from feelinglike "we are the ones that should be
serving you and not the other way around".
But in Luke, it's telling us that he'lldress himself to serve and wait on us.
(13:00):
Even at the end of time, he'sthere as a servant to wait on us,
as well as providing the feast.
And that just seems so backwards, butit's so beautiful at the same time.
He's saying, "I am waiting topartake of the wine. Until we can
have it together in that celebrationat the end of time together when
(13:26):
we are in my kingdom together".
And so if you've ever struggled withcravings that it feel like they're
ruling your life, know, be encouragedthat it's okay to say no to things in
this earth because Jesus is saying noto things that he enjoyed, even now, so
that he can enjoy them with us later.
(13:47):
And I can say, Lord, I'm gonna put thisoff aside, even though I crave it, even
though I desire it, even though I feellike it gives me comfort in the moment.
I can set this aside just asyou have set food aside so
that I can keep my eyes on you.
And I know that there's a feast to comewhere we will enjoy these things together.
(14:09):
Without the guilt, without the restraint.
In full joy and celebration andabundance, like you intended.
But all of these scriptures are pointingto a design that says there's a table
waiting at the end of time for us.
(14:30):
I don't know about you, but Igrew up with this expectation
that there was no food in heaven.
I didn't believe that there was goingto be any food in heaven, and honestly,
it caused me to give myself permissionto give into cravings now, because I had
this expectation that there was no goodthing to eat in the presence of God.
(14:53):
Because we would "never hunger again".
But just because God does awaywith world hunger doesn't mean
that he doesn't give us good food.
The biblical argument is that Jesus'reference to food is only symbolic
and there's no literal table.
There's no literal food being provided.
(15:14):
It's all symbolic of whathe is providing spiritually.
But I just simply don'tbelieve that that's true.
The more that God has showedme on this topic, the more I
wholeheartedly believe that thereis real tangible food in heaven.
Yes, some of the Bible is symbolic, butthere are also literal things that are
(15:38):
said in the Bible too, and I don't believethat we should necessarily be quick to
jump and say, oh, that's only symbolic.
Why would Jesus go through the effortof telling us what foods we were going
to have in heaven like meat and agedwine if he did not literally mean that?
But there is evidence about theend times in Ezekiel 47, verse 10.
(16:03):
It says, "it shall be that fishermenwill stand by it", meaning the river of
Living Water, "from En Gedi to En Eglaim.
They will be places forspreading their nets.
Their fish will be of the same kind asthe fish of the Great Sea, exceedingly
many". And then we jump down to verse12, and it says, "along the bank of
(16:25):
the river on this side, and that willgrow all kinds of trees used for food.
Their leaves will not witherand their fruit will not fail."
That means that there's goingto be fruit every single month.
There's no seasons of fruitand seasons of no fruit.
These trees produce continually.
"They will bear fruit every monthbecause their water flows from
(16:47):
the sanctuary. Their fruit willbe for food and their leaves for
medicine." Okay, so that's in Ezekiel.
Ezekiel was a prophet during the time ofDaniel when they were exiled in Babylon.
Ezekiel was also a prophet thattestified of the end times, just
like some of Daniel does as well.
(17:08):
But we're gonna jump ahead toRevelation where we see, not a
reference to Ezekiel, but we seeJohn writing what the angel revealed
to him for the Book of Revelation.
In Revelation 22, second part of verse2, it says, "the Tree of life, which
bore 12 fruits, each tree yielding itsfruit every month. The leaves of the tree
(17:34):
were for the healing of the nations".
And then in verse 14 it says, "blessed arethose who do his commandments, that they
may have the right to the Tree of Life".
God is giving us an expectation.
He said, there will be fruitand it will be for food.
I'm not sure how muchclearer that could get.
To say that there will not be food inheaven just sounds like something that
(17:58):
a stuffy Pharisee would say to me.
But the the biblical validity ofwhether there will be food in heaven,
or not, is not what's most important.
The most important thing that weshould take away from this is that we
should expect good things in heaven.
And I believe that the God who walkedwith Adam and Eve in the Garden, and the
(18:23):
God who sent his son to Earth and whodirected his every steps, most of which
was found over a table, and the God whois telling us, who's calling us forward
into a feast of celebratory expectation.
(18:43):
I believe that's a God who wants tosit at a table with us in more ways
than one, for more reasons than one.
There's a prophecy that says the fruitwill be for food, and he's also talking
about people fishing from the river.
I mean, just think about that.
(19:04):
If you've ever eaten fruit fromthe grocery store and then compared
it to fruit freshly picked offa tree, you know the difference?
Grocery store fruit cannot compare.
But tree ripened fruit?
Sweet bursting full of flavor.
(19:24):
It's alive in a way, thestore version just isn't.
Now imagine that fruit in thekingdom of God, fruit nourished
by the River of Life itself.
Fruit that never spoils, and it's foodthat's not just clean but glorious.
Mama, I want you to realize thatyou may not even actually know your
(19:50):
favorite food yet, because you haveyet to taste of the fruit of heaven.
So what does this all mean for us today?
Throughout this series so far, I feltlike God's heart for us as women was to
help us heal our relationship with food.
(20:11):
To see food in light of God'spure and beautiful design for us.
To escape the world's way of viewingand treating food and see it through
God's ultimate plan and design for us.
And I believe that that is a sort ofhealing that we can only find from
(20:32):
the roots of the Bible and through Godteaching us his perspective on food.
I believe that he's teachingus about his food culture.
In this episode, if you're wonderingwhy it's coming out later than usual,
I am currently recording at 3:00PM today, and usually this would
(20:52):
come out at midnight last night.
But it's because this episodewas so rich in detail.
There were so many things that cameup in my notes that I literally could
not fit into this episode withouttotally overwhelming you and I am
taking so many notes that I feel likewill be useful, that God will bring
full circle eventually, and I willuse them in an even deeper capacity.
(21:16):
But I felt God showing me thatsomething was shifting in this episode.
And I said, God, what is your heartfor us in this information now?
And he said, "I want you to bringmy food culture into your homes".
That would be God's heart forus in this generation to redeem
(21:40):
his food culture in our homes.
Not the food culture of the world,but his design and purpose in even the
small and mundane ways that we show up.
As moms, we live in a constantrhythm of feeding our people.
Sometimes it feels mundane,sometimes frustrating.
(22:02):
Sometimes it's chaotic, and it justfeels relentless, like it never stops.
But here's the deeper truth.
God is using you to painta picture of heaven.
Every snack, every spoonful,every what's for dinner, mom?
It's an Echo of Eden.
(22:23):
It's a reminder that your kids see youas their source of nourishment, just
as God invites you to see him as yours.
You're modeling more than a meal plan.
You're modeling a kingdom, and you getto shape your family's food culture,
not just with what's on the plate,but with the atmosphere around it.
(22:46):
We see in the Bible when God is commandingthe Israelites to participate in feasts,
there's always three elements that showup in the structure that he provides
for them to feast in a healthy way.
Those things involve, number one is rest.
Number two is in community.
(23:07):
And number three is in remembrance of God.
The other two overarching themes that wesee in the Bible is that God wants our
food to bring us joy, but he also wantsour food to provide us with healing.
And even if we start to pull in oneof those elements more often to our
(23:31):
eating experiences around the table,we will help create a healthier food
culture in our homes, for our families,and traditions and expectations
that we pass on to our children.
How many times do we eat on the run?
Or in front of the tv, which I knowwe have been guilty of ourselves.
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How many times do we eat alone andnot sit down at the table together
in community, even in our own family?
And how often does gathering around ourfood bring us in remembrance of God?
Communion in church is really the onlytime that we sit down in remembrance
of God with food . But God had sevenappointed times throughout the year
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that he commanded his people to throwa feast and specifically remember him.
And then once a week they also hadthe Sabbath that was used as a symbol
of covenant between them and God, andwas a way that they chose to honor God
by stopping work and remembering him.
And Sabbath meals actually have a ton ofsignificance, even ways of making bread,
(24:50):
the way that they don't just cut thebread, they break it off in remembrance
of how Jesus broke his body for us.
The things like that are celebratedby some of the modern day Jews.
And then they have prayers that arespecific to like every single type
of food that they receive, that theyrecognize that it comes directly
(25:12):
from the hand and provision of God.
And we don't have any of that,and we don't have to go and
do everything that they do.
But in a culture without culture, likewe talked about in the last episode
with Daniel, we could do well to borrowon some of the Jewish culture that so
beautifully depicts and connects withGod in the way that they see food.
(25:37):
I wanna encourage you with somesimple, practical things that you
can start doing today, and don't getdiscouraged if it feels like too much.
Simply think to yourself, okay, I can'tdo this, but what can I do right now?
What can I do?
What's one step that I can take?
Maybe it doesn't happen everyday, but maybe it's once a week.
(26:01):
Or maybe you just make a, a greaterintention on celebratory days, on
holidays to make it feel more likea special event gathered around
the table in remembrance of God.
But some practical ways that you couldstart shaping your family's food culture,
not just with what's on your plate,but what the atmosphere around it is:
(26:23):
You could light a candle and say,"Christ is light" before a meal.
I read that from a book and it was sobeautiful how this family did this,
is that when they lit the candleand the older kids got to light the
candle, which was really special, thelittle kids got to blow it out when
it was over at the end of dinner.
And every time the candle was lit,everybody would say "Christ is light".
(26:46):
And it became such a habit that evenoutside their home, anytime they would
see a candle lit, they immediatelywanted to say, "Christ is light".
It's such a simple but beautiful reminder.
Something else you could do issay one of the Jewish prayers of
thanks specific to the food fromthe vine, the land or the tree.
So the Jewish blessing, ifyou watch the Chosen, you may
(27:10):
have seen this on there too.
It says, the blessing for bread starts"Blessed are you, Lord, our God, ruler
of the universe who brings forth breadfrom the Earth" and each of the prayers
for different foods starts out the sameand then ends a little bit differently.
So the one for wine and grapejuice is "blessed, are you, Lord,
(27:30):
our God ruler of the universe whocreates the fruit of the vine".
And there's also "fruit of thetree", " fruit of the ground".
And then for grains, it's "whocreates varieties of nourishment".
And then for miscellaneous foods likemeat, poultry, eggs, fish, dairy, or even
candy "at whose word all came to be".
(27:53):
So these short but intentionalprayers around food are simply to
recognize before receiving anythingthat all things, all food comes
from the hand and provision of God.
And it's, I think that's so easyto teach children because they're
short and sweet and semi repetitive.
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And also what a beautiful way to connectfood to God and also to help your family
start eating more whole healthy foods.
Because if those foods don't fit intoone of those prayers, they might be
boxed or packaged, or come in a waythat it's like, how is this from God?
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What ingredients are actually in here?
What's going on with this food?
The more whole foods we eat, theeasier it is to find the prayer
that these really funnel intobecause they're whole healthy foods.
So besides these prayers, you can alsoattempt to make one night a week special,
something like a Sabbath style meal.
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Now, it could be as complicated asmaking challah bread, which if you
go to look up a recipe on Pinterest,it's actually spelled, it looks like
it's challah, so it's C-H-A-L-L-A-H.
It's pronounced Challah bread, andit's a traditional Jewish bread
that is braided together and it isbeautifully golden on top and light
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and fluffy and amazing in the middle.
And the braiding has symbolism in it.
And it's traditionally not cut at all,it's actually broken away from the loaf
to symbolize Jesus' breaking of hisbody for us, and it's so beautiful.
So you could do something ascomplicated and beautiful as that.
Or you could do something wonderfullysimple too, like having breakfast
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for dinner and laying out allthe food on the table, making it
like a family style experience.
If you have little children that wantto reach onto the table and make a big
mess, then make sure maybe you scoot theirhighchair just a little bit away, or take
the hot pots and pans and pour them intobowls or plates that won't be quite so
dangerous, and set them on the table.
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Let your children serve themselves andpartake of different foods, the pancakes
and the eggs, and the bacon, and maybebiscuits, or fruit, and things like that.
And let them enjoy reaching outfor different things and make it a
special experience around the table.
And invite your kids totry new foods with you.
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Make it a taste adventure, not a battle.
I promise, when you show up anddo this over and over again,
it gets easier over time.
But as you do these things, rememberyou are creating a joyful expectation
of what we will one day experiencewith Jesus, sitting at the table with
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him, connecting with him, being healedin him, having relationship with him,
resting and being present with him.
The atmosphere of God's food culturethat we set at our table will give
our children an expectation ofsitting with Jesus at the table.
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But I wanna encourage you with this.
Friend, moving your family's foodculture towards Jesus doesn't happen
overnight, but it does happen.
It happens when we create beautyand expectation around the table.
When we speak gratitude over thefruit we slice, when we invite
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Jesus not to just bless our food,but to join us at the table.
It happens with onefaithful moment at a time.
So if you're feeling inspired, butalso a little overwhelmed, hear me, you
don't have to figure this all out today.
Each of us has our own journey abouthow we move towards Jesus at the table.
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But if you're also unsure how to bringmore whole foods into your home, or
how to help your kids eat veggieswithout a complete meltdown, stick
with me, mama, because help is coming.
In fact, I've got a whole seriescoming in August about how to
help your kids enjoy vegetables.
Yes, really!
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How to shift your pantry without panicand how to make your table a place
of joy and connection again, but makesure you hit subscribe so you don't
miss any of these juicy, helpful, andoccasionally hilarious conversations.
You were made for this mama.
You were made to eat with Jesus,and the table is already set.
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Mama, I hope this episode blessedyou and reminded you that you were
beautifully and uniquely made to thrive.
If today's conversation spoke to yourheart, I'd love for you to take a
moment to leave a rating and review.
Not only does it encourage me,but it helps more tired mamas
discover the hope, healing, andenergy they've been searching for.
You are not in this alone.
(33:00):
Make sure to hit subscribeso you never miss an episode.
Together we will reclaim yourenergy, renew your health, and revive
your spirit one step at a time.
Until next time.
Remember, you are beautifully designed byGod to live with energy, clarity, and joy.
You're not just surviving mama.
You're stepping into the vibrantlife you were created for.
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I'm cheering you on.
Welcome to Tired Mommy Revival.
Hey mama.
Are you running on coffee fumes,feeling like brain fog, fatigue
and anxiety, or running the show?
Do you wake up dreading the dayahead already overwhelmed by the
endless to-do list, and unsurehow you'll make it through.
Do you long for the energyto enjoy motherhood?
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And care for yourself, but feelstuck and unsure where to start.
Let me remind you ofsomething life changing.
You were created for more, moreenergy, more clarity, more joy.
Hi, I'm Jerusha, certifiedHolistic Wellness Coach.
Wife and mom to two wild boysand one baby girl in heaven.
(00:46):
I know the exhaustion you'refeeling because I've been there
barely making it through the day.
Relying on coffee and chocolate tosurvive and wondering why nothing
I tried ever made me feel better.
Then God stepped in andrevealed a powerful truth.
A woman's body is beautifullyand uniquely designed to thrive.
(01:07):
When we align with how God createdus, we can boost our energy bust
through fatigue and step into thevibrant, joy filled life he has for us.
Mama.
I'm living proof thatit's possible these days.
I wake up, refreshed, nourished my bodywith intention and navigate the chaos
of motherhood with patience and peace.
(01:28):
Most days, and I wannahelp you do the same.
If you're ready to swap exhaustion forenergy, brain fog for clarity and guilt
for grace, you are in the right place.
Each week we'll dive into practicalstrategies, faith-filled truths,
and empowering tools to renew yourhealth, body, soul, and spirit.
(01:48):
Are you ready for this?
Let's do it, mama.
This is the final episode in ourBiblical food design series, and I have
to tell you, this one might just be themost personal and powerful of them all
because today we're pulling up a chairto the most sacred table in history.
(02:12):
The one where Jesus sits, not justmetaphorically, but literally.
From his first miracle at a wedding feast,to his final moments before the cross at
a supper table, from post-resurrectionbreakfast on the beach to the
promised marriage supper of the lamb.
Jesus has always used food to tella deeper story, one of connection
(02:37):
of healing, of prophecy, and ofpreparation for the feast to come.
This episode isn't just about history.
It's about heaven, my friends.
And it's about your kitchen too.
So grab your coffee, or fold the laundry,or sneak out to the garden while the
(02:58):
kids are occupied, and let's talk aboutwhat it really means to eat with Jesus.
When you think of Jesus's ministry, youmight picture him preaching to crowds,
healing the sick, or walking on water.
But if you look closely, much of his mostimpactful ministry happened at the table.
(03:19):
He ate with tax collectors likeMatthew in Luke 5, where the table
became a place of grace and welcome.
He dined with Zacchaeus turninga sinner's home into holy ground.
He sat with Mary, Martha andLazarus, not rushing in and
out, but lingering over meals.
(03:40):
Jesus didn't just use food to feed people.
He used food to connect with them,to draw near, to extend belonging,
to restore dignity, to say, "youare seen and you are welcome here."
And moms.
Isn't that what we do too?
From the moment our babies areborn, food draws them to us.
(04:04):
They reach for us when they're hungry,not just for nourishment, but for
comfort, safety, and connection.
As toddlers, even when they don'twant what you made for them, they
still want what you are eating.
You could be sneaking kale in the pantryand they'll still ask, "can I have some?"
Even as they grow older,that hunger continues.
(04:26):
What's for dinner mom?
When are you going to the grocery store?
Food is their connection pointto us, and that's not random.
That's design.
God made hunger to draw us near, and hegave us mothers an opportunity to reflect
his heart every time we fill a plate.
But meal times with Jesusweren't just about connection.
(04:48):
They were also about healing.
In John 6, he feeds 5,000 peoplewith five loaves and two fish, and
then declares I am the Bread of Life.
That miracle wasn't just provision.
It was a signpost, a message, a prophecy.
I am the One who satisfiesyou, body, soul, and spirit.
(05:14):
In Luke 22, he picks up bread andwine at the Passover table and says,
"this is my body broken for you.This is my blood poured out for you".
A regular meal transformedinto a holy sacrament.
And in that moment, God redeemedsomething because in the Garden of Eden
(05:37):
it was a fruit that was the source ofthe demise, the sin of humankind, and
yet at the Passover meal, it is a food,the bread that symbolizes the Bread
of Life as it is broken, to remindus of what Christ did for us on the
cross of what was about to happen.
(05:57):
And so God redeemed the brokennessthat food brought into our life by
redeeming it through the food of bread.
That is powerful.
If God can redeem even those smalldetails, let me tell you my friend,
he is in the process of redeemingand healing everything for you.
(06:18):
Then we find in John 21 after Peterdenies him three times, Jesus comes back
and makes him breakfast on the beach.
There's no sermon, there's no rebuke,just grilled fish, gentle conversation
and restoration through forgiveness.
In the place of Peter's brokennessover what he did, the denying Christ
(06:44):
three times after he never thoughthimself possible of such a thing.
Jesus comes to redeem himand he does it over a meal.
Meals weren't just physical with Jesus.
They were deeply prophetic.
They healed hearts.
They revealed who he was, andthey brought people back to life.
(07:09):
Have you ever considered that Jesuswants to heal you through food?
Not through shame.
Not through restriction.
Not through another round of fad dieting.
But through nourishment, throughgratitude, through eating in rhythm with
how God made you, through letting go ofguilt and letting him into the kitchen.
(07:34):
What if every meal becamea sacred invitation to say,
"Jesus, feed me body and soul".
Everywhere Jesus went, he wasalso modeling rest and presence.
One of the most underrated qualities ofJesus was his ability to be fully present.
(07:54):
He didn't rush through meals.
Even on the night of his betrayal, whenthe clock was literally ticking down
to the cross, he reclined at the table.
He washed feet.
He shared wine.
He spoke peace over his friends.
He lingered in that place.
He chose presence, not productivity.
(08:17):
Food wasn't just something to get through,it was something to be present for.
And for us mamas, we may not be ableto linger for an hour long meal every
day, but what would it look like tobring presents into your kitchen?
Even just once a week, light acandle, put on some worship music,
(08:40):
make a meal that feels special.
Speak a blessing over yourkids as you plate their food.
It's not about perfection.
It's simply about intention.
So let's pause here a minute.
I want you to ask yourself,am I rushing through meals or
receiving them with gratitude?
(09:02):
Do I view food as a ministry, or simplyjust a task to get through in the day?
Where am I turning to foodinstead of turning to God?
And what would it actuallylook like to eat with Jesus?
You see, food has always been amirror, a daily, tangible reminder
(09:24):
of our need in his provision.
From Eden to now, every biteis an invitation to trust,
to connect, to draw near.
And we have seen the theme of thatacross the entire Old Testament,
from the Garden to the Wilderness,to the Promised Land, and even
(09:46):
following them into exile in Babylon.
"Trust Me. Connect with Me. Drawnear to Me, even through your food."
The truth is, is that you'restill invited to the table.
Let's lift our eyes for a moment fromour kitchen tables to the Kingdom
(10:07):
table, because scripture doesn't justtell us about meals Jesus had on earth.
It points forward to a feastone that's still to come.
Revelation 19 calls it the MarriageSupper of the Lamb, the wedding banquet
between Christ and his bride, which is us.
(10:27):
Isaiah 25 says, "God will prepare a feastof rich food, the best meats, aged wine".
So this isn't stale crackersand grape juice, but abundant
mouthwatering, celebratory food.
Jesus says in Matthew 26:29 thathe's awaiting to drink of the vine
(10:48):
with us in his father's kingdom.
He's saving his seatat the table, for you.
And he's waiting, he's abstainingfrom good things, even now, so that
he can enjoy them with us later.
It is also because when he descendedinto heaven from earth, he stepped
(11:09):
into the position of priest.
And while he's operating as priest,he's not drinking of the wine.
But when he comes back to set uphis kingdom, he will be the king.
And when he steps into the place ofKing, you better believe that he's
going to be ready to throw a partyand he's going to be asking who
(11:31):
is willing to come to the banquet?
Luke 12:37 even tells us thatwhen he returns, he'll dress
himself to serve and wait on us.
I don't know if you have watched TheChosen season five, but if you don't
know what I'm talking about, The Chosenis a TV show about God choosing his
(11:54):
disciples and his ministry here on Earth.
It's incredible and I highlyrecommend you go watch it.
It's free on Amazon Prime.
But they have this amazing scenewhere Jesus comes at the Passover
meal, he comes to wash his disciplesfeet, and they are appalled.
They are uncomfortable.
(12:16):
They are shocked.
And many of them are even tryingto tell Jesus, "no, no, no, no.
I will not let you clean the filthoff my feet from the streets".
Because that was a lowly servant's job.
And yet Jesus came to wash theirfeet and they are overwhelmed.
(12:37):
And that moment.
I can only imagine the things that theywere feeling, the maybe gratitude, but
also just the deep uncomfort from feelinglike "we are the ones that should be
serving you and not the other way around".
But in Luke, it's telling us that he'lldress himself to serve and wait on us.
(13:00):
Even at the end of time, he'sthere as a servant to wait on us,
as well as providing the feast.
And that just seems so backwards, butit's so beautiful at the same time.
He's saying, "I am waiting topartake of the wine. Until we can
have it together in that celebrationat the end of time together when
(13:26):
we are in my kingdom together".
And so if you've ever struggled withcravings that it feel like they're
ruling your life, know, be encouragedthat it's okay to say no to things in
this earth because Jesus is saying noto things that he enjoyed, even now, so
that he can enjoy them with us later.
(13:47):
And I can say, Lord, I'm gonna put thisoff aside, even though I crave it, even
though I desire it, even though I feellike it gives me comfort in the moment.
I can set this aside just asyou have set food aside so
that I can keep my eyes on you.
And I know that there's a feast to comewhere we will enjoy these things together.
(14:09):
Without the guilt, without the restraint.
In full joy and celebration andabundance, like you intended.
But all of these scriptures are pointingto a design that says there's a table
waiting at the end of time for us.
(14:30):
I don't know about you, but Igrew up with this expectation
that there was no food in heaven.
I didn't believe that there was goingto be any food in heaven, and honestly,
it caused me to give myself permissionto give into cravings now, because I had
this expectation that there was no goodthing to eat in the presence of God.
(14:53):
Because we would "never hunger again".
But just because God does awaywith world hunger doesn't mean
that he doesn't give us good food.
The biblical argument is that Jesus'reference to food is only symbolic
and there's no literal table.
There's no literal food being provided.
(15:14):
It's all symbolic of whathe is providing spiritually.
But I just simply don'tbelieve that that's true.
The more that God has showedme on this topic, the more I
wholeheartedly believe that thereis real tangible food in heaven.
Yes, some of the Bible is symbolic, butthere are also literal things that are
(15:38):
said in the Bible too, and I don't believethat we should necessarily be quick to
jump and say, oh, that's only symbolic.
Why would Jesus go through the effortof telling us what foods we were going
to have in heaven like meat and agedwine if he did not literally mean that?
But there is evidence about theend times in Ezekiel 47, verse 10.
(16:03):
It says, "it shall be that fishermenwill stand by it", meaning the river of
Living Water, "from En Gedi to En Eglaim.
They will be places forspreading their nets.
Their fish will be of the same kind asthe fish of the Great Sea, exceedingly
many". And then we jump down to verse12, and it says, "along the bank of
(16:25):
the river on this side, and that willgrow all kinds of trees used for food.
Their leaves will not witherand their fruit will not fail."
That means that there's goingto be fruit every single month.
There's no seasons of fruitand seasons of no fruit.
These trees produce continually.
"They will bear fruit every monthbecause their water flows from
(16:47):
the sanctuary. Their fruit willbe for food and their leaves for
medicine." Okay, so that's in Ezekiel.
Ezekiel was a prophet during the time ofDaniel when they were exiled in Babylon.
Ezekiel was also a prophet thattestified of the end times, just
like some of Daniel does as well.
(17:08):
But we're gonna jump ahead toRevelation where we see, not a
reference to Ezekiel, but we seeJohn writing what the angel revealed
to him for the Book of Revelation.
In Revelation 22, second part of verse2, it says, "the Tree of life, which
bore 12 fruits, each tree yielding itsfruit every month. The leaves of the tree
(17:34):
were for the healing of the nations".
And then in verse 14 it says, "blessed arethose who do his commandments, that they
may have the right to the Tree of Life".
God is giving us an expectation.
He said, there will be fruitand it will be for food.
I'm not sure how muchclearer that could get.
To say that there will not be food inheaven just sounds like something that
(17:58):
a stuffy Pharisee would say to me.
But the the biblical validity ofwhether there will be food in heaven,
or not, is not what's most important.
The most important thing that weshould take away from this is that we
should expect good things in heaven.
And I believe that the God who walkedwith Adam and Eve in the Garden, and the
(18:23):
God who sent his son to Earth and whodirected his every steps, most of which
was found over a table, and the God whois telling us, who's calling us forward
into a feast of celebratory expectation.
(18:43):
I believe that's a God who wants tosit at a table with us in more ways
than one, for more reasons than one.
There's a prophecy that says the fruitwill be for food, and he's also talking
about people fishing from the river.
I mean, just think about that.
(19:04):
If you've ever eaten fruit fromthe grocery store and then compared
it to fruit freshly picked offa tree, you know the difference?
Grocery store fruit cannot compare.
But tree ripened fruit?
Sweet bursting full of flavor.
(19:24):
It's alive in a way, thestore version just isn't.
Now imagine that fruit in thekingdom of God, fruit nourished
by the River of Life itself.
Fruit that never spoils, and it's foodthat's not just clean but glorious.
Mama, I want you to realize thatyou may not even actually know your
(19:50):
favorite food yet, because you haveyet to taste of the fruit of heaven.
So what does this all mean for us today?
Throughout this series so far, I feltlike God's heart for us as women was to
help us heal our relationship with food.
(20:11):
To see food in light of God'spure and beautiful design for us.
To escape the world's way of viewingand treating food and see it through
God's ultimate plan and design for us.
And I believe that that is a sort ofhealing that we can only find from
(20:32):
the roots of the Bible and through Godteaching us his perspective on food.
I believe that he's teachingus about his food culture.
In this episode, if you're wonderingwhy it's coming out later than usual,
I am currently recording at 3:00PM today, and usually this would
(20:52):
come out at midnight last night.
But it's because this episodewas so rich in detail.
There were so many things that cameup in my notes that I literally could
not fit into this episode withouttotally overwhelming you and I am
taking so many notes that I feel likewill be useful, that God will bring
full circle eventually, and I willuse them in an even deeper capacity.
(21:16):
But I felt God showing me thatsomething was shifting in this episode.
And I said, God, what is your heartfor us in this information now?
And he said, "I want you to bringmy food culture into your homes".
That would be God's heart forus in this generation to redeem
(21:40):
his food culture in our homes.
Not the food culture of the world,but his design and purpose in even the
small and mundane ways that we show up.
As moms, we live in a constantrhythm of feeding our people.
Sometimes it feels mundane,sometimes frustrating.
(22:02):
Sometimes it's chaotic, and it justfeels relentless, like it never stops.
But here's the deeper truth.
God is using you to painta picture of heaven.
Every snack, every spoonful,every what's for dinner, mom?
It's an Echo of Eden.
(22:23):
It's a reminder that your kids see youas their source of nourishment, just
as God invites you to see him as yours.
You're modeling more than a meal plan.
You're modeling a kingdom, and you getto shape your family's food culture,
not just with what's on the plate,but with the atmosphere around it.
(22:46):
We see in the Bible when God is commandingthe Israelites to participate in feasts,
there's always three elements that showup in the structure that he provides
for them to feast in a healthy way.
Those things involve, number one is rest.
Number two is in community.
(23:07):
And number three is in remembrance of God.
The other two overarching themes that wesee in the Bible is that God wants our
food to bring us joy, but he also wantsour food to provide us with healing.
And even if we start to pull in oneof those elements more often to our
(23:31):
eating experiences around the table,we will help create a healthier food
culture in our homes, for our families,and traditions and expectations
that we pass on to our children.
How many times do we eat on the run?
Or in front of the tv, which I knowwe have been guilty of ourselves.
(23:55):
How many times do we eat alone andnot sit down at the table together
in community, even in our own family?
And how often does gathering around ourfood bring us in remembrance of God?
Communion in church is really the onlytime that we sit down in remembrance
of God with food . But God had sevenappointed times throughout the year
(24:23):
that he commanded his people to throwa feast and specifically remember him.
And then once a week they also hadthe Sabbath that was used as a symbol
of covenant between them and God, andwas a way that they chose to honor God
by stopping work and remembering him.
And Sabbath meals actually have a ton ofsignificance, even ways of making bread,
(24:50):
the way that they don't just cut thebread, they break it off in remembrance
of how Jesus broke his body for us.
The things like that are celebratedby some of the modern day Jews.
And then they have prayers that arespecific to like every single type
of food that they receive, that theyrecognize that it comes directly
(25:12):
from the hand and provision of God.
And we don't have any of that,and we don't have to go and
do everything that they do.
But in a culture without culture, likewe talked about in the last episode
with Daniel, we could do well to borrowon some of the Jewish culture that so
beautifully depicts and connects withGod in the way that they see food.
(25:37):
I wanna encourage you with somesimple, practical things that you
can start doing today, and don't getdiscouraged if it feels like too much.
Simply think to yourself, okay, I can'tdo this, but what can I do right now?
What can I do?
What's one step that I can take?
Maybe it doesn't happen everyday, but maybe it's once a week.
(26:01):
Or maybe you just make a, a greaterintention on celebratory days, on
holidays to make it feel more likea special event gathered around
the table in remembrance of God.
But some practical ways that you couldstart shaping your family's food culture,
not just with what's on your plate,but what the atmosphere around it is:
(26:23):
You could light a candle and say,"Christ is light" before a meal.
I read that from a book and it was sobeautiful how this family did this,
is that when they lit the candleand the older kids got to light the
candle, which was really special, thelittle kids got to blow it out when
it was over at the end of dinner.
And every time the candle was lit,everybody would say "Christ is light".
(26:46):
And it became such a habit that evenoutside their home, anytime they would
see a candle lit, they immediatelywanted to say, "Christ is light".
It's such a simple but beautiful reminder.
Something else you could do issay one of the Jewish prayers of
thanks specific to the food fromthe vine, the land or the tree.
So the Jewish blessing, ifyou watch the Chosen, you may
(27:10):
have seen this on there too.
It says, the blessing for bread starts"Blessed are you, Lord, our God, ruler
of the universe who brings forth breadfrom the Earth" and each of the prayers
for different foods starts out the sameand then ends a little bit differently.
So the one for wine and grapejuice is "blessed, are you, Lord,
(27:30):
our God ruler of the universe whocreates the fruit of the vine".
And there's also "fruit of thetree", " fruit of the ground".
And then for grains, it's "whocreates varieties of nourishment".
And then for miscellaneous foods likemeat, poultry, eggs, fish, dairy, or even
candy "at whose word all came to be".
(27:53):
So these short but intentionalprayers around food are simply to
recognize before receiving anythingthat all things, all food comes
from the hand and provision of God.
And it's, I think that's so easyto teach children because they're
short and sweet and semi repetitive.
(28:13):
And also what a beautiful way to connectfood to God and also to help your family
start eating more whole healthy foods.
Because if those foods don't fit intoone of those prayers, they might be
boxed or packaged, or come in a waythat it's like, how is this from God?
(28:35):
What ingredients are actually in here?
What's going on with this food?
The more whole foods we eat, theeasier it is to find the prayer
that these really funnel intobecause they're whole healthy foods.
So besides these prayers, you can alsoattempt to make one night a week special,
something like a Sabbath style meal.
(28:56):
Now, it could be as complicated asmaking challah bread, which if you
go to look up a recipe on Pinterest,it's actually spelled, it looks like
it's challah, so it's C-H-A-L-L-A-H.
It's pronounced Challah bread, andit's a traditional Jewish bread
that is braided together and it isbeautifully golden on top and light
(29:19):
and fluffy and amazing in the middle.
And the braiding has symbolism in it.
And it's traditionally not cut at all,it's actually broken away from the loaf
to symbolize Jesus' breaking of hisbody for us, and it's so beautiful.
So you could do something ascomplicated and beautiful as that.
Or you could do something wonderfullysimple too, like having breakfast
(29:44):
for dinner and laying out allthe food on the table, making it
like a family style experience.
If you have little children that wantto reach onto the table and make a big
mess, then make sure maybe you scoot theirhighchair just a little bit away, or take
the hot pots and pans and pour them intobowls or plates that won't be quite so
dangerous, and set them on the table.
(30:05):
Let your children serve themselves andpartake of different foods, the pancakes
and the eggs, and the bacon, and maybebiscuits, or fruit, and things like that.
And let them enjoy reaching outfor different things and make it a
special experience around the table.
And invite your kids totry new foods with you.
(30:26):
Make it a taste adventure, not a battle.
I promise, when you show up anddo this over and over again,
it gets easier over time.
But as you do these things, rememberyou are creating a joyful expectation
of what we will one day experiencewith Jesus, sitting at the table with
(30:46):
him, connecting with him, being healedin him, having relationship with him,
resting and being present with him.
The atmosphere of God's food culturethat we set at our table will give
our children an expectation ofsitting with Jesus at the table.
(31:09):
But I wanna encourage you with this.
Friend, moving your family's foodculture towards Jesus doesn't happen
overnight, but it does happen.
It happens when we create beautyand expectation around the table.
When we speak gratitude over thefruit we slice, when we invite
(31:29):
Jesus not to just bless our food,but to join us at the table.
It happens with onefaithful moment at a time.
So if you're feeling inspired, butalso a little overwhelmed, hear me, you
don't have to figure this all out today.
Each of us has our own journey abouthow we move towards Jesus at the table.
(31:54):
But if you're also unsure how to bringmore whole foods into your home, or
how to help your kids eat veggieswithout a complete meltdown, stick
with me, mama, because help is coming.
In fact, I've got a whole seriescoming in August about how to
help your kids enjoy vegetables.
Yes, really!
(32:16):
How to shift your pantry without panicand how to make your table a place
of joy and connection again, but makesure you hit subscribe so you don't
miss any of these juicy, helpful, andoccasionally hilarious conversations.
You were made for this mama.
You were made to eat with Jesus,and the table is already set.
(32:39):
Mama, I hope this episode blessedyou and reminded you that you were
beautifully and uniquely made to thrive.
If today's conversation spoke to yourheart, I'd love for you to take a
moment to leave a rating and review.
Not only does it encourage me,but it helps more tired mamas
discover the hope, healing, andenergy they've been searching for.
You are not in this alone.
(33:00):
Make sure to hit subscribeso you never miss an episode.
Together we will reclaim yourenergy, renew your health, and revive
your spirit one step at a time.
Until next time.
Remember, you are beautifully designed byGod to live with energy, clarity, and joy.
You're not just surviving mama.
You're stepping into the vibrantlife you were created for.
(33:23):
I'm cheering you on.
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