I have the quiet time now, savoring what was a gift of a gathering with family and friends. yesterday. Blessed Thanksgiving – and I hope yours was too.

The photos can capture “foodie” pics before it all disappeared, and yet how double blessed to have leftovers in the fridge. I had more brussel sprouts for late night snack. (Late night was 7pm haha)… I drove up home in time and I sat and enjoyed the whole of a family moment. Whew. Crashed at 8pm. Hey it’s morning now – maybe leftover pie for breakfast!

I did pause in praise yesterday because I achieved my pursuit of making dinner on time. What’s funny in one photo is seeing how my fork slipped into the middle of the plate and I simply piled around it. Only the shiny fork tines stood out. The food was constantly being passed around, so only later I could actually eat my meal by digging out the fork. I thought there’s got to be a SAVORING devotion in that picture, I knew it. Something about waiting but knowing the Lord’s ‘pick me ups’, seeing the fulfilment, and of the gift of the tools to partake in life. 

Here is the best pick-me-up: the blessed chapter of Isaiah 61, that I’ve now reached in my reading writing. It is Jesus Jesus Jesus. An Old Testament testament to His coming, His Salvation, His Hope, HIS PURPOSE. An Old Testament PROMISE of His people raised up in His righteousness, a HEALING of brokenhearted, His consolation yielding BEAUTY from the ashes.

How we remember and savor will benefit how we decide to live our lives, in the knowledge of the end promised as a new beginning, then realize that the bumps in the road here and now mean there still IS a road. That our temporary pain will yield eventually to eternal JOY. That under our burdens is buried the birth of God’s Ways of getting us out. Freedom in faith. FAITH in the following. 

Back to the fork, I knew I could get it out, stealthily wipe the handle, and start the actual meal, but 1st I just looked at my full plate. And I looked at the family I was blessed to be in – a time to just relax and be real.  Satisfied in advance. Yes, nice to savor that thought of: “I made it to dinner” – plus: “I’ve been gifted this time, these opportunities, this life pause to take it all in.” – Yes, and then really DID dig in, fork and all.  I made it to dinner and now I actually got to eat. I had a plate set for me – as I slid in 10 minutes later than my hope but still in time. They held the meal for me. I felt special that way.

Let us all look at life that way. Let us continue to be in Thanksgiving and realize that we can take this life pause reflection time to see what God has done, see where we are going, and know how much He boldly loves us: “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,…” Just like the savoring of the dinner time. The Lord, through Isaiah, has told the Israelites of His Coming and the Lord has extended gifted Salvation to the Gentiles (even the crumbs off the table are more than sufficient) – and the Lord has helped all His people to realize HIS FEAST. He is holding that dinner place in Heaven for us – we need to follow His Way there.

Righteousness is the Right amount of coverage over our sins, the ring of blessings after our repentance and the “welcome home” of our travels. Enjoy the savor of the Savior. 

Amen and enjoy in JOY the continued feasting on God’s blessings. 

Amen – in JOYful Thanksgiving.

Amen

—

Isaiah 61 – New King James Version

The Good News of Salvation

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations. Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, And the sons of the foreigner Shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. But you shall be named the priests of the Lord, They shall call you the servants of our God. You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, And in their glory you shall boast. Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double;.everlasting joy shall be theirs.

“For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery for burnt offering; I will direct their work in truth, And will make with them an everlasting covenant. Their descendants shall be known among the Gentiles, And their offspring among the people. All who see them shall acknowledge them, That they are the posterity whom the Lord has blessed.”

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its bud, As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.