Nehemiah 8:10 ~ send portions to them! †

 

Nehemiah 8:10

Then he said unto them, 

Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, 

and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared:

 for this day is 

Holy unto our Lord: 

Neither be ye sorry; 

For the Joy of the Lord 

is your Strength.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We live in an amazing time Historically. Biblically. And in the 500 year mark for 

pretty wild Histories.

And as we prepare for Thanksgiving, we begin our food lists. I try to think of something new to add in. One year we had Asiago biscuits, this was the year I bought molds for the biscuits and the muffins. Later it was voted down as out of tradition. 

As the menu is prepared, I think of the many Thanksgivings I've had. We had Tomato Aspic jello for years. My father loved this. If you haven't had this, it's like Bloody Mary in Jello without alcohol. And Mary from Church told me she added in shrimp and horseradish. The perfect addition!

Edward's famous uncle, opened the door one Thanksgiving while I was a youthful teen, threw open his arms, bear hugged me and told me to call him, "Uncie!" He was completely one of the most entertaining and generous men I've ever met.  A family man without children, who lavished upon his nieces and nephews. Uncie decorated for the famous, and was in their famous books. Everything Uncie touched was Michelangelo. His favorite food to add in was Orange Jello with Mayonnaise and tiny diced carrots to look like carrots. A treat in the middle of serious food.

My grandmother Bit only wanted one thing, other than Turkey, it was a casserole made of Velveeta, Asparagus and green olives. It was really quite good, she shared this passion with my Aunt Margaret in Rosedale, MS.  They would talk and ask if the other had had the casserole. 

Today we would adapt this to more like a Bruschetta Asparagus and have plenty of olives.

Our family friend Margaret, wife of our favorite Pennsylvania Episcopal Priest, taught us over Thanksgivings about her Sour Cream Cranberry Salad with two types of Cranberries slices and pecans. The most unusual color and absolutely wonderful:

Edward's family had two generations of good cooks who lived with the family. Hazel made the best small spoon biscuits. Rarely did they make it to the table. The secret ingredient was Butter Flavored Crisco. And Mayo.  This was only disclosed 3 generations later.  Causing a huge lull in the conversation. And then lots of laughter with memories of the most biscuits eaten at one time.

Edward's mother always tells us of Oyster Stuffing her grandmother made. The recipe is lost to time. Sadly.

My mother won so many awards for Creamed Corn Cornbread with canned, mild Jalapeños, hatch chilies and a secret white, not stringy cheese. Only her black iron skillet could make them!

My brother ate almost all the Pecan Pie, until he got into college and found this was Karo Syrup. He charged me to remake Pecan Pie for all time as something like chocolate cake pie with Chocolate chips that you don't miss the Karo Syrup. Okkk. But I did discover the Homesick Texan combined left over Pecan Pie into Rice Pudding and only God could do better dessert. 

2 Timothy 1:5

I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois 

and in your mother Eunice and, 

I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

Send Portions to them

Ecclesiastes 11:21

Cast your bread upon the water,

in many days, it will come back to you

1992, One of the reasons I really love holidays is the memories of the ones I love. Treasure in Heaven. One year after Grandmother Anita died, I didn't have more room in the kitchen. Mother and I shopped and bought a beautiful woven basket to put all of Grandmother Anita's barely pink wine glasses from about 1930.  After the dinner week, there was a tremendous crash. Edward said, "OH NO. OH MY GOD." And I knew he had just tossed all of Grandmother Anita's cherished glasses. I cried for a week. 

Mother and I drove to visit my mother's first cousin, later my ward, Maxine, who told us she had spent Thanksgiving alone. Silence. We had nothing to say. Dead quiet. Finally, I burst out, "How did this HAPPEN?"  My mother was angry and said, if you wanted company, all you had to do was make a phone call. I think we shocked Maxine to find our reactions. Maxine assured us this was her wish. Mother said, speaking of what is broken, tell her. I burst into tears and told of Grandmother Anita's glasses. Maxine said, how many did you lose? All but 3. 

Maxine said, "Hold tight, sit here and DO NOT move". 

Gave my mother and me time to rapidly discuss, who didn't find out where Maxine was for Thanksgiving. Maxine surprised us and said, it's what I wanted. I wanted a day to remember. Remember being alone???? No, to remember all the Thanksgivings of many decades. And she said she had a gift for me. 

SUDDENLY, in front of me, 12 identical pink glasses. Maxine came back in and said your grandmother had those glasses for decades!!!!!! More than a lot of people live.  Sad. Assuredly so. Maxine was giving me a Christmas present: Maxine's mother, my Aunt Eloise, had been given by my own Grandmother Anita, about 1931, which were the 2nd set of 12 wines, barely pink, glasses. 

Maxine said, "Now! You have your Grandmother's wine glasses back!"

I cried with joy. Maxine said she'd never given a gift that gave her such joy to give.

A wonderful miracle! I've never forgotten. Edward was completely thrilled and said, 

"This is a Miracle." 

1 Thessalonians 3:6

But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.

There are always new memories to make. Adults usually discuss dishes like we have had, and don't make them. Time passes on and now one is yelling for Jello. I'd wonder why the children didn't all pick out a dish to have. And new memories are made. 

One year at the Holidays, I decided to donate all the food ingredients of these dishes. Making a memory last for others.  The Pecan Pie was probably the best hit with brownies. 

Why do the Holidays always involve food?

Psalm 34

I sought the Lord, and He answered me

    and delivered me from all my fears.

5 Those who look to Him are radiant,

    and their faces shall never be ashamed.

6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him

    and saved him out of all his troubles.

7 The angel of the Lord encamps

    around those who reverence Him, and delivers them.

8 Oh, taste 

and see that the Lord is good!

    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

9 Oh, reverence the Lord, you, His saints,

    for those who yar Him have no lack!

For many, this doesn't seem a season to celebrate with a lot of Joy. 

Even in the Scriptures, people sometimes need the God of Encouragement to have hope.

Nehemiah 8

9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, 

“This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 11 So the Levites calmed all the people

Let God have our deepest cares

 Psalm 50:23

The one who offers thanksgiving 

as his sacrifice glorifies Me;

to one who orders his way rightly

I will show the salvation of God!”

The Only Thing we can give God,

that He did not give us first

is our THANKS

Abba, Father,

Fortunate and Blessed to have 

Antibiotics. Our dog has had weeks of ear infection. 

 Please, Father, the Joy again of Good Health

for All.

Help the flu season to pull out hand sanitizer.

My friend Dee says she has had Flu once in 

her life for keeping her hands washed upon

getting home.

Bless the Children

with Respiratory Illnesses.

TAKE ASPIRIN

for

For Blood Clot

Prevention!!!

NOW

Help us REMEMBER

to do all this!

Abba, Father!

We do not know all You know.

We do not have the omnipotence for a complete prayer.

We can't surround every person

or every issue

to bring the healing we know Jesus does.

You are the Light of Heaven.

Jesus, You are the Light of Nations.

Jesus Christ,

Only Son of the Most High God,

You are the Light 

of mankind.

We have a heart for the difficulties

facing

our own lives,

the lives of those we love,

This Nation,

and Ukraine 

and Poland Helping Ukraine

GOD Bless POLAND

And the plight of the hungry

and this Good Creation of Yours.

For the help and comfort of 

Flooded Pakistan. 

And all those recovering from

Flood and Hurricane.

And in the hearts of mankind

You have delighted in,

we ask Jesus Christ

to be our Blessing,

Teacher,

Healer,

Lord of us all.

God of Love.

God of Encouragement.

We Thank You

for the Blessings

You give us daily.

And ask for You

to dwell in us

and provide

Grace and Mercy

for our trespasses.

To heal us,

the Heal our Loved Ones,

to Heal the Nation,

To Bless Ukraine and Russians

with Peace.

Love.

Joy.

Jesus.

Help us to seek You first

And in Jesus Christ, we will finish well.

Amen in Your Son,

the Highest Name of Jesus,

Amen.

 

God reminds us

Blessing us with prayers for more Heaven on earth,

His Good Will be done.

To You, our Father, be the Glory

Our God is an Awesome God! Amen

and Alleluia

in Jesus Christ and His Glory!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus