Wednesday, December 23rd, 2020
Welcome friends and family—
Isaiah 25:6,9
“On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”
All are welcomed at the Feast of God! Isaiah writes of a great feast for His people who have suffered terrible violence and deprivation. God will have the finest table ever imagined, God can indeed spread a table in the wilderness.
Psalm 78:19
“They spoke against God, saying, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness.”
Father Christmas provided a feast in Narnia, it too had the finest of things. Father Christmas wanted the Narnian’s to remember life before the White Witch and to celebrate the new things that were coming. The White Witch was so cold and cruel, nothing to her deemed a celebration. In fact, celebrating to her was a “WASTE!” The White Witch, though she did not want to admit it, knew that Aslan was on the move and her power was lessening, day by day in Narnia, as it was thawing.
Holidays and Feasting! Family Gatherings and Reunions, and Feasting! Advent and Christmas, they typically include special meals and gatherings with friends and family. Many are choosing to not have gatherings this season due to COVID-19, while others choose to gather but only with immediate family. My experience has been that no matter what kind of relationships people have when gathering, they tend to push them aside for the sake of being with those they care about. Of course, these events do not cancel or erase quarrels, mistakes or betrayals but they do help to remind us that people matter, even if they have hurt us in the past. There’s also no guarantee that a gathering will go smoothly but often the risk is worth the healing that can take place. Some of my fondest memories of my childhood were celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas with most of my relatives on my mom’s side of the family. My mom had 8 siblings and that meant I had lots of cousins. It was always a pitch-in and to call it a feast was an understatement. Beautiful memories! We celebrate with family and loved ones now, knowing they are a foretaste of God’s redemption still to come.
As believers, we look forward to a heavenly feast hosted by God! And, in Narnia, all creatures look forward to a feast hosted by Aslan!
Questions for Reflection:
• What would be set on the table if God were to “spread a table in the wilderness” for you? Make a list of foods, beverages, and decorations.
— Steak; prime rib, sweet red wine; sweet flaky crescent rolls, mac & cheese, mashed potatoes, cheesecake; german-chocolate cake…fine white china, fine silverware, crystal goblets, fine linens. Of course, none of this will matter compared to being with God!
• What are holiday family meals like for you? Do tension, celebration, creation and grace play equal roles? Are there ways you could bring more grace to meals in your family?
— In the past, filled with family. Balance is good for the soul. Don’t wait for special occasions to share a meal with friends and family; make time for friends and family, make them feel special by sharing a meal or conversation with them, now that’s something special.
~Hope~Love~Joy~Peace~Charlotte
References:
HOPE SEEKER 
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