Saturday, May 28, 2011

Sheltering Sweetness





God never made a promise too good to be true.  
~Dwight Moody



I'm moving to Switzerland!  Do you know that Swiss eat twenty-four pounds of chocolate a year?  (Over twice as much as the eleven pounds average we Americans consume)  I've found a few people who don't like chocolate, but I seriously question their sanity.  I also have a friend who cannot eat chocolate because of a severe allergy to it -- I feel sorry for her.

God's Word is likened to food:

Milk:  Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation (1 Peter 2:2).

Honey:  The laws of the Lord are true...they are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb (Psalm 19:9-10).

Bread: Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).

Meat: But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil (Hebrews 5:14).

Like the milk and graham crackers I eat before bed, the honey in my granola, hot rolls straight from the oven or a juicy steak from the grill, the Word of God nourishes my soul.  

When I read of:  
  • The story of creation, how God created the giraffe with the long neck, the bunny with the twitchy nose and the elephant with its long trunk, I rejoice in God's creativity -- knowing He also placed creativity in me. The spiritual milk of the Word allows me to dip into its uniqueness daily.
  • The widow making her last cake for Elisha, resulting in a continual supply of flour and oil, I rejoice in God's provision -- knowing He will provide for me, too. The honey of the Word sweetens life for me.
  • The punishment of Achan and his family for hiding the spoils of war in his tent, I rejoice in God's discipline -- knowing when I stray He will discipline me. The meat of good and evil keeps me  from believing the lies of Satan.
  • The Sermon on the Mount, complete with the beatitudes, I rejoice in God's instructions to me -- knowing His guidance will help me go deeper in my walk with God.  The bread of God's teachings makes me hunger for more.
But where's the chocolate?  Sure milk, honey, meat and bread are enjoyable. But sometimes after a meal I just need a little something else.  Something decadent.  Something chocolate!  My mother makes a chocolate cheese cake with a raspberry sauce.  My daughter, Melanie, makes peanut butter cookies studded with semi-sweet chocolate chips. As I write this, Emily is making chocolate macaroons.  We stayed with a friend in Virginia a couple nights ago, and I found a bag of Russell Stover's sugar-free chocolates on my bed.  Just writing about chocolate makes me crave it!  



Likewise when I'm reading God's Word I crave a bit of chocolate.  I crave the promises. 2 Peter 1:4 tells us, He has given us his very great and precious promises.  See, God knew we need some chocolate -- chocolate promises. Someone once said, "I don't drown my problems; I suffocate them with chocolate." I like to drown mine in the promises of God.

God's promises are sprinkled throughout the Bible.  
  • The promise of comfort:  God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1).
  • The promise of courage:  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak (Isaiah 40:29).
  • The promise of faithfulness: Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands (Deuteronomy 7:9).
  • The promise of guidance: I will instruct you and teach you in
  •  the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you (Psalm 32:8).
  • The promise of joy: But I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy (John 16:22).
  • The promise of answered prayer:  Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear (Isa.65:24).
  • The promise of salvation: If we confess our sins, He is Faithful and Just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John  1:9).
  • The promise of God's presence: And surely I am with you always to the  very end of the age (Matt. 28:20).

How I wish I could list all the promises in the Bible. It's like carefully picking a chocolate out of a box. I go for the chocolate covered cherries first then something with coconut or caramel. When I pick a chocolate out of God's Word I go for the promise I need for the moment.  
  • When I am facing a difficult decision I choose: To the man who please Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness (Eccl.2:26).  
  • When life seems a bit frustrating I reach in and select: Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee; He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved  (Psalm 55:22).  
  • When the weight of unsaved loved ones is heavy on my heart I find: The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
I'm so thankful for the promises of God -- given out of a heart of love. I don't want to be remiss in eating the milk, honey, bread and meat of His words, but I also want my dessert -- the chocolate of God's promises. 

If you are feeling faint from lack of nourishment, feed on the Word of God. Pray the promise of Isaiah 35: Father, I haven't been faithful to your word. You promised that in my spiritual drought waters will break forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. That my scorched land will become a pool, and (my) thirsty ground springs of water. Amen. This promise is like taking a bite of Swiss Chocolate!

* * * * *

Chocolate Macaroons

There's nothing better than a good friend, 
except a good friend with chocolate. 
 ~Linda Grayson 


I have a friend who graciously shared some items we needed for the 2011 senior reception.  Emily wanted to make her a thank-you.  Carisa is an excellent kitchen queen -- and we are always willing participants in the tasting department whether it is fresh jams, melt-in-your-mouth caramels, beautifully decorated cakes or hearty soups.  So when I saw this book (pictured below) 70% off at Cracker Barrel it was calling her name.  Emily made the Chocolate Macaroons to gift with it.  



You'll love this book!
4 oz bittersweet chocolate
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups ground almonds
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 egg whites
                                                                                       



  • Preheat oven to 360 degrees
  • Melt chocolate
  • Stir in remaining ingredients and beat for 2 minutes
  • Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper
  • Place tablespoons of mixture 3" apart
  • Bake for 12-15 minutes
  • Cool on wire rack
  • Decorate by piping white chocolate on cookies

39 comments:

Annesphamily said...

Oh Pamela! This is a beautiful post! You put a lot of time and effort into it! The book is so lovely. What a great friend you are! I love the magnet I saw in a store "Hand over the chocolate and no one gets hurt." I get headaches from the soy lechticin in chocolate but sometime I just suffer! CHocolate is too irresistable. This was a wonderful thoughtful post. Thank you Anne

Mindy said...

How very thoughtful!

michelle said...

thanks for stopping by to encourage me and then for posting this too. =)

Nikki (Sarah) said...

wow Pamela..this is such a neatly written post. I love chocklate so you got me with that first line. ☺ And the scriptures hit your message home. ☺☺

Esther Asbury said...

Oooo I love chocolate too...in fact sweets of any kind are a weakness of mine! Love the way you "tied" this post together with God's promises being food for our souls --- so very, very true!

not accidentally tuesday said...

What a beautiful post, I'm so happy to meet you and visit your blog. My sister and I have started this to put down on paper all the blessing that the three of us have experienced. Thanks for coming by and leaving a comment. I'm Ann and my sis Lori wrote the last post. My favorite cookie in the whole world of cookies are macaroons...... they are the best.
Ann

not accidentally tuesday said...

I meant to say SISTERS- there are 3 of us.
Deb,Ann,Lori

not accidentally tuesday said...

What a beautiful post, I'm so happy to meet you and visit your blog. My sister and I have started this to put down on paper all the blessing that the three of us have experienced. Thanks for coming by and leaving a comment. I'm Ann and my sis Lori wrote the last post. My favorite cookie in the whole world of cookies are macaroons...... they are the best.
Ann

Vintagesouthernlife said...

This is a wonderful post. It has so much information I am saving it to read over and digest when I have more time.
Another chocolate lover here too :)
Blessings,
Annette

Joan Hall said...

Just prior to reading this, I indulged in some chocolate almond ice cream.

I love how you wrote this post - yes God's promises are like picking out delectable morsels of chocolate and His word continually feeds us.

Blessings to you,
Joan

Rebecca said...

I love the quote by Dwight Moody. It's it great that God used food as an analogy in the Scripture you referenced. Just as we have a physical hunger for food, we also have a spiritual hunger for His Word.

Janis Van Keuren said...

So much goodness to indulge in here in your post. I will have to come back for seconds. All the promises of the Lord that you listed. I must come back again to read them, to taste them, to savor them, to let them sit on my tongue a while until they become part of me!
I should pop them in my mouth each night like I do chocolate!
Thank you for this deep post~and blessings as you move to Switzerland. Wow, what a change of life.
Blessings,
Janis

Mary said...

All that chocolate certainly would be worth moving to Switzerland for!

Breathing In Grace said...

Such precious words....and I totally agree with you....I question the sanity of anybody who doesn't like chocolate!! I was given a bookmark several years ago that said "God loved us so much, He gave us chocolate"!! ;-) HOPE you have a great Memorial Day!

Saleslady371 said...

A scrumptious post filled with delicious promises!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful post, wonderful promises.
Now I want chocolate.

Loren said...

Oh how I love this post!! I look forward to choosing the Precious Promises the Lord has waiting for us...to fill us, to surprise us, and fulfill us as ONLY HE can :)

Thank you for sharing and also for coming to my blog with such kind words!

Have a blessed weekend

Dena E's Blog said...

Wow Sweetie,,, this was soooooo Soooo Awesome!!!
A blessed read... , I too am waiting for the Glorious day we are with our Abba Father in His Heaven....Thanks for your sweet note to my SS post too...
Hugs and Prayers Always included.

Anonymous said...

Hi Pamela
Beautiful post. God's promises are to be desired! Just like chocolate.
God bless
Tracy

LBB said...

Ohhhh chocolate!! Can never get enough!!

Dimple said...

Hi Pamela,
Thank you for coming by and becoming a follower. It is nice to meet you, too!

I also love chocolate, but I can't eat the soy lecithin. I have come to really like unsweetened cocoa powder in some kinds of herbal tea!

Your post is encouraging and uplifting, thank you! God has been speaking to me through blogging friends this week (I hope I'm not speaking presumptuously to include you!) and I'm very grateful.

90 degrees? We are doing well to hit 70! Where is Muncie in relation to Bloomington? My daughter is there...

Anonymous said...

Hi Pam,

Thanks so much for stopping by our blog yesterday. We're following you too now. So nice to meet you too. Moving to Switzerland eh? Are you sure that's not an excuse to eat more chocolate? Tee hee. You have a wonderful way with words and I look forward to reading more of your blog posts. Oh and I love the look of your blog too. Happy Memorial Day!

Nancy said...

Switzerland? How lovely! Our daughter spent some time living there with family friends so she could practice speaking her French. Of course, we sent her with an empty tote bag that she could fill with chocolate for her trip home! What beautiful imagery--connecting God's very great and precious promises with the delicious sweetness of chocolate. Now I will always think that when I'm reading of them. Blessings.

urban muser said...

i love chocolate too! thanks for stopping by my blog today.

jp@A Green Ridge said...

Are you really moving? If so, perhaps you can send me some of that excess chocolate!...:)JP

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

You really are a wonderful writer...you blend things we can understand to teach us God's word! Hugs! ♥

Connie said...

What a great correlation: GOD's Promises and chocolate!! yum...your posts make me hungry though:)

Theresa Miller said...

This is fabulous! You have a real gift of words. The analogy of chocolate being the craving of God's promises after a little nourishment of His Word is just. so. good.

stephanie said...

I love the pairing of God's promises and chocolate! Could it get any better? I think not!!! :)

Heart n Soul said...

Like those chocolate promises ...thanks for stopping by :)

Business logo design said...

How interesting..

Renee said...

Love this idea of the chocolate promises from God! I enjoyed reading the promises you shared here too....always such a good idea to stay soaked in His promises.

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy said...

Hi Pamela,

I sure did enjoy this post. You are such a blessing to us. I know that you work so hard on each and every lesson. The verse on joy really spoke to me today, and I could relate to the part of craving to read more.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope that your week is wonderful!

Kathy M.

GLENDA CHILDERS said...

Yes, God's word is the full meal deal . . . and I love the surprise bits of chocolate. I want to hear more about Switzerland. I love travelling there.

Thanks for a beautiful post.

fondly,
Glenda

Unknown said...

This is the promise I am carrying with me today: I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you (Psalm 32:8).

Thank you for allowing me to just sit here and let His promises fill my soul.

Kristina said...

Beautiful post!

Thanks for your kind words at Always Springtime Flowers. You've inspired me; maybe I'll do a whole post with book page flowers. I've been wondering what project to work on next. Thanks for following, I hope I won't disappoint!

Charlotte said...

Switzerland - what a beautiful place to live. We visited there in 1999. Would love to go back. Chocolate is something I crave. I eat a little dark chocolate every day. Just a little. Would like to eat a lot. LOL Glad dark chocolate is good for you. Now I don't feel guilty eating it.
Blessings,
Charlotte

Anonymous said...

Oh, dearest Pamela...this is just wonderful. I really am in tears, the more I read your posts, each one fills my hungry heart with more of God's beautiful, "nourishing" truth....you just have a way of wording it so well. Thank you for adding so much poetic beauty to spiritual concepts and God's Word....what a great, mighty blessing you are to the body of Christ!!

South Los Angeles said...

Amazing job!! That was an interesting piece of information. I will be waiting for your future posts.