Aw! Chocolate! What a DELIGHT it is!

Chocolate: the preparation of seeds of cacao, roasted, husked and ground, often sweetened and flavored
Delight: to please, take pleasure in, revel in, gladness

Hello. My name is Donna Wuerch and I am a recovering chocoholic! I was once addicted to sweet, DELIGHTFUL and delectible chocolate treats – and when eating them, they DIDN'T go to my hips! LOL! The addiction has diminished, though I still enjoy the DELIGHT of an occasional morsel.

One of my earliest kid memories was Mom's chocolate gravy and after Sunday night church, my dad taking me to the little store next door for a chocolate soldier drink. And, then there were the ice cream trucks in my neighborhood that screamed my name. Well, not really, but they sure bolstered my taste buds for a chocolate fudgesicle. So I blame this addiction on my parents. LOL! That only started my addiction -- from there, it was chocolate cake, chocolate candy, chocolate pie, chocolate brownies, chocolate malts.....you can see how my "chocolate" enthusiasm spiraled out of control!

I've never outgrown the DELIGHT of indulging in creamy, dark or light, or white. You're probably thinking "I know somewhere in here Donna has a devotional for us"!! And I do!

The Psalmist David wrote in Psalm 37:4 "DELIGHT yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart," and in Psalm 119:103 "How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"

The question is "Do our eyes light up in DELIGHT when we hear God's words like these I just quoted? Do our taste buds heighten when we read His Word? Do our eyes light up in DELIGHT when we hear the name of Jesus or when we share that morsel of DELIGHT with someone else? Or has it become a ho-hum routine love affair where the “chocolate” has lost its appeal and the DELIGHT has diminished?"

Oh, that we would spiral out-of-control with our love for our Lord -- to DELIGHT in His presence and rejoice in His love. And, then, with that fresh, new love to spread the Good News to light up and DELIGHT someone else's life.

May we delight in our Savior and may we savor His goodness and mercy to us and then may we share the light of His love--a smile, a hug, a word of encouragement -- and yes, some CHOCOLATE too to those who need His “flavoring” in their lives!

Hello. My name is Donna Wuerch and I am addicted to my Lord and His Word. I pray this addiction only increases until I can’t live without delighting in Him. How about you?

Blondes Really Do Have More Furry Fun

Day 63 of Photo Inspirations -- Blondes Really Do Have Furry Fun
#TBT  I was amused at the comments on my daughter's FB post about her and Emma having the same color of hair.  That reminded me of Staci's Cocker Spaniel (also a blonde), Desi, that she had before she married, then on into her marriage and kids.  This photo shows the all-grown-up, blonde, Desi with her blonde family.

The story of Desi aka Desire is a sweet one.  Staci had been begging for a dog, but because of her busy schedule, her Daddy said, "When you're on your own, you can get a dog, but not while you're still here."  We had had our share of pets:  dogs, cats, cattle and horses as our two kids grew up.  Now, it was NO MORE PETS!

I was Staci's travel companion back then as she would speak and sing at meetings, churches, youth conferences, etc. all over the world.  This time, she was speaking and singing on 100 Huntley Street, a television program in Toronto, Canada.   After the show, Staci went with me to get my hair cut.  The hair stylist, Kelli, wanted to know Staci's story and as she told it, Kelli began to cry.  Then she told her story.  It was a divine appointment as before our eyes, we saw Kelli have life transformation.  To express her gratitude, Kelli wanted to give Staci one of her adorable Cocker Spaniel puppies.  Staci was overjoyed.....BUT "Daddy said "No dogs!"  She called him with the news, and he said, "Give your Mother the phone!"  He said to me, "Donna, you've got to talk some sense into her.  She cannot bring a dog home."  Staci took back the phone and said, "Daddy, I just want you to pray about it."

We were in Toronto a few more days, and it was time to head to Michigan for meetings.  Staci made her last call for mercy to her Daddy.  He answered the phone and said, "I prayed.  And God said to me 'Ron, I am your Father, and if I wouldn't withhold any good thing from you, how could you withhold any good thing from your daughter?" Staci screamed and fell across the bed crying.  I didn't know they were tears of joy, until he shared the news with me. Oh happy day!

Staci named her little puppy Desire -- because God gave her "the desire of her heart" (Psalm 37:4). We brought Desi home with us and to our surprise, her Daddy had balloons and a cake waiting for us, AND a doggie door.  The cake said "Welcome Home, Desi"!  Desi became a member of the family.  She was the sweetest, gentlest God-gift to us.  She was a member of the Wallace family until she passed away five years ago.

But, Alexia's prayers for a little dog were answered when friends gave her Emma.  Emma is such a sweet Yorkie. And, as the story went for Staci -- Emma was the desire of Alexia's heart.

And, I ask you.....What is the desire of your heart, today?  Psalm 37:4 -- "Delight yourself in Him....and He will give YOU the desires of your heart!"