The Cray Cray Love of Parents and God

I’m watching you, moms and dads. You’re the ones who continue to post photos and videos of your child or children receiving awards for their intellectual achievements and athletic abilities (even though some of you admitted that your child’s team never won a game – they still received an award). You are the ones standing on your tippy toes, on the floor at the front of the crowd, capturing it all on video or camera. You are leaning in and shushing anyone around you who is taking away from their moment on the stage. Your child crosses the stage to receive their diploma or award and your hands are waving wildly and you are screaming out their name with pride and joy.

You don’t give up and you don’t even consider yourself looking a little cray cray. Your eyes are locked on your child and there is nothing that will stand in your way. You are so crazy proud and crazy in love with this child – you just can’t help yourself.

And if you think you have an indescribable love for your kids -- it no way compares to how wild God is for us. He is on the front row and if He had a camera, He’d be taking pictures and videos of you, too. Here’s why I know that’s true. God is among us. He’s everywhere, but right here close to us. Don’t miss it. He wrote all about His love in His Holy Word and His wild display of affection for us is written there -- living and active. "He appeared to me saying: 'I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving kindness, I have drawn you. (Jeremiah 31:3) He’s eager to be near to us when we believe no one else wants to be. (Psalm 34:18) He draws near to us and sticks with us as we go through our day.

Jesus’ love looks crazy. What did people say of Jesus as he showed crazy love and said He was God? “He’s crazy, a maniac -- out of his head completely. Why bother listening to him?” (John 10:20) He was so crazy that He gave up His own life for you and me. Jesus’ crazy love is still after you and me. It doesn’t care about mess-ups and our past. His love is way beyond you moms and dads who are so crazy in love with your kiddos. He is waving at you, desiring you and moving with you throughout your day of joys and sorrows, comforts and discomforts, acceptance and rejection, wins and defeats.

Your kids may get a little embarrassed with your audacious display of affection and may even look away thinking “Maybe if I don’t look at them, no one will know I’m with them!” But, DON’T be embarrassed as God’s kids. Let’s embrace His crazy love and not look the other way. Let’s embrace His pursuit and His affection. Jesus is crazy about you. Just know that. Receive that. Sit in that. Dwell in that. Bathe in that – and receive His indescribable, unrelenting, reckless, crazy love.

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine.
I couldn't earn it, and I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God.

Help Me! I’m an Ice Cream-oholic!

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! My addiction to ice cream started with the yummy homemade peach ice cream my dad made in those old crank ice cream makers. Then, my dad enabled more love when after church each Sunday night, he’d take me to the nearby convenience store and buy me a chocolate fudgesicle. My addiction intensified when my parents gave me a quarter to buy ice cream from the ice cream man and his truck that regularly rolled through my neighborhood. It’s their fault that I fell into an ice cream world of DELIGHT!

You might know you’re an ice cream-oholic if:
1. You know all kinds of flavors from many different brands.
2. No season or sickness can stop you from having it.
3. You don’t fuss over what to eat for dessert, because you already know it’s ice cream.
4. Sometimes, you substitute meals with ice cream.
5. Your fridge might run out of any food item, but it’ll always have ice cream.
6. Your local ice cream shop owner knows what your favorite flavor is, and will generally keep it in stock.
7. You eat ice cream when you’re happy, unlike the others who eat it when they’re sad.
8. You have tried the craziest ice cream combinations (French fries and ice cream, pickles and ice-cream anyone?)
9. You try out local ice creams when you travel. (Gelato in Rome is to write home about!)
10. And finally, you know that when your day has been rather humdrum, there’s always ice cream waiting for you back home.

My son has loved Braum’s Chocolate Almond Ice Cream ever since he lived in Oklahoma. When he’s lived in other states and would come back home to us in Oklahoma or Texas, it was always a MUST DO – to get his favorite ice cream. (Braum's stores are all within 300 miles of their home store in Tuttle, OK) So in pondering what I could get him for this year’s birthday, my lightning-fast-mind remembered this “love” of his and how I could create a mutual lovefest! I purchased some dry ice and loaded up my cooler with 8 tubs of Braum’s Chocolate Almond Ice Cream, plus cones and a Braum’s ice cream scooper. Of course, I made his gift givers' A-List!

Anyone who’s experienced pangs of hunger and cravings when looking at an ice cream cone can attest that the sugary, creamy treat is near irresistible. And it’s not just because our bodies, and taste buds, have evolved to crave sugar on regular basis. When you break down the chemistry behind ice cream, it’s easy to see why: It’s been engineered to the perfect combination of elements — sugar, fat, frozen water, and air — that make up the mouthwatering concoction.

Ice cream is underrated -- just look at the benefits:
1. Ice cream can last weeks and even months in the freezer and can be enjoyed time and time again.
2. Ice Cream goes with everything.
3. Ice Cream soothes sore throats.
4. Ice Cream cools you down on these scorching hot days.
5. Ice Cream brings you back to your childhood. (Note my comments above. I left one thing off -- those graham crackers & a slab of chocolate ice cream in the school cafeteria!)

I've never outgrown the DELIGHT of ice cream, though I've curbed my addiction. By now, you're probably thinking "I know somewhere in here Donna has a devotional for us"!! And I do!
The Psalmist David wrote in Psalm 119:103 "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" And in Psalm 34:8 he wrote, "Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him."

The question is "Do our eyes light up in delight when we hear God's Words like these I just quoted? Do our eyes also light up in delight when we hear the name of Jesus or when we share His love with someone else? Or has it become a ho-hum routine love affair and the wonder is gone?"

Oh, that we would be addicted to our Lord and spiral out-of-control with our love for Him -- 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 someone else's life. May we DELIGHT in our Savior and then share the light of His love--a smile, a word of encouragement, a hug -- and yes, a bowl of ice cream, too!

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?

Savoring the Last Bite

My husband viewed his eating as a form of art. Family members will tell you hilarious stories of how he’d use dining times to teach us the ways to enjoy our meals more. He’d show our grandchildren the proper way to hold the knife in one hand and the fork in the other, and how to shovel the food into the fork with the knife. He’d show us the finest way to eat cereal -- putting the milk in the bowl before we put the cereal in. He’d make us try his favorite Mexican food dessert -- sugar on tortilla chips. He’d encourage us to separate our food on our plate so we could savor each distinct flavor. AND, he’d always save one bite of his favorite food item to be his last bite.

I thought about him yesterday morning and all his mealtime quirks, and it brought a big smile to my face – especially when I had saved my final breakfast bite to be the English muffin with apricot preserves on it. Indeed, that was my favorite bite and I wanted to savor it a little while longer. He'd be proud of me!

God amuses me, because the next thoughts I had was how I would use these thoughts in my post for today. Sweet memories plus sweet last bites, equals a post for today. LOL! Psalm 119:103 says “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

What about the last bite – rather, the last words we spoke in conversation with a friend or loved one? What do we want them to savor – the loving, kind and gratitude-filled words we left them with, or bitter, angry, complaining words? Were they words of sweetness or were they distasteful words? Proverbs 18:20-21 says “A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”

The fruit of our mouths – death or life. That’s pretty heavy thinking, but in reality, like my husband was endeavoring to teach us the best ways to enjoy our food, God is teaching us the best ways to live our lives that brings others joy and comfort.

I’m so glad the last words I spoke to my Sweetheart before his graduation to heaven were “Push, Baby, push. I’ll be okay, so go ahead and go home. I love you forever and I’ll see you soon.” I’m so glad God forgave me for the times my words weren’t so sweet and how, now, He continually reminds me that my last words with a friend or loved one should be LIFE, not death; PEACE, not fear; LOVE, not hate; JOY, not sorrow. We have the opportunity, every day, to leave those sweet words for those around us to savor. Proverbs 16:24 says "Pleasant words are honey from a honeycomb— sweet to the soul and healing for the body." .

Whether our days run smooth as glass or are rocky and bumpy, may God’s messages of truth have such an impact on us that our hearts and our mouths produce "soft and sweet words.....so that if we have to eat them, we'll be eating yummy, delectable treats. What was your last bite today? What were the last words you spoke to someone? What are they savoring?

I LOVE Chocolate

Day 12 in this Month of Love -- I LOVE Chocolate
How can I be celebrating the Month of Love without celebrating my LOVE for chocolate? Actually, I am a recovering chocoholic. I'm not near as addicted as I was when the sweet, savory and delectible chocolate treats DIDN'T go to my hips! LOL! Last April, while on a Northern European cruise, one of our ports was Hamburg, Germany -- the home of the Chocoversum by Hachez factory and museum. My dear shipmates indulged me by going by train with me to get there for their famous "German" chocolates.

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. Remember the ice cream trucks coming through the neighborhood? Chocolate fudgesicle!! So I blame this addiction on my parents. LOL! That was just the beginning. 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, crunchy or nutty chocolate. You're probably thinking "I know somewhere in here Donna has a devotional for us"!! And I do!

The Psalmist David wrote in Psalm 119:103 "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" And in Psalm 34:8 he wrote, "Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him."

The question is "Do our eyes light up in delight when we hear God's Words like these I just quoted? Do our eyes also 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's melted and the wonder is gone?"

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 someone else's life.

Let's delight in our Savior and then share the light of His love--a smile, a hug, a word of encouragement -- and yes, some CHOCOLATE too!

I LOVE Chocolate!

I have a confession to make. I LOVE chocolate so much so, that I should be a member of Chocoholics Anonymous (if there is such a group)!

One of my earliest kid memories was my 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, how well I remember the ice cream trucks coming through the neighborhood and getting my chocolate fudgesicle. So I blame this addiction on my parents. LOL! That was just the beginning. From there, it was chocolate cake, chocolate candy, chocolate pie, chocolate brownies, chocolate malts .....you can see how someone could become a connoisseur of chocolate, and I am.

Say "chocolate" and my eyes still light up--for you see, I've never outgrown the delight of indulging in creamy, dark or light, crunchy or nutty chocolate! My mouth is watering even as I type this post. Okay, I know you're saying "I know somewhere in here Donna has a devotional for us!" And I do!!

The Psalmist David wrote in Psalm 119:103 "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" And in Psalm 34:8 he wrote, "Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him." And in Psalm

37:4 He says, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He shall give you desires of your heart."

So I ask myself, and I ask you, "Do our eyes light up in delight when we hear God's Words, like they light up when we hear "chocolate" or another favorite food or treat? Do we savor God's Word, when we share that morsel of delight with someone else? Or has our "sweet tooth" for God's Word and His love for us become a hum-drum routine love affair--the chocolate's melted, the wonder's gone, de-light has gone out?"

Oh, that we would fall in love anew today with God and His Word -- delight in His presence and rejoice in His love. Let's delight in God and His Word so much that we light up someone's world today, as we share a smile, a hug, a prayer, a gift, a word of encouragement --and yes, some CHOCOLATE too!