Saturday, September 21, 2013

"The Wonder of Biscoff, the Wonder of God"

(Thanks to my son Noah for inspiration on this one).   

  
 Prepare for me to either bless or ruin your life with the following.  At first you'll thank me.  Later, however, you may come looking for me with a big stick! (remember the many Scriptures about forgiveness, please!).

    My son Noah just called with a culinary tip.  "Dad, you need to get a chocolate bar (85% cacao, pretty dark) and spread Biscoff cream on it."  My immediate reaction involved awe and excitement.  First, I love chocolate, although the 85% version is a bit stout for my taste buds.  However, with a slathering of Biscoff cream, well, we're talking potential for a completely off the charts comestible experience.

    Oh, you don't know what Biscoff cream is?  Well, it's a spread derived from Biscoff cookies, with a texture, but not the taste of peanut butter.  Biscoff cookies?  Words escape me at this point, but I'll do the best I can.  Biscoff are a version of a Belgian cookie called "speculoos."  They possess a perfect balance of softness and crunch, which serves as the vehicle for a caramel flavor that is graced by a sublime amalgam of spices I am sure God personally gave to the Lotus Company that makes the cookies (only He could have devised such a recipe!).  Many Americans know Biscoff because they've long been served on Delta Airlines.  Our family discovered them through the recommendation of our youngest daughter Emmie's suitor, Sheldon.  He's British, and they're more familiar with the cookies over there than here (and yes, I acknowledge that all you English folk who receive these messages are smarter than us Yanks!).  Personally, I believe that Biscoff are among the top 100 evidences (maybe top 50!) that God exists, and that He loves us infinitely more than we can begin to imagine.  Indeed, He not only gave the recipe to the Lotus folks, but He gave us taste buds to enjoy the wonder of Biscoff!  Amazing!

    "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights... God...giveth us richly all things to enjoy" (James 1:17; I Timothy 6:17).

     A friend and I just yesterday discussed the matter of our Lord's desiring that we know and experience true joy and pleasure.  Moreover, He purposes that we will know Him as the heart of all joy.  "In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand are pleasures forevermore" (Psalm 16:11).  I suppose that Biscoff - and many other things in life - would provide a bit of joy and happiness if one didn't know the Lord Jesus Christ.  When we do know Him, however, that is, when we do know the Giver of "every good gift and every perfect gift," enjoyment becomes opportunity for worship.  A small cookie indeed reminds us of a huge and monumental truth, namely, that God made food with flavor, and He gave us the capacity to taste and savor.  He could have omitted such opportunity for our enjoyment.  He could have created food as a mere necessity, and He could have programmed us to eat simply as a matter of survival.  This He did not do, however, because when God made man, He made him to rejoice.  Think of what this says about Him.  I will join you, and then let us fall to our knees and faces in the wonder not of Biscoff, but of our unspeakably wonderful Lord.

    I close now.  I have to go get a chocolate bar!  85%!  Also, I do not recommend the overeating of Biscoff, which if you happen to experience, I take no responsibility and will not allow myself to be clubbed with the aforementioned big stick! :)

"Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again, I say rejoice."
(Philippians 4:4)
"Thou openest Thine hand, and satisfieth the desire of every living thing."
(Psalm 145:16)  

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