Chocolate! Chocolate! Chocolate! Imagine working as a chocolatier creating fabulous mouth -watering desserts or amazing sculptures!

Can you guess which of the 3 options below was created as a chocolate sculpture?

In 2018 a Brazilian chocolatier team created the largest chocolate sculpture to date. Standing 7’10” high and weighing 23,122 lbs., it is a house complete with chocolate stove, pans, chair, etc. ¹

You still guessed correctly if you chose one of the other options! The French created a Mayan temple 6’ high, weighing 18,239 lbs. ²   Not to be out done, a British chocolatier sculpted 220 lbs. of Belgian chocolate to create a 6’2” tall Willy Wonka. ³

Besides the fact that I love chocolate, why am I blogging about it? How does it relate to God? To answer those questions, let’s imagine being a chocolatier. How would we create fabulous chocolates?

1. INGREDIENT SELECTION

Chocolatiers are masters at bringing the best out of the chocolate. How do they do that? By carefully selecting ingredients which complement and enhance each flavor.

Isn’t God a master at bringing out the best in each of us?

He lovingly selects the gifts, talents, etc. which will complement and enhance our personality to make us a unique and wonderful creation.

I will praise You,
for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works, 
And that my soul knows very well,
Psalm 139:14

2. RECIPE DEVELOPMENT

Next, the chocolatier develops a recipe combining ingredients in unique and wonderful ways. They further develop their recipe by adding in new ingredients like nuts, smooth creams and fruits.

Doesn’t the Lord do the same?

When we need a little humor in our lives,
the Lord throws in a few nuts.

When we need peace, He smooths out our churning thoughts. How about fruit like love, joy and all the fruits of the Spirit? Those fruits won’t be in our chocolate, but they are certainly fillings for us.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control,
Galatians 5:22-23a ESV

Like chocolate can be made richer by adding certain ingredients to the recipe, the Lord can add people to our lives that enrich us too.

What if a recipe still lacks something?

Just like a chocolatier’s recipe can be lacking an ingredient, don’t we sometimes lack an ingredient in our lives? For example; look at Saul, the learned Pharisee, who followed God’s laws. Yet Saul, was persecuting Christians.

An ingredient was lacking in Saul’s life; faith in Jesus.  Once Saul believed, he was able to fulfill God’s plan for His life becoming Paul, the apostle, (Acts 8:1-3, 9:1-22, 13:9).

By faith
we can add the ingredients lacking in our lives.

By faith, we can believe in Jesus.* By faith, we can receive God’s love, believe who He created us to be and fulfill His plan for our lives.

“For I know the plans I have for you,”
declares the Lord,
“Plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future,
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

3. TEMPERING

What is tempering? It’s the process of warming, cooling and mixing the chocolate to reform its’ structure into a stable pattern. While cooling, the chocolatier moves the chocolate in sync with their hand movements usually on a marble surface.

The results? Chocolate with a smooth texture, bright light reflecting finish, perfect flavor and solid form even in warm temperatures^{. 4}

Don’t problems heat up our lives causing melt downs and dull thinking? What if we move in sync with the Lord?

The results?
He smooths over our fears.
Our thinking reflects His light.
Our faith stabilizes.
We remain faithful even if problems heat up our lives.

4. SHAPING OR MOLDING

Chocolatiers don’t use machines to shape identical chocolates like my favorite Snickers bar. They are involved in intricately shaping the details of every chocolate.

The Lord loves us so much, that He wants to be involved in shaping the intricate details of our lives, too.

O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do,
Psalm 139:1-3 NLT

ARE YOU HUNGRY YET?

Fill up on God’s love and maybe a little chocolate. Then share! Like we share gifts of a chocolatier’s creations, we can share Jesus; the gift of God’s love.

WHAT’S THE PERFECT GIFT THIS SEASON?

GOD’S LOVE
AND A LITTLE CHOCOLATE.

REFLECTION

Have you received Jesus’ love for you?

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, as I write Psalm 139:14, and say it aloud, remind me that I am uniquely and wonderfully created by Your loving hands. Help me to receive and share Your love and maybe a little chocolate. In Jesus name. Amen.

IN FAITH RECEIVE & GIVE GOD’S LOVE

Comment!

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*For information on making Jesus Christ your Savior, email me or visit, http://www.peacewithgod.net/

1www.guinnessworldrecords.com
2 modernmet.com
3 bbc.com
4 Chocolatier info; thegoodchocolatier.com, careerexploror.com, chocolatiering.com
Photo dessert, drawsandcooksfood
Photo dog, christina0chiz