Dessert

"Well, we went on a cruise as a reward for when Chuck was outstanding salesman one year. It was supposed to have a renowned French chef, but..." Adorable Cousin begins to tell her tale of woe about her experience. "We had a dessert one night. Chuck looks at it and whispers to me, 'that looks like pigeon pooh,' and we laugh. Of course everyone else wants to know what Chuck said..."

You can't always tell by looking at the outside whether a dessert is good or not. Those of us from the U.S. are adapted to a bit more sugar than most other countries. A missionary wife shared how when in Pakistan looking in the bakery window a certain confection looked scrumptious, the reality however was that it lacked enough sweetness to be palatable.

I've seen memes lately that encourage people to do that which makes them happy as if happiness is the reason for our lives. Being happy is not the epitome of our lives. Being busy isn't either. To be productive and creative is a touch on the hem of the garment. It is important to learn how to be content with a simple life.

Another thought from the last quite a few years has been buy this now because 'you deserve' it, you deserve to be happy... Have you ever wondered how they know what you or I deserve? A friend of mine used to say to others (usually people in distress) who asked why me? He would say, well, why not you?

I doubt very much he had ever read the book of Job in which Job replies in Job 2:10 "But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?"

Good and evil happen in life, if happiness is the true measure of success we've happened into the wrong dimension. Yet, happiness is achievable by all of us. Like adjusting the sails on your ship an adjustment in attitude and also a realization that it's a good thing we don't get what we 'deserve'. If we were all perfect what we deserve (our just desserts) would be good. Not being perfect we really don't want those desserts. Too many people today see themselves as perfect, sadly there will be a judgement and they will find themselves as the man at the wedding feast without proper wedding attire.

Matthew 22:9 "Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10) So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. 11) And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12) And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13) Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14) For many are called, but few are chosen."

In this circumstance the guests were provided the garments for the wedding. When the king came in the guest (Friend) hadn't put his wedding garment on, so he was not prepared and was speechless. Those wedding garments are provided through baptism where we contact the blood of Christ. If we don't put them on we will be speechless before the throne of judgement. And that is truly a dessert we don't want.