A Second Taste of Chocolate for the Soul

By Dr. Carol Kennedy

Do you like chocolate? Do you find it sweet, satisfying and delicious? Gods Word can be the same. Once it becomes part of your daily diet, you will hunger for it. This book is the second in a series of AWARD WINNING TASTE OF CHOCOLATE FOR THE SOUL books.

Dr. Carol shows the reader how Gods Word can sweeten relationships and solve problems through stories and psalms. The first section showcases psalms written by her and grandson Tyler. What a delightful journey!

A favorite grandson psalm:

God, You Are Like Ice Cream to Me.

Popular stories/testimonies:

God Will Knock Your Socks Off! and Kaleidoscopes Need Light.

Wouldnt it be wonderful if we could get people as excited about Gods Word as they are about chocolate?

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• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jan 17, 2017
• ISBN: 9781512769951

Dr. Carol Kennedy

Award winning author, Dr. Carol Kennedy, has over three decades experience teaching, consulting and speaking to varied audiences. Women of Faith and Cancer Survivors equally praise her ability to combine humor with inspiration. Popular Presentation: “How Can I Unlock God’s Power In My Life?” Dr. Kennedy received the President’s Award from the Florida Authors & Publishers Association, in the category of Women’s Christian Inspirational Literature for A Taste of Chocolate for the Soul. www.drcarolkennedy.com

Book preview

OTHER BOOKS BY DR. CAROL KENNEDY:

**AWARD WINNING: Women’s Inspirational Christian Literature**

A Taste of Chocolate for the Soul

ISBN 978-1-4497-3464-0 Soft cover

ISBN 978-1-4497-3465-7 Hard cover

ISBN 978-1-4497-3463-3 E-book

The Grief Monster

ISBN 0-9702741-3-0

The Encyclopedia of Parenting-from A to Z-

So Help Me God!

ISBN 0-9702741-0-6

The Fifteen Minute Guide to Parenting

ISBN 0-9702741-2-2

www.drcarolkennedy.com

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A

SECOND TASTE

OF CHOCOLATE FOR THE

SOUL

Dr. Carol Kennedy

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Copyright © 2017 Dr. Carol Kennedy.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scriptures marked KJV are taken from the KING JAMES VERSION (KJV): KING JAMES VERSION, public domain.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Photographer is Dr. Carol Kennedy. The Grief Monster pictures are the property of Dr. Carol Kennedy, author

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-5127-6994-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-6996-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-6995-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016921361

WestBow Press rev. date: 2/15/2017

CONTENTS

Dedication

To My Readers

Editor’s Note: From Dick Kennedy

Preface

What’s A Take Away Verse?

Introduction

Psalms By Granmum And Tyler

A Puppy Psalm

A Chocolate Psalm

Chocolate Psalm #2

A Coffee Psalm

Hammock Hands

A Summer Psalm

Carol’s Prayer Psalm

God, You Are Like Ice Cream To Me

Tree Psalm

When We Pray, Use The Psalms

A Crisp New Bible

A Love Letter To You God

A Simple Phrase And Yet…

Approaching Christmas

Approaching September Eleventh

Can God Ever Be Wrong?

Christian Living At Its Best

Communication’s The Key, At Any Level

Did You Make A U-Turn?

Do I Want To Be Righteous?

Does Your God Do This?

Don’t Box Him In

Even Jesus Doesn’t Know

Ever Have A Two -Way Conversation While Praying Or Reading Scripture?

Ever Wonder What Your Calling Is?

Get In The Right Mindset

God Himself Will Restore Me— He Said So

God Says, You’re Not Done Yet

God Will Knock Your Socks Off!

God’s Got A Hold On Me

God’s Power Is Electric

God’s The Big Parent

Grace Trumps Sin Every Time

Great Job!

Happiness And Joy Are Not The Same

He’s With Us

How Can The Word Be God?

How Can We Measure The Health Of A Church?

How Do I Know If Church Leaders Are Misleading Or False?

I Am A Letter Of Recommendation

I Am Amazed

I Stand At The Door

I’m Living It!

In All Honesty….

Is There Any Benefit To Following Christ?

It’s A Secret

Jesus Will Stoop Down

John Knew His Place

Kaleidoscopes Need Light

A Kaleidoscope Of My Grief Monster

How To Turn Life’s Broken Pieces Into God’s Kaleidoscope

Ladies, God Has A Special Job Just For Us

Leaders In The Church

Let Peace Rule In Our Hearts

Life Got You Down?

Like Jesus, We Need To….

Look Straight Ahead

Love And Faithfulness: Write Them On The Tablet Of Your Heart

My Faith Is More Valuable Than Gold

My Fashion Statement: Wearing The Full Armor Of God

My Joy Hat

My Portion

Need A Push?

Now That I Look Back

Outreach To Assisted Living Facility

Passion Translation Good Night Kiss From Heaven

Paul Has Great Ideas

Philip Listened

Pray The Scriptures Back To God

Prayer—A Powerful Tool

Pressure Cooker’s About To Blow

Rise Above It

Scripture Can Settle Squabbles

Season Prayer With Salt

So, Who Is The Man Of Lawlessness And When Will He Be Revealed?

Sometimes I Don’t Get It Either

Standing In The Middle Of God’s Will

The Bible Says We Should Stand With Israel

The Tongue Is A Fire

Trust Him With The Why

Wake Up!

We All Fall Short

We Are Living Stones

We Have A Choice

What’s Your Excuse?

Where Was God September Eleventh?

Why Is Death So Hard?

Wise Words

The Granmum Bag

Conclusion

About The Author

References

Praise for A Second Taste of Chocolate for the Soul

I have known Dr. Carol Kennedy for almost a decade as a pastor and fan of her writing. Her books are heartfelt, engaging, comforting and challenging. Most impressive to me is that she is a genuine follower of Jesus, who loves God and others around her. She lives out what she writes!

Rev. Casey Neely, Ordained Pastor, United Methodist Church

In the first Taste of Chocolate for the Soul, Dr. Carol Kennedy provided us with a perfect recipe by bringing the sweetness of G-d’s Word to us in a unique way that we all could appreciate. I can’t wait to see what her divine inspiration will bring us in A Second Taste of Chocolate for the Soul. What a treat and how blessed we are to receive it!

Rabbi Dr. Richard M. Cowin

Medical Director, Laser Foot Surgery Specialist

Rabbi, Celebration Jewish Congregation

"If this Second Taste is anything like the first Taste of Chocolate for the Soul, I won’t be able to put it down! I love being able to read just a page or two at a time to lift my spirits.

Pati S.

A Mom and Grand-Mom

I love the style of Dr. Kennedy’s Chocolate for the Soul books.

I look to these books as places to find powerful scripture and inspiration in my own life. In the first book my favorite story was My Treasure Hunt. I haven’t decided yet on my very favorite in the Second Taste of Chocolate, but I am close!

I want to do what will make my life pleasing to Jesus. Reading the Taste of Chocolate books has definitely been an eye opener."

Amanda H, a college student

DEDICATION TO

My grandson, who through this past year, without knowing it, was the strongest catalyst and motivator for me to stay focused and complete this book number five.

Surgeries and death in the family slowed me down, but he still kept asking, Granmum, how’s the book coming? To prepare for an upcoming visit, my husband would say, What are you going to tell Tyler about the book? Have you been working on it? Soon, I would enter the writing room and face the computer. I would certainly have to tell grandson I was moving along with the writing. I knew there was no way I could refuse to finish the work. Thank you grandson, Tyler.

At the other end of the age spectrum was Miss Ellie. Eighty years older than my grandson: God put her in my life on the heels of my Dad’s passing. She too was a motivating force to finish book five. I was up and down with my energy, but she kept pushing me and praying for me to simply ‘get it done.’ Thank you Miss Ellie. And today she must view it from her eternal home, for God called her to heaven before its completion.

My Dad, who also recently went to his eternal home, and will see this book from heaven: He instilled confidence and perseverance into my character, always the optimist as he would comment: Of course you can do it honey, keep your chin up, and go for it.

It goes without saying, and I’m sure I don’t say it enough: Huge thanks to my husband, Dick, for hanging in there and understanding the meaning of the closed door to my writing room.

THANK YOU ONE AND ALL!

MANY THANKS TO

All my readers, who have rendered support and encouragement along my writing journeys. As with any journey, there are twists and turns and a few potholes. You know who you are, as you have extended a hand, retrieving me from the pothole. You’ve given to me a piece of your heart along the way.

Especially my husband of 46 years, Dick, who has been my biggest cheerleader supporting my endeavors, and accepting the challenge as editor.

My pastors and small group, women’s ministry and Bible Studies:

Pastor Casey Neely, asking me weekly of the book’s progress, and what scripture spoke to me as he helped me on my life journey. He kept me focused.

My online Bible Study group, who supported and prayed for me weekly.

My Tuesday morning Bible Study small group who have been by my side for years:

Irby, Norma, Lisa, Debbie, Sandy, Patti, Jean, Yvonne, Naomi, and Judy.

Typist Pati, always there when I needed her.

When I list names, I am always a bit fearful of missing someone.

Rest assured, if you encouraged me, you are on my list!

I appreciate all of my supporters and encouragers!

TO MY READERS

Thanks for stopping by and being a part of my writing experience. God has placed a special scripture upon my heart, just for you.

1 Thessalonians 2:8

We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.

May you enjoy the stories and psalms, knowing you have picked up a piece of my heart, as you lift each page.

God’s blessings to you….

Dr. Carol

EDITOR’S NOTE: FROM DICK KENNEDY

It is with extreme love and gratitude that I have observed Carol’s writing journeys and assisted with the editing of this fifth book. Carol’s ability to bring the scenarios to life and be used by the reader is to be admired. It is Carol’s hope that both the readers and the Lord will be pleased with this book.

I know I am.

I believe this to be her best work.

PREFACE

A Second Taste of Chocolate for the Soul is the second in a series of Chocolate for the Soul books. The style and format is similar to the first Taste of Chocolate for the Soul.

The Taste of Chocolate book titles are a fruit of the Women’s ministry I led with the same name, A Taste of Chocolate. The ministry and the books depend upon the attractive, sweet nature of chocolate.

Both books are my modern day parables. A parable is a story using familiar objects to teach Scripture lessons and make the story relevant. There’s a good reason I used the object of chocolate as the central thread running through the chocolate books. The use of chocolate and all its positive attributes is very similar to Scripture. I began to think of all the characteristics of chocolate and discovered I would have to confine my positive chocolate affects to the premier dark chocolate. Milk chocolate just wouldn’t do. For the parable to work, I had to use the dark chocolate theme.

It is the dark chocolate that contains antioxidants, 67% good fats and has the ability to lower blood pressure and bad cholesterol. Two ladies have shown me prescriptions from medical doctors stating: to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, eat two squares of unsweetened, dark chocolate daily. Until I researched the good affects and strengths of chocolate, I had no idea it actually could do all that. God’s Word is like chocolate in many ways!

God’s Word is:

1. Sweet

Psalm 119:103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.

2. Satisfying

Psalm 107:9— . . . for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

3. Energizing and creates endurance

Psalm 136:1—Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love endures forever.

4. Healthy

2 Timothy 3:16—All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

5. Calming

Psalm 46:10—"Be still and know that I am God.’

The program, planning and creating of the women’s ministry event, centered on chocolate all fell into place. My music lady created a Chocolate Song, which would become our theme song. Ladies jumped in to volunteer, donate finances, door prizes, and their time and resources, the likes of which I have never seen. The Holy Spirit charged us up and led us during the planning and implementation and completion of the first half day ministry program. I was moved. I was impressed. I was thrilled. So were nearly one hundred women.

CHECK OUT THIS SCRIPTURE READING METHOD. THE S.O.A.P. METHOD HAS HELPED ME GET AND STAY FOCUSED ON SCRIPTURE.

I THINK YOU WILL LIKE IT.

WHAT’S A TAKE AWAY VERSE?

Since my relationship with Jesus has grown over the years, I am able to see His fingerprints and feel His presence more than I ever imagined possible. He was there to comfort me, strengthen me and help me in all my struggles.

A few years ago my church initiated a scripture reading program called SOAP. Soap was an acronym for a scripture reading method:

S: Scripture to be read

O: Observation of the scripture setting

A: Application to my life

P: Prayer—conclude with a prayer the reader would write

Part of the SOAP process brought me to the realization that on most scripture reading mornings, God had a special verse or phrase or entire chapter that spoke to me loudly. It was the scripture that would get my attention the quickest and loudest. It would be that scripture I would choose for my SOAP method, and would be the one I needed in my life at that particular time.

This method proved to be exactly what I needed to be sure I wrote down and seriously thought about a scripture every day. This SOAP method carried me to the back porch most mornings, to a little round, mosaic table, surrounded by little white Christmas tree lights. The numerous white lights seemed to warm me from the inside out, and they put me in the mood for writing.

Most of the short selections you will read are written in a SOAP format. At times you will see scripture throughout, or in a little different order. In all the instances, I am