Category: acceptance, love

Exploding fish!

Not gourmet….

My cooker is not working just now, so I have been using the microwave more. I tried to cook fish, but you can see what happened. It started off well, but then there was a bang, and there were bits of fish all over the place. It didn’t smell brilliant either.

My cooking skills are such that people do not come round for food! Tea, coffee, cake maybe, but food cooked in some form and put on a plate- unlikely. Some of my culinary disasters are the stuff of legend.

Sometimes we have an image of what we are meant to be like. We should be able to cook, be tidy, be punctual etc. But no one can live up to all of this. No human being can live up to societal roles, and maybe we just need to be accepted for being ourselves, even if it means smoke coming out the microwave.

So often in the Bible, we are reminded that God loves us, even if we can’t cook, hold a tune or whatever it is. We are all flawed, and we are always going to struggle with some things. Words by Paul in Romans help.

‘God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us whilst we were still sinners.’ Romans 5:8

We might be tempted to focus on our failings and shortcomings, big and small, and that can be tough. We might despair that we are not stronger, more confident, more able. Yet God sees us as we are, with all our faults, and still looks at us with love and mercy. We are so blessed that we are accepted as we are, and maybe we need to accept ourselves also.

Gracious God, You are merciful, Your love is abundant and pure. You see us, our gifts and our shortcomings. You strengthen all that is good within us, Lord Jesus, and You gave your life for all our faults and failings, so we can receive forgiveness and be at peace. Thank you that you help us live at peace with who we are. We still ask that you send your holy spirit to continue to shape us to be more like Jesus- but meantime in the midst of our failures and weaknesses we can also live without shame and condemnation. Thank you for your grace, Amen..

Coming home at Christmas?

This is a photo of our wonderful dog Gabriel welcoming me home. Yes, he is in fact standing on the dining room table. Yes, I had only been to the bin. But there he is welcoming me back to the house, with excitement and enthusiasm!

We have an image, about what it is like to be welcomed back home. It is a bit like the movie images, of a harmonious family sitting round the dinner table, synchronising forkfuls of delicious food, with a place setting with your name on it. But it is seldom exactly like this.

This year, we are all so conscious that we can meet up with a few loved ones at Christmas, under the new regulations. But it is so hard. Many people are opting not to visit, as they think this is the best way to keep loved ones safe. Others are travelling or planning, but are worried as to who to invite or not, and how that might be received. There are strained relationships and worries as to what to do. It is so complex, as to what to do for the best.

When we celebrate Christmas, we remember that we are celebrating the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ. His birth brings Hope, Love, Salvation, Forgiveness, Joy. It is a beautiful time, whether we celebrate it alone or with others

And if we are celebrating alone, for whatever reason, we remember the story of the Prodigal Son. He was far from home, he turned away from his family and went and did his own thing. But when he decided to go home, his Father was watching for him, and celebrated with the best robe and a feast of celebration, for the one who was lost was found.

This reminds us, that actually we are never by ourselves, for God welcomes us into His presence with a tender love and care. And this Christmas, my prayer is that every person will know that message of grace and love, wherever they may be.

There is a beautiful song called ‘ You came running’ by Laura Story which reminds us that in Luke 15:20 it says: ‘ while he was still a long way off, his Father saw him, and was filled with compassion for him, he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.’ The Father sees his children, and he runs to welcome us. What extraordinary grace and undeserved love. When we are with God, we are always spiritually home.

Let us pray, Gracious Father, when we feel lost or alone, thankyou that You are looking out for us, and long to welcome us back to you. Lord Jesus, Saviour of the world, You came as the Word made flesh, to open up the door to eternal life, to all who place their trust in You. Holy spirit, prompt us to keep returning to You, to know that You never turn us away, and that we can be reconciled with Yourself. In the midst of disrupted plans, and empty places this Christmas, may we know how much we are loved by You, and find peace, Amen.

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