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..