The Beauty Of A Clean Slate

Isn't it the best feeling ever
to have a clean slate?
Maybe someone came over
and cleaned your stove
and you were so very grateful
because you didn't have to
take so much
of your own time and energy
to scrub that old burned food
and charred mess off of there.
It's sparkly, gleamy white again.
And I smile at this juncture
because what does it make you
want to do when you have
a clean stove?
It makes you want to cook!
The stove is clean!
And then you cook
and make another big mess.

I smiled today
as I was cleaning MY stove.
Especially since I just took time
to thoroughly clean it yesterday.
A clean slate beckons one
to practice doing something
ever so important for others.
You get to think of food to make
and the excited way people react
when they find out
what you are making.
You go buy the ingredients
and you put so much work
and effort into your cooking.
And then you serve your food
and you get to hear
the ooohs and ahhhs.

But alas, you've made another mess!
And by the time
you put all that effort
into preparing and serving the food,
you have found you've lost
all energy to want to clean up
your own mess.
You know what I'm saying here
because all of us have been there.

And this got me thinking today.
I may not enjoy cleaning up a mess.
But the joy of knowing
that a clean slate will encourage
someone to be excited
to begin a new meal
and create and learn the art
of loving to cook,
is worth all the clean-ups.

God gives us that clean slate.
The blood of His Son
given on our behalf
is there for us.
When we call for help,
He hears and comes
and pours out words of life
and the tender love
of His Spirit
and we are made clean again
"by the washing of regeneration
and the renewal of the Holy Spirit."
So clean!
So sparkly and gleamy white!
And we can practice going out
and being His people
with all our mess and hang-ups,
our insecurities and faults.
But practicing being like Christ
will most often make a mess
as you practice "cooking".
We live in a fallen world.
Oh but the gleam in His eyes
as He gets to clean you
yet again.
The slate is clean.
The cleansing blood of Jesus
NEVER loses it's power.
You are Gods sons and daughters.
And just as you are patient
with your sons and daughters
who are learning and growing
and in all that, making a mess.
Then you clean for them
in your love for them...
How much MORE
your Heavenly Father!

Go into all the world!
You won't be perfect.
You will make messes.
But God would much rather
that you grow up in Him
and make messes along the way
than that you never cook
or practice coming into maturity
and the stove always stays
untouched.
Stoves were made for cooking
and the practice
of food preparation.
And you were made
to go and reach out to others
in love.
He always makes things new!

And remember, the very first time
that you cook (and make a mess),
then the second time you cook,
you've already learned something
and you've grown.

And that is really really great!!