Turning up the Heat

Often God speaks to me in the midst of everyday life. It's the simple things, daily life. Recently, as I was washing out a couple of pots and pans, He showed me a life lesson.

I like to cook. I like to bake. I even like to grocery shop. Cleaning up, not so much. I used to joke that my dream job would be to cook or bake but not have to do the cleaning up. Yet the act of cleaning up is the most practical place I found a heart lesson.

Inadvertently, when cooking, by natural recourse, pans and baking dishes get dirty. Every single thing has to be washed. If you don't do it almost immediately then you have to scrub with soaps and degreasers. There are sponges, washcloths, scrubbies, and even stainless steel scratch pads. Baking pans, even those non stick ones, wear out or still have items that stick. I've never known anyone who tries to make food stick to a pan because they want to clean it up.

As I was pondering the fate of a caramel which in a moment turned from golden brown to burnt so badly I couldn't scrape it off, I thought about my own life and instances where I didn't mean to miss the mark, sin, hide anything, go astray, or hurt someone, but they happened.

Jesus paid the price for us. It's 100% true and I can be completely clean with repentance. The first step is admittance. Doesn't matter if it was unintentional. It all counts. There are faults, failures, slip ups, active rebellion as well as omission- not doing things I should. And as I've come to find out in my own life, no excuses. No one makes me falter or sin. It's my own choice. After I acknowledge it, it's still there. I have to be cleaned. It's ugly and as with the pan of burnt caramel, I could use it, but it would smell and taste burnt.

With some things in our lives, it's as simple as an I'm sorry and a hug. Or a change of attitude. All faults and sins and rebellions are forgiven. Some though just stick to you. Addictions are like that. It could be anything - pornography, exercise, books, drugs or alcohol, TV, shopping, or even your work. Why? Because they developed over time and became a habit that turned into a rut in life. Oversimplified for sure.

Yet, there are ways to overcome.

With my pot I tried rinsing it out with some regular dish soap. I tried soaking it in baking soda. I tried scraping with a knife. I went to the internet and tried several other tactics. I did not want to throw out this pan. It was good stainless steel that I'd had for many years. I even tried SOS pads (now you know how old I am to use those). When caramelization built up on the bottom of my pans, I'd use those to clean them off for better heat transfer. Nope, didn't touch it!

One last thing to try. I placed it back on the stove and put water in the pan covering the scorched parts and turn on the heat. Higher. Higher. Boil. Not working. But I left it. It boiled for what seemed like ages which was probably 5 minutes but I started to see flecks in the water. Next thing I knew a few chunks. Yes, it was that bad. I turned off the heat, took it to the sink and dumped out the water. With a spoon I went along the edge and the edges of burnt area started peeling off and then it wiped completely clean. My pan hadn't looked that clean since it was new. All the residue was gone.

Turning that pan into something new is like my life. I am never too far gone. Thankfully Jesus always knows exactly what is needed to make me new again each time I mess up. He can do that for you.

Often it's our own stubbornness and lack of reflection that keeps us from coming clean. Sometimes, we are unaware and then it gets hold of us. We can get in over our head. When we are aware, we try it on our own, we hide. At times, we make excuses for ourselves by saying it's just who we are. Rebellion. We don't like that word, but we just don't want to change. It honestly doesn't matter where you fall with some of your faults, sins, failures. It may be none of these.

But if you've been baked, burnt, or scorched and you are deep in your own stuff, Jesus may just turn up the heat. That's right. It's for a good cause. YOU!

1. There is ALWAYS a way out. 1 Corinthians 10:13

2. First step is admitting your error, fault, sin, attitude, rebellion, or stumble. 1 John 1:9

3. Go to Jesus. He will always forgive a genuine heart. 1 John 1:9

4. Tell someone. Let them agree with you in prayer. James 5:16

5. All of us have fallen short. Romans 3:23

6. Isaiah 1:18-19 TPT Come now and let's deliberate over the next steps to take together. Yahweh promises you over and over: Though your sins stain you like scarlet, I will whiten them like bright, new fallen snow! Even though they are deep red like crimson, they will be made white like wool! If you have a willing heart to let me help you, and if you will obey me, you will feast on the blessings of an abundant harvest.

The more I know my Jesus, the more I want to be clean and bright. He took my sin and shame and in it's place gave me a pure, holy, and personal relationship.

Unstuck in Him, KTWL