Midweek Encouragement - "Pancakes and Forgiveness”

"Pancakes and Forgiveness”

  ^{One Saturday morning, six year-old Billy decided to make pancakes for his parents. He rooted through Mom’s kitchen cabinet and finally found a big mixing bowl. In her drawer full of kitchen utensils, Billy found just the right mixing spoon. Pulling a chair up to the counter, he opened the cupboard door and pulled out the heavy flour canister, knocking off the lid and spilling much of it onto the floor.}

^{With his hands he scooped up some of the flour from the floor and dropped it into the bowl, mixing in most of a cup of milk and adding some sugar, leaving a floury trail on the floor wherever he walked.}

^{By now Billy was covered with flour and very frustrated. He had seen his mother do this countless times and she made it look so easy. He wanted to surprise Mom and Dad and show them that he could be a big boy, but things were quickly turning from bad to worse. He didn't know what to do next. Should he put it all in the oven or on top of the stove? But he didn't know how the stove worked!}

^{Out of the corner of his eye he saw his kitten licking from the bowl of pancake mix and reached to push her away, knocking the egg carton to the floor. Frantically he tried to clean up the monumental mess he had made but he slipped on the eggs, fell, and got his pajamas white and sticky.}

^{Just then he looked up . . . and saw Dad standing at the door. Big crocodile tears filled his eyes. All he really wanted was to do was something good, but he had made a terrible mess. He was ready for a scolding, maybe even a spanking, but his father just stood, watching him. Walking through the mess, Dad picked up his crying son and hugged him, getting his own pajamas white and sticky in the process!}

^{My friend, that's how your heavenly Father deals with you and me. You try to do something good with your life, but it often turns into a mess. Maybe your marriage is a little sticky or you’ve insulted a friend, or you’ve become frustrated with your job, or your health has taken a turn for the worse.}

^{Sometimes all you can do is just stand there in tears because you can't think of anything else to do. And that, my friend, is when God bends down, picks you up and tells you how much He cares. He forgives you when you make a mess of your life. Just because you mess up every now and then, don’t stop trying to “make pancakes” for God. Just because you make a mess trying to do something kind for someone else doesn’t mean you should stop trying. Sooner or later you’ll get it right, and the people whom you’re trying to serve will be glad you kept trying.}

^{As you charge into a New Year, do you have any wounds that need to be healed before you take another step? Do you have a friendship that needs mended? Is there someone you need to forgive . . . maybe even yourself? Don’t EVEN expect to arrive at December 31, 2024 without dropping an egg or two on the floor . . . or spilling some flour . . . or making a mistake that you feel God could never forgive. Remind yourself that God can forgive you . . . and will forgive you when you mess up again . . . and you will. Is there someone YOU need to forgive? Is there a Billy in your life who needs picked up, dusted off, and shown God’s unconditional love through you?}

^{Until next week, I leave you with these words of Jesus . . . "Do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37, NIV).}

^{May the forgiveness of Almighty God, our gracious Lord, be yours to share with others in this New Year!}

^{Pastor Dale}

Pastor Dale (PD) and Pamela his wife are honored to serve the Mt. Laurel Church of God. If this Mid-Week Encouragement has helped you, perhaps it may encourage someone else. Feel free to share this message with anyone you choose. And if you'd like to receive PD's Mid-Week Encouragement, just send an email to (kingdomguy@gmail.com) and I'll accommodate your request.