My wife, for as long as I can remember, has wanted really nice pots and pans. When we bought our new home, she finally got them. These babies are nice! She got the Rachael Ray’s with the bright orange handles. One thing I did not know about nice pots and pans was, when you get them, you also get every matching accessory known to mankind. We got the rack that you hang them from, professional chef style, from the ceiling. We also got the matching cool little kitchen “gadgets”. Next for me was the kicker. We got a big orange garbage bowl. For those who don’t know what a garbage bowl is, like I did not know, it is a matching bowl you set on the counter that you put your trash into as you cook. This can include can lids, egg shells, or that annoying part on ALL fresh fruits and vegetables you don’t eat. I have cooked for many years with my own garbage bowl…I called it a garbage can but, whatever, to each his own. This concept really got my mind turning. We each have our own personal garbage bowl. It is where we place our personal trash, mistakes, resentments, hurts, habits, hang ups, shame, guilt, or anything else that weighs us down. We carry this bowl around trying to empty it ourselves, only to have it filled up again. My bowl always seemed to keep getting filled up with the same old trash. It was that over and over again insanity of my choices that kept that bowl full. Here is the good news. Jesus gives us a garbage bowl also. He allows us to place our trash into the bowl of forgiveness. The price He paid on the cross covers all of our personal garbage bowls. His grace is sufficient for each and every one of us (2 Corinthians 12:9). I know it gets heavy carrying a full garbage bowl around. Lord know I did it for a lot of years. We do not have to wait until that bowl is heavy and overflowing. We do not have to wait until tomorrow or church service next Sunday to empty our bowl. Empty your bowl right now. Lay your garbage bowl at the foot of the cross. Surrender it all to the One who gave it all. This is what He longs for. A personal relationship with each of us exactly where we are right not! Today is the day I will empty my garbage bowl and ask for forgiveness. Today is the day I will lay it at the foot of the cross. Today is the day I will recover!
chadjfunk