Sunday, March 18, 2012

Starting From Scratch


“Begin again from the beginning,” that was what my piano teacher often said to me. “Start over and this time with Feeling.”

Today’s guest minister, Pastor Jerry, asked us to recall the first boxed cake mix, where you just added water. It was too easy, and did not sell well.

Honestly if you are old enough to remember Cinch Cake Mix, you will remember that the taste was terrible!!

When a new brand came out that asked you to crack two eggs, add a bit of oil and water, it tasted almost like home made, and the sales flew off the charts. No more starting from scratch to bake a cake.

The minister’s scripture reading was from John 20:23-25 “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

The ministry of Jesus had been throughout his local community and although others came from afar to learn of him, his main ministry was to the Jews.  He had been trying to prepare his disciples for his death, burial and resurrection, but they did not understand.

Jesus knew that after his ascension, when the disciples were on their own, that the grains of wheat that had died would multiply and go forth unto all nations including the Gentiles.

To these followers of Christ, they would be “Starting from Scratch,” with a new beginning, because they had been Born Again from above, as newborns with a new direction. They were now a brand new creation.

For many of us, we do not always welcome change, but there are times, when a new beginning can be a time of adventure, with new objectives. We may face fresh paths and new worlds to conquer, and we can start from scratch, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

We do not like to think of death, and its pain, but for the Christian, death is a new beginning, a starting from scratch. Our beloved departed ones are starting from scratch with a life that is pain free, and being welcomed by our loving Savior Jesus.

For those who have passed on, we sorrow because we are unhappy that they have left us, however we cannot call them back, for they would not want to leave the arms of Jesus.

So welcome change, welcome starting over from scratch. It is a fact of life!


This post has been linked with Saints and Scripture Sunday

Also Linked with
Michelle’s Hear it on Sunday


2 comments:

floyd said...

Great analogy Hazel. How true. We fight change and death with all we have. In the end all we have isn't enough for anything. Only God is enough for everything and will start us anew, from scratch...

caryjo said...

I'm a fairly easily "changer", but there are some bits I don't want to drop or move from. Dave and I, after moving back to our former home, don't ever want to move again. The hassle, the changes, etc. We love this house. Dave says that any time we leave it will be feet-first. However, he also adds, "unless God says otherwise." Life is life and we have to be flexible. Right now, it ain't so easy for me. When I was married before, we moved 14 times in 15 years... and once we were in the house for 3-1/2 years, so that should give you an indication of how frequently the moving took place. Hasn't been that way with Dave, for which I'm grateful. Very grateful!!