Fresh Start

   

Are You Ready for a Fresh Start?

     As a teacher, one of the exciting aspects of the profession is the fresh start.  The day is broken up into eight class periods, none of them identical.  Each day is significantly different than the next, and each year brings different students into the classroom.  This variety does lend itself to challenges at times, but the freshness and newness of each class period are invigorating to me.
     God calls us to that same fresh start. Scripture states in Lamentations 3:22-23, "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." He offers us mercies and blessings each day.  Will we choose to take Him up on His offer?  Noah did. Genesis 6:9, "...Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God."  Enoch also chose to cling to God each day:  "Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away," Genesis 5:24. Note that scripture does not record these men as perfect; it records that they were righteous and they walked with the Lord.
   When considering a fresh start, I can't help but think of the prodigal's son.  I won't include the entire story here so look at Luke 15.  Today as I consider fresh starts, I am struck by the son's realization recorded in verse 17:  "...When the son came to his senses..."  When are we going to come to our senses and realize the power of the fresh start God offers us each moment of each day? Here is wishing you a fresh start with the Lord.