Renewed Hopes and Plans

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called . . . There is ONE Body and ONE Spirit, just as you were called in ONE hope of your calling, ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism, ONE God and Father of all . . . and be renewed in the Spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:1-6,23-24)

As I ponder another school year and it's ups and downs, I realize that this is not a time to rest, wonder "what if", or even boast over successes. It is a time to seek God's face and new opportunities to serve Him and others. His mercies, His opportunities to join in His work, are indeed new everyday (Lamentations 3:22-23). It is only by His grace and mercy that were not consumed by all the stress, all the mountains we had to climb, and all the valleys we had to endure. Yes, we have new opportunities this day, in the coming weeks, to do some new and different things for the Lord! Consider this day a new beginning. Consider it a fresh start to serve God with hands that are available and a heart that is excited. Let's pray that God grants us a renewed purpose and guidance. Today, yes today, is a wonderful chance to serve God, not simply rest and do nothing! Even a day or week of rest for the Lord can be a day or a week of accomplishment. So as we look back, it is not a time to be idle. As I learned in athletics, never get too high or too low. Stay focused upon the goal. Every day we either get better, or we slip backwards. We must seize EVERY day as an opportunity to join God at work and to perhaps change someone's life in the process. Tomorrow may just be too late! www.tsninthebeginning.blogspot.com