A Fresh Start

I really enjoyed summer this year. It's not so much some exciting vacation I had or lots of cookouts and BBQs with friends as it was the summer itself. I spent a lot of time outside in a perfect spot Tom set up for me in my backyard which had the perfect balance of sun and shade. In many ways, it's as if I moved my office out there. Armed with my ipad, my wireless keyboard and either a cup of green tea or a glass of sun tea, I did most of the prep for my Thursday night praise service, my reading and studying - along with a healthy dose of email and facebook. There's something so cool about being out in the grass with bare feet, feeling the breeze and listening to the symphony of birds in my backyard. As the weather starts to cool again and the fall schedule starts up, I find myself in a funny place. Although I know I will miss those long summer days, a part of me is reaching toward the fresh start that fall seems to offer. Even the fact that as I attempted to revive my blog after months and months of neglect and wound up wiping out all my old entries seems to point me to that fresh start. I am working on a few self-improvements right now - including deepening my spiritual life and making my days more productive and I never seem to be as far along as I would like. Fall's fresh start's finger beckons me forward and reminds me that each day is a chance for a fresh start - a chance to leave the failures and disappointments of the day behind and begin anew. I remember the words from Lamentations - "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning." So today, I'm thankful for the chance for a fresh start - and the chance to leave megativity and bad attitudes behind me and to embrace whatever God may bring my way today. Praying you enjoy a fresh start today and a reminder of how precious you are to God. Sending big hugs to all of you!