Beginnings, beginnings. What prompts a beginning? Is it a call you feel in your heart, a voice you hear in your head? A belief you hold in your mind, a belief you share? A truth that has preexisted you, a truth that won't change? A promise in a person, a promise in a name? Beginnings, beginnings. What prompts a beginning? And what has prompted a beginning in you?
In our return to Faith Sharing for the year, we explored all this, and more, discussing changes, connections, closing doors and past feelings, words, creation, contentment and patience, the greenness of the grass (it's greener where you water it), and how we are all called to live up to the good, make use of the good, that God has in store for us, by earnestly striving for change.
We opened our minds to reflect on God's word by examining Psalm 136, 1:9, 25, a psalm on giving thanks to the Lord for His love and creation, Mark 1:14-20, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men," John 1:1-5, "In the beginning was the Word...and the Word was God," and Deuteronomy 11:8-12, "Be strong...and take possession of the land...a land flowing with milk and honey."
While heavily centered on our personal experience, with discussions surrounding what God is calling each of us to spiritually this year, and what chapters are closing in our life, or what should close, we found comfort in the fact that "from the beginning of the year to the end of the year," God's hands are on our every move. He has planned down to the last sprouting seed in the ground, all the flowers and gardens that will bloom from our scars and imperfections and sins and disobedience, to produce the richest fruit. As long as we desire to surrender and trust in Him, we can receive the best of everything that He has for us, for He is a loving Father, and He is good.
As we head into February, with all our desires and prayers, let us remember that though we could change just a few things to be perfect, we are already perfect. "By one sacrifice, he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." (Hebrews 10:14) And if we want to see a true change in our lives and in ourselves, we must let God take the reins on our choices and decisions day after day.
I hope this month was all you hoped it would be, and more, and if not, that the next gets better.
Until we see each other again, and hopefully that's tonight!