New beginnings.... how many of them have you used up in your life time? What comes to mind when you think of that saying? New beginnings?...... Thank the Lord it's not like a cat using up their nine lives... I can tell you the first and most significant one is my salvation! However recently I almost gave up on God's calling on my life as a minister of the Gospel! Ministry had become difficult and situations seemed over bearing! And just at the right time Jesus showed up again and said i'll give you a new beginning!

A new beginning with a spiritual application is knowing that, in spite of one's wrongdoing and shortcoming, Jesus stretches out arms of forgiveness, offering another chance, a fresh start.

There is a story about a young boy who was born paralyzed. He could only sit and watch as other children played in the yard. For 18 years, he felt the pain of rejection due to his condition. The boy, Danny, struggled with feeling that life had been unfair to him. One Sunday morning, Danny and his mother were in church. The preacher's sermon was from II Corinthians, when Paul said if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature and old things are passed away. "Behold all things are become new," verse 18 says.

Danny received Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Coming home from church, Danny's mother explained that one day in heaven, he will have a new beginning. He will have no more pain or sorrow or woe. He will be able to run and not grow weary and walk without anyone's help. She told him that his new beginning would always be joyful and pleasant.

Danny turned to his mother and, for once, released an abundance of tears. The news he received that day was all he needed to press on in life. He began forgetting about his condition and began looking forward to every tomorrow.

Like Danny, to move into a new beginning we must forget the things of yesterday, letting go and pressing forward to new and better things. It is a gift from heaven. Learn to give thanks and to take one day at a time.

No matter what your struggle is today, don't lose hope, don't let the devil take your joy! Your identity isn't in your weakness it's in the strength of a MIGHTY LORD His name is JESUS!

One of the greatest lessons of new beginnings is this, when I have beed at the weakest it's there I always meet Jesus with His out stretched hands wrapping them around me lifting me up..... And when He lifts me up, I'm always higher than I was!

So be lifted up!

I love the ol song from Audio Adrenaline "Get Down" Below I have copied the lyrics: So get down!

"Lavishly our lives are wasted
Humbleness is left untasted
You can't live your life to please yourself, yeah
That's a tip from my mistakes
Exactly what it doesn't take
To win you've got to come in last place
To live your life you've got to lose it
And all the losers get a crown

CHORUS:
I get down and He lifts me up
I get down and He lifts me up
I get down and He lifts me upI get down

All I need's another day
Where I can't seem to get away
From the many things that drag me down
I'm sure you've had a day like me
Where nothing seems to set you free
From the burdens you can't carry all alone
In your weakness He is stronger
In your darkness He shines through
When you're crying He's your comfort
When you're all alone He's carrying you

CHORUS:
I get down and He lifts me up
I get down and He lifts me up
I get down and He lifts me up
I get down

This valley is so deep
I can barely see the sun
I cry out for mercy, Lord
You lift me up again

CHORUS:
I get down and He lifts me upI get down and He lifts me up
I get down and He lifts me up
I get down"

So if you are down let Him lift you up!