A FRESH START TO A NEW YEAR by Jeff Schreve
The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” Lamentations 3:22-24
Have I ever told you how bad of a golfer I am? Well, it is true. I am inconsistent off the tee box, can’t chip to save my life, and putt like Herman Munster. That mixture of problems typically results in bad scores. Sometimes I just give myself an “F” for “fun” on the scorecard.
Recently, I was playing golf with a friend. It was a typical day for me on the course, a few good shots and lots more bad shots. After we made the turn for the final nine holes something happened, I started to play better! It was like a scene from Invasion of the Body Snatchers. I am sure my friend was wondering, “Who are you and what have you done with Jeff Schreve!” I was on fire!
We got to the last hole. If I shot par on that hole, I would have finished the back nine with a 40, my best score ever for nine holes. Unfortunately, as I stepped to the tee box, the body snatcher left me. The old Jeff Schreve was back, and it wasn’t pretty. I hit tree after tree on my way to a quadruple boogie. UGH! You know what I needed on Hole 18? A do over! I needed my friend to say, “Jeff, that was a bad hole for you. Let’s not count it. Let’s play it again! You need a fresh start to this hole.”
NEW YEAR’S IS GOD’S WAY OF SAYING TO YOU, HERE IS A FRESH START!
My love is new for you to embrace. My compassion is fresh for you to experience, and My faithfulness is great and will never fail you.” How cool is that!?
Do you need a fresh start? Was 2014 a tough year? Did things happen that really messed you up? Did you make some bad decisions that really cost you? Did you get a quadruple boogie on the last hole, so to speak?
Don’t despair! Don’t throw in the towel and quit! God still loves you, and He still has a wonderful plan for you! You can have a “do over” with the Lord.
Listen, my friend, the past is history. You cannot change it, but you can surely learn from it and move forward. Accept the Lord’s love, compassion and faithfulness. Those things from God are not just for other people, THEY ARE FOR YOU TOO!
2015 is going to be a great year IF, IF, IF you will live life with your eyes on Jesus, walking by faith and not by your feelings. What God says IS TRUE! Take Him at His Word! Tee up again, and replay Hole 18. He wants you to. And this time, the results are going to be so much better! Happy New Year!