In the Beginning... 

     "Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?"  - Isaiah 43:19a - 

Welcome, Dear reader, to my very first blog post. The fact that this is the first time I've ever attempted this sort of thing may surprise some of you - especially if you know I love to write. I have to confess, the idea to start a blog only recently occurred to me (I know, hard to believe - don't ask me why) and thanks to the kind yet firm admonishment of friends and family, I am finally writing the inaugural entry... (Ya'll know how much I procrastinate.) So, years after the Xanga and Myspace fads, here I am, offering my own musings to my friends, family, near or far, and the In-tar-webs at large.

As to what you can expect specifically each week, this will vary from post to post. More often that not, it will probably consist of my thoughts on some Scripture passage I read that morning or evening, or perhaps a bit of poetry or fiction I've written, or even, in the future, songs I have recorded... so stay tuned!

Finally, if you're curious about the name I've chosen for this blog, it was partially inspired by this song, written and recorded by braveSaintSaturn... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yQT4OHLnGs and Matthew 26:41. Hopefully it will be a reminder to myself and my friends that not only does God give us strength, but also the hearts to serve Him.

And now, finally, some thoughts for your afternoon... Since this is my first blog post, and since it's the beginning of the week, I thought it was a perfect time and place to talk about just that - beginnings. 

There has been a trend in movies for the past seven or eight years, and it shows no sign of stopping. The Reboot. I'm pretty sure it started with Batman Begins, way back in 2005. I was a huge fan of J.J. Abram's Star Trek Reboot in 2009, and the sequel this May. (I highly recommend both.) Man of Steel just premiered this week. Casino Royale and Skyfall, the two films in the Rebooted James Bond storyline I strongly recommend, were excellent.

Unless you've been living under a rock, you're obviously aware of the amazing popularity of these films. We are a cultured fascinated by beginnings. And for good reason - we're surrounded by them. They permeate our daily lives. Nothing excites us like the release of a new book, or movie, a new play, a new CD or - oh, look there's a new coffee shop in town! (Sorry, I get distracted easily...) 

We make special, loving preparations when we're expecting a new baby, and everyone loves holding them and meeting them for the first time. Just look at the expression on your little sister's face. Life is full of beginnings. They're a part of our existence, and therefore our culture. New experiences, New places. New people to meet - where are you from? Oh, who were your parents? 

Ask some select people in your life and they would say that they're a morning person, that it's their favorite part of the day. Most likely, the opening credits and initial scenes in a movie are the parts they like the most. Morning is my favorite time of the day because I know that God's mercies are new. 

If we turn to Scripture, we observe that it too is full of beginnings. God is the perfect storyteller - the Author of the universe, and His Word is the ultimate Love letter. Like any good writer, God starts at the beginning. As Julie Andrews once famously sang, this is "A very good place to start." 

The Triune God is the Creator of the ENTIRE universe, and everything in it, and He sustains it all, every nanosecond of every day. Beginnings are possible - the flowers that wake up in spring, the baby in the womb, the first flakes of snow - because He began it. If that doesn't blow your mind, I don't know what will. It ALL began with Him.

We know that the Bible lists geneologies of various tribes and people - including Christ, but even more importantly, God tells us about the most important beginning. The beginning of NEW life. In fact, the History of the universe orbits around Christ Jesus, and He is the culmination of History. He is the Alpha and Omega. He created it. We messed it up. It fell because of US. Not that this surprised Him. Of course not. But He didn't leave us in our hopeless state. No, instead He died for EVERY single person that has ever lived or ever will. And the best part is, He didn't stay in the grave. He's alive, and reigning at His Father's Right hand. 

As beautiful as beginnings are, as beautiful as this Earth, this STUFF is, THIS is not our home. Someday, He's going to create a NEW Heaven and Earth. The end of time is really just a beginning in disguise. It's the beginning of Eternity Future. I can't wait. 

So, this week, as you go about your tasks, or chores, or when you're appreciating that wild flower patch on your morning walk, remember that the mercies of Jesus are NEW every morning. There is strength for today, because He is the God of today, and the God of beginnings. Let's go out and live each day to His glory, and tell others about the BEST beginning! 

Vaio Con Dios!