Welcome 2011. As a new year begins, everything seems to offer a second chance. A fresh, clean slate. A chance to start over. Usually this hope of a new beginning only last a few weeks and then we become hopeless with the realization that we are falling into our old ways. The exercise regime is too much to keep up with. Waking up at 5:00am to spend time alone is making us too tired. New TV shows tempt us to not cut back on TV. Chick-fil-A smells way too good when we pull up to order our salad. The world lures us away from our resolute determination to start new again. Thankfully, the Bible preaches something different. It never tells us that new beginnings can only happen on January 1st each year. It's much better than that. God's Word tells us that new beginnings can happen every. single. day. That's right. Every morning you wake up you are offered a new beginning. That is GOOD NEWS for a sinner like me! If you need to read it to believe it, here is proof from Lamentations 3:22-23

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; [1] his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

If your new years resolutions are not going so well just sit back and relax. According to the One who gave you another year, you have another chance tomorrow and the next day and the next....

As I always say, brand new babies are such a perfect example of the newness of life. There could not be anything more new than a pink, wrinkly baby. It shouts of how God creates all things new! Sweet Stella is the precious baby girl of our dear friends. I am so thankful to be able to share life with them! She is one blessed little girl to be born into this family. She will be one loved little girl. She already is.