New Beginnings

New beginnings can be one of those times when we are all excited or scared to death; maybe even some of both. At this time of year there are lots of new beginnings going on. For some it's new teachers, for some maybe new schools like going into middle school, high school or even college. For others it may be new jobs, new homes. If you're a parent it may be beginning a new relationship with a child who is approaching adulthood and heading off to college for the first time.

Whatever your new beginnings, I believe they are what we make of them. You may be scared to death, but I believe the excitement and joy of a new beginning should be greater than the fear you may initially feel. While new beginnings are sometimes hard and the fear of the unknown may be great, there is so much excitement in knowing that God is getting ready to do something great. The anticipation of what is to come and how great it can be may sometimes be overwhelming, yet at the same time it can make you as giddy as a child anticipating Christmas morning.

We have dear friends who are sending kids off to college for the first time. And while it is initially a very hard thing to do, the excitement of new things to come, deeper friendships and adult relationships with those kids will soon abound. My daughter is also beginning her first year of teaching. She will be teaching 5th grade language arts at an intermediate school. She is nervous but so excited as well. She has such a love for children. Those children and their parents will be blessed to have her as a teacher. I told her she will be one of those teachers that all the kids want to have. :-)

At Highland Oaks we are also starting a New Beginning. Today was the first Sunday for our new preaching minister, Pat Bills & his wife Deborah. We have been praying for God to send just the right man (and family) to HOCC and as usual God knew just who to send. What a blessing it was today to witness the love Highland Oaks already has for Pat & Deborah and their boys. And what an even greater blessing it was to witness an elder from Pat's former church in Tennessse who was also here today, offer a blessing to Pat and his family and to Highland Oaks as they begin God's work here with us. What a wonderful display of Godly love and compassion in making their transition to Highland Oaks.

God was ever present in that auditorium today! The love for God and His people was overflowing. So while some beginnings may make you apprehensive, this beginning makes me eager with anticipation! Anticipation to see how God will use Pat in our community, to see how God uses Highland Oaks in our community and to see what wonderful doors God opens as we begin to follow His calling with renewed vigor and excitement.

Pat and Deborah are wonderful, loving and caring people. I look forward to working with them in God's kingdom and personally working with Pat at Highland Oaks. It's a new day, with renewed energy and hope in Jesus Christ and a day of new anticipation of where God is leading us. It going to be exciting and it's going to be awesome as only God can do it! And I can't wait!!

Some trust in chariots and some in horses. But we trust in the name of the Lord our God. Psalm 20:7

Blessings!