Tagged: new beginnings

I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.  Isaiah 42:8-9 St. Francis of Assisi loved the tau symbol of the cross. As the final letter of the Hebrew alphabet, it signified for him not merely an ending, but an opportunity to begin again. Those who knew him reported that he lived in constant hope of new beginnings. St. Bonaventure wrote that toward the end of his life, St. Francis said to his brothers, “Let us begin again, brothers, for up until now we have done little or nothing.” These… Read More

...for my Mother-in-Love. Thank you. The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,      they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord,      they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age,      they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;      he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.” Psalm 92:12-14 She attacked the roots with a frenzy, her hair flying in all directions, brow crinkled in concentration.  We must help them let go. The little gardenias had become root-bound in their pots while they sat in the nursery waiting for a buyer. Then we came along, bright-eyed and… Read More

@audreycfrank We are desperate for rest. It was this great need that drove me to plan a vacation with my husband and three children to a remote national park this summer. No technology, just sand and sea. We unplugged for eight days and tried not to go nuts as we rediscovered how to do much of nothing. Over that week the many bumps and bruises caused by blind busyness were healed and hearts were renewed. As the vacation drew to a close, only one thing remained to make the week complete for me. It was the last morning, and I was determined to wake up and watch the sunrise. Our rustic little cabin rose on stilts along the dunes, offering a view of the horizon… Read More

Around the world, across borders and inside human hearts from every nation, a revolution is happening. People once suffocated by shame are taking their first gasping breath, eyes opening to a new life of honor instead of disgrace. Shame was never meant to be your portion, sings poet and artist Kristene Mueller DiMarco in her song titled Mercy. It was not part of the original plan for humanity, so lovingly created with intrinsic worth and value. Every man and every woman was created with immeasurable significance, designed to love and be loved. In the next chapter of humankind, the lies began and shame entered, robbing man and woman of their true identity. Your true identity and mine is cherished by God. Shame conceals the truth. Honor reveals… Read More