Authored by Mary Lucas

Read:  Lamentations 3: 22-25
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.”
 

Reflect:
I thought an appropriate message this morning would be about new beginnings!  Pastor Ray had talked about this in a previous sermon.
 
This is a lovely verse.  The book of Lamentations was written by the prophet Jeremiah.  It is a book of lament as he weeps over Jerusalem and its people.  He had witnessed the invasion of Jerusalem and the results of the destruction of the city.  The people of this once great city experienced the judgment of the holy God, and the results were devastating.  Jeremiah is lamenting a tragedy entirely of Jerusalem’s making.  But at the heart of this book, at the center of this lament over the effects of sin in the world, sit a few verses devoted to hope in the Lord (Lamentations 3:22-25). This statement of faith standing strong in the midst of the surrounding darkness shines as a beacon to all those suffering under the consequences of their own sin and disobedience.
 
This verse tells of God’s character – loving, merciful, faithful. God’s love never ends.  God has limitless, powerful grace for you today.  Even if we messed up last year or yesterday his mercy and grace is extended to us every morning.  He is faithful.  That is his character.  He cannot be unloving, unmerciful, or unfaithful. As the hymn “Great is Thy Faithfulness” says:  Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father. There is no shadow of turning with Thee. Thou changest not. Thy compassions they fail not.
As Thou hast been Thou forever will be.
 
Prayer suggestion: 
Every morning remind yourself that God has mercy, love and grace for you that day.  And be thankful that he is with us in new beginnings!