Begin Again

They come out holding signs

Signs of who they were and who they have become

Of what held them back and now what pushes them on

Signs of their past and of their future

Imprisoned / Set Free

Timid / Bold

Lost / Found

Unloved / Loved

Addicted / Clean

Rejected / Accepted

me / Him

The newly added chorus of Amazing Grace fills the church as they walk across the stage bearing their signs of the struggle and flipping the sign to show the victory Christ has given them.

My chains are gone

I’ve been set free

My God, my savior has ransomed me

And like a flood his mercy reigns

Unending love, amazing grace.

The wells burst forth inside of me

Wells of joy and gratitude

The tears pouring so fast I can’t keep my face dry

Some of those bearing signs I know -Some are strangers.

I want to shout it out

Yes this one is me! - And that one that just crossed the stage is me too!

Oh how I related to that one - and oh I’ve also had that struggle before

Healing  -  Hope -  Starting Over -  Beginning Again

At the start of this New Year it is good to remember that we can have a fresh start.

No matter what our past- in Christ we can begin again.  He makes all things new.

Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new. 

2 Corinthians 5:17(CEV)

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14(NIV)