A New Year = A New Page

A New Year is a new page in my life. This blog, in fact, is a new page. I hope I can share some of my thoughts here and maybe even encourage someone through my experiences as one who truly needed God's amazing grace. Thank you for being patient as I explore blogging for the first time.

A few months back a friend sent me a suggestion on Facebook. You may have gotten a similar message. He suggested that I pick up the closest book, it didn't matter if I had read it or not. He asked me to turn to page 56, read the fifth sentence and two more sentences and think about what I had read. Well I was sitting at the computer and almost ignored the message because I had other e-mails to answer. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a book on the table beside the computer. Picking it up I realized it was a favorite Max Lucado book, In the Grip of Grace. So I thought, this is going to be good. Max has such a way with words and I always get something to hold onto from his books. How disappointed I was when I discovered that page 56 in this book is a blank page. Nothing, no divine inspiration, no suggestion, no Bible verse or commentary...nothing but a blank page. I couldn't believe it. I shared the discovery with my oldest son and said "I was hoping to get some deep thought provoking idea or comment and all I got was a blank page!"

But, the more I thought about it the more I realized that I needed a blank page. You see as a pastor's wife I am snowed under with correspondence. I have stacks of papers to file, sort, box-up and categorize. School work, expense items, student loan papers, bills, curriculum ideas, transcripts, ministry ideas, etc. crowd my home. I'm sometimes afraid to throw out a file because there may be something important in it. A blank page however is a gift. You see a blank page is an opportunity to start over. God gives me one every morning with his amazing grace. I can say, "Well, God I messed up yesterday's page, thank you for giving me a clean sheet of paper this morning." What a blessing!!

When I am sorting through paperwork and I run across a blank page, I am relieved. I can choose to either throw it out or reuse it. One thing for sure: I don't have to remember where I put it or decide where to file it. I hope that you have the experience of having a new, blank page every morning. God is good!!!

May God's Grace and Peace be with you,
Terri