New every morning......

This is my new lock screen on my phone. 

I need this reminder.

I spoke with a group of moms this past week.  As I was preparing, I had this special message drop on my heart.  We as moms are going to fail.  We are going to say and do things that we regret.  Whether it is toward our husbands or our children - some days we are going to go to bed with a heavy heart after a long, hard day.

But as the sun sets and as the sun rises on a new day we are given this gift found in Lamentations:

The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness;    his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;    therefore, I will hope in him!” The Lord is good to those who depend on him,    to those who search for him.

It's hard to believe that my new favourite verse, which gives me so much hope and strength, comes from a book about lamenting.  About the destruction of Jerusalem, about poor choices.  Lamentations is a hymn of sorrow and regret.  How many nights do I crawl into bed thinking those exact things about myself, my day, my choices?

But the book goes on to show us that God's faithfulness and mercy are the key to a restored relationship with Him.

I live in Saskatchewan, and we are known as the Land of Living Skies, which comes in part from the dancing Northern Lights in our night skies, but we also have the most amazing sunsets and sunrises.  I have sat on my porch swing many nights, enjoying the view of the setting sun.  

When I meditate on the words in Lamentations, it gives that sunset new meaning.  As the sun closes on the day that is now behind me, I have made many choices that day - some amazing and maybe some not so amazing.  But as the sun will rise the next morning, I have the opportunity to wake up and be amazing.  Why? 

Because my Heavenly Father's faithful, loyal, constant and trusted love, combined with His patient and compassionate mercy, restores my soul every morning.  How overwhelmingly beautiful is that!  Oh my word!  Do you understand the magnitude of that!  Dear Mama's - every sunset and sunrise presents another opportunity for us to experience God's grace.

What hope that gives this Mama's heart, as I passionately desire to be a godly example to my family, as I pray for wisdom and discernment in the parenting of our daughters, as I faithfully come alongside and do life with my husband - May my attitude become one of "I get to" instead of "I have to".  

As you journey through life today, I want to leave you with this promise found in Romans 15:13 - have a beautiful day.

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.