It’s been a tough year for the San Francisco 49er football team.  Last year the men barely lost the Super Bowl in overtime.  This year they didn’t even make the playoffs.  Yet they experienced an incredible bright spot.  Their rookie, Ricky Pearsall, made a reception at Levi stadium that inspired a standing ovation.  He had been shot in the chest 7 weeks earlier during a robbery in Union Square.  Yet, on November 10, in a game against Detroit he made 8 receptions including a touchdown.  He said that the best part of the season, however, was the relationships he developed on the team.  Then he said, “Everything happens for a reason, and God has a plan.”

Ricky had to start over after having been shot.  But he went on to have a wonderful season.  And he’s just getting started!

We can start over through God’s grace.  Paul said, “For I am confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ.”  In other words, if you’ve given your life to Christ, he’ll not drop you!

Jeremiah wrote,

The Lord’s love never ceases.
His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.

That means that every day we get a fresh start.  So, let’s have a new heart for a new start; a new way for a new day.

Sunday I’m preaching on “Start over and Keep Going” from 1 Timothy 1:12-20.  We’ll look at “Receive Mercy,” verses 12-16; “Give Glory to God,” verse 17; and “Stay Faithful,” verses 18-20.  Paul is equipping young Timothy on how to lead the church in Ephesus, telling him to teach the church the beauty of starting all over again through God’s grace, and to keep going.

Please come and learn and worship with us this Sunday, and get a new heart for a new start!

Love,

Jim Meek