Doesn’t everyone love a new start?  We just get excited thinking about a new dream.  Or we find ourselves like kids again at Christmas when a new opportunity or direction presents itself.  Being a retired teacher, I could not help but to be reminded this week of the beginning of a new school year.

It was always so exciting and I mean for everyone!  Even for the students that I had known from broken homes, those that did not always find learning the required way easy, those that always found themselves in trouble, those with shoes from Walmart, or those with shirts from Dillards.  No matter what had happened in the past, who you were, or where you had been——It was always a new beginning and a new dream for everyone!  Including the teachers!  This gave me such hope.  Because I always knew new relationships would be made and new bonds would be found.  I could always make a difference for some sweet soul that needed love in their lives.  Now isn’t it really ironic that God always gives us that new beginning.  When I make poor choices, I make wrong decisions, or I go the wrong way, God says I give you grace.  God says try again.  He gives us a new dream.  And He doesn’t just hand it to us, He gives us a new lesson to go along with the new dream!

Many of us beat ourselves up for these mistakes, but God does not.  He sees this as a great opportunity for us to learn.  Just like our teachers do with our students!  So take it easier on yourself next time and remember to give yourself what you would give others—a new beginning, a new dream, or a new start!

A New Dream

I can smell the excitement of newness!

I can see all the vivid colors.

I can hear all the sounds of hope.

I hold the just purchased supplies as gems to never let go!

 

Feathering the paper as it comes out of the pack,

I can already see the new stories created,

I can hear the facts of new leaning,

I can imagine the new drawings that appear across the pages!

 

Opening up the new packaged pencils,

I get a sniff of the rich wood from where they were cut.

Holding one pencil tightly,

I can feel the discoveries that will be scribed.

 

The snap of the new notebook back and forth quickly makes a tight loud sound.

Oh! To think of all the treasures that will be placed there!

The colors and patterns on the front inspire me.

The space allows for my personal influence.

 

The highlighters’ lids click on and off, as I check to see they are quickly ready to go!

Different colors are lined up in a row like little soldiers to vividly mark the new terms.

The brightly designed dividers slip out of the pack.

I find a special location for each of them in the snappy binder!

They will help me sort my new finds to later peruse.

 

The new pack of pens glisten demonstrating their eagerness to make their mark!

They will penetrate the paper creating adventure, drama, and reflection.

New sneakers, new jeans, and new views.

New seats, new people, and new environment.

All saying I have another chance for a new beginning!

 

Do these new things represent money?

Do these fresh items represent class?

Do these new items represent intelligence?

Can someone know who I am by these things?

Absolutely not!

 

They represent a new beginning!

They demonstrate an equal chance for everyone again.

They show that we all can have new start!

No matter where we came from and no matter where we are going—

We are all new again!

 

A new start with new discoveries!

A new direction with fresh perspective.

A new hope by going further in seeking more knowledge.

A new me, going further than I ever believed or than anyone ever told me!

 

So you see, this is not just a new pencil or paper.

This is not just a notebook or highlighters of many colors.

This is my new chance to dream life beyond imaginations!

This is my new beginning to dream!

Lori Rennae Hickman Chapman

I hope this week gets you excited about a new dream!  Whether it be within a relationship, a career, or some special area of your life.  As my son has learned and says—tomorrow is your extra day for living!  Live it like a new day!

 

Love,

Rennae

 

 

Grace

Journey

 

Hello!  My village and tribe!!  It is so good to be back!  The very first thing I have to say upon returning is “Thank You”!  Thank you for your faithfulness to my family and life.  We were lifted up over the past year due to your committed prayers and care.  We have traveled the learning road over the last year.  And all my lessons have allowed me to return and share inspirational words of grace, faith, and love again!

My journey the past year has provided me with new insights of life, lots of time to talk with God, and a tremendous amount of time to listen to God.  Over the past year, Seth, my oldest son, discovered he had Hodgkins Lymphoma (cancer), and he beat it with the help of God and his support system!  My loving husband, Danny, became a member of the double zipper club.  He had his second open heart surgery to replace his mitral valve and aorta.  He has recovered and going strong with the help of his family, friends, and Karate family.  Jim, my dad, totally recovered from a major surgery and set back.  He demonstrated fight for family and life.  He reached 82. Recently illness has hit him hard again, but he is being strong and continuing to fight.  Please pray for his peace.  I am presently fighting a major back issue that is showing me this is my time to rest and follow God’s direction for me.  And to top off all of these blessings we received over the last year, we welcomed our fourth angel granddaughter, Caroline, into our family!  We gave blessings for Danny’s retirement after 40 years of teaching.  Celebrated Cam, our middle son, graduating graduate school and setting on his professional counseling path!  Rejoiced with Lori Lynn, our daughter, getting a promotion and raise with her advertising firm!  And witnessed Seth, our oldest, being sworn in as a Tennessee lawyer!  So you can see God’s grace has been amazing and continues to be even though evil and other negative forces pursue our daily lives!

I am sure my life has been like yours the last year.  Ups and downs—just like a roller coaster!  However, the one consistent component in this traveled journey has included God’s grace and God’s angels, the many people in this wonderful world.  Whether I am at the up part, the down part, or the in between part, God’s people have been there.  Their hearts travel with us as amazing companions on this journey.  I know there were many heart wrenching and negative stories and experience this last year, but I was given the privilege to see all the good in this world through amazing, positive, and live-giving people!

I fear over the last year I may have lost many of you.  I pray you will find your way back and re-connect each week.  I truly believe you will be missing out on great blessings, because the one thing I know for sure is that God has given me many stories and messages to spread more inspiration!  Like the message today, a spiritual blessing can be gained from something as small as a river stone.  So, I hope you will be able to join me again.  Thanks again to my village and tribe!  I want God and the Holy Spirit to bless the words and inspiration I give in order to spread love!

The Message in the Physical

I reach into my pocket,

And I rub the stone very gently.

I caress it with my fingers.

The word on the stone is why I hold this stone so close.

 

Faith.

It was passed to me one day in a bible study.

The tray being passed had the stone face down.

Why was I drawn to pick it up?

It had to be the Holy Spirit.

 

Because God knew I was being tested about my belief.

This stone doesn’t just remind me of the physical world,

But of the spiritual world.

The spiritual pull to the physical, so that I might experience the Godly.

It is amazing how the physical is thrown toward us.

 

We can accept it

We can receive the message.

Or we can let it slip by us.

The messages are always there.

Don’t let the blessing go by.

Lori Rennae Hickman Chapman

Be attentive!  Look for the message anyway, anywhere, and within anything or person!  Please extend your prayers for my sweet friend, Katie Ross Therrien, as she faces life challenges in the coming weeks during her journey.  Love to you Carrot Cake!  God bless you and yours this week as He has mine!

 

Love,

Rennae

 

 

 

 

Journey