The other night, Kevin and I were working under the trees where his sister will marry today. I stood on a big, flat stone where she will stand, with her daughter, looking at her groom, and said, “This is a literal step in the right direction for your sister. She will step off of this straight into a beautiful new beginning.”

Call me a romantic, but I think we need to take stock of things like this. It’s like a declaration of a work God has done, like we have noticed it and we are grateful for it. And this is not just any work; this is His specialty: the fresh start, the do-over, the do-better.

The thing I love is that God is not just offering occasional second chances. Heck, every day is a new beginning. We get to start again every time we slip up and fall back into an old habit that’s not that good for us, or hurt those around us out of fear, or walk away from God Himself. There will probably be some consequences to work through (sin typically leaves a mess to clean up somewhere), but the humble heart that kneels at the foot of God, gets a do-over every single time.

If you think your yesterdays are simply too much or too heavy or too messy for God, I’d say give Him a try. He’s a lot bigger than you think, and a lot more forgiving. Plus, how can it be any worse than living in the mess and devastation that sin has left behind?

Gotta run…lots to do, but there is one more thing. Do you know what’s being planned for everyone of us that trusts God for second chances in this life? A wedding in heaven. A feast and celebration where the Groom and His Bride (that’s us!) will stand on a stone, gratefully marking that day of new beginnings – God’s specialty – by stepping off into our eternity…our very own step in the right direction.

“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT

““This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again…” John 3:16-17 MSG

“‘Praise the Lord!
    For the Lord our God,the Almighty, reigns.
Let us be glad and rejoice,
    and let us give honor to him.
For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb,
    and his bride has prepared herself.
She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.’
    For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.” Revelation 19:6-9 NLT