Fresh Start

Fresh Start

A Children's Lesson Based on the Book "God Calling", edited by A.J. Russell

How does a team of children create a working car out of Tinker Toys? By designing and building, trial and error, success and failure, and plenty of fresh starts. The children were encouraged to start fresh and improve on their designs, trying different car models as they kept working toward a car that stayed together and rolled well.

The phrase, “Time for a FRESH START!  Go try again,” rang out repeatedly.

The fun of creating and racing was paused for group discussion. The children agreed that fresh starts were needed and appreciated. No one built their best car the very first attempt.

The start of a New Year provides a time to focus on what we have done well and what we might do differently in the future.

Were our choices loving?

Were our actions loving?

What would I like to learn more about?

What do I want to do differently?

What do I want to remember to do or say?

The new year is a chance for a FRESH START!

God tells us this:

I stand between you and the new year.

My Light shines across the new year as a guide.

I provide a shadow to cover the past.

I put the past behind you.

Do not dwell on the past.

USE what you learned like a tree uses water.

Let the lessons you learned soak up into your mind and heart and fuel new learning and more loving steps forward.

I hold the year in my hands – in trust for you.

I will guide you one day at a time.

No need to worry about what lies ahead for I will lead you one day at a time.

Flashlight beams and yoga tree poses supported this message.

Feet, planted firmly in God’s love. Hands, clasped at our hearts as we remembered God is with us always. Arms, stretched up high like the branches of a tree, reaching out to share love and light as modeled by Jesus.

Closing prayer:

Thank you loving God, for always being with me. Hold my hand and walk into the new year with me. Step with me into the bright light of tomorrow. Thank you for the fresh start! AMEN!

Remember:

With God's help, I will walk into 2026 with hope and love! God grants me a FRESH START!