New Beginnings#78

Life is filled with new beginnings.  Perhaps you find yourself at the start of a new chapter and you need some encouragement.  Maybe you desperately want to make a fresh start and you need inspiration to finally do it.  This podcast will help you begin with your faith and confidence high!

New beginnings can be intimidating, but they can also be exciting.  We are here to help you focus on God's faithfulness and promises.  He will never leave you to face life's changes alone.

The beginning of the new year is the perfect time to draw close to the Lord and walk boldly into each tomorrow!

Transcript

Dan Wheeler: 0:01

Well, here we are at the beginning of a new year. And as you know, every new year brings an opportunity for a new beginning. We're so familiar with new year's resolutions and how people hang with them for a couple of weeks, and then they seem to go out the window, but it does give us that opportunity to try and make a change. Today we're going to talk about the most important new beginning than any of us can make. I'm your host, Dan Wheeler, and Brian Rowland and Terry Steen are anxiously waiting in the wings, guys. Welcome to another new year have finished strong hard to believe

Brian Roland: 0:37

crazy is the time just keeps going by. It doesn't

Terry Steen: 0:42

get what a great year though. 2022 was a great year.

Unknown: 0:47

It was even better.

Terry Steen: 0:53

was good. Was it

Brian Roland: 0:55

COVID torn meniscus. I mean, yeah, it was.

Dan Wheeler: 0:59

Well, I had a couple of moves and get ready to make another one. You know, with every new beginning, there's also an ending and that's kind of the sad part of it. But the new beginning can be exciting. And it can also be scary. You know, we've all had those those firsts in life. And when I was back in my hometown a few weeks ago, I noticed that the barber shop where I had my very first haircut ever was still there. The inside was the same. They even had the same old chairs. They don't take any credit cards, it's cash or cheque. It's just like the good old days. And I have a picture somewhere of me getting my first haircut when I was like three or three years old, and I was just crying the whole time. So I went in there and got a haircut. And Pam took my picture, taking a new haircut today, but I remember that first haircut

Terry Steen: 1:54

still, it was filled with Pema Soo, I'm assuming you got a bigger discount on this last one than you did the first one. Would that be fair to say? No, no.

Dan Wheeler: 2:04

Why would that be too well,

Terry Steen: 2:06

it apparently a whole lot of time.

Brian Roland: 2:09

You weren't squirming around as much.

Dan Wheeler: 2:13

A lot of styling. But you know, Brian, and I shave a lot save a lot of money on shampoo and air dryer and a lot of electricity and dairy. I think you're using less.

Terry Steen: 2:25

Last. Yeah. Yeah.

Dan Wheeler: 2:29

Well, I'm sure we all remember, you know, first days at school. I remember vividly going to the junior high for the first day and looking up at the doors and all the kids walk in the building thinking this is huge. This is a major change. I hope I'm ready for that. It just kind of prepares you for all the changes in life. Right? The one thing you can count on in life is change.

Brian Roland: 2:52

Always. school wasn't that bad for me. Especially high school because I had broken my leg and I was in a body cast. So I missed the whole first semester. Do it from home. Yeah, but But I remember it's summer I think it was about six years old, maybe seven years old, I went to Red Raider camp. And the first day there one of the biggest guys there decided that I was going to be as punching bag. And so did not want to go anymore. I refuse to get on the bus. And then everybody figured out what was going on in that. They got him away from me, but it was just like him going out. This is going to start now. So I had to learn how to how to put up my Dukes real quick. I got pounded, but I put up a fight. And there's other things to it. Like I was thinking we asked me that question earlier than singing about the first time I did a trumpet recital. Boy, I was shaking, standard, all those people and playing my old trumpet. And I remember the first time singing was with my sister, my mom, we were in church and I was nervous about that. But once we started, you know, just my mom's sister there and all the harmonies were there. It was good. It took the jitters away. But there's always always going to be fear the first time about a roller coaster. I remember my first roller coaster ride home boy, oh gosh. But then after I wanted to go, I couldn't wait to get back on it again.

Dan Wheeler: 4:08

Well, Terry, I think it's the fear of the unknown, right? You don't know what you're getting into. When you start a first you know, a new school, a new job, a new relationship. It's uncharted territory. Exactly.

Terry Steen: 4:21

I've got two things that come to mind. The first one is the first day that we brought that newborn baby home. When we brought Ashley home from the hospital. You didn't know what to expect. And, you know, while you're at the hospital, you've got nurses, you've got doctors, there's people care, and there's people telling you what to do. But when you put that baby in the car and drive to the house, take her in the house and go oh my god, this is this is real now. This is if something happens to her it's our fault.

Dan Wheeler: 4:59

Right I remember the first time Beth and I took Kiersten with us to a restaurant, I was scared to death. I was thinking, how are we going to get through this one but you know, you take it a step at a time and you, you manage to to get through. I remember the first time playing minor league baseball, it was actually a step before Little League, nine years old, and it's kind of nervous. The first time up, I hit a ground ball to shortstop that went through the shortstops legs, went through the center, filters legs, and I ended up running around all the bases, and I thought I'd hit a homerun it was a four base there. Was that exciting? I went home and told my mom

Terry Steen: 5:45

Well, when I think about first I think about my first house and you talk about fear and the unknown future, when you take that kind of step as a young couple, buy that house have to put that big down payment and, and you you end up getting it and you go What have I done. And so it is a little fearful. But as the years go on, you realize that was the best financial decision I've ever made in my life, because it began that process of establishing equity, and building toward the future. So things can be a little fearful, but they don't have to be do they? Right.

Dan Wheeler: 6:26

I remember my first job. First day on the job working for Ford Motor Company one summer during college, and I was on cleanup duty. And I was just going to make that factory as clean as possible. I'm out there. I'm working. I'm hustling. I'm pushing the broom, I'm getting the dustpan, I'm picking up stuff. I'm just I'm sweating. About three or four of these big guys come over they go, son, come here. What are you doing? Like you are making us look bad. You pushed a little bit, and then you lean on and you talk to your friends. Then you you don't work that hard. Come on, what do you do? Like, Oh, I thought I was supposed to work hard.

Brian Roland: 7:08

Was this a union chapter? Yeah.

Terry Steen: 7:12

Well, my first day on bridge construction, those guys knew they had a novice on their hands. They started sending me off on tools and calling it some name that over in the tool shed that didn't exist. And I'm in there looking. Oh, my goodness, it was embarrassing.

Dan Wheeler: 7:32

Brian, remember, we do that at Channel 38. It's still the new guy out to production company looking for first aviator clients. Those are fun times. But you know, the future is unknown. And sometimes I feel like as I get older, I worry more. I don't know, it's I've got to keep my mind focused on the Lord. Because I think you get to the point where you've got time you start overthinking, thinking things through. But the point is we need to have faith and know that wherever we're going, whatever our beginning is, God is already there.

Terry Steen: 8:12

Yeah, and even if it's a little fearful, even if it's something that brings anxiety, we have to know that everything we're going through has a purpose that's leading us into the next phase or season of our lives.

Brian Roland: 8:28

So that's true, you know, I just thinking about when I was looking at the rundown at home, what we're going to talk about, and I realized that I never had to look for a job. I did, I would look for him at times, but it never came through all the jobs that I've that I've gotten worth calls that people called me. And I thought, isn't this amazing how and I've lost some jobs too. And some I thought I didn't understand why. But it always led to a better position. And what I had learned at that previous job I was able to take with me and make it even better where I was at. So God always had a plan and His ways. Were my ways because or my ways were his ways I should say because he he led me there and I follow I did as as he directed and my life has been good because of that I've been successful in what I've done, but I I'm content to with what I've accomplished.

Dan Wheeler: 9:23

And sometimes contentment is a whole lot better than happiness. Yeah. And Isaiah 45 Two, we read I will go before the and make the crooked places straight, or break in pieces, the gates of brass and cut and sunder the bars of iron. But I love that making the crooked places straight. Because sometimes we get into a situation and we think what am I doing here? This is wrong. It's just not working out. But God is preparing. And you learn from your mistakes and you'll learn from each job you have and it all kind Have culminates into where you are today. I mean, I, when I look back at my whole life, I feel like everything was preparing me for ministry for fearless faith. What we'll do in here at the end of our lives, which I think is great, you know, we've all been able to have our other careers. But now we realize what's really important. And we want to help people who are in new situations or facing new jobs or new beginnings. I mean, I, here I am, I'm 68 years old, I've moved twice in the last year, and I'm getting ready to move again, I'm thinking my goodness, never thought of doing this at this age. Right? Yeah,

Terry Steen: 10:41

I think I spent 12 years at two different churches working on staff. And I'd been at churches on on boards, and I've invested my life and church and ministry. And there were some hard days, there were some days that I just was trying to figure out why in the world I was there and what God was doing. Little did I know that 12 years of experience in that setting, handling the business side, primarily, the church would lead me into 23 years of consulting with many of those churches out there. And it was an incredible job that God put into my lap. But it wouldn't have happened if I hadn't have powered through those 12 years of hard work.

Dan Wheeler: 11:33

And sometimes it's not a job, it's your life situation. I had gone through a really hard time before Beth got sick and had no idea was like the worst time of my life that that God was strengthened me and have taken me kind of through the fire. So I would be ready to help care for Beth. And if I would have known what was going to be ahead those three years with Beth, I might have said, Man, I don't think I'm ready for this flood. But yeah, he somehow gives you the strength. I often think it's it's a good idea. We can't read the future. You know, we don't know what's what's ahead. Because you might be around and say, I'm out of here. I quit.

Brian Roland: 12:10

That's the truth. I I agree with you there at the end, because there's times when I wish I would have they keep saying I wish I know what's going to happen tomorrow. But man when tomorrow comes off, I wouldn't have been ready for them. And I may not have been ready for it when it happened. But I was able to adapt and able to lean on the Lord to get through it at that time.

Dan Wheeler: 12:26

Well, I look at gone through Beth's passing through that three years, God was working on me and preparing me for fearless faith. And unbeknownst to me, and to you guys, he was preparing you to with different steps you were taking what was going on in your life. Because when I shared what I was thinking about you were both like, wow, this is exactly what I want to do too.

Terry Steen: 12:49

Yeah, worked out really neat. And it it was as our one career was winding down and coming to an end. This was exactly what for me what I needed to continue to have purpose in my life as I move into these later years. So how would you be able to predict that it's something that God had planned that just unfolded in a new season,

Brian Roland: 13:15

you hit the nail on the head what you just said there cheering about having a purpose. I was at the gym the other day and then I was talking to one of my neighbors came over and they were talking about the new year coming up and getting at the gym and that till after last year with where I couldn't do anything because of the meniscus tear and, and this and illness and that and I just said that this year. I said I got a purpose. I'm getting back out there and she goes you ever purpose ICS she was What's that? I said, Well, it's fearless faith. Now I can devote my time to that without worried about paying here and paying there. I know I can get myself in better health now. I know what I need to do. I know what I need to say I know what I need to share with other people now that I knew before but I just wasn't getting it out there. But I have a purpose to do that this year.

Dan Wheeler: 13:56

Whatever you do, don't be like Terry and rush right into those one pound pink dumbbells.

Brian Roland: 14:01

I went right to the two and a half. He really

Terry Steen: 14:06

I don't like to brag and I appreciate you bringing that up.

Dan Wheeler: 14:12

Carpenter musics

Terry Steen: 14:14

progress you don't just jump into things all at once there's a system.

Dan Wheeler: 14:19

But speaking of jumping into things, do you find that as you're starting something new, it's helpful to look back and realize that all of those new things you began over the years God was always there. He always took care of Yeah,

Brian Roland: 14:34

absolutely. No and like I said before, it's every job that I had people have called me for what the job and but it was the right one. The ones I'm when been applying for work the right ones, but these were always the right one. So I knew that he was leading me every step of the way with every new job I took.

Terry Steen: 14:49

Yeah, yeah, I think about 2022 Like I said it was a good year, but anytime the year ends and we start a new one, I always haven't no matter how that Last year was I always have great anticipation about the next one, it's reminds me of our motto at the church I go to are the best is yet to come. And what a great mindset and attitude that we should have that the best is always yet to come. There's always more. There's always better things that God wants to continue to do in and through our lives if we'll prepare ourselves and be ready for it.

Dan Wheeler: 15:28

That's good, because I feel like there's people listening right now that are saying, You guys have no idea what a mess I've made of my life. And I don't possibly see how I can get a new beginning. You know, my, my friend, Rick Domeier years ago, wrote a book called, can I get a do over? And when we were kids, if you mess up or you know, playing kickball, you'd miss it. You go, Hey, give me a do over I want to do over. And people say that's not possible life, but God can give us all a do over it can give us that new beginning that fresh start no matter where we find ourselves in life, no matter how badly you think you've messed up. God can pick you up, brush you off, forgive you of your sins and turn your life around 180 degrees.

Terry Steen: 16:16

Yeah, it says in Second Corinthians 517 of anyone's in Christ. He's a new creation. So even though we were born one time, many years ago, we it can be new creatures in Christ just by accepting Him and getting saved and allowing him to be the Lord of our life.

Dan Wheeler: 16:36

And how amazing you know, I It saddens me when you read about, especially young people who just, you know, they break up their girlfriend breaks up with them or they flunk out of school or something. And they end up taking their lives where if they would have just turned to the Lord their lives could be something wonderful. I mean, God specializes in New Beginnings. That's kind of why we decided to tackle this topic today is he can give everyone a new beginning He did it for me when I thought there was no way out. God can find a way and he has a way. So if you're feeling like you need a new beginning today, you need to realize that God tells us in his world word in Isaiah 4319. Behold, I'm doing a new thing. Yeah. It's about to spring forth. I mean, this could be the best year of your life. No matter where you are today. You know, the future can look bright.

Terry Steen: 17:34

I was thinking of that prayer that David prayed in Psalm 139. This morning, as we were reflecting on getting ready for this podcast. And what a great prayer. This is if somebody is just, they're not feeling adequate. They don't feel like they have what it takes. They feel like they failed way too many times. And listen to what it says it's 139 23 and 24. And it's a prayer that says, Search me, O God, know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there's any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. So it's the humbleness of telling him to search our hearts. We want pure hearts, we want to have the heart of God. And then it's test our thoughts. We need to have the mind of Christ as well. And the final thing was to leave me if that's our prayer, if our prayer is to allow him to set our heart right, set our mind right, and then lead us where it's what it says is in the way everlasting meaning lead us in the way that will lead us to eternity, if we will do that. God that that positions us for God to do incredible fresh, new things in our lives.

Dan Wheeler: 19:05

That's good. What's good? Yeah, really good. My daughter has a kind of a, I guess it's a poster. It's framed down stairs, and it says His mercies are new every morning. And it's from lamentations 322 and 23. It says it is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed because his compassions fail not Yeah, there are new every morning greatest thy faithfulness. You know, I think that's something that we need to get into our spirits that God is not willing that any should perish. He doesn't want to condemn anyone to death. He wants us to have every chance and he gives us those mercies every day is a new beginning every day is a chance to start over and you really need to focus on that, especially if you're listening to this today and you find yourself in a bad spot. Maybe you feel like you're in the lowest valley of your life. You know what There's no way to go. But up, knew that at those points, sometimes you have to look up. And you see the Lord and you see that he's ready to forgive you. Now you have to be serious. And you have to want to turn from your sin. Yeah, there's this hyper Grace movement out there where you can just go live any way you want. Because God's grace is always there, and he'll forgive you. But God's wanting to see that we've changed. We have to turn from our wicked ways. And then you'll hear from heaven, and forgive us of our sin,

Brian Roland: 20:30

you know, then I was looking back on your notes. And one thing that we just passed over was how fear of the Lord is beginning of wisdom. And when I read that, and I noticed, like I said, we've kind of gone over it, or past it, but I just wanted to step back on it. Because I don't want people to think that it's fear of the Lord, like he's the big thumb in the sky, it's coming to get you. My understanding is the fear of the Lord is that it's me, not wanting, not wanting to fail him. That's what I'm really fearing not wanting to fail him. And when you go into each situation, or when you go into every new day, and you take that kind of an attitude that you don't want to feel him, that's when you succeed. And that's when you can grow. And that's where you become closer to God. And it's, I always hear the fear of the Lord. And when I saw that down there, I thought, you know, I don't want people think that because I thought that for years, I thought God was someone the sky, and I can't smoke, I can't drink, can dance can go to movies, I'm gonna get my thought, you know, I'm gonna get my head crushed. And I'm going to hell. And that's, that's not it at all. It was fearing that I wasn't pleasing Him. And there's places you can go and things you can do. But there's things place you, you're not pleasing, and you're not going to be in the right situations, you're gonna get yourself in trouble. It's, and it's just going to draw you back into something you don't want to get into. So fearful of failing him is one thing that I would say, if you think that every day, I don't want to fail him. You're on the right path.

Dan Wheeler: 21:56

Yeah. Hey, if you haven't checked out our Facebook page, you can go there. FFM 60, or fearless Faith Ministries are the three logos we do morning cups of inspiration, and I recorded one today about what will God say to us when we stand before him? You know, because Hebrews 927 says, It is appointed unto a man wants to die. And after that the judgment we're all going to face that time when we stand before the Lord, we need to think about that. Yeah. And need to think, you know, what will a lot of people say what will I say to the Lord, but what will the Lord say to you? We want to hear him say well done, thou good and faithful servant, you can hear that. Give your heart to Lord, today, if you haven't, he's ready to change you from the inside out. He's ready to give you a new beginning. Terry, would you close with a word of prayer for those who are feeling like there's no new beginning for them to

Terry Steen: 22:50

share? Sure, Father, we love you today. We thank you for this opportunity to share with our friends. And we ask that for everyone listening right now, God, whatever they're going through, if they, if they're at a point in life, where they feel it's coming to an end, and they need that new beginning, Lord, we ask that you would refresh their spirits, renew their mind. Give them that realization that you're standing there right now, ready to step in and give them that fresh start. It may be the need to have a greater prayer life, Lord, if that's what it is, allow them to do that. Give them that spirit of anticipation of what you want to do in their life floor. We just pray now that you renew them, Father, give them a fresh attitude and a fresh mindset and, and remind them that your mercies are new every morning, we're going to make mistakes. We all make mistakes. But if we're trying our best to do what you'd have us do, Lord, that's all that you ask God, and you're right beside us, to strengthen us to renew us and to give us Lord each day, the path that you want us to walk, Lord. So on behalf of the three of us, Lord, we just pray that You father would minister to each person Lord in that special way. Give them that fresh and renewed touch in your name. Amen.

Dan Wheeler: 24:21

Well, thank you so much for joining us on Finish strong the podcast where we talk about saving the best for last don't retire to the golf course let's go hard for the Kingdom. Let's give the Lord everything we've got so that we can hear the words well done, good and faithful servant. God bless. See you next time.

John Matarazzo: 24:43

Thank you for listening to finish strong. For more information about finished strong and fearless faith. Check out their website F faith.org. Make sure that you rate and review this podcast to help more people accomplish their God given purpose so that together we can finish strong