Fresh Starts: Rising in Faith

There are times in our life when the soul feels the quiet invitation to begin again. Not because the past has failed us, but because life itself is always unfolding toward something greater. March carries that energy. The days grow longer, the light returns, and the earth reminds us that renewal is woven into the very fabric of existence.

Our theme this month is still Fresh Starts, and our wisdom teaching is Rising in Faith. As I shared with you during last weeks Wisdom Talk, Fresh starts do not begin with perfect conditions or complete certainty. They begin when we decide to rise—when we choose faith over hesitation and possibility over doubt.

Ernest Holmes wrote,“Faith is a mental attitude so inwardly embodied that the mind can no longer deny it.”

Faith, in this sense, is not wishful thinking. It is a deep spiritual conviction that the life within us is always moving toward greater expression. To rise in faith is to trust that even when the path is still forming beneath our feet, the Divine Presence is already guiding our steps.

Faith asks something of us — it invites us to participate in the unfolding good.Here at Ahiah, so much is happening that calls for your participation — even begs for it.

Every new beginning requires a moment where someone says yes before the outcome is visible. Every vision begins as an idea held in the heart long before it becomes visible in the world. When we rise in faith, we allow that inner vision to take form through our actions.

This week we launch our Ahiah Legacy Kitchen Campaign. You can be memorialized as a sponsor of our new kitchen. Reach out to either me or Rev.Dr.Nicole for details on how to have your name engraved  on our plaque as a contributor to this Legacy Campaign.

This month our community is living this teaching in a very tangible way through the renewal of our kitchen space. At first glance, a kitchen might seem like a practical project—appliances, counters, permits, and construction. But spiritually, it represents something far deeper.

A kitchen is a place of nourishment. It is where meals are prepared, where volunteers gather, where laughter is shared, and where service becomes real. It is the place where hospitality becomes an act of love. In many ways, the kitchen is the heart of community life and represents our commitment to serving the community, especially those recovering from the Eaton Fires.

Our vision for the kitchen is not simply renovation—it is expansion of our capacity to serve. Imagine a space where community meals can flourish, where outreach events can grow, where health and fellowship come together around the simple sacred act of sharing food. Imagine a place where hands work together and hearts connect.

This is what rising in faith looks like in community form.

Holmes reminded us, “There is a power in the universe greater than you are, and you can use it.” When we align with that power—through vision, generosity, and shared purpose—we begin to see something extraordinary happen. The good we imagine begins to take shape.

Our kitchen project is an invitation for each of us to participate in that creative process.

Some will contribute through prayer and vision. Some through time and service. Some through financial gifts that help turn the blueprint into reality. Each act, no matter the size, becomes part of the larger expression of love in action.

If this vision speaks to your heart, I invite you to be part of it. A gift toward the kitchen is more than a donation—it is an investment in nourishment, fellowship, outreach, and the future life of this community. It is a way of saying, “I believe in what we are building together.”

When we give from faith, we participate in the miracle of creation itself.

Holmes wrote, “What we think, we become. What we feel, we attract. What we imagine, we create.” Our imagination for this community is one of generosity, service, and connection. The kitchen will become a living symbol of that shared vision.

March is also a time when we celebrate the beautiful individuals whose lives bless our community. Every birthday marks the beginning of a new spiritual cycle—a fresh chapter in the soul’s unfolding story. To all those celebrating birthdays this month, we honor the unique light you bring to our spiritual family.

May this new year of life be filled with joy, purpose, and the quiet knowing that you are deeply loved.

During this season of renewal, I invite you to pause and consider three simple questions:

Whom do I love? Who loves me? And what would Love do in this very moment?

Fresh starts are rarely dramatic. More often they begin quietly—with a new idea, a new commitment, a new willingness to trust the good unfolding within us.

And so together we rise.

We rise in faith. We rise in vision. We rise together as a community committed to expressing love in practical ways.

Let us walk forward into this season of fresh beginnings knowing that the same Divine Life that renews the earth each spring is renewing us as well.

Here are your Affirmations for the week to help you anchor your Fresh Start:

With faith in my heart, I welcome the good that is unfolding right now. Divine wisdom inspires every new step I take. Together, we create a community overflowing with love, service, and joy.

May your Fresh Start be filled with courage, generosity, and the quiet joy of knowing that every act of your faith helps build a more loving world.

We are surrounded by Blessings and Light,

RevMichael