New Beginings - Happy Endings

Are you ready for this New Year, 2011?

If you want to start the new decade right, close the last decade strong. God is just as passionate about happy endings as he is about new beginnings.

John Maxwell says, "Finishing is just as important as starting. They are the book ends to what you believe God is calling you to do."

It is 100% natural to jump into the new thing. Ever start a project only to leave it mid way? Whether it's boredom, distraction, frustration or exhaustion; it's much easier to pick up something new. We easily find reasons to move on to new things, and leave things undone. When you do what is fun and new, your excitement is renewed. After a while, you are busy with the many new projects in front of you.

This is especially evident during the Christmas holidays in the life of my children. My kiddos have been blessed with so many gifts that they want to open them all and play. Christmas presents are unwrapped and everywhere! Before long every little toy, game, trinket is opened, assemble and ready to be played with. My kids who have just finished singing on the karaoke machine have not put away their game pieces on the table, only to find that they are ready to grab their coats and play outside. As they are bundling up for winter weather, I would gently have to remind them, "Before moving on to the next thing, you must make sure you finished cleaning up your last project! If you don't do that first, you will come back to a big mess!"

First Things First:

I am always asking God to do new things, why because I love NEW things! I'm just like my little ones who want to move on to the new. Sometimes I hear the gentle whisper of the Holy Spirit say; "Eileen, can you remember the last thing you asked for? Are we done with that yet? Have you completed what I gave you to do?"

Benjamin Franklin said, "To succeed one must jump at opportunities as you do conclusions."

What is God trying to finish in your life?

"There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears." Phil 1:6 MSG

Strong Finish:

Christ shouted, "It is Finished!" as he hung on the cross. Sin was dealt with, Christ's mission was complete, and people could now receive a New Covenant.

How about making sure we close some doors by forgiving some people, filing some receipts, and completing our goals? When we walk through the open doors God has for us in 2011, let's believe for God to get ultimate glory out of our lives!

Jesus said to the Father, " I glorified you on the earth by completing down to the last detail what you assigned me to do." John 17:4 MSG

Let's start this NEW decade right.

May we each have a Happy New Year!

your sis and friend,

Eileen

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