BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND!  JANUARY · 2010

Please read  Linda’s Our Christmas Poem for You in NEWS FROM DALE AND LINDA as well as my article on Christmas.
 Also  check out THE PUBLIC ARENA for an article on Christmas 1776 
and The Power of Dads in the KIDS AND GRANDKIDS area.

Both of these new articles were written by those in our Disciple Groups
who also happen to be our neighbors!  They are under the Blog button. I’ve written a Christmas article below our photos on this page.

Granddaughter ISLA ROSE  was born December 14.  You pronounce her name like the beginning of Island.  She is our little Island Rose!  Jude now has a big sister.  We praise our Heavenly Father for His goodness to Seth and Vanessa and our whole family.  The genetic test just came back and we thank God for His mercies that Isla does not have the TS gene!

Wow!  It seems strange to be writing 2010!  I think it was Stephen Covey who coined the phrase, “Begin With the End in Mind.”
As we look forward into 2010 it might be helpful to ask ourselves one question:

What do I want to accomplish by the end of 2010?

Jesus had a compelling motivation to do the works of His Father that were yet for the future. Look up John 4:34 NASB. “Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish (finish, NIV) His work.’”
Notice how the writer of Hebrews emphasizes the future gaze that marked our Lord’s life:
“ Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2 NIV).

Jesus began with the end in mind. His future “joy” was pleasing His Father and knowing He would be sitting down at His right hand.  Also His joy was looking ahead to know His suffering would provide a way for us, His children, to have eternal salvation as He died in our place taking the penalty for our sins.  These end goals were His motivation to keep first things first.

Victor Frankl, an Austrian psychologist who survived being tortured in the death camps of Nazi Germany, made a significant discovery while there.  As he watched the people who survived and those that died and he singled out the most significant factor for those that conquered their horrible circumstance. This factor was that they had a sense of a future vision.  Their compelling conviction was that they had a mission to perform, some important work to do.
The following questions and the answers you give might be of help for you to live out the purposes of God as you live in His presence and accomplish His works.

1. Your Walk with Christ
Colossians 2:6 “Therefore as you have received Jesus Christ the Lord, so walk in Him.”
What one spiritual habit would you like to solidify in your behavior this year?
What would that look like in practice?
 What are the three top time-wasters in your daily routines? What incremental steps will you take to replace them with time spent for God’s Kingdom purposes?
What sinful desire do you believe needs to be under the Lordship of Christ?
How will you attempt to move from self-leadership to Christ’s leadership?

2. Spiritual Encounters with Those Who Have Yet to Know Christ
Luke 15:7 (ESV) “… there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”
Will you pray for one to five people who do not know Christ yet?
List these people on a 4×6 card to pray regularly for them.  Attempt to engage them in meaningful spiritual dialogue.
Take a look at my Blog under Spiritual Conversations. I have a list of 15 open-ended questions that you might find useful.  www.daleebel.org

3. Intellectual Stimulus
2 Timothy 4:13 (NASB) “When you come bring the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments.”
What five books will you read this year? Is your reading material well-balanced in subject material?  Include a variety of book categories.

4. Leaving a Legacy
Psalm 145:4 “One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.”
What are two things could you do to enrich the spiritual legacy you will leave your children and/or grandchildren?
What single thing can you do this year that will matter most in ten years?
What will matter most into eternity?

5. Physical Fitness
1 Timothy 4:8 (NLT) “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”
Describe your plan to keep in shape or to get in shape.
Psalm 37:4,5 (NASB), which Linda and I have inscribed on our wedding rings says, “Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it.”
This verse has several powerful truths in it.
a.  Find your fulfillment and pleasure in Him.
b.  When you do the above you will find your desires are His desires.
c.  Make a daily commitment to surrender your ways to Him.
d.  Depend on Him, and He will bring you and your actions in alignment to His purposes.
Hebrews 11:1(NIV) “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

I am not sure what 2010 will hold for us but with the eyes of faith and trust in our Yahweh God we will live with a sense of destiny and will Begin With the End In Mind.