The End of the Beginning?

                        

"Now this is not the end.  It is not even the beginning of the end.  But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” This famous quote from Winston Churchill expresses our reality as we come to the "end" of Great Beginnings.  Great Beginnings is not something to be carried out only as a year-beginning blast of focus on setting our priorities straight.   It is meant to get us started out with the right focus, priorities, and habits that need to continue throughout the year. 

So...from now on...

“In the beginning God…” needs to remain the first sentence of our lives

The gospel needs to be the foundation of all we are and do.  Christ is the first fruits of those who will be resurrected.

Our identity needs to be grounded in being the people of God, the "first fruits of all He has created."

God needs to get the first-fruits of our lives.  Certainly Great Beginnings is only the start of identifying areas of our lives where we need to be more intentional about giving God first fruits. 

Think through some particular areas of life:  thought life, family life, financial priorities, work, mission...

Also, think through the message of Great Beginnings:  how do we keep the heat turned up under the areas of prayer, fasting (and other spiritual disciplines), God's Word, and God-honoring choices. 

This is the end of the beginning...so let's move on to the middle...and end of the beginning, bringing with us and building upon the gains of Great Beginnings! 

                              

            Lord, thank you for great beginnings, for Your mercies new every morning! For the Greatest Beginning, my Savior, Jesus Christ! Teach me to number my days that I may gain a heart of wisdom! Be the beginning, middle, and end of all my days!