What End Do You Have in Mind?
. . . .Bob Bauer. . . .

In Stephen R. Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, the second habit is "Begin With The End In Mind." This concept is essentially visualizing in our minds what we would want others to say about us at our funeral, i.e., he was kindhearted, she was a good mother, etc. After determining what we would want to be said, we would live our lives in such a way that this could be said. In other words, everything we say, everything we do, and everything we think would be filtered through this concept of how we want to be remembered. It is beginning everything with this end in mind. Covey writes that it is making "certain that whatever you do on any particular day does not violate the criteria you have defined as supremely important. . . ."

In Paul's letter to the Philippians, we are given an insight into what was the apostle's goal – what was supremely important to him. The imprisoned apostle wrote, "For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:19-21 NKJV). What was supremely important to Paul? It was glorifying Jesus Christ. Paul wanted never to do anything which would bring shame to the cause of Christ and everything he did was filtered through the concept of glorifying Jesus Christ. Thus Paul could say, "For to me, to live is Christ. . . ."

As Christians, our envisioned end should be to die as faithful children of God. Thus, everything we say, do, or think must be filtered through the gospel of Jesus Christ (Rm. 1:16-17; Mt. 7:21-23). Albert Barnes suggests that if this is our envisioned end then we should purpose to know as much as possible about Christ; purpose to imitate Christ as the model for our lives; purpose to publicize Christ and his gospel; and purpose to enjoy the blessings found in Christ.

How do you see your life? Would others be able to truthfully say about you what you hope they would say? Would they be able to say that you were a faithful Christian? If not, why not start living with that end in mind?

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Gal 2:.20 NKJV)

Thanksgiving
Chris Steele

Nearly four hundred years ago the Pilgrims began what we now call the Thanksgiving holiday. These early Americans had gone through a very rough first winter. They had arrived in their new world too late in the year to grow many crops. Disease and starvation took the lives of half of these brave settlers. In the spring the local Indians taught them how to grow various crops in this new land. When the bounty of the fall harvest came in, the colonists planned to have a great feast together with their Indian friends. Although the official celebration of Thanksgiving day on the fourth Thursday of November was establish by Congress in 1941, Americans have continued to be thankful for the bounty of this great land we call home.

For Christians, Thanksgiving Day should be every day of our journey here on this earth. We have much more for which to be thankful than just being Americans or living in this land of opportunity and wealth. Don't wait until Thursday — begin today to express thanksgiving to our great Father in heaven for all that he has done and continues to do every day of our lives. As Paul said, "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift" (2 Cor. 9:15). This gift is Jesus Christ and all that he brought to us by the sacrifice of himself on the cross so long ago. What a blessing we have in the salvation of our souls!

How we should express our thanksgiving to the God of heaven above for all his spiritual blessings "in Christ" (Eph. 1:3). We are reminded again to give "...thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph. 5:20). The Hebrew writer admonished, "...let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name" (13:15). "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God" (Phil. 4:6).

Happy Thanksgiving