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10 Ways to Finish the Year Well

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New Years is almost here and people are preparing for their celebrations and looking ahead to what 2014 will bring.

It’s good to look ahead and it’s good to celebrate but sometimes we spend so much time looking ahead that we forget to finish well what we have started. This year has almost come to an end but you can still finish it well.

Here are few suggestions of things you can do to finish the year in a way that honors God.

  1. Take time to pray with your spouse and/or children.
  2. Call and encourage that friend you’ve been meaning to call for a long time now.
  3. Read a Psalm and meditate on it in quietness.
  4. Go for a walk with a loved one.
  5. Ask forgiveness of anyone you may have offended but failed to ask forgiveness from.
  6. Write a handwritten letter to someone far away whom you have not seen for a long time.
  7. Make a list of the ways God blessed you this year and thank Him.
  8. Bake some cookies and give them all away to a neighbor or friend that has a tough time getting through the holidays.
  9. Clean your house.
  10. Go play outside with your kids.

Oh, yes and one more, you still have time to make a year end donation.

Christina and I invite you to join us in strengthening and planting churches in the former Soviet Union through a gift to our ministry.

You can give online, by phone or mail, all the details are here.

 

Question: What are you doing to end the year well?

20 Responses
  • Paul Sohn
    December 31, 2013

    I like number 2 Caleb! I also these questions by Brad Lomenick very helpful as we reflect over 2013:

    1. What are the 2-3 themes that personally defined 2013 for me?
    2. What people, books, accomplishments, or special moments created highlights in 2013?
    3. Give yourself a grade from 1-10 in the following areas of focus for 2013: vocationally, spiritually, family, relationally, emotionally, financially, physically, recreationally.
    4. What am i working on that is BIG for 2014 and beyond?
    5. As I move into 2014, is a majority of my energy being spent on things that drain me or things that energize me?
    6. How am I preparing for 10 years from now? 20 years from now?
    7. What 2-3 things have I been putting off that I need to execute on before the end of the year?
    8. Is my family closer at the end of this year? Am I a better friend at the end of this year? If not, what needs to change immediately?

    • Caleb
      December 31, 2013

      Thanks Paul! #2 is something I really am planning to do tomorrow, in fact I think I need to make a couple of calls.

      Those are good questions for review and reflection, thanks for sharing them.

  • Joseph Iregbu
    December 31, 2013

    Love this post. I pray for more grace in the coming year upon your life, family and ministry. You are changing the world where you are. God bless you brother.

    • Caleb
      December 31, 2013

      Thank you so much Joseph! Blessings to you and yours as you enter 2014!

  • floyd
    December 31, 2013

    I need to meditate on that list. It’s good to be in that type of mind frame for the new year. I’m praying for you and yours. Happy New year!

    • Caleb
      December 31, 2013

      How true Floyd! We need to take advantage of the time God has given us every day and use it for His glory! Blessings to you in 2014!

  • Betty Draper
    January 1, 2014

    Good list brother. Love the way you wove giving to your ministry into your post. You and your wife have some very creative ways to explain God vision of getting the gospel to the whole world. We needs those reminders of the need, God uses His money to send those He calls. God has been so good to us. We have lost a little of our support after taking on a stateside ministry with our mission which makes us be better steward of what does come in. Some of our supporters have been with us from the beginning and will stay with us till we retire. I am confident He will provide in our old age just as He did through the years. Happy New Year.

    • Caleb
      January 3, 2014

      Betty, it seems to me that is often the case when people move from doing missions overseas to being home based. However, sometimes those homebased ministries can be a tememdous help to those overseas too.

      I’ll pray that you get your support up to where it should be in 2014.

      • Betty Draper
        January 4, 2014

        We are making it in southern California of all places, so expensive to live here. Just as living in a third world country makes one be creative about using what is available there is wisdom in how to stretch what we have in an expensive country. God has not change, I will not have to beg bread no matter where I live. It’s much easier to separate what we need from what we want without much to it with. Just today we drove to see a family home from Indonesia, three teens, home schooling still, lovely family. It was a blessing to listen to their children talk about how they handled all the adjustments. We do believe we are a help to those coming home from over seas…Thanks for the prayers.

  • Dan Black
    January 2, 2014

    I ended the year well by taking time to plan and write out my 2014 goals. Great list!

    • Caleb
      January 3, 2014

      Good job Dan! I still need to get my goals in writing for 2014.

  • Dave Arnold
    January 4, 2014

    Good stuff, Caleb. I recently reflected back on 2013 and all that God has done. Amazing! And then I wrote out goals for 2014. I wrote my recent blog post about it. Looking to a great year Caleb!

    • Caleb
      January 5, 2014

      Hey thanks Dave! I’m going to check out your post right now.

  • Micah
    January 5, 2014

    I was reading this thinking I’ve come to the list to late with now being in 2014. Then decided, actually, no. Point 7 in particular is one I plan to sit down and do in the next couple of days. And point 3 is something I plan on making a daily habit this year.

    • Caleb
      January 6, 2014

      That’s true, you can do #7 any time really. Actually it’s probably a good idea to do it more than once a year. Hope your 2014 is off to a great start Micah!

  • TCAvey
    January 7, 2014

    Wonderful list. There is so much to be thankful for and so many ways we can bless others.
    I finished my year off by spending time with family. Today’s my first day back to blogging. I missed it, but it can’t take the place of my family or God.

    • Caleb
      January 7, 2014

      TC I had the wonderful oppurtunity to spend time with family last week and now I’m just getting back into the swing of things too. I pray all God’s best for you in 2014!

      • TCAvey
        January 7, 2014

        Thanks so much!
        I believe it will be a good year for us all. God wants to do amazing things and when we are willing…awesome things will happen.

  • Loren Pinilis
    January 10, 2014

    Been working on number 9!
    Good list – this is a great time of year to make a fresh start metaphorically. There’s nothing really special about January 1st, but it does have some cultural significance that we give it. I like thinking about how 2014 is going to be better.

    • Caleb
      January 10, 2014

      My mom always used to tell us that the condition of your house on January 1st would be indicative of the rest of the year! Blessings to you in 2014 Loren!