I want to begin this message by making a personal confession.

There is nothing more disconcerting for me and nothing more frustrating than an unfinished task.

In fact, I can't stand unfinished anything.

I will stay up late at night.

I'll get up early in the morning.

I do whatever it takes in order to finish whatever I've started.

And for me, there's nothing more tragic than an unfinished painting or an unfinished symphony

or a half-built house or an incomplete manuscript.

But I also know deep down in my heart, I know that these are all reminders to me

that we all have the inclination, every one of us, we have the inclination, to stop working on a task

or a project or a ministry or a service before we have completed it.

And that is why one of my top priorities in life is to finish well.

Finish well.

It's a deep desire of my heart.

It is a prayer of my soul.

And if you are praying for me, here's one way you can pray for me that I would finish well.

Because, you see, I have seen so many times people start a venture

with great deal of enthusiasm, and then soon they lose interest. I have seen people in a Christian

life, they begin their Christian walk with the Lord, with a great deal of zeal, with passion, and with commitment.

But soon they lose heart.

I have seen people in ministry who began well, who began strong, who began with power and ended badly.

I have seen people make all sorts of promises that never

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