Welcome to the New Year's Eve edition of Our Daily Bread reading titled finishing strong was written by when Collier
 at the age of 103 a woman named Manpower computer does India's oldest female athlete during the 2019 World Masters athletic championship in Poland remarkably cower won Gold in four events javelin throw shot put 60-meter Dash and 200 M run but most astounding was that she ran faster than she ran in the 2017 Championship a great-grandmother running into her second century Tower showed how to finish strong
 the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy younger disciple of how he'd entered his concluding years the time for my departure is near Paul wrote in 2nd Timothy chapter 4 reflecting on his life he confidently believed he was finishing strong I have fought the good fight Paul said I have finished the race he wasn't confident because he calculated his impressive accomplishments or surveyed his vast impact that though they were a mess rather he knew he'd kept the faith the Apostle had remained loyal to Jesus Through sorrows and joys he'd followed the one who rescued him from ruin and he knew that Jesus did ready with a crown of righteousness the joyful finale to his faithful life
 Paul insist that this Crown isn't for an elite few but for all who have longed for Christ's appearing as we head into a new year let's remember that Jesus danziger to Crown all who've loved him and may we live to finish strong
today's our daily bread devotional scripture reading is from 2nd Timothy Chapter 4 verses 1 through 8
 in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who will judge the living and the dead and in view of his appearing and his kingdom I give you this charge preach the word be prepared in season and out of season correct rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction for the time will come when people will not put up with sound Doctrine instead to suit their own desires they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths but you keep your head in all situations and do our hardship do the work of an evangelist discharge all the duties of your ministry
 for I am already being poured out like a drink-offering and the time for my departure is near I have fought the good fight I have finished the race I have kept the faith now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge will award to me on that day and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing
 let's pray God we want to finish well as we enter this New Year help us to serve you well with our lives and love you more than anything or anyone else
 thank you Lord It's in Jesus name we pray amen
 thanks for listening today I'm Steven and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries Happy New Year