{"id":1193,"date":"2020-09-09T04:29:09","date_gmt":"2020-09-09T08:29:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/2020\/09\/09\/finishing-what-god-started\/"},"modified":"2020-09-09T04:29:09","modified_gmt":"2020-09-09T08:29:09","slug":"finishing-what-god-started","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/2020\/09\/09\/finishing-what-god-started\/","title":{"rendered":"Finishing what God started."},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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You ever had those days when you are ready to say, \u201cI\u2019ve had it, I can\u2019t take it anymore?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did you get yourself out of that \u201cfunk\u201d, what changed that encouraged you to keep going, or what motivated you to keep on running until you finish the race? (Comments welcome below)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know we have all had those days. Some more than others but \u201cthat\u2019s life right.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few weeks ago I was having a rough time adjusting to the \u201cnew norm\u201d of interrupted sleep and then I stumbled across this book: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Don\u2019t mind the laundry on my bed behind the picture (it\u2019s been one of those days) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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My kids were blessed to have received a signed copy with the following words of encouragement. It reads, \u201cGod has his hands on you. Nothing is too hard for God! Finish the Race! Healing is on th<\/em>e way! God bless you and keep you!\u201d By Angela Fields, renown author and inspirational speaker. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I read this book a few weeks ago and put it up to use some of the pages to motivate you but then misplaced it. On the day I told my mom and husband I didn\u2019t want to write anymore- this book popped up. Look at what Angela Fields wrote to YOU: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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So without going through painful details of why I was feeling \u201csome type of way\u201d I\u2019ll just ask the question: Have you ever felt like maybe certain things weren\u2019t meant for you? Maybe you aren\u2019t as strong as \u201cput together\u201d as people think you are? Maybe it\u2019s just too much and it\u2019s time to ring the bell? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well I need you to read Proverbs chapter 4. The verses I have included in the beginning of today\u2019s message says, Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You see in life it\u2019s not like we go looking for trouble do we?!!! I\u2019m not sitting here saying, \u201cHere I am anxie<\/em>ty, frustration, confusion, tiredness<\/em>, etc.- come get me<\/em>.\u201d But stuff happens. It\u2019s just life? Do we go looking for sin? (I don\u2019t) I\u2019m always reminded of Peter in the boat on the water. No matter what Peter was going through, he kept his eyes on Jesus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How many of us keep our eyes on Jesus when we are going through? Or do we crash into the deep, dark pit; run right into the super sticky spider web; trip over our own shoelaces; or run right into the huge tree branch? Just as Lariana, Diana, Bobby, and Eddy find themselves stumbling over these things, so do we! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We bruise our knee, we get ourselves into sticky situations, we fall for the \u201cokie dok\u201d from time to time, and we most definitely run right into sin- not intentionally I must add. So what do we do? My study Bible suggests: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

God calls us to stay spiritually alert at all times, and that includes taking regular inventory of our life\u2019s direction. <\/pre>\n\n\n\n
When is the last time you took inventory of your life? What direction are you headed? Are you headed down a path of no return? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Trust in the Lord with all your heart,<\/p>
And lean not on your own understanding;<\/p>
In all your ways acknowledge Him,<\/p>
And He shall direct your paths.<\/p>Proverbs 3:5-6<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Here is where spiritual wisdom comes into play. In the Bible Solomon was invited by God to ask for whatever he wanted. Solomon could have asked for money, cars, bad chicks, a big house, or whatever but he asked for wisdom. The wisdom God gave him helped him realize he could \u201cnot go at this thing alone.\u201d When I say \u201cthis thing alone\u201d, I\u2019m talking about this \u201cthing\u201d called life. God gave us a help mate: the Holy Spirit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So often we get so caught up in those \u201cdeep, dark pits\u201d of life we don\u2019t know how to crawl out of them. Can I encourage you this morning by telling you God has His hands outstretched wide ready to help you up. Yes in life things are going to happen- often times out of our control. Does that mean quit or just give up? NO!!!!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It means we have to put on our armor of Christ and stay ready for war. God helps us even when you think He is not there. The Word says that He will never leave us or forsake us. God wants us to stop worrying about things out of our control- He wants us to cast our fears and anxiety to Him because He cares for us. He knows what we are going through and what we will face. He is saying to me right now, \u201cWhitnee\u2019 focus on me.\u201d He is saying to you \u2014 focus on me! <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
You see when we too tired to encourage ourselves God gives us this super natural strength to write these words 3 in the morning to help encourage someone else. It\u2019s by God\u2019s grace and mercy that we have come this far- and He is not telling us to quit. Oh no, God is saying endure my Beloved child. Tests, trials, and lets just be real \u201ccrap\u201d happens we don\u2019t anticipate- but God knows all and He sees all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
No, we don\u2019t go out looking for trouble but trouble finds us. We have to stop blaming the devil for everything. God brings trials and tribulations to test our faith. Have you done your self inventory lately? How are your faith points adding up? Is it time to \u201cpress pause\u201d and rejuvenate? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our God is so faithful He gives us brand new mercies with each new day. I mean God knows- He created us. He didn\u2019t create us to give up so don\u2019t let your current circumstances trick you out of God\u2019s blessings. God told me this morning to seek His face so I can encourage you to seek His face also. Listen for His voice and ask for His wisdom. You see God\u2019s wisdom will help steer us away from the murky waters. God\u2019s wisdom will help guide us out of the \u201cdeep, dark pit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had my fair shares of \u201cdeep, dark pits\u201d and through all the ups and downs, twists and turns, cuts and bruises, joys and sorrows- God is my hope for today, tomorrow, and yesterday! When my mind tells me to go left or go right- my heart tells me to look straight. That\u2019s God and His infinite wisdom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So when I find myself ready to just say \u201cthe heck with it\u201d, God throws out the lifeline. He saw me drowning over the last couple of weeks, He knew I was getting close to ringing the bell, and calling it quits. Then He woke me up early, early this morning to the sound I\u2019ve heard since May 30, 2020- my moms trachea being clogged up. Sometimes I anticipate that sound because after I help her- I get to spend some sweet time alone with my \u201cfirst husband\u201d in the wee hours of the morning. If it\u2019s alright with him, I might talk to Rico for a moment or two before I roll back over and doze back off to sleep. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Well this morning God wanted me all to himself. Rico came and was talking to me and I had to tell him, \u201cfor someone who just told you I don\u2019t think I want to write anymore- and you see I\u2019m writing, we need to talk later.\u201d I gave him one of those looks that grandma used to give me. You knew what time it was when grandma would give you those looks. Rico had his finger up like those ushers walking down the aisle, he politely exited stage left. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
God is throwing out a lifeline but you have to be spiritually aware to catch it. Don\u2019t allow the enemy to bait you. Don\u2019t allow the twists and turns of this \u201ctwisted race\u201d we call life to cause you to miss out on God\u2019s opportunity to put you in the position He wants you to be in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Picture taken from Instagram -LetsGrowSisters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
So when you find yourself at the crossroads of life, stop and drop to your knees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Picture taken from Instagram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
What direction are you headed? Do you know which way to go? God is instructing us to let our ways be established. He is instructing us to remove our feet from evil. My sisters and brothers, trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. We can\u2019t do it by ourselves so the Word says, In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
God is leading- will you follow? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are you running? Fallen into a \u201cdeep, dark pit; find yourself in a sticky situation, shoelaces not tied; walked right into a tree branch or in other words a \u2018trap\u2019? God knows all about it. Today\u2019s message is an encouragement to FINISH WHAT GOD HAS STARTED! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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We can do it together! Grab your neighbors hand and help him or her to the finish line. God is on the other end cheering us on until we get to see His face. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Do you have what it takes to finish the race? Do you know the promises God has for you? Accept Him into your hearts if you haven\u2019t already. Accept His son Jesus Christ as savior over your life. He is patiently waiting for you. <\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Special thanks to Angela Fields, author of \u201cFinish The Race\u201d and illustrations by Deniz Gungor. This children\u2019s book is a MUST READ! Who knew God would use this beautiful lady that came into the Koinonia Camp where my kids were provided with love, good food, biblical lessons, friendships, life skills, and so much more in the summer of 2019 to bless this little lady who was \u201cgoing through it\u201d in September 2020. WON\u2019T HE DO IT\u201d Looking to support a local non-profit that focuses on building community and nurturing children and families in the Eau Claire community- check out Koinonia of Columbia. If you would like to purchase the book \u201cFinish The Race\u201d it is available for purchase on Amazon. Check out her other profound books of encouragement as well. God bless! <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
You ever had those days when you are ready to say, \u201cI\u2019ve had it, I can\u2019t take it anymore?\u201d How did you get yourself out of that \u201cfunk\u201d, what changed that encouraged you to keep going, or what motivated you… Read moreFinishing what God started.<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[64],"class_list":["post-1193","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-godistheauthorandfinisherofmyfaith","content-layout-excerpt-thumb"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbfCFX-jf","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1193","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1193"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1193\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1193"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1193"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1193"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}