{"id":29682,"date":"2021-02-16T01:30:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-16T09:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=29682"},"modified":"2021-02-16T18:18:52","modified_gmt":"2021-02-17T02:18:52","slug":"february-16-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2021\/02\/16\/february-16-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"February 16, 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cRejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.\u201d\u00a0<\/em>Romans 12:12<\/p>\n

Listening to God in the Garden<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As I listened to a HER Ministry Bible study message on *Finishing Well<\/em>, it reminded me of a time when I had just walked through a very hard difficult trial. You see, I love to garden. To be digging in the dirt, listening, and seeing all of God\u2019s signs of creation all around me always seems to cheer me. It fills me with that quiet understanding that I am but a vapor, a wisp in the wind.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away\u201d\u00a0<\/em>(James 4:14).<\/p>\n

It reminds me that God sees me even while I am in my garden, when no one else is around, when I am questioning all that is in my life. I have questions that I know I will never find answers to, but God allows me to cry out and ask them anyway. He allows me to be mad or upset with the trials I faced\u2014the unanswered prayers, the sleepless nights of wondering why and how this could have happened.<\/p>\n

I know we all have these same questions, feelings, and prayers at some time; it is only when we STOP and turn around and really see God, hear God\u2019s voice and feel His touch, that changes us from just finishing, to finishing well! God wants only the best for us; He is constantly guiding and watching over us in good times, sad times, hard times and, yes, even our unfaithful times. \u201cFear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand\u201d\u00a0<\/em>(Isaiah 41:10).<\/p>\n

Now we all will have troubles, trials, great days, and not-so-great ones, but it is our choice to choose the path like the one I walk every day in my garden. \u201cGod is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble\u201d\u00a0<\/em>(Psalm 46:1).<\/p>\n

Finishing well means not giving up no matter what, not caving in, not allowing Satan to steal our joy. Finishing well means to obey God in the tasks that He has called each one of us to. Obeying the only One who has the answers, who cares for us, who is always in our corner, no matter what! God\u2019s great joy is to see his daughters come to Him in prayer and confidence, knowing He will listen.<\/p>\n

The path in my garden is sometimes rocky and crooked and has lots of debris to be cleared and gathered up, but oh, the joy I feel when I hear the birds and the critters scurrying all around. I see God\u2019s full creation in full bloom among the flowers, and even some weeds, but His love abounds there in my garden! I know that as He sees each critter and each sparrow, He is watching over me too.<\/p>\n

\u201cI sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears\u201d\u00a0<\/em>(Psalm 34:4).<\/p>\n

Father God, I prayer my sisters are rejoicing in You right now, knowing that You are all we need no matter our circumstances. I pray that we can all say we have been obedient to You in all things when the time comes, and that we have finished well and have run the race You have set before us. \u201cWhen anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought me joy.\u201d Psalm 94:19.<\/em><\/p>\n

*Click here to watch the video teaching,\u00a0Finishing Well<\/em>.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>

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