Tag: Peace

To Soar Like An Eagle

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For some reason this morning, a treasured memory has flooded my mind and heart. Last April on the 23rd., Kevin and I were blessed to spend several hours with some great friends just before they returned to minister in Europe and in Israel. Our first stop was a quaint coffee shop with a great view of the Chattahoochee River. We purchased our coffee and made our way outside to enjoy the beautiful scenery from the bank of the river. As we chatted and caught up a bit on each other’s lives, something grabbed all our attention. Right in front of our eyes, up in a perfectly blue sky, soaring over the river right in front of us were five beautiful bald eagles circling around in front of us. After circling a few times they began to fly away. Kevin and I have been to this very spot a number of times, never have we seen even one eagle and this day there were five! It was an amazing sight to behold, sitting in quietness with special friends who we don’t get to see near enough, listening to the rushing of the waters and seeing that majestic sight. What a great way to start off our visit; what a great memory!

Eagles are Beautiful and interesting creatures. Here are just a few facts about them…

  • Eagles are powerful birds of prey.
  • They have hooked beaks and powerful talons to hunt prey.
  • There are over 60 species.
  • They build their nests on high cliffs or in tall trees. Bald eagle nests can weigh as much as a ton.
  • Some eagles hunt animals as large as a young deer.

Credit to:  Science kids.co.nz

  • They have very sharp eye sight, perhaps among the best of all other species.
  • Bald eagles are known for spectacular aerial shows.
  • Considered symbols of power, transcendence, and freedom.

Credit to: Onekind.org

  • Mate for life; Once pared together, bald eagles remain together until one of them dies. Life span-20-30 years
  • Most are approximately 3 feet long with wings spans of 6-7 feet and weigh 10 to 14 pounds.

Credit to:  defenders.org

Eagles are mentioned in scripture between 31 to 34 times depending on which translation you may be reading. Some scriptures compare God to a mighty eagle, others may refer to His enemy as an eagle. Perhaps one of the most quoted verses about eagles is Isaiah 41:30-31 “Youths may faint and grow weary,and young men stumble and fall, but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint.”

What a beautiful picture that paints for us! It is truly a beautiful sight to watch an eagle soar up high, whether it is one or five! Just think…His Word tells us that we can soar on wings like eagles when we trust in Him; when we wait upon Him. He promises to renew our strength, that we will soar; run and not grow weary; walk and not faint… What a promise! We exchange our worry and doubt for trusting God and the benefits are beyond most of our expectations! We can be refreshed, renewed, and we can soar above our circumstances just by trusting God with our lives and our circumstances.

This is my hope and prayer for us for 2015: to trust God more; make Isaiah 40:31 more of a reality in our lives; to dig deeper and go deeper with God; to leave our cares with Him and trust Him to even turn the tough things in life into something beautiful and that He will cause us to be able to soar!  Don’ s words from that afternoon, as best I remember were… “May you soar above any turbulent waters and may you be found standing on a rock in the middle of the river holding a cup to catch the blessings when the blessings are flowing all around.” What a blessing to speak over your friends, and may it be so for each of us as we enter this brand new year! May God take us to a place of deeper relationship and deeper trust.  May we both give and receive mercy and may we be overwhelmed by His grace and peace.

Why Do I Love the Word?

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What an interesting question that was posed today in the current Bible study I am doing! Why do you love God’s Word? It was followed with this proposal…consider a friend or acquaintance asked you this question because they did not understand your love for the Bible and you were too taken off guard to respond at the time. Now, you sit down to write a note or letter to explain… How would you explain? So here goes lets give it a try…

 

Dear Friend,

I was taken aback a bit by your question today and needed a little time to process

your inquiry because many emotions rose up within me at that moment. Too many to

put into words immediately.  God’s Word is life and health to me! Without it, I would

not be the person I am… I probably would not be alive and certainly would not even

resemble the person you know.  His Word has been the source of strength to carry on in

the darkest of days, when sorrow, grief and loss were so very overwhelming that easily I

could have crawled into a dark hole, given up and disappeared. It has brought comfort

and peace in the most frightening of times; it has been my source of encouragement

when all seemed lost and I felt totally alone; it has been a well of hope springing up in

the driest of deserts; a balm to heal my heart when it has been wounded or too heartsick

to even move. His Word has been freedom to a soul held captive by her circumstances

and it has flooded joy into a heart teaching me that joy is available even in the times

where happiness is elusive and circumstances are challenging. When I have been wise, it

has offered me the keys to navigate through every passage on this journey of life. When I

have been foolish, He has drawn me back to it to lovingly shine light on the areas that

could have been better navigated and teach me better ways for the future.  Yes, it is life;

strength; comfort; peace; encouragement; healing; freedom; joy; direction; and

instruction. God’s Word also displays my Father’s character, shows the greatness of His

love, and tells me who I am In Christ. In Him, we are called friend; son or daughter;

beloved; accepted; redeemed; justified; set apart; precious; blameless; chosen; and

kings and priests…just to name a few. It contains everything needed to live a victorious

life and to avoid the pitfalls life tends to throw our way. It is a precious gift and a much

needed tool for my life.  Dear friend, I hope this at least in part answers your question

and thank you! for challenging me with this question. It is good to be challenged; to be

able put words to such deeply felt emotions and beliefs and to bring to remembrance

why we hold something or someone so dear and precious. It keeps it fresh to us and

prevents us from taking it for granted!

 

Grace and peace to you my friend!

Days of Grace-Day 20

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      Grace, defined as unmerited favor by some; a gift of something we did not earn or deserve others will say. A little surfing the net, here are a few of the definitions I found:

  •       Beauty of Form
  •       Good Will
  •       Favor rendered by one who need not do so; indulgence
  •       To give beauty, excellence or charm to
  •       Divine love, protection; freely given
  •       Excellence or power granted by God
  •       Effortless movement
  •       A condition of protection or sanctification by the favor of God
  •       Reprieve, pardon
  •       Mercy

      It has been twenty days since I felt challenged in my spirit to study this word grace.  Many people of faith observe Lent each year. Lent is a forty day period leading up to Easter, the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the tomb.  According to About.com Christianity, it is a time of “fasting, repentance,  moderation, and spiritual discipline” that is observed by some but not all Christians. I was not very familiar with Lent though I had heard numerous friends over the years talk about giving something up for Lent or fasting.  Being curious, as it approached and I was around their conversations, I studied the concept. As I said earlier, I felt a still small challenge to focus each day on Grace. As it happened, when I looked at the calendar it was Ash Wednesday, which is the traditional starting day. I counted the days and determined it would be forty-five days and then Easter. So here we are on Day 20.  So far it has been an interesting journey for me and hopefully for those who have been walking it with me via this blog.

      Today’s grace verse comes from Acts 11: 23. On day 18 and 19 we looked at Stephen. After his trial and sentence, he was killed and persecution broke out among the followers of Christ’s teachings. Despite persecution, the church grew in strength and number. There also arose some confusion about the differences between the Jewish believers and the Gentile believers that were coming into their fellowship. Peter had a vision in chapter 10. Actually, he had it three different times.  Peter was perplexed and just after the last vision, some men came looking for him. They had been sent to Peter by a man named Cornelius so that they could request that he come to Cornelius’ home. Cornelius was a God-fearing centurion and a gentile (those who were not of the Jewish nation).  Peter accepted his invitation and went to him; there Peter told Cornelius and all his household and people about Jesus.  The Holy Spirit moved in power and they all believed and received the Holy Spirit. Next they were all baptized and this was the beginning of the gospel going out to the gentile nations.  Their cultural difference is what began the confusion previously mentioned. Questions over whether or not they were free to just follow Jesus or would have to conform to the Jewish traditions as well were the topic. Peter returns to Jerusalem and hears about the questions and concerns. Peter tells them all about his visions and all that had happened while he was with Cornelius. He told them how the Holy Spirit had moved in power and how they had received the Holy Spirit and then requested to be baptized right away. Peter said to the Jewish believers, “Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”  When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.” Acts 11:17-18  This ended the confusion and questions from within  for now but the persecution from outside continued. The believers were now scattering because of the persecution of the church. Some scattered to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone.  Others went to Cyprus and Cyrene speaking to the gentiles (Greeks) preaching the gospel of Jesus.

Acts 11:21-23  (NAS) “And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch.  Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord.”

      Because of the work of the Holy Spirit, the obedience of Jesus,  and  gracious hand of His  Father; salvation, freedom, healing and deliverance was not just for the Jewish people but for all people. Secondly, due to the persecution many went out from Jerusalem into different areas spreading the word, remaining faithful to God and bringing many people to the realization of what was available by living a life for Christ. Once again we see the Grace of God abounding in His people lives even in the middle of trials and struggles. Stephen paid a high price but he graduated into God’s presence. Persecution came and caused chaos and havoc, yet if we look closely… We have seen examples of good will, Peter going to Cornelius. Possibly, that would even be considered indulgence; favor rendered by one who need not do so…but God. We see divine love and protection as people leave their home and are scattered. We also see excellence, power granted by God in the movement of the Holy Spirit. There is good will, mercy and reprieve handed to Cornelius’ household and to all the gentile people. We see God’s grace extended, His kingdom expanded and His glory revealed to all people and it is marvelous in our sight!

Grace and peace to you!

Days of Grace- Day 19

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The Rest of the Story

     Yesterday we looked into the life of Stephen. When we paused the story, he was going before the Sanhedrin on trial for false accusations  and trumped-up charges despite the fact that Stephen was a man with a good reputation, wisdom and full of the Holy Spirit.  In Acts 6:8 we saw these words about Stephen: “And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.”(NAS)  There were those who could not stomach the things Stephen spoke by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and plotted against him. Now he has been imprisoned and the trial has begun.

     When asked if the charges against him were true, Stephen answered in a very unusual way. He told the history of the Hebrew people beginning with Abraham and how God called him to leave his home country and go to a land God would show him, a land his descendants would one day have as an inheritance but first they would be in bondage in a foreign land. Stephen then retold a little about the patriarchs and how Jacob’s sons would sell their brother Joseph into slavery and how God would rescue him, deliver him from his afflictions and give him favor with the Pharaoh. Joseph grew to be second in command.  When famine hit his hometown, he eventually was reunited with his family as they sought food from Egypt.  He continued by telling how the Hebrews were growing in number and then were held in bondage to a foreign king.  He explained about Moses and his fleeing to the desert and God’s call for him to return to Egypt and bring the Hebrew people out of bondage. Stephen then spoke of their gaining freedom and wandering in the desert, the building of the wilderness tabernacle.  Finally, he ended with:  “David found favor in God’s sight, and asked that he might find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. But it was Solomon who built a house for Him.  However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says:  ‘Heaven is My throne, and earth is the footstool of My feet; What kind of house will you build for Me?’ says the Lord, ‘Or what place is there for My repose?  ‘Was it not My hand which made all these things?’ ” Acts 7:45-50 (NAS)

      Imagine what the Sanhedrin are thinking! Perhaps they wondered where this was going or what this had to do with the charges against him. Our fellow has not once answered the question of the validity of the charges and I am pretty sure they never expected where Stephen would go next. Take a look:  “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.  Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.” Acts 7:51-53 (NKJV) These were Stephen’s next and last words to these leaders.  The leaders were outraged and sentenced him to be put to death.

     God’s grace is an amazing thing. It enabled Stephen to see to  the heart of the matter and instead of answering the bogus charges he was able to see the true problem. Their problem was not with him but with God. He understood God’s Word, His grace and God’s call on his own life. He stayed true to his beliefs and remained strong. I believe Stephen knew beyond a doubt his God was bigger than anything that the opposition could do and if he had any doubt I am sure it disappeared the instant he looked to the heavens and saw first hand the glory of God and Jesus seated at His right hand. Stephen journey appears to be is ending with this declaration: ” and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” (verse 56) because they took him out of the city and stoned him. In reality, it was just the beginning for as Paul says to live is Christ, but to die is gain. God has a plan and purpose for every one of us and want us to live life and live it to the full. John 10:10 His desire is for us to live grace filled lives and lives that extend that grace He gives us to all those around us. It was the Grace of God flowing through this amazing man, Stephen, and the example of Jesus Himself that made it possible for Stephen’s last words to be “Lord, receive my spirit,” and “Lord do not hold this against them.” What an example of one who had great peace, wisdom and grace through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. In his greatest trial grace abounded, Lord, may it also abound in our lives whether in good times or in trials!

Days of Grace- Day 7

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Moving ahead in tracing God’s grace and favor throughout the pages of the Bible, our next stop along the way is found in 1 Samuel.  Samuel is an adult now and serves as a prophet. In our text today, Samuel has already anointed Saul as King of Israel. At the people’s insistence, God had relented and agreed to allow them a king and Saul was chosen to be the first.  That, however, has not worked out exactly for the best. In chapter sixteen, God has a talk with Samuel and assigns him to go to the house of Jessie, take a sacrifice with him and anoint the ‘one’ God tells him  as the next king of Israel. The Lord was very specific that Samuel not look at Jessie’s sons based on their appearance nor at their physical stature, God was looking at their heart.

One by one, Samuel met Jessie’s sons, seven in all had passed by Samuel. Samuel spoke to Jessie and said, “The Lord has not chosen these; are there any more children?” Jessie sent for his son David who was in the field tending sheep. The Lord said “this is the one” and Samuel anointed David. The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and his gradual fall as king began. Initially, Saul seeks David out and is friendly but as time goes by, Saul starts slipping and David begins to grow in power and influence. Our grace text is found in 1 Samuel 27:5. David is fleeing Saul’s attacks and goes into Gath in the land of Philistines. He has sought favor with Achish, son of Maoch, king of Gath so that he could have refuge from Saul. David asks in verse 5, ” If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?”(KJV)  Achish granted him Ziklag, where David resided for the next sixteen months. During this time David gained the favor and the respect of Achish.

This story amazes me!  David, who conquered the Philistine Goliath, later seeks refuge among these same Philistine people. This is just another example of scripture proving scripture and God’s marvelous grace to those who have a heart for Him. Proverbs 16:7    “When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” David surely experienced this in his life, at times with Saul and certainly  during his stay with the Philistine people.