Ruffled Feathers

Has anyone ruffled your feathers lately?  Have there been any

unforeseen bills?  Any sickness in your family recently?  Any

inconveniences or interruptions in your life?  Have you complained

lately? Have you asked for release? Have you felt any discomfort in

your world?
 

If so, I have a word for you.

 

"In a desert land He found him, in a barren and howling waste. He

shielded him and cared for him; He guarded him as the apple of His

eye, like an eagle that stirs up its nest

and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and

carries them on its pinions. So the LORD alone did lead him…"

Deuteronomy 32:10-12 (NIV)

 

Life affords many opportunities for ruffled feathers.  We should not

be unaware, for the Bible clearly teaches that:

 

"Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”  Acts 14:22 (NAS)

 

God loves you enough to provide for your needs and He loves you enough

to want to see you grow up and mature.  He has a purpose for your

life.  He has a specific task that He wants you to do.  No one else

can do what He has equipped and is equipping you to do.  That’s

powerful!  So He must stretch us.  He must stir us up or we will nest

comfortably until He takes us Home.

 

Let me explain a little about an eagle and her nest of eaglets.

The eagle pads her nest with downy soft feathers, gentle moss, and

other soft articles she finds.

Her young are loved and cared for as the apple of her eye.

She lovingly instructs, shields and guards her young.

She wants to see them strong.  And though she loves them and would not

mind coddling them all her life, she knows that in order for them to

fulfill the purpose for which they were born, one day they must fly.

 Learning to fly requires faith, perseverance and often A BIG PUSH!

 So, as they grow, she begins to remove the downy soft feathers.  She

speaks to them lovingly.  She is not mad.  She is not tired of them

and meeting their needs.  She is just keenly aware of her purpose, and

the purpose of each of her eaglets.  She has been blessed to hold them

tightly, but now she has been chosen to set them free to fly.

 

We sense that we were born for more than just resting in the nest.

But we’re afraid.  We complain that "so-and-so" gets all the big

breaks.  And when given the chance, we choose the comfortable over

trusting in God alone for the unseen.  Instead of seeing

inconveniences and surprising trials as opportunities to grow, we

whine.

 

The mother eagle is very aware of time; even more aware of timing.  At

precisely the right moment, she instructs her young that NOW is the

time for them to fly.  We are all big talkers while we are safe and

secure.

 

Yet God says the same thing to us, “You were made for the wide open

sky.  You were made for more than this.  You were made to spread your

wings and fly.  I want more for you than the familiar.  I want more

for you than muddling through this life.  I want you to allow Me to

help you soar.  I want you to taste and see that I am good.  I have

great and awesome things in store for your life!”

 

YOU WERE BORN TO SOAR!

 

Friend, did you know that God enabled some to walk on water?  Some to

be healed.  Some to see miracles.  Some to be enabled to forgive.

Many have come to know their purpose for life.  We long for the

indescribable joy of soaring above this world.  God teaches us how to

fulfill our purpose to soar.

 

Is God stirring up your nest right now?

God doesn’t walk behind us yelling, “Go!”

God goes ahead, bidding, “Come!”

 

He is inviting you to take the next step with Him.  He alone will

lead.  At times it will seem that He is pushing you over the edge, but

it is not to see you dashed against the rocks below.  It is to see you

soar.

 

Do you want more from this life?

Do you want to get to a place where you can see your trial, your

testing, your tribulation or your troubles from a different point of

view?

 

Then I invite you to trust the One who loves you more than His own

life.  I invite you to consider that maybe God is removing some of the

feathers in your nest because He loves you.  Remember, the Word of God

says you are the apple of His eye.

 

If He is stirring up your nest, it is because He wants to take you a

step further toward Him and His purposes for your life.  What an

incredible God!  He wants more for you.

 

One last fact about eagles…did you know that when a storm moves into

the area where an eagle is flying and the winds are at a high

velocity, the thunder is rumbling across the canyon, the lightning is

cracking in the sky, that at that very moment, the eagle flies

straight into the eye of the storm.  She allows the very winds, that

threaten to overcome her, to be the channel through which she soars

higher and more steadily.

Up, up, up.  Up to a place where her view changes!

 

Only God could think of such a thing as that!

 Friend, give to God the area that is threatening to overwhelm you.

Spread your wings.  Trust your Heavenly Father.  If you start to fall,

He will bear you up on His wings, for you were BORN TO SOAR!

  

PRAY:

Lord, the storm has been brewing for some time now.  I am very

uncomfortable.  I have asked you to feather my nest and make me cozy

in this particular situation but I realize that You are much more

concerned with my holiness than my happiness.  You are much more

concerned with my Christlikeness than my comfort.  I thank You for

reminding me that I am the apple of your eye.  You will not let me

fall.  You will enable me to go sky-high.  I trust You.  Please change

my shallow view.  Thank You for reminding me I was born to soar.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

 

Brenda Blankenship is a wife, mother of four, Bible teacher, speaker,

author, and composer.  Her husband, Hub Blankenship, Jr. pastors

Milestones Church, a church they planted in the fall of 1996.  Brenda

asked Jesus Christ into her heart at the age of 5. She committed her

life to full-time ministry as a junior high student.  She holds a

degree in Bible from Columbia International University.  She serves as

the Director of Women’s Ministry at Milestones Church.

Her heart cries with the Psalmist, “Teach us, O Lord, to number our

days that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12.

 

God Knows Better Than I

 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. (Isaiah 55:8, NKJV)

"I'm sorry, but it wouldn't be a good idea for you to come visit." Mary said this because she was concerned for my safety, and also she knew what was best for me. In the same way, God knows what's best for us. He knows what is around the corner. Mary knew what I would face if I didn't take her advice. God knows what will happen to us when we don't heed his warning. What are you facing today that you need God's counsel? Let me encourage you to take His counsel; for He knows what's best for you.

Father, thank You for knowing what we need even more than we do. Thank You Lord for giving us chance after chance to heed the warrning.  Help my readers to take the advice of an all-knowing God. In Jesus Name, Amen.

A Royal Child

And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Mathew 1:21, NKJV)

Royalty

With all the news coverage today of the "royal" child's birt, I started thinkin.

If that piece of news is media-worthy, I wonder what type of coverage the King of Kings would've received 2000 years ago if facebook and twitter would have been available? Today, do you see the love of God-the real royal news worthy of a media circus? Let's take as much time to spread our piece of royal news today as fast as the news of the royal baby was spread.

Father, help us have the urgenc of spreading the Good News today as fast as the news of the baby was shared. Help us not be ashamed. In Jesus Name, Amen.

The Sheperd's Point of View

 For we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corthinians 5:7, NKJV)

While having a conversation with a dear friend today, I started thinking of the first time we met. We met at a writers conference a couple years ago. My mind went back to the sweet thing she did for me that weekend. Mary Denman took my hand and patiently described the sceens of nature...the mountains, the clouds and whatever she could think of at that mement that related to where we were. Just as Mary described those things to me, that's how our God is. She described those things because with being visually impaired, I couldn't see them for myself. Sometimes in our trials, we're so blindsided we can't see the future. But our shepherd is right there by our side. And He knows what's around the corner. He knows what things look like, even when we have no idea. What are you facing today that you need his sight for? I needed Mary sight to look at those outside sceens for me. Let me encourageyou, ask God to show you your future...let Him take the reigns and you'll be amazed at what you find out!

Father, thank You for being our shepherd. Thank You Lord that when we can't see, you're there to give us the big picture in Your perfect time. I pray for my readers. I ask You to increase our sight. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Praise Him In the Storm

Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
For the help of His countenance. (Psalm 42:5, NKJV)

The sanctuary was crowded. It was full of people that wanted the pastor and his wife voted out of the position. Though they'd only been at the church a little over a year, the Pharasies reared their ugly head. The pharasies won the battle. . . or so they thought. This couple had a greater weapon than these evil people. They had God on their side. Though they lost the vote, they'd already won the victory. They were praising Him in the midst of the storm. Though they were devistated over the turn of events that took place, they chose to praise their way through it. They chose to believe God is God. For you see, we either believe He's God, or we don't. They ran to the source of their strength. "When you can't praise God for your circumstances, praise Him for who He is." And that's just what they did. What situation are you facing today that you need to praise God in spite of what's going on? Cancer? Failing marriage? Job loss? In the midst of the storm, praise Him.

Father, we thank You for the storms that come. We thank You that even though our world is crumbling around us, we can still praise You. Give us the strength to take the next step when we feel like we can't take anymore. Lord, we love You and we praise You. Amen.

What Garment Are You Wearing?

To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. (Isaiah 61:3, NKJV)

The bag felt as though it weighed a hundred pounds. With all the things inside, I could barely lift it. I felt as though I was lifting a bag with rocks or logs When we're discouraged in our spirit, that's how we often feel. This verse tells us that the Lord will replace our spirit of heaviness with a garment of praise. Once I put the bag down, my hand felt much lighter. When we replace that heavy spirit with a garment of praise, we feel much lighter. Today ladies, what garment are you wearing? Let me encourage you, put on that much lighter garment . . . the garment of praise.

Father, thank you for this precious garment. When we wear it, nothing can stop us. We can praise You with all we've got and our circumstnaces may not go away, but they're much easier to bear. Thank You Lord.

Here Comes the Bride

that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:27, NKJV)

The bride walked down the isle, on the arm of her father. As I turned with the rest of the spectators, I started thinkin.

One day, that will be us. That will be all those who have trusted Christ. Imagine that, ladies. He will come on a white horse and gather His children home. And the wedding we'll experience, the gowns we'll wear will be greater than anything we can imagine. Are you ready for that wedding? What are you most looking forward to about that wedding day?

Father, prepare us for that grand day. Those of us Lord that know You, make our hears right...make them ready. Amen.

Divine Connections

“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. (Luke 15:20, NKJV)

Walking into church for choir practice, I noticed a dear friend I'd not seen in close to 3 years across the crowded room. We hugged and caught as best we could with the little time we had that morning. After practice was over, I noticed something. For three years, I had her contact information in my addressbook. That day, she and I reconnected after a long time apart. That's the way we are with the Lord at times. We don't think He hears our prayers. And if He hears them, we don't think He answers them . . . because they're not answered in the way we want. Just like Martha and I reconnected, we eventually reconnect with God. Today my friend, let me encourage you to reconnect with the One who loves you more than any human ever can.

Father, help us reconnect with You. Help us to know that when our prayers aren't answer in acordance to our ways, You know what's best. In Jesus Name, amen.