God is within her, she will not fall. He will help her at break of dawn. (Psalm 46:5) When a mother eagle builds her nest, she starts with thorns, broken branches, sharp rocks, and a number of other items. Then she lines the nest with a thick padding of wool and feathers. This makes it soft and comfortable for her baby eaglets. By the time the growing eaglets reach flying age, the comfort of the nest make them quite reluctant to leave. That’s when the mother eagle starts stirring up the nest. The mother eagle strategically begins removing …
Accept the Crumbs and God Will Make Loaves
It’s amazing how sometimes we think that God owes us so much more than we deserve. We possess bigger homes, better jobs, bigger cars and even more money. How is it that we fall short of seeing the blessings in the smaller things? A remarkable story is told in Matthew 15:21-28, when the Canaanite woman pours from her needy soul in desperation of her demon possessed daughter. She wasn’t searching for the finer things of life. She was only searching for a man who could provide her with what she needed most. As she fell upon her knees, she …
Guidance in Uncertainty
The Lord directs the steps of the Godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. (Psalm 37:23) Would you like to sit down and have a heart to heart talk with God? Perhaps He could tell you the exact plan that He has for your life. Or maybe He could lay it all out in black and white; marking out a path so you will know exactly what lies ahead. Well, life doesn’t work that way. God doesn’t mark out a clear pathway for our lives, nor does He provide us with turn by turn directions. Instead, He …
Dressed to Kill
This is not a wrestling match against a human opponent. We are wrestling with rulers, authorities, the powers who govern this world of darkness, and spiritual forces that control evil in the heavenly world. (Ephesians 6:12) The apostle Paul very well knew that we would engage in spiritual warfare, therefore he affirms that our spiritual battles are constant with an enemy who is crafty and full of evil. The enemy is masterful and cunning and will go to any measure to disarm us from our faith. He comes against us with different methods, and if he fails at one, …
A Place of Preparation
No training, correction, or discipline seems pleasant at the time it is being administered to us, but afterwards we come to appreciate it. (Hebrews 12:11) Have you ever found yourself in a place where you didn’t necessarily want to be? Often times when God wants to take us from where we are, to where He wants us to be, He’ll place us in certain situations that will truly test our faith. He rarely takes us to where He wants us to be without training, correcting and disciplining us. He takes the good and the bad, the ups and …
You Can’t Hurry God, You Just Have to Wait
“Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with Him to come to his house and heal his little girl” (Luke 8:41-42). Jairus was desperate and we are told that he repeatedly begged Jesus. If there ever was a time for Jesus to hurry, perhaps getting to Jairus’ house was one of them. However, Jesus agreed to Jairus’ request so they set out toward his home. While pressing through the crowd, Jairus’ request was delayed by the interruption of a courageous and desperate woman who also needed healing. Time was not a factor …
The Power to Encourage
Encouragement is powerful. It’s incredible. It inspires, it motivates and it lifts people up. On the other hand, discouragement is just the opposite. It put people down, it hurt and injure them. And for some, it stop them in their tracks and keep them from moving forward. In the book of Acts we are told of a man by the name of Barnabas. While there are many aspects of his life, it is specifically noted in Acts 4: 36 that he is called the “Son of Consolation.” However, Barnabas was certainly good at “lifting another’s spirit”. Consequently we see …
Detours Are Not Always Bad
As I made my way down the street, I came upon a road construction sign. The sign was huge and fluorescent orange; it sure enough got my attention. The words clearly marked: “ROAD CLOSED”. Taking heed to the sign, I momentarily paused trying to decide which direction to take. However, I took a detour to the right and continued to my destination. Why was the road closed? Was the area flooded due to the heavy rains? Could it have been trees that had fallen and blocked the path? I may never know the reason, but the sign was a sure …
Waiting in the Wings
The stage is dark and you’re expecting the lights to come on and the curtain to rise. The first act is over and by now you’re on an extended intermission wondering will the second act ever begin. —-Many actors suffer from this anxiety while on stage waiting in the wings. Has it ever seemed like you were waiting in the wings for the next scene of your life to start? Have you been waiting for things to change? Waiting for something to happen. Waiting for life to get back to normal. Waiting for a good job. Waiting for the …
Can Anything Good Come From There?
Nazareth was not considered the village of fame. It was a small obscure village hidden in the hills of Galilee with nothing happening. There weren’t any buying and selling routes running through it, so it had no commercial value. It was a community off the beaten path, being the ideal place for many outcasts to make their home. The reputation of the town was so bad that when Philip told Nathanael he had found the Messiah‚ Nathanael’s immediate response was‚ “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Instead of arguing against Nathanael’s protest, Philip simply answered, “Come and see.” …
The Rainbow Comes After the Rain
Jacob is alone, beside the River Jabbok during the night. Without warning, he is thrown to the ground by a man. Needless to say, “the fight was on”. Jacob and the man fought hard, wrestling violently until Jacob’s hip was ripped out of joint by the force of the man’s blow. Then the man said to Jacob, ”Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” Then the man asked his name, and when Jacob answered, the man said, you shall no longer be called Jacob, but you have …
Fresh Strength
The prophet Isaiah uses very beautiful imagery to portray the strength that God gives to those who trust in Him. In the strength of the LORD we begin to soar like eagles. The eagle is a picture of confidence, flying so effortlessly and gracefully. But when the eagle loses its strength to fly, it then flies to a high mountain and wait there for rejuvenation. After the overall restoration process, it has fresh strength and is then ready to fly to even higher heights. A greater example is found in Matthew 14:23 “After times of preaching and healing, Jesus backed …