The Eagle

Every morning I make sure and do a half hour bible study, then turn on the t.v. to watch Joyce Meyer's at 8:00 a.m. I turn it up really loud so I can hear it while I'm in the bathroom getting ready for work. She told a GREAT true story about Eagle's that I wanted to share.

As an Eagle ages, his feathers start to wear down, his beak gets covered with barnacles and his claws are worn and not quite as sharp. As he fly's low to swoop upon his prey, his feathers make a loud whistling sound and scares away his food.

After a while, the old Eagle decides to take drastic measures to survive. He flies high into the sky...higher and higher, getting as close to the sun as possible. Once he finds a perfect spot, he begins the painful process of plucking out every feather, one by one, all two thousand of them. The Eagles skin is raw and swollen, he has gone through a painful process.

As he waits for forty days for his new, re-growth, he doesn't waste time, he begins to rub his worn, barnacled beak against a rock. Scraping day by day, refining it to a stronger form. He begins to also sharpen his claws on the rocks. For forty days he continues to prepare. He knows that this process is for his own good. He endures the time of waiting with careful preparation. Each day is spent growing, strengthening and becoming stronger. When his new feathers appear he is now ready to start fresh. With vibrant new sleek feathers, a stronger beak and claws...he is prepared.

Notice that it took forty days for the feathers to regrow. Jesus spent forty days and forty nights being tempted and tried by satan. God often uses our difficult times to pluck, reshape and refine us for his purpose. Jesus, our Lord and Savior, the only perfect person to ever walk the earth was also put through severe pain, struggles and even death.

The next time you ask the question, "Why me God? What have I done that I have to go through this?" Remember, without the trials we would not grow. God did not even spare Jesus, his only begotten son from trials and pain.

He is getting ready to use you for his ultimate purpose for your life!

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope 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 be faint.
Isaiah 40:29-31

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of His calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.
2 Thessalonians 1:11