Six Principles We Can Learn From the Eagles

Source: Six Principles We Can Learn From the Eagles

Six Principles We Can Learn From the Eagles

The eagle is the only bird that loves the storm. When it rains most birds head for shelter. When clouds gather the eagles get excited. The eagle is the only bird, that in order to avoid the rain, starts flying above the clouds. No other birds can fly as high as they do, and other birds hide in the branches of trees. The eagle uses the wings of the storm to rise and get pushed up higher. Once it finds the wings of the storm, the eagle stops flapping and uses the pressure of the raging storm to soar above the clouds and glide. This gives the eagle an opportunity to rest its wings. The old adage is true, birds of a feather flock together… and so also it is true, that eagles fly only with eagles. The Bible talks about the eagles in Isaiah 40:31:

“…Those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.”

Eagles have the ability to rest as they soar. They also have amazing eyesight. They can focus up to 5 kilometers from the air. When an eagle sights prey, even a rodent from this distance, he will narrow his focus, and set out to get it. He doesn’t remove his focus, until he gets his prey. An eagle’s strength is also incredible. They have been known to take down a deer, when searching for food.

 Eagles generally mate for life. Courtship involves elaborate, spectacular calls and flight displays. The flight includes swoops, chases, and cartwheels, in which they fly high, lock talons, and free fall, separating just before hitting the ground. The female goes through a testing period with the male. She flies down to earth with the male pursuing her, and she picks up a twig, and with him still pursuing her, she flies to a height and drops the twig. She watches as she drops it, and the male retrieves it before it hits the ground. He returns it to her, and she flies higher, and drops the twig again. The eagles will do this for hours, it is a test for the male, which shows the male’s commitment to her. It is only when she feels confident in the male, that the female will mate with him.

The eagles pick a spot high in the air, free from predators, where they will build their nest. The male will gather thorns and sticks for the base of the nest, and then place carpets of grass and soft items such as leaves and feathers to fill it. The thorns and sticks help to keep predators out. Both parents will sit on the eggs. When the birds hatch, the female stays in the nest most of the time, while the male hunts for food. Usually there are one or two babies, sometimes three. One of the parents will stay with the babies at all times, while they are small. Both parents help to raise the babies.

At 10-12 weeks, it is time for the eaglet to learn to fly, the mother will hover over the baby, showing it how to fly. Then all at once the mother pushes the little one out of the nest, and the eaglet falls down the face of the cliff. The mother and father eagles fly down, catching the little one on their backs and on their wings, and fly up depositing it back in the nest. The mother begins to remove the feathers, leaves and grass from the nest, to make it uncomfortable, so the eaglet will learn to fly. Over the next one to two months, the parents leave the nest more, and feed the eaglet less, so that it begins to get thinner, and want to hunt. The baby will practice flying and hunting in the nest until it begins hunting on its own, and leaves the nest for good.

The eagle has the longest life span of its species. It can live to be 70. But to reach this age, it has to make one of the hardest decisions of its life. When it crosses the age of 40, its flexible talons can no longer grab prey which serves as food. It’s long and sharp beak becomes bent. It’s old-aged and heavy wings, due to its thick feathers, become stuck to its chest and make it difficult to fly. Then the eagle is left with only two options: Die, or go through a painful process which lasts 150 days.

The process requires that the eagle fly to a mountain top and sit on its nest. There the eagle knocks its beak against a rock, until it plucks it out. After plucking it out, the eagle will wait for a new beak to grow. Then it will pluck out it’s talons. When its talons grow back, the eagle will pluck out it’s old-aged feathers. While there he plucks out every feather on his body, until he is completely bare. And after five months, the eagle takes its famous flight of rebirth, and lives for another 30 years.

We can Learn these 6 Principles from the Eagles:

• We can use the storms of our lives to rise to greater heights. Over-comers relish challenges and use them to become profitable, and for a greater good.
• Have a vision and remain focused no matter what the obstacle, and then you will succeed.
• Whether in private life or business, test the commitment of people before partnering with them. Test before you trust. Both parents play an important role, in raising their children. Remember that eagles fly with eagles, chose your friends and partners carefully.
• Prepare yourself and the next generation, by passing useful knowledge on to your children. Teach your children to fly, being protective of them during the learning process. Sometimes we need to let them feel discomfort, and let them learn from their own mistakes, especially when it’s time for them to stand on their own. Teach them about God, His commandments and His ways.
• When we begin to feel uncomfortable about something ourselves, it may be time for us to move forward, and progress in an area.
• Many times in order to survive, like the eagle, we have to start a new process that requires making changes. We sometimes need to get rid of old memories, habits, and other past traditions. Discard what is worthless in our lives, and be renewed. Freed from past burdens, we can take advantage of the present. I believe that lasting change comes from God. Spend some time in prayer, asking God to help you make changes. It was difficult for the eagle, but worthwhile, it gave him 30 more years of life. Some of the most difficult changes, can be the most rewarding.  
• Resources: Dr. Myles Monroe, the Bible, Wikipedia, Google Images

A Dream- The Church and the Rain of the Holy Spirit

THE DREAM– Before we moved to The Ozarks, I had a dream from the Lord which was an encouragement to me. I would like to share that here. I saw a building which was made of stone. It sat on a …

Source: A Dream- The Church and the Rain of the Holy Spirit

A Dream- The Church and the Rain of the Holy Spirit

THE DREAM– Before we moved to The Ozarks, I had a dream from the Lord which was an encouragement to me. I would like to share that here. I saw a building which was made of stone. It sat on a corner, in the city, and had large windows like a shop. There was a storefront and the building was 2 or 3 stories tall. The very front of the building, which sat on the corner, was made out of wood. And while the building was older, it was in good shape except for the front, which had deteriorated, and rotted in some areas. So the front was torn off. We found a cornerstone there, which was large and strong, which was left in place. It was at the front corner. And we were satisfied, that since the cornerstone was so perfect, that rest of the building had been built well. The rest of the smaller stones which were purchased to rebuild the front, looked similar to the corner stone. So the front had been rebuilt out of a light tan stones, cut in rectangles almost like brick, which matched the rest of the building. When the work was finished it was beautiful, and now every aspect of the stone building was strong. The windows had been replaced, and were made out of very heavy glass. They had been enlarged, and you could see more clearly out of them. It was now the kind of building that could handle any storm that might come along.

I looked all around the building. I walked outside and back in, through the back door. There were people in the back by the back door, and in all of the rooms of the building, who were working. They were “behind the scenes” doing all kinds of different things. They had a joy, and a peace about them. They were working well together. I really noticed this, because some of them I knew in my life, and they had made fun of me in the past. They had ridiculed me because I talked about God, and tried to live for Him. But now, because of the work that God had done in their hearts, they were respectful of me, and had a new reverence for God. I thought, “ Wow, what a change! Am I seeing this right?” When I looked down at my clothing, I was wearing a white gown, which was encrusted with pearls. My hair was long and flowing, and I was beautiful. I was sure of my life and my calling. I walked to the front of the building, and there were many good things there. People could come inside and get things to help them in their lives. Bibles, books, tools, music and all sorts of gifts. There was a sweet aroma there, and wonderful music was playing.

I walked out on the street, and looked at the outside of the building. It sat on a corner, and was almost a triangle, with the front corner being rounded off, at the corner of the street. The building was sitting on a firm foundation. There were 2 streets passing it, one on each side of the building. When the front of the building had been redone, there was also work done to the corner of the street. There was a new pole with a stoplight, where a button can be pushed when people want to cross the street, so that the lights will change quickly. The curb had also been rebuilt, like one of the handicapped curbs. So now it sloped down to the street. The sky was blue, and it began to rain. The rain became a heavy downpour, and the water was rushing down the streets, and quickly down the sloped curb. People were gathering outside the building with black umbrellas in their hands. The people kept coming until there was a huge crowd there. There was excitement, and a sense of joy in the air.

THE INTERPRETAION– The building on the corner represented the church. The people of God are really the church, not the building that we meet in. But this building represented the church as a whole, all of us together. The building was well built, just as Jesus has built the church to be strong. It is built out of stone. But the front of it was wooden, and was deteriorating, and rotten. It needed to be restored. God is the Master Builder, and Jesus is the Cornerstone. Jesus is perfect in every way. God is going to tear off the rotten parts of the church, and rebuild the rest of the foundation, and front of it, out of stone. Those stones are going to represent Jesus. He is going to bring conviction, and His discipline to the church, so that the church can be pure.

I see God waking people up, and Him leading them. I think about all of the rotten things, that many people are doing today, in the name of the Lord. They have given the church a bad name. Their fruit is rotten and their lives are putrid. There is going to be a huge separation between those who are sheep walking with Jesus, and the goats who are not. The Word tells us this. He will remove the scales of deception from their eyes. I see many who have been lukewarm in their walk with God, being changed by the Holy Spirit, so that they will have a burning fire for Jesus in their hearts. Many false teachers, and those who are wayward, will still be there. But those who are faithfully walking with God, will see who they are, through the unction of His Holy Spirit. God is going to make the people of the true church, strong and solid, representing Jesus. This church will be filled with His people doing His good works behind the scenes. I see God healing marriages, restoring relationships for some, and separating others from relationships, so that God’s purposes can be fulfilled. God is going to restore His church.

As I walked through the building, I was representing the church as the bride of Christ. He is going to come for a bride that is spotless, wearing white, just as I was wearing white, worthy of Jesus. She will be rewarded in heaven, which is represented by the pearls on the gown. She was beautiful and perfect. I do not see myself this way in my real life, but in this dream, I was in a perfected form, as I represented the church. In the front of the building, the Holy Spirit was moving, and His Presence was all around the building. He was guiding his people, instructing them about the work He wanted them to do. He was helping them to do the work. He was helping them to get along together, and to love one another. He was speaking to them, and giving them joy. He was drawing people to Him. He was giving them the Word of God, and counsel, the Gifts of the Spirit and many other gifts. He was literally putting physical tools, and spiritual tools into the hands of His people. The Holy Spirit was the sweet aroma, and there was wonderful worship. He will pour a great anointing upon the people to do these things.

I believe that the stop light, with a button that can be pushed to speed up that changing of lights– represents people being stopped by God, and He will hasten His work in them, causing them to understand things more quickly than in the past. This is because they will need His knowledge to deal with situations in their lives. The rain, is the Holy Spirit coming down upon the people. He will draw them to Him. He will come upon the people as a heavy, penetrating rain. There will be Revival, and the Holy Spirit will move in a mighty way. There are 2 reasons the sloped curbs are put onto the street corners. One is to accommodate those who are handicapped, so they can walk down the curb more easily. I believe that there will be a handicapping of the church as we know it. Because of that, God will show His people how to overcome their obstacles. The other, is so that the water can run off of the sidewalks more quickly, so that the water doesn’t pool up, and there isn’t flooding. This is how great the rain of the Holy Spirit is going to be.

Lastly there was a huge crowd that came, and the people were carrying black umbrellas in their hands. This reminds me of people at funerals, carrying black umbrellas, and opening them in the rain. This represents troubled times that will come. There will be the death of things that have been good in the past. God will use these situations to draw people to Himself through Revival. Many will open their hearts during this time, that would not come to know God any other way. People will be seeking truth from God. They will be seeking His Spirit to give them direction. They will turn to other people who know God, asking for guidance. And God will answer them, and give them guidance, and His Holy Spirit, to comfort and direct them. I believe we will see God do many miraculous things in the church at that time. The Holy Spirit will rain mightily upon His people.

Joel 2:28-29 “I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.”

Isaiah 44:3 “For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.”

LEARNING ABOUT BATTLE FROM GIDEON

~~And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.” Judges 6:12~~
These were the words spoken to Gideon. God called him to rescue the people of Israel from the Midianites. (Judges 6,7,8)

GOD PREPARED GIDEON FOR BATTLE AGAINST THE ENEMY

I. The first thing that God told him to do, was go onto his father’s property, and to PULL DOWN THE ALTER TO BAAL, and the Asherah that was with it. (An Asherah is a totem pole, that the people would performed erotic acts around it.) God wanted his people to destroy their idols, and worship Him first, and only.
When we are facing a battle, we need to make sure that we have destroyed the idols in our lives, and that we are worshipping only God.

II. Next Gideon was told to BUILD AN ALTER TO GOD UPON THE STRONGHOLD there. The Greek word for stronghold, taken literally, means a fortress. To a Christian Jesus and our Salvation is our Stronghold. That is the solid foundation that we build upon.

A. The term Stronghold is also used in the Bible, also as a metaphor to represent things that are based only on human confidence or pride, as opposed to those that rely on God’s input and guidance.

B. When something that has a “strong hold” over a person, they have no control over it and cannot seem to stop doing it!

1.) Examples of Some Strongholds-Eph. 4:22-23 lists some: lying, stealing, corrupt communication, bitterness, wrath, anger, clamors, slander and malice. Other obvious examples of sinful activity that can become strongholds are unforgiveness, bitterness, grief, disappointment, addictions, feelings of rejection, negative self-image, depression, illicit sexual activity and occult involvement.

2.) Strongholds are walls or fortresses around beliefs and emotions to protect us from further pain. An important part of healing and transforming the deep wounds, requires divinely pulling down the strongholds.

C. WE CAN PULL THE STRONGHOLDS DOWN

1.) In Prayer…
“For though we walk in the flesh we do not war after the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Cor. 10:3-5
2.) By Binding the Enemy…
Some Strongholds can be spiritual, and we come against them in prayer, in name of Jesus, and by the blood of Jesus.
But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house. Mark 3:27
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matt.16:1

3.) By Submitting to God and Resisting the Devil…
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

III. God told Gideon to make a SACRIFICE to Him. Gideon made a burnt offering by building a fire on the alter and sacrificing a bull to the Lord. As the offering was consumed in fire and the smoke arose, the Lord, the Lord accepted Gideon’s offering to Him. Since Jesus was the final Sacrifice, we not longer sacrifice animals. But our sacrificial offerings are build upon Jesus, and our Salvation. Here are some scriptures to suggest how to sacrifice to God.

• And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Mark 12:33
• I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2
• And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Eph. 5:2
• Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Hebrew 13:15-16
• You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5
• And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22
• PSALMS

4:5 Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord.

50:14-15 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

107:21-22 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!

141:2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!

References: Carey Kennon; Olivia Wright

 

15 Scriptures about Spiritual Warfare

Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the worl…

Source: 15 Scriptures about Spiritual Warfare

15 Scriptures about Spiritual Warfare

1. Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7
2. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4
3. For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
4. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 1 Peter 5:8-9
5. No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord. Isaiah 54:17
6. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:11-17
7. In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37
8. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57
9. Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. Zechariah 4:6
10. But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3
11. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Luke 10:19
12. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10
13. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. Matthew 18:18-19
14. The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. Deuteronomy 28:7
15. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Reference: Carey Kennon; Debbie McDaniel, Crosswalk.com

CINNAMON ROLL CAKE

Cake: 3 c. flour 1/4 tsp. salt 1 c. sugar… 4 tsp. baking powder 1 1/2 c. milk 2 eggs 2 tsp. vanilla 1/2 c. butter, melted Topping: 1 c. butter, softened 1 c. brown sugar 2 Tbsp. flour 1 Tbsp.…

Source: CINNAMON ROLL CAKE

CINNAMON ROLL CAKE

Cake:
3 c. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. sugar…
4 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 c. milk
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. butter, melted
Topping:
1 c. butter, softened
1 c. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. flour
1 Tbsp. cinnamon
Directions:
Mix everything together except for the butter. Slowly stir in the melted butter and pour into a greased 9×13 pan. For the topping, mix all the ingredients together until well combined. Drop evenly over the batter and swirl with a knife. Bake at 350 for 28-32 minutes.
Glaze:
2 c. powdered sugar
5 Tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
While warm drizzle the glaze over the cake.

Classic Ham & Bean Soup

From the Blog of Susie Gall @ Simply Sated Prep time, 8 hours for soaking beans; Cook time, 2 hours; Total time, 10 hours. Serves: 6-8 White beans & ham simmered w/onions, carrots, celery, seas…

Source: Classic Ham & Bean Soup