Marching Orders #005

LET THE

SONSHINE

..."Your eyes light up your inward being.

A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul."

Luke 11:34a

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What's your New Year's Resolution?

This is the time of the year that everyone is resolving to TRY to make some changes for the better in their lives. You know... that diet you are going on... that person you don't like--you're going to be nice to them... no more procrastination--you're going to get all those things done that have been waiting for you for the past year. Well, none of those are on my agenda, though some need to be. This year... I resolve to BE AS SMART AS AN EAGLE!

When I look at the size of the head of an eagle, I ask myself, "How can such a tiny brain be so much smarter than me?" A friend sent me this information on eagles...and it stirred something in me that I must share with you...

Eagles know when the storm is approaching long before it breaks. The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it. The eagle does not escape the storm; it simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm. When the storms of life come upon us - we can rise above them.

Isaiah 40: 31 - But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

How can we apply this information? Let's first look at what this verse is really saying:

To WAIT...does not mean to be passive. This word means to...

expect...

look for...

hope!

If a check for $1,000 is coming in the mail, you're looking for it, hoping it's there, expecting it to come, aren't you? If you weren'twatching for it, it could arrive and you would miss out.

In fact, we recently had a check coming in the mail but the Post Office delivered it to the wrong address. If we had not been expecting it, and watching for it, we could have missed getting it altogether. Lots of people are missing out on God's blessings because they are not expecting them.

"Shall RENEW"...this word renew does not mean to repair. It is not as though I once had an abundance of strength that is fading and I need God to repair or renew it. NO, it means...

to alter...

to change...

to go forward and grow up...

to pierce (or put to death)!

When we "renew our strength," it means to EXCHANGE the puny, tiny amount of strength that we have in ourselves for the powerful strength of Almighty God! We have never had strength to overcome alone, so renewing what we don't have is futile. But, to exchange our weakness for His strength is what is implied here. Yes we've been told to let the weak say I am strong, but our strength is never in ourselves, but in Him! The strength spoken of here is the POWER of God. So then, what is this verse saying?

Those that are expecting, looking for, and hoping in the power of God to replace their weak and feeble ambitions and abilities, shall mount up with wings as an eagle and be an over comer in and through Him. But, before we go any farther... What is the mounting up? In the actions of the eagle, when a storm is coming we see that it "sets it's wings" so that it can glide ABOVE THE STORM. "How do I do that?"... was my question to God, and what He has shown me is awesome!

He had me look to David, the psalmist, and at Paul, and to Jesus Himself. When they saw a storm coming, they did something that I believe is the answer to soaring above the circumstances during our trials and tribulations; being above those storms the devil has designed to destroy us with.

When Jesus was ministering to the 5,000 they became hungry. All he had was two fish and five loaves of bread to feed them. What did He do? He thanked God for what He had! What was the result of His doing that? He fed everyone present and had left overs. He received a miracle from the hand of God and the need was met.

When Paul and Silas found themselves in prison bound in chains, what did they do? They praised the Lord and the jail was shaken, the bonds were broken, they were set free to bring the jailer into a right relationship with the Lord. What had them bound was no longer a threat! Jesus set the captives free!

And David...he didn't escape the storms either. As you read in chapters 39-44 in Psalms, you hear him asking his soul why it was so gloomy and so depressed. But, David also knew the solution for overcoming his enemies, his battles, his depression. I'm not going to do you the injustice of quoting just a few verses from these psalms that are full of insight...you need to study them for yourself. But, in them you will find that David had just as many problems as we do, you will see that he realized just how frail he was, and how mighty and powerful God is. He tells of his need to wait patiently for God, expecting Him to help, but more than anything else, David knew the POWER IN PRAISING GOD!

"I WILL GO TO THE ALTAR OF GOD MY EXCEEDING JOY, AND PRAISE HIM WITH MY HARP." Ps. 43:4

Over and over David tells how he will yet have reason to praise God for WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO! You see, "mounting up with wings as eagles" is lifting our hands in praise before God acts, expecting Him to meet the need, knowing by faith that He is in control of all that concerns us. As we praise Him, we are saying that our confidence is in Him to bring us through the storms of life, no matter what they are!

Ephesians 5:20 says... "Always give thanks for everything to our God and Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

What storm are you facing today...? Is it...

Your job?

Finances?

Your health?

Relationships?

An irreconcilable marriage?

Unsaved children or loved ones?

Do you want to RISE ABOVE it all? If so, right now, lift your hands and praise God for who He is...thank Him in the midst of this storm...tell Him that without Him you will be defeated, for your strength cannot bring you through this. Ask Him for His power to replace your weakness. Tell Him that you are expecting Him to act, that you are looking for and anticipating His help. And PRAISE HIM for the answer before it comes...thank Him for being your refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble. (Ps. 46:1) Praise Him for being your hiding place from every storm of life, and that He even keeps you from getting in trouble. (Ps.32:7)

Can't you begin to feel your spirit soar above the storm? Can't you see that this circumstance is only going to lift you higher and higher into His presence until you are dwelling in and with the Most High?

Praise you Lord, for you are ALMIGHTY! You are above every storm, you are our Redeemer, our Savior, the God above all other gods. Your lovingkindness and mercy towards us is renewed every day. Your love for us exceeds anything that we could ever imagine. Your care and concern goes beyond our greatest expectations. Forgive us for those times that we have doubted you. Help our unbelief, like you helped King David's. For we come in adoration and praise, we lift our hands in reverence to You, King of Kings, Glorious Father. We praise you for all that You have done and all that You will do. We praise You for You are worthy of our praise. We thank you for setting us free, for Father, we ARE free when we realize that YOU are on our side.

What can mere man, what can our foes and enemies do to us when You are our friend? We thank You that You have engraved us in the palms of Your hands and nothing can pluck us from Your care. Thank you Father, that you are watching everything that concerns us. We praise You for being so mindful of us, in Jesus' wonderful name. Amen

In Him, and He in me,

Marlene

If you'd like to subscribe to our mailing list e-mail me, Marlene, at PrayerVine@aol.com.

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