The Eagle Has Landed

I feel that I have been soaring as God clearly leads me in His will.  He has called me to pastor a church in Chapel Hill, NC.  I am excited but at the same time very afraid.  What I am afraid of is failure.  And without the Lord's direct intervention I will fail!  So I am totally depending on Him. 

I am convinced that Christ is in this new call in my ministry and that "He who has begun a good work in me will complete it".  The work that He does in and through me will be great--of that I have no doubts.  I do fear that I will do some things that He doesn't want me to do and that I will also do some things He wants but I will do them in my own strength.  I am reminded, however, of Proverbs 14:4 which says, "Where no oxen are the manger is clean, but much increase comes by the strength of the ox."   In the coming months I will probably make plenty of  mistakes.  But there will also be times when our church sees Jesus do amazing things!  Any ministry is like that.  The one who gets into the action and seeks to be used by God will, at times, make a mess of it.  But there will be moments of great glory as the Holy Spirit moves and performs many signs and wonders.

So, if I am an eagle, I will still have some soaring to do.  But, right now, I have come down to earth and I am facing the possibility of getting dirty.  For if I am an eagle, I am also an ox.  I am here and I am just plugging along hoping God will clean up my mess, and make something great of those efforts of mine that are done according to His will and in His power.

The Eagle

Isaiah says, "They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength.  They shall mount up with wings as eagles.  They shall run and not get tired, they shall walk and not become weary.(Is. 40:31)

There is a story about the eagle that you may have heard:  The story says that when an eagle reaches about age 30 his beak and talons begin to weaken.  It is at that point that he can give up and die.  But she can also decide to do what ever it takes to get rid of the old beak and talons.  Over a period of a few months the old eagle will become very weak but not give up.  He will eat only what other eagles bring him.  but he will begin to grow a new beak and new claws.  If she survives that time of change, she can live another 30 years.

I have tried to check on the truth of this story.   Some say it is true but most say it is only an urban legend and not true.  .But to me it doesn't matter.  I will not claim something to be true just to make a point but a great point is made even if this can serve only as a parable.   Jesus gave is plenty of truth in the fictional stories He told!

There comes a point in our lives where we begin to wear out.  We are tempted to just give up--live out our days doing nothing to contribute to the world and wait to die.   Or we can take up a cross and follow Jesus.  We can get rid of all the old stuff in our lives and allow the life of God to grow in us.   When that happens we may not live any longer but we will live better.    Don't ever think you are too old to count for God.  you are never too old!