LIKE AN EAGLE

Image courtesy of:www.Pixabay.com   

It had been a hot muggy day when a storm front came

up.  So, grandpa headed to the front porch and a rocking

chair.

As happens often around here, in those conditions a group

of hawks will go for a fly.  You know, like the first warm

day after winter and a bunch of "bikers" decided to go for

a ride.  Lots of times I have seen a half dozen or more 

hawks get out there and just soar around in the wind having

a great time.  I will confess to being envious.  It sure does 

look like fun.

While watching those hawks something clicked.  Lately

I have been feeling guilty about feeling so well for an old

man when so many of my "peers" are so sickly.

You see, back when I was only seventy nine years old I 

came down with "Acquired aplastic anemia".  That means

that my body quit making blood.  Of course I about died

and have no idea how many doctors I have seen.  And of

course have had a number of different treatments.

No, I am not feeling like a teen ager.  But for some 

time now I have been feeling so well and working 

longer that truly I was feeling guilty for feeling so

good.

What was it that clicked?

Some time ago [And I do not know quite what I

mean by that.] being acquainted with this portion

of Scripture I decided to put this truth to work and

"wait" or "trust" in or "depend" on God over my 

health issue.  It says;

"Yet those who wait for the Lord

Will gain new strength;

They will mount up with wings like eagles,

They will run and not get tired,

They will walk and not become weary.

(Isaiah 40:31 NASB)   

Here I was enjoying the best health I have had

in a number of years and enjoying watching some

birds doing what God was helping me do in the

restoration of my body.

PRAISE GOD.

STRENGTH FOR THE DAY

"but they who wait for 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."
(Isaiah 40:31 RSV)

It has always seemed to me that the Lord did this backward.
He has a descending order.  And we humans want an ascending order.
You know.
Crawl, walk, run.
Up, up and away.

Years ago Armin Gesswein coined an expression
regarding this portion of Scripture that helps me.
He said this is the three speed Christian.

As a retired auto mechanic and ex car nut -
that speaks to me.

If you are over forty years of age.
you know that all of life is not soaring on clouds
nine to thirteen.

Photo courtesy of: www.bigfoto.com

Whether you are a Christian or not,

there are high points in life.  Mountain top experiences.

Few and far between.  But they are not life.

Most of life is more;

Another day, another dollar.

Ho hum.  Or as some used to say,

"Same O, same O."

Or just plain old boring.

Just another boring highway.

Photo courtesy of: www.bigfoto.com

And by now most of us know that the road of life can be much 

worse than this Australian outback road.  In some parts of our 

area, that looks like a super highway.

Photo courtesy of: www.bigfoto.com

Life often is more of a steep climb with a heavy backpack.

An uphill experience that requires a lower gear than out vehicle has.

So, how do we get this "renewed strength" for today?

The Scriptures say to "wait" on the Lord.  

Some versions say, "trust in" or "hope in" the Lord.

But to myself the help comes from dear old brother 

James Strong, S.T.D., LL.D.  He says this comes from 

the Hebrew word "qavah". [Now that's Greek to me.]

And that it is "a prim. root, to bind together

(perh. by twisting), ..."

Waiting on the Lord for strength is not sitting on a park

bench waiting for help.  That could be part of it.  But

waiting on the Lord is binding myself to the Lord.

Involving God in my life to the point that his life and

mine are twisted together as one.

When my "rope of life" consists of several strands,

God the Father,

God the Son,

God the Holy Spirit

and me.

My rope will have all the strength I need

and, the Devil himself cannot break it.

"Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.

Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and 

purify your hearts, you men of double mind."

(James 4:8 RSV)