It Couldn't Be Done

By Edgar A. Guest

Somebody said it couldn't be done.
But he with a chuckle replied,
That maybe it couldn't, but he would be one
Who wouldn't say so 'till he'd tried.

So he buckled right in with a trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried, he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done. And he did.

Somebody scoffed, "Oh, you'll never do that
At least no one ever has done it."
But he took off his coat, and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we know, he'd begun it.

With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or "quit-it".
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't done. And he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done.
There are thousands to prophesy failure.
There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you
But just buckle in, with a bit of a grin;
Just take off your coat and go to it.
Just start in to sing as yout tackle the thing
That cannot be done--and you'll do it!

---

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Isaiah 40:31 and the Eagle

“But 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.” (Isaiah 40:31)

Like many, this is one of my favorite verses. I love the eagle analogy and wanted to share what I found regarding some traits that we can learn from the eagle.

FACTS ABOUT THE EAGLE


Eagles are born with big and heavy wings, and part of the survival mechanism they are born with is that they have to learn how to fly without actually flapping their big wings. They have to learn how to do this in order to conserve energy. Eagles can literally die if they expend too much energy flapping their wings during flight as versus soaring without flapping their wings.
As a result, what eagles have to learn to do very early on in order to be able to soar without flapping their wings, is to wait for what are called wind thermals to come up on them. A wind thermal is a big gust of wind that will rise up from the atmosphere. Sometimes eagles will remain perched for days before they can catch a good, strong wind thermal, where they can then launch onto and combine a mixture of flying and soaring on that strong wind thermal to get them to where they want to go.

If we apply this to ourselves, then we are the eagle and the wings of the eagle represent our faith in God. The wind thermals the eagles fly on represent the Holy Spirit.

We have to learn patience and wait on God's timing. When we wait for Him and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us then we are operating in the Spirit and nothing will be impossible for us. If, however, we try to work in our own strength, then we will be "flapping our wings" frustrated and disillusioned. I love the verse in Zechariah 4:6 that reminds us that is not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord.

A LEAP OF FAITH
The eagle has to take that big leap off the edge of the cliff in order to be able to fly and soar on those wind thermals. If the eagle does not take flight on those wind thermals when they do come up on him, he will forever stay perched and he will die on the cliff due to starvation.
Sooner or later, every single Christian will have to make that big choice for their lives. Who will they decide to serve and follow in this life? Do they follow and serve their own self and their own self-interests, doing what they want to do with their lives. Or do they decide to fully surrender every part of their life over to the Lord and go with His divine plan for their lives rather than their own.

If you decide to follow and serve the Lord in his life, then sooner or later God will call you and you will then have to take that big leap off the edge of the cliff in order to learn how to fly into the calling that He has placed on your life.

And just as the wings of the eagle are the only thing that will allow them to fly and soar on those wind thermals, in the same way the only thing that will allow you to fly on the call that God has placed on your life is your faith and belief in the Lord. If you do not have enough faith, belief and confidence in the Lord and His Holy Spirit to guide you and empower you for this call, then nothing will ever happen.

I wonder how many Christians have missed out on their true callings from the Lord because they did not have enough faith and belief in Him to take flight on the Holy Spirit like the eagles have learned how to do on those wind thermals?

EAGLES ARE MASTER FISHERMAN


Eagles are also considered master fisherman. They are very good in locking in on their prey and then swooping down to catch them. How many times have you seen videos where an eagle will swoop down on a body of water and pick up a fish swimming near the surface with perfect accuracy and catching them on the very first attempt. They are absolute masters at hunting down and catching their prey, whether that prey be on land or in the water.

Just as eagles are considered to be master fisherman with how they can catch fish in water – we, as Christians, have been called by the Lord Himself to be “fishers of men,” just like He and His apostles were at the very beginning of the New Testament.

Our number one job in this life is to try and get as many people saved as we possibly can. Personal evangelism within our own sphere of influence is something that each and every Christian can do, and it is something that we should always keep our radars up for – as you never know when the Holy Spirit will move on you to lead you to someone He will want you to witness to, whether it be someone you might know or a complete, total stranger.

EAGLES LIVE ON HIGHER GROUND
For the most part, eagles will always be found living on some type of higher ground. As Christians, we are already living on higher ground as compared to the rest of the world as a result of who we are in Christ.

We are now born again children of the Most High God. We are now kings and priests of the Lord. We all have the Holy Spirit, along His power and knowledge, residing on the inside of us to help lead us, sanctify us and empower us so we can all be used by the Lord in a mighty way for ministry.

This is why the Lord is calling all of us to stay in the world, but not to be an actual part of the world. In other words, we are to be in the world, but not of the world. We are to keep ourselves separate from the corruption, pollution, vices and sins of this world so God can keep us on the straight and narrow road for the rest of our earthly lives.

We live on this higher ground as a result of our position in Jesus, and we always need to keep reminding ourselves that we are living on this higher ground and to stay on that higher ground, as the world will always do everything it can to try and drag us down into their lower way of living.

EAGLES ARE EXTREMELY BOLD, COURAGEOUS AND POWERFUL
Another very powerful trait of the eagle is that they are very bold, courageous and powerful. Eagles have literally been seen engaging with poisonous snakes and tearing their heads off with their beak. They have been seen going right through major storm clouds, where most birds will fly away and hide in safety until the storm has passed.

God is calling all of us to become good and mighty soldiers of Jesus Christ. He is asking all of us to put on His armor and just like the eagle has no fear of any man, beast or snake – in the same way we should have no fear since we all have God Himself totally on our side. The Bible tells us that greater is He that is in us than he who is in the world. David perfectly proved that point when he took out Goliath with one well placed blow.

EAGLES ARE CONSIDERED MAJESTIC
Due to the way eagles look and act, many people consider them almost majestic and invincible. They seem to have a look of royalty about them.

In the same way, we, as Christians, have this same air of royalty about us since we are now considered kings and priests of the Lord due to the sacrifice that Jesus has personally made for all of us with His death on the cross.

This majestic royalty that we now have operating through us all comes direct from Jesus. It does not come directly from us, or any of the good works that we may have done to-date for the Lord. It all comes to us as a direct result of Jesus dying on the cross for all of our sins.

Only the blood that Jesus has personally shed for each and everyone of us on the cross makes us kings and priests before Him.

EAGLES ARE VERY PATIENT
Another very interesting quality that eagles have is that they are very patient. Documentary film crews have filmed eagles spotting rabbits they they will target as prey. Once the rabbit senses the danger, he will go into hiding in a hole, sometimes for as long as an hour or two before he finally comes back out.

The eagle will then wait for that hour or two until the rabbit comes back out. And once he does, the eagle will then swoop down and catch him within seconds. As a result of his patience, the eagle will be rewarded with a big meal.

In the same way, we all need the patience of the eagle, especially in the type of world we now live in with everything being done at breakneck speed, and people’s fuses being shortened as a result of all of the high stress that we are all forced to live with.

That is why one of the 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit is the fruit of patience, as we all need His patience operating through us in order to be able to weather the storm clouds of this turbulent life.

THE EAGLE HAS TWO SETS OF EYES
Another fascinating quality that eagles have is that they have two sets of eyes. The first set is their natural eye which they have when they are in a resting mode.

However, when they start to take flight on these strong wind thermals, they have a second eye that comes in on them. This second eye enables them to fly on these strong wind thermals without damaging their original eye. This second eye is also used when they are seen flying through actual storm clouds. The heavy winds from a storm cloud could damage their normal, natural eye and this second eye gives them a protective covering as they are navigating through these heavy storm clouds.

As Christians, we also have two sets of eyes operating in us. The first set is our normal, natural eye with which we use to see the natural world in which we live in. However, we also have a second set of eyes and that is the eyes of the Holy Spirit.

Since we all have the Holy Spirit living on the inside of us, we also have His eyes available to us at times to see things from His perspective. As you start to draw closer to the Lord in your own personal relationship with Him, there will be times that He will allow you to “see” things as He sees them. You will start “seeing” what certain Scripture verses may mean. You will start to “see” what the truth is in many of the matters of your own personal life.

When this starts to occur, this is the Holy Spirit Himself allowing you to see things through His eyes, not your eye. This is highly, supernatural event when it starts to occur. It is God Himself literally allowing you to see things from His point of view and perspective.

The Bible says that the truth will set you free. But you first have to see what that truth is before it can start to set you free. That is why we all need the eyes of the Holy Spirit operating in us, so we can start to see what the truth really is on many of the matters and issues in our own personal lives.

Just like the eagle needs his two sets of eyes in order to be able to live and survive in this world, in the same way we need both our natural eyes and the eyes of the Holy Spirit operating in us to be able to properly work and function for the Lord in this life.

THE NESTS OF EAGLES ARE BUILT IN THE WILDERNESS
When baby eagles are first born, the mother eagle will build the nest in which to raise up her newborns in the wilderness, away from mainstream society. This is done so she can safely raise them up without any harm coming to them.

In the same way, the Lord will sometimes build up His eagles in a wilderness type setting. Again, Moses was in the backside of the desert for 40 years before God called him out to complete the greatest deliverance mission of all time. David was in the caves of the wilderness for a number of years, possibly for 13-15 years, before he was called out by God to become the greatest king that Israel has ever had.

---

Some of you who are reading this right now may be in your wilderness setting with the Lord, where He is slowly raising you up in your calling for Him. It is sometimes in these wilderness type settings that your greatest strides in spiritual growth are actually made in Him.

Once you isolate all of the main qualities of the eagle, I do not think it is a coincidence that they all perfectly line up with what God would like to have worked into each one of us. I believe when God says in the above verse from Isaiah that we will mount up with wings like eagles, He is meaning exactly what He is saying in this verse.


Information found at:

---

http://www.bible-knowledge.com/index.php?s=isaiah+40%3A31




Shine!

One of my favorite christian authors is Corrie ten Boom. I took the following quote from her devotional "Each New Day".

"We are moons. God is our sun. If the world comes between the moon and the sun, it is dark. The insecurity of the world is meant to be the raw material of our faith. Surrender to the enemy means death, but surrender to Jesus means life."

Confess, commit, and claim His presence. In doing so, you will shine for Him in a dark world that desperately needs the light of His presence.

---

...so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe. Philippians 2:15

---

"The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who forsake Him." Ezra 8:22

Listen to the Coach!

Ignore the doubter.
Remain strong.
Don't be afraid to fail.
Keep your eye on the goal.
Maintain a realistic pace.
Listen to the One who coaches you.

Father, thank you for being a wise and loving Coach. Help me to listen to Your voice.

---

Acts 20:24 (New International Version)

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.

Why worry?

(taken from God's Little Devotional Book )

A military chaplain, who was curious about how sensible it was to worry, once drew up a "Worry Table" based upon the problems men and women had brought to him through his years of service. He found their worries fit into these categories:

• Worries about things that never happened, 40 percent
• Worries about past, unchangeable decisions, 30 percent
• Worries about illness that never happened, 12 percent
• Worries about adult children and friends (who could take care of themselves), 10 percent
• Worries about real problems, 8 percent

According to this chart, 52 percent of all worries are about things we can't control, concerns which are better left to God. And forty percent are things that never happen, whether they are things we can control or not. The truth is, most of our anxieties are rooted in a failure to trust God. We simply don't believe He is big enough or cares enough to handle our problems, give us the desires of our hearts, or keep us and our loved ones from harm.

One of the most effective things we can do to combat worry is to spend time in God's word, learning who He is. Knowing God's character, we can easily see how we worry for nothing most of the time!

---

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. - 2 Timothy 1:7

---

I've suffered a great many catastrophes in my life. Most of them never happened!

---

Worry is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do but doesn't get you anywhere.

---

Providence, Protection and Provision

When we choose to participate in activities that don't glorify God, we must realize that we are opening ourselves up to needless dangers. The book of Ruth in the Bible talks of the city of Moab. For me, Moab is a picture of the world. When Naomi left Bethlehem and went off to Moab with her family, her husband and two sons died. I look at that and think how we can lose our loved ones and ourselves to the "world". When we are in God's will there is providence, protection and provision. When we choose to stray the outcome is usually poverty, perplexity and pain. God's will sounds much more appealing doesn't it?

Let us not participate in the deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. We will will blessed if we do!

---

Romans 12:1-2 - Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.



Ephesians 5:11 - Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.


Read the story of Ruth

Your Sphere of Influence

I read an article a while back about how the Good Samaritans Law came to be. A woman in New York City was attacked and pursued for miles by a man who was trying to kill her and ultimately did. The most disturbing part of this story was that 39 people witnessed it. 39 people!! When asked why they didn't respond to her cries for help, call the police, or do anything for that matter, was because there were 38 other witnesses.

Everyone thought that someone else would do something, effectively paralyzing themselves into watching a woman get pulled to her death. As horrible as that is, we as Christians, do the same thing everyday. We assume that we don't have to share the way of salvation to our neighbor, our coworker, fill in the blank... because someone else will.

Dear Lord,
Help us to err on the side of caution and assume that everyone you put in our path is our responsibility. What an awesome privilege. Help us to be Your mouthpiece, Your hands and feet.

Real Gold Fears No Fire

Years ago I read a book called Safely Home by Randy Alcorn about a persecuted Christian in China. Everytime circumstances were unbearable, he would remind himself that "real gold fears no fire". He knew that times of testing would come but it was necessary to prove what he was made of.

When you find yourself in one of the "fires" of life, whether it be financial, relational, or physical, If you belong to Christ, you can rest assured that you are not alone. God himself is with you. After you are delivered from the fire you will be refined. The only things burned off will be the chains that previously had you bound. As a refined instrument of God, you can now be used more effectively and your faith in God will increase. Hard, difficult times are the conditions needed for miracles and God is in the miracle making business. If you never had any problems then you would have no need for faith and you wouldn't know the awesome power of God to solve them.

REAL GOLD FEARS NO FIRE!

---

Read the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They were literally thrown into a furnace but found out they were not alone.

Your Mission Statement for life.

A mission statement is a formal short written statement of the purpose of a company or organization. The mission statement should guide the actions of the organization, spell out its overall goal, provide a sense of direction, and guide decision-making. It provides "the framework or context within which the company´s strategies are formulated."

As important as it is for companies to have a mission statement, shouldn't we, as Christians, have a mission statement for life? Years ago, I sat down and thought about what the mission statement for my life would be and came up with the following:

"I want to make Jesus known to the world, and when I go to Heaven, I want to take as many people with me as I can."

It is wonderful to have a sense of purpose, a goal, a roadmap, and a plan. I highly encourage you to sit down and write out what you want the mission statement for your life to be. Good questions to ask yourself are:

1. What do you want to ?
2. How do you plan on doing it?
3. How do you plan on getting there?

Once you get serious about implementing your mission statement you will be amazed at the opportunities that will surround you to put it into action. I learned a long time ago that I when I get serious with God, He gets serious with me. You will feel peace and joy knowing that you are doing what you were created for.

2 Chronicles 16:9- For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the whole earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.

---

ONLY ONE LIFE

Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in 'that day' my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life,'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God's holy will to cleave;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill, living for self or in His will;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e'er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, "twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say,"Thy will be done";
And when at last I'll hear the call, I know I'll say "twas worth it all";
Only one life,'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Author Unknown

Click her to find out what you must do to be saved.

Joy in His presence

We have so much to be happy about when we are walking with God. Why? Because He is the creator of happiness! I love how Randy Alcorn puts it:

We must understand that all secondary joys are derivative in nature. They cannot be separated from God. Flowers are beautiful for one reason—God is beautiful. Rainbows are stunning because God is stunning. Puppies are delightful because God is delightful. Sports are fun because God is fun. Study is rewarding because God is rewarding. Work is fulfilling because God is fulfilling.

We can see in scripture that Jesus was a someone that you wanted to be around. Crowds flocked to Him and children wanted to be near Him. There is joy in His presence! I look forward to spending eternity with Him. Psalm 16:11 says it best - You will make known to me the path of life; In your presence is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forever."

Amen!

---

Think on this - Joy is the Barometer in our Faith in God

Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.