Several weeks ago my family was headed back home from a trip to town. The clouds had been dark for most of the evening but as I looked up ahead I realized these clouds were not just dark, they looked angry. When I understood that a major storm was more than probable I prayed for our safety. Seconds later a bald eagle soared up from the ground directly in front of us than flew right over the top of our van. For a few moments in time we were distracted from the violent weather just outside our van windows by the majestic bird. Soon the eagle was out of sight and without any major incident we made it home that night safely.
The next morning as I was driving into work I realized how bad the weather had been when I saw that the highway I normally take was closed. As I drove down the road taking my alternate route into work I prayed and I listened. Soon the eagle appeared in my mind and I knew that we had not just seen that bird by chance but that God was speaking to us. The eagle flew over us to symbolize that God was watching over us during the storm.
Later that morning I was at work when my mind began to think back to the revelation God had given me earlier. I was still blown away at the thought of it all and I was thanking God for speaking to us in this way when my wife texted me. I looked down at my phone to see that God was not done yet. The eagle was back.
The next morning as I was driving into work I realized how bad the weather had been when I saw that the highway I normally take was closed. As I drove down the road taking my alternate route into work I prayed and I listened. Soon the eagle appeared in my mind and I knew that we had not just seen that bird by chance but that God was speaking to us. The eagle flew over us to symbolize that God was watching over us during the storm.
Later that morning I was at work when my mind began to think back to the revelation God had given me earlier. I was still blown away at the thought of it all and I was thanking God for speaking to us in this way when my wife texted me. I looked down at my phone to see that God was not done yet. The eagle was back.
He is always watching.
As I looked at the picture she had sent I continued to hear God speaking to me and I continued to see the bird as a symbol. Off in the distance but not far away, the eagle watched all who traveled down the road. With its great eyesight it could see everything. You don’t know when it will show up and you don’t know where it will come from. It just is. It is mysterious, wise, and powerful.
A few weeks later busyness had gotten the best of me. Like we all do at times, I began to wander from God. It’s not that I believed in God any less but when our minds get filled with other things, our ship’s rudder is easily moved. And just a small movement of that rudder can cause our ships to make a sharp turn. I had somewhat unknowingly made a sharp turn and I was making some poor choices when God spoke to me again.
I was driving down my road when off in the distance I saw a large bird fly across the road just in front of me. Just like during the storm, it stayed in view a long time. I stared intently trying to figure out what it was when I realized through squinted eyes, it was a bald eagle. I knew right in the moment that this was not by chance and I knew exactly what God was saying to me. “I am still here but you are far from me.”
The rest of my drive home was not fun. It’s never fun when you feel you have let someone down. Shortly after walking in the door I randomly opened my Bible and began reading. I was not surprised when this is the first thing I read. Luke 15:3-7 “Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
The things and activities of this world have one purpose, to distract us. Our minds are to be focused on God and if we get busy and lose that focus, we will quietly be led astray. The world has laws that prohibit drinking and driving and even texting while driving. Why? Because driving distracted is dangerous. Yet the world says it’s ok and acceptable to drive through life distracted. Don’t be deceived. Instead of go, go, go we should be saying slow, slow, slow.
Luke 10:38-42 “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Do you desire your life and the things in it to be perfect? Do you always want more? What thoughts consume your mind? Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
A few weeks later busyness had gotten the best of me. Like we all do at times, I began to wander from God. It’s not that I believed in God any less but when our minds get filled with other things, our ship’s rudder is easily moved. And just a small movement of that rudder can cause our ships to make a sharp turn. I had somewhat unknowingly made a sharp turn and I was making some poor choices when God spoke to me again.
I was driving down my road when off in the distance I saw a large bird fly across the road just in front of me. Just like during the storm, it stayed in view a long time. I stared intently trying to figure out what it was when I realized through squinted eyes, it was a bald eagle. I knew right in the moment that this was not by chance and I knew exactly what God was saying to me. “I am still here but you are far from me.”
The rest of my drive home was not fun. It’s never fun when you feel you have let someone down. Shortly after walking in the door I randomly opened my Bible and began reading. I was not surprised when this is the first thing I read. Luke 15:3-7 “Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
The things and activities of this world have one purpose, to distract us. Our minds are to be focused on God and if we get busy and lose that focus, we will quietly be led astray. The world has laws that prohibit drinking and driving and even texting while driving. Why? Because driving distracted is dangerous. Yet the world says it’s ok and acceptable to drive through life distracted. Don’t be deceived. Instead of go, go, go we should be saying slow, slow, slow.
Luke 10:38-42 “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Do you desire your life and the things in it to be perfect? Do you always want more? What thoughts consume your mind? Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
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