Structure and Purpose

In the open plains a single oak tree stands in it's peacock like shape, beautifully rounded. Sometimes oaks must grow in competition, some grow crooked seeking the sunlight in a dense growth of trees. Here it grows alone and to perfection, a winter oak without it's leaves. Alone with God's help it has grown to perfection. The apostle Paul shared that it was alright to remain single or to be married, so long as the LORD is first in your life.

1Co 7:32  But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: 

1Co 7:33  But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. 

1Co 7:34  There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 

1Co 7:35  And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. 

The plains became dense with young oak trees and Mule deer lounging in the dry grass. Those ears certainly are a prominent feature in their design. As the story of little Red Riding hood as she sees the wolf in grammas bed: "What big ears you have? All the better to hear you with, my dear."

Mat 13:38  The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 

Mat 13:39  The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 

Mat 13:40  As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 

Mat 13:41  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 

Mat 13:42  And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 

Mat 13:43  Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. 

I see a fence crudely constructed and in the distance towers supporting the high voltage power lines. The fence keeps the cows or sheep in the pasture. I see a picture here of some of the religious leaders, pinning the sheep, but the power is not in the pin.

2Ti 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 
2Ti 3:6  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 
2Ti 3:7  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 

This is the same picture darkened. Let us come out of the darkness and seek the true power of God through  the Lord Jesus Christ.

Heb 1:1  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 

Heb 1:2  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 

Heb 1:3  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 

Heb 1:4  Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 

Eaglewings Ministries

Looking ahead

Looking back there was one goal that was realized. That was to again do a daily Bible study. There was not a day that an Eaglewings Journal entry was not sent out. I hope these have some fruit and I just know that the word of God will accomplish it's purpose. We are to be faithful, not looking to man for approval. If we look to man we get discouraged and quit. In the early days of the ministry a family of saved young people  who we called the "Free family", would receive the Daily Bible lessons and save them in notebooks. They would seek others, from bad places and from off the streets, give them a place to live and get them saved with Bible studies as a requirement. They knew the importance of God's word for a new life. They were disciples making disciples of Jesus Christ. In time they went there own way, but this ministry gave them a fresh start in a new life in Jesus. I was as a father to them, but even a father must let the children have their own purpose to fulfill.

2Ti 2:1  Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 
2Ti 2:2  And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 
2Ti 2:3  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 
2Ti 2:4  No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 

2Ti 2:5  And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. 

Keep the faith and stay in the word. Look to God, not to man for approval and he will reward you when you see Jesus, face to face.

stripped bare

Last night's picture of an oak, stripped bare, but alive.

Ecc 3:1  To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

Where there is life, there is hope.

2Co 6:1  We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2Co 6:2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Now is the day of salvation, the forgiveness of sins by the grace of God through faith in his son, Jesus Christ.

None of us can save ourselves and no one can brag on their own good merits. It is by faith only that we are given grace to be the children of God. Like the oak tree in winter, we shed the leaves of our  pride and are stripped bare by the eyes of God. A time of seeking God and making plans to fulfill his purpose for the new year. He has plans for us of green leaves, seeds and the fruit of the spirit, Let him work in you to do his good purpose.

Gen 3:8  And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. 
Gen 3:9  And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 
Gen 3:10  And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 
Gen 3:11  And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? 
Gen 3:12  And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 

Gen 3:13  And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. 

Whatever excuse we may have, and whoever we blame, it is sin in us that needs to be forgiven and cleansed.

Rev 3:15  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 

Rev 3:16  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 

Rev 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 

Heb 4:13  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 

Heb 4:14  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 

Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 

Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 

This lesson is for me first. If you read this far, you are not alone, we all need Jesus.

Imagine

Imagination is good if it is constructive. Great inventions have come by imagination and wisdom from God. Needless to say, we get into trouble if we have wicked imaginations. Try to imagine good things and see things as they should be. When the LORD called us he called us to a purpose. Try to imagine your purpose and your usefulness to him. The Lord gave me eyes to see. I like to share what I see.

Jer 33:3  Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. 

A puddle mirrors a giant oak tree, a muddy image. We were once in a muddy pit of sin until Jesus came and lifted us out.

Psa 40:2  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 

This tree resembles an owl. I see an eye and a beak. The LORD made all creation and provided for it.


Isa 43:20  The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen. 

Just a lizard on a tree, or is it a dinosaur? Depends on your perspective.

Isa 27:1  In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea. 

 

Looking through a seed we see a blooming Silver Thistle. The small birds like thistle seeds.

Pro 25:11  A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. 

Pro 25:12  As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. 

Guy Smiley and his family. They weep over most anything.
A little humor from the kitchen. The onions flavor food and we are to flavor the world.


Eze 20:41  I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen. 

Can you figure out what this says?

Mat 28:5  And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 

Mat 28:6  He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 

Being Useful

I received an email from a friend who used to attend the rest home services with us before moving to another state. She and her husband are vacationing with family near the Dolomite mountains. The picture is from this mountain range in northern Italy. Everything  has a purpose and we need to have a purpose to live for. There are times for vacations and retreat or recreation, but I need something to do that is useful that I can put my heart into. Something creative is good. Doing these daily Bible thoughts is a purpose that I am dedicated to do, it is to benefit others as well, or it has little use. A Christian living alone on a mountaintop may commune with God, but I see that we are put on earth to receive Jesus and to bring others to Him and to be a blessing.

 

1Co 12:4  Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
1Co 12:5  And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
1Co 12:6  And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

 

The same Spirit, the same Lord Jesus, the same Father God, all three working in us by His Spirit all for His glory. We are to let His light shine through us.

 

Gal 5:13  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Gal 5:14  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Find something to do with great interest and passion that benefits the kingdom of God and do it with his strength and his love. Does it glorify God?  Is it useful?  Is it a labor of love? Is it needed? Then do it as unto the Lord.

Chosen before birth

John the Baptist was chosen by God from the womb. He was the answer to the persistent prayers of his elderly parents. They prayed for a son, but God made him to be His prophet.

Luke 1:15  For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

Luke 1:16  And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
Luke 1:17  And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

The parents may not have seen John as he baptized people for repentance in the Jordan River. God sees and calls his people into service. John had a special calling to prepare the way for the coming Messiah. Repentant hearts bring restoration to families to the community and to the nation.

Some do not want children but I wanted my children. Some people were mistakes, not planned while others have aborted their mistakes. Let the babies live, God has a purpose for them to fulfill. He has called them from the womb to be his witnesses.

Jeremiah was called from the womb.

Jer 1:5  Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Jer 1:6  Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
Jer 1:7  But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
Jer 1:8  Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
Jer 1:9  Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.
Jer 1:10  See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

We are chosen before the womb.

Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Jesus' birth was foretold

Isa 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

The everlasting king will come from David's family and he will bring many to God's family to a restored earthly kingdom where there are no harmful creatures.

Isa 11:1  And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
Isa 11:2  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
Isa 11:3  And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
Isa 11:4  But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
Isa 11:5  And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
Isa 11:6  The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

All are foreknown of God and are his creation. A woman has rights over her own body, but not of the babies life. God has placed the baby in the womb for his purpose. We are not to interfere with his chosen vessels. Those who respond to the calling of God are his chosen. Be at peace with God. If you have sinned and made mistakes in the past, Jesus will forgive you and restore you. Come to Jesus as the chosen of God. He loves you and will receive you.

Betrayal

Mat 26:21 And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
Mat 26:22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?

Mat 26:33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.
Mat 26:34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
Mat 26:35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

Well we know that it was the disciple Judas Iscariot that betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Peter, like so many of us was sure that he would never betray Jesus. But, he did deny Jesus three times as the Master predicted. Peter was much grieved over his failure to keep his word, but in the end Jesus had forgiven him and given him a purpose to fulfill :" Feed my lambs and feed my sheep".

Joh 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
Joh 21:16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Joh 21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

There was no doubt between Peter and the Lord Jesus what he was called to do. Yes, he had failed Jesus in the past, probably because he thought he could fulfill his promise by self will alone. Jesus forgave him and would give him the power to do his will through the Holy Spirit. We cannot serve God in our own power. Many are gifted to influence minds and to sway people in their own will. No, this is not acceptable to God. We must surrender all to Jesus and he will give us his spirit to be able to fulfill his mission. In the end we want to hear "well done thou good and faithful servant".

Mat 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

We do not want to serve him only by our own craft and have him say to us, "depart from me."

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

What had they failed to do? They had not gone through the only way to be saved, through the door gate that is Jesus.

Luk 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
Luk 13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
Luk 13:26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
Luk 13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
Luk 13:28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
Luk 13:29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
Luk 13:30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

 

Jesus came first to Israel, but upon their rejection of him he lastly invited the Gentiles to enter the kingdom through Jesus the Messiah., Finally, all Israel shall be saved at his coming. It was to Israel that he said" Rom 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance".

Were you like Peter, denying him and ashamed of your failure? Come to Jesus, he will forgive you and he will give you a calling to fulfill. We are called to fulfill his purpose.