Wednesday, June 20, 2012

UP, UP, AND AWAY

Wings.

Today I'm thinking about wings.

A while ago I shared with you how I always seem to see hawks when I go to church on Sundays (the post is here, if you're interested).  I began to think of them as the Lord looking down at me.  I began to feel a solace when I looked up and saw their majestic beauty…

I look for them all the time.  

I've seen them fly over my house.  I've seen them on my travels to the new house.  When you set your mind to notice something, you seem to see it more often.

They're almost always perched atop streetlights, staring down with intensity at the world around them.

So, last Sunday, driving to church, I'm on the look-out for the hawks that are looking out for me.  And as I approached one particular streetlight, I thought I saw *something* sitting on top.  It was so "NOT" a hawk.  Until I got closer, I wasn't even sure that it was anything.

But as I drove by, I was able to tell that it was a very tiny little bird perched all by itself atop a very high streetlight.

I was reminded of those old Looney Tunes cartoons with Foghorn Leghorn.  Remember him?  Do you remember the little tiny chicken hawk that used to try to capture him – Henery Hawk was his name.

This little guy reminded me of Henery, but he was no hawk.

And he was tiny, all right.

Initially, I kinda chuckled at his bravadoimitating the *big guys* – as they scanned the horizon.  At first, I sorta thought he didn't really have a right to be up there like the "real" hawks.

I thought to myself.

"Who is this little poser?"

That is what I thought, until the Holy Spirit whispered a word to me.

"Sharon, it's no different with you."

And then it hit me – a great spiritual lesson.  An awesome word picture.  


I am just like that little bird.  


Not pretending, but proclaiming!  

For, praise God, it is His power and strength that enables me to fly high – just like Him.

You see, we have been granted the awesome privilege of being children of the Living God – we have been given glory! 


The Great Hawk of the Universe has given us wings, my friends!

We can fly.

I began to think about that tiny little bird in a new way.  No, he wasn't trying to be something he wasn't – he wasn't trying to be a hawk.  He was just being himself – and being himself was being a BIRD!!

Created to fly, as high as he wants – made to fly just like the hawk.

Oh, how my spirit lifted.

I began to realize that I can soar with my Lord – I can perch atop the most difficult circumstances.  I can peer out over my life from a lofty, eternal perspective.  I can spread my tiny wings and be what I'm supposed to be.

I can be a "big guy" because I know the BIG GUY!

I don't know who my little friend was on Sunday morning – maybe a sparrow, hmmm?!

But he taught me a great lesson.


In the shadow of the Almighty, I can fly high with the wings He gives me!


Isaiah 40:28-31
Amplified Bible (AMP)


28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint or grow weary; there is no searching of His understanding.
29 He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound].
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and [selected] young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted;
31 But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.


How does God give YOU wings?


Linked today with Joan at the GRACE CAFE


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

9 comments:

  1. Worth the wait!

    I loved this. I really loved the image of the bird just being what he is and doing what he was called to do. Since I'm so prone to anxiety and self-consciousness, I often feel just like that bird. I feel as if the hawks out there are saying, "What's SHE doing here? Doesn't she know this is a hawk branch?"

    Going all the way back to verse 28 made this post all the more powerful to me.

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  2. Yes Amen...we serve a Big God who promised that we would do even greater things than what was seen in the New Testament...we just need to learn to believe and enter into flight

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  3. I love this Sharon. I am also that little bird, but I am learning that little birds have everything the hawk has, created by the same maker who made the hawk and equipping us to fly just as high.
    This was such a great picture of where I am right now. Thanks!

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  4. Hi Sharon,

    Just came by to see how you were and wish you well with your move.

    God Bless - Nita

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  5. Amen on that, Sharon! I think you need to print this one out and keep it close to you when you start feeling any different than that little bird. I'm always on the lookout for hawks too :)

    betty

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  6. Very good little sermon - you do these so well! sandie

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  7. Great post, my friend. And yes, like that little bird, we can fly, we can soar, we can be victorious!

    Blessings,
    Joan

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  8. So good, Sharon! I LOVE that verse, and I also have a "thing" about birds, not necessarily hawks, but when I see birds in the backyard, for some reason, I believe it is the Lord reminding me that he is present, with me, among our midst.
    SO excited to see you fly this coop and enter into a new territory/chapter/nest.

    Love you!

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"So [I] have been greatly encouraged in the midst of [my] troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives [me] new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How [I] thank God for you!" (1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!

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