Screaming Eagles
Perhaps one of the most familiar Scriptures regarding eagles is Isaiah 40:31,
"Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength, They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not grow tired, they will walk and not become weary."
The eagle is depicted as a bird of prey (a meat eater) with cunning eyesight and powerful strength. They can see a field mouse in a 3 square mile space from 1000 feet altitude. Additionally, eagles can see forward and side-to-side at the same time.
As the Lion is known as the King of Beasts, the Eagle is known as the King of Birds. The word Eagle comes from the root word "to lacerate" in the Hebrew language and in the Greek language means "taken from the air."
As humans, we have some peripheral vision but not as full as the eagle does. Yet, GOD our FATHER sees all and knows all. As believers, sometimes it is necessary to step back and ask wisdom from the Holy Spirit to see any given situation from God’s perspective, from HIS viewpoint. We need to go to the ONE who wants to give us HIS vision and perspective for the fullness of HIS design for our life.
There are many parables held in the lifestyle of the eagle. Another interesting fact is that eagles have 7000 feathers. An eagle simply adjusts its feathers to accommodate a change in weather. If it is too hot it fluffs the feathers allowing an influx of air. When it is too cold it brings the feathers closer together to hold in the body heat. Perhaps it would be wisdom as humanity to follow the eagle’s example… just make a little adjustment for weather changes. Fluffing and Bringing Together for both earthly and spiritual weather changes.
We are in a season of eagles. What I mean by that, is I believe we are in a season with the LORD GOD giving us fuller vision, fuller perspective, fuller range, fuller discernment, fuller view of HIS plans and purposes on the earth as we seek HIS face and walk in obedience to HIM!
Exodus 19:4, “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.”
Eagles know how to ride the thermals flying at 30 miles per hour. They know how to leave the confines of the earth and soar into the spiritual realm uninhibited with complete freedom, permitting the wind to carry them. Do we let the wind of the Holy Spirit carry us through and over difficult circumstances? Or do we just stop the extension of HIS mercy and grace with ingratitude, unbelief, doubt and fear? According to Israel’s history, over one million people died in the wilderness because of their ungratefulness, doubt, fear, and unbelief in addition to worshiping idols. That fact alone ought to bring us to our knees to humility and repentance.
There are 59 species of eagles found in the world on every continent except Antarctica. There are four major groups of eagles: fish eagles, booted eagles, snake eagles and giant forest eagles.
Job 39:27-29, “Is it at your command that the eagle mount up, and makes his nest on high? On the cliff he dwells and lodges, upon the rocky crag an inaccessible place. From there he spies out food, His eyes see it from afar.”
Generally speaking, when eagles nest they choose a high place safe from their enemies and a place near water – usually a river. They build nests that often reach 9 feet in diameter and may weigh up to two thousand pounds. We need to nest in a high place safe from our enemies and near the River of GOD. Who or what are your enemies? Who or what keeps you from that safe place of peace in the LORD? Can you identify them? Perhaps too many hours in front of the TV, or at sporting events, or shopping, or whatever. We all have weaknesses that need to be overcome through submission and obedience to Jesus Christ. We need to build sturdy and stable nests that outlast storms. And we need to build nests near the River of GOD so that we always have food, especially spiritual food readily available, such as the meat of HIS Written Word daily.
Eagles mate for life. We need to do the same. Be faithful, true, and loyal in our relationships. Keep our commitments. Be people of integrity.
Ephesians 4:1-3, “I therefore the prisoner of the LORD, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
A manner worthy of the calling......the calling of GOD commands a manner of integrity, truth, love, patience, humility, gentleness and righteousness that is rare enough in the earth to be noticed by others. There is a legend that Eagles are the only bird of prey that can fly directly into the sun therefore creating an impossible environment to be followed or pursued by their enemies. Eagle have two eyelids which is why this is believed to be true. The parable is that we as Christians need to intentionally fly directly to the Son of Righteousness, Jesus Christ and therefore live in an environment that the enemy of our soul will not pursue us.
Malachi 4:2, “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.”
A pair of eagles will hatch one to three eaglets a season. If there are two, the larger one may destroy the smaller one. Eaglets are taught to stand before they are taught to fly. Over 40% of the eaglets die on their first flight out of the nest. Sometimes it seems that when the LORD is testing our faith, we will die as we jump out of the nest in obedience to HIM. Yet, in this way we are not like the eagle, because we are the children of the MOST HIGH GOD and David wrote in Psalm 91:4, "HE will cover you with HIS pinions, And under HIS wings you may seek refuge; HIS faithfulness is a shield and bulwark." In the Hebrew language, the word “cover” in this Scripture is defined as to entwine as a screen, fence in, cover over, protect, defense, defend, hedge in, and to join together. We are comforted by the promises of the LORD to protect us and cover us as we step out in faith to serve HIM! Eagles are not chicken-hearted nor do they demonstrate chicken behavior. They are full of courage, boldness and see from a higher perspective. They purposefully soar above their circumstances.
Eagles parent mutually, one caring for the brood while the other hunts. Both participate in their nest building. They do not abandon their young. It takes about 12 weeks before the eaglets are ready to fly. As parents we need to work together to build homes filled with the harmony and peace of GOD!
David writes in Psalm 17:8, “Keep Me as the apple of Thine eye, Hide me in the Shadow of Thy wings.”
Perhaps that is a model for all parents, to keep their children as the apple of their eye and to protect their children in the shadow of their wings. Purposing to love them, provide for them and keep them safe. In the same way GOD cares for us.
Psalm 103:1-5, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless HIS holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget none of HIS benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities; Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the pit; Who crowns you with loving kindness and compassion; Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.”
In closing, I would like to share a ministry testimony experience from a few years ago at a Worship Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. My dear friend, Joyce and I were ministering to an older woman that was brought to the front of the auditorium by her two friends. It was almost like they dragged her up front. Joyce put her hands on the woman’s shoulders and turned the woman to face me and said that I needed to pray for her. As I had been standing behind the woman, this was my first time to look into her eyes. I immediately began screaming at the top of my lungs – the loudest and longest scream I have ever screamed in my life. Fortunately, the music was very loud. Being raised Baptist I knew very clearly that it was improper to yell in church. But I just could not stop screaming, as the sound did not seem to be my own. When the scream ended, I said to the woman, “I am screaming because you can’t.” She fell into my arms sobbing. It was one of those moments in ministry that I would have given anything for a word of knowledge, any insight from the Holy Spirit, yet HE spoke nothing except that I was to give her my most favorite teal and purple silk scarf as a symbol that GOD had met her in this place. Words never crossed her lips as she slowly walked away clutching the scarf like a child’s lost teddy bear.
In my prayer time later that evening, I repented before the LORD, for missing the mark and screaming in church. Certain that I had completely missed HIS purpose, my spirit was deeply grieved.
The next morning in church, one of the woman’s friends came running over to me, she exclaimed, “Do you know what you did last night?” As I am thinking, ‘Oh dear GOD help me’ as she continued, “the woman that we brought to you for prayer.” Hesitating, I said, “Well, we prayed for a lot of people.” Leaning into my face, she clarified, “The woman you screamed at, DO YOU REMEMBER HER?” All of my fears coming to surface, timidly I whispered, “Yes, I remember her. How is she?” The woman began jumping up and down, yelling, “She is free! She is free! She will never be the same!” As my fears begin to return down the path from which they surfaced, the friend explained that the woman was raped at the innocent age of twelve. When she went to tell her mother, her mother called her a liar and told her to never speak of it again. Over 50 years later, JESUS came and for reasons that only HE knows set her free through a very long loud scream.
Eagles do not have vocal chords as humans do, they screech out of a place deeper within them. They scream to release warnings to protect their own.
Obedience to the LORD often requires leaving the religious norms that confine us and walking in complete trust of the One who gave HIS life for us.
It is not about being the walking wounded, IT IS about being the resurrected, renewed, revived, rebuilt, rekindled, regenerated, restored and redeemed of the LORD JESUS CHRIST. It is your choice!
One SCREAMING EAGLE was soared to new heights that morning in Nashville, Tennessee and more than one daughter of the MOST HIGH GOD was set free! Glory to HIS HOLY NAME!
~~~~~~~
On a personal note: As one who was molested by a male cousin at the age of ten, raped by a Christian Pastor and Professor at the age of 18 and then raped again multiple times by a male pedophile and predator in my 30’s…I clearly understand the cost, the pain, the ravage, and the anguish of being violated. I did not speak about being raped by the Christian Pastor until 25 later because he was a friend of my Pastor and his family. The word "rape" simply could not cross my lips even though Curt died the year of my 30th birthday, it was 13 more years before I acknowledged his crime. In the mean time, what I did do was earn a BS in Psychology 1994, volunteered at a local family counseling center for 5 years working with children age (1-12) who had been traumatized, raped, beaten, abused in any possible way imagined and became part of a team that provided research evidence to the courts to change the State laws regarding these violations. In this season of ministry, GOD has ordained many times for me to minister to women that have been abused in similar manner. Jesus Christ is still the one and only true healer.
"Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength, They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not grow tired, they will walk and not become weary."
The eagle is depicted as a bird of prey (a meat eater) with cunning eyesight and powerful strength. They can see a field mouse in a 3 square mile space from 1000 feet altitude. Additionally, eagles can see forward and side-to-side at the same time.
As the Lion is known as the King of Beasts, the Eagle is known as the King of Birds. The word Eagle comes from the root word "to lacerate" in the Hebrew language and in the Greek language means "taken from the air."
As humans, we have some peripheral vision but not as full as the eagle does. Yet, GOD our FATHER sees all and knows all. As believers, sometimes it is necessary to step back and ask wisdom from the Holy Spirit to see any given situation from God’s perspective, from HIS viewpoint. We need to go to the ONE who wants to give us HIS vision and perspective for the fullness of HIS design for our life.
There are many parables held in the lifestyle of the eagle. Another interesting fact is that eagles have 7000 feathers. An eagle simply adjusts its feathers to accommodate a change in weather. If it is too hot it fluffs the feathers allowing an influx of air. When it is too cold it brings the feathers closer together to hold in the body heat. Perhaps it would be wisdom as humanity to follow the eagle’s example… just make a little adjustment for weather changes. Fluffing and Bringing Together for both earthly and spiritual weather changes.
We are in a season of eagles. What I mean by that, is I believe we are in a season with the LORD GOD giving us fuller vision, fuller perspective, fuller range, fuller discernment, fuller view of HIS plans and purposes on the earth as we seek HIS face and walk in obedience to HIM!
Exodus 19:4, “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.”
Eagles know how to ride the thermals flying at 30 miles per hour. They know how to leave the confines of the earth and soar into the spiritual realm uninhibited with complete freedom, permitting the wind to carry them. Do we let the wind of the Holy Spirit carry us through and over difficult circumstances? Or do we just stop the extension of HIS mercy and grace with ingratitude, unbelief, doubt and fear? According to Israel’s history, over one million people died in the wilderness because of their ungratefulness, doubt, fear, and unbelief in addition to worshiping idols. That fact alone ought to bring us to our knees to humility and repentance.
There are 59 species of eagles found in the world on every continent except Antarctica. There are four major groups of eagles: fish eagles, booted eagles, snake eagles and giant forest eagles.
Job 39:27-29, “Is it at your command that the eagle mount up, and makes his nest on high? On the cliff he dwells and lodges, upon the rocky crag an inaccessible place. From there he spies out food, His eyes see it from afar.”
Generally speaking, when eagles nest they choose a high place safe from their enemies and a place near water – usually a river. They build nests that often reach 9 feet in diameter and may weigh up to two thousand pounds. We need to nest in a high place safe from our enemies and near the River of GOD. Who or what are your enemies? Who or what keeps you from that safe place of peace in the LORD? Can you identify them? Perhaps too many hours in front of the TV, or at sporting events, or shopping, or whatever. We all have weaknesses that need to be overcome through submission and obedience to Jesus Christ. We need to build sturdy and stable nests that outlast storms. And we need to build nests near the River of GOD so that we always have food, especially spiritual food readily available, such as the meat of HIS Written Word daily.
Eagles mate for life. We need to do the same. Be faithful, true, and loyal in our relationships. Keep our commitments. Be people of integrity.
Ephesians 4:1-3, “I therefore the prisoner of the LORD, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
A manner worthy of the calling......the calling of GOD commands a manner of integrity, truth, love, patience, humility, gentleness and righteousness that is rare enough in the earth to be noticed by others. There is a legend that Eagles are the only bird of prey that can fly directly into the sun therefore creating an impossible environment to be followed or pursued by their enemies. Eagle have two eyelids which is why this is believed to be true. The parable is that we as Christians need to intentionally fly directly to the Son of Righteousness, Jesus Christ and therefore live in an environment that the enemy of our soul will not pursue us.
Malachi 4:2, “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.”
A pair of eagles will hatch one to three eaglets a season. If there are two, the larger one may destroy the smaller one. Eaglets are taught to stand before they are taught to fly. Over 40% of the eaglets die on their first flight out of the nest. Sometimes it seems that when the LORD is testing our faith, we will die as we jump out of the nest in obedience to HIM. Yet, in this way we are not like the eagle, because we are the children of the MOST HIGH GOD and David wrote in Psalm 91:4, "HE will cover you with HIS pinions, And under HIS wings you may seek refuge; HIS faithfulness is a shield and bulwark." In the Hebrew language, the word “cover” in this Scripture is defined as to entwine as a screen, fence in, cover over, protect, defense, defend, hedge in, and to join together. We are comforted by the promises of the LORD to protect us and cover us as we step out in faith to serve HIM! Eagles are not chicken-hearted nor do they demonstrate chicken behavior. They are full of courage, boldness and see from a higher perspective. They purposefully soar above their circumstances.
Eagles parent mutually, one caring for the brood while the other hunts. Both participate in their nest building. They do not abandon their young. It takes about 12 weeks before the eaglets are ready to fly. As parents we need to work together to build homes filled with the harmony and peace of GOD!
David writes in Psalm 17:8, “Keep Me as the apple of Thine eye, Hide me in the Shadow of Thy wings.”
Perhaps that is a model for all parents, to keep their children as the apple of their eye and to protect their children in the shadow of their wings. Purposing to love them, provide for them and keep them safe. In the same way GOD cares for us.
Psalm 103:1-5, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless HIS holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget none of HIS benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities; Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the pit; Who crowns you with loving kindness and compassion; Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.”
In closing, I would like to share a ministry testimony experience from a few years ago at a Worship Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. My dear friend, Joyce and I were ministering to an older woman that was brought to the front of the auditorium by her two friends. It was almost like they dragged her up front. Joyce put her hands on the woman’s shoulders and turned the woman to face me and said that I needed to pray for her. As I had been standing behind the woman, this was my first time to look into her eyes. I immediately began screaming at the top of my lungs – the loudest and longest scream I have ever screamed in my life. Fortunately, the music was very loud. Being raised Baptist I knew very clearly that it was improper to yell in church. But I just could not stop screaming, as the sound did not seem to be my own. When the scream ended, I said to the woman, “I am screaming because you can’t.” She fell into my arms sobbing. It was one of those moments in ministry that I would have given anything for a word of knowledge, any insight from the Holy Spirit, yet HE spoke nothing except that I was to give her my most favorite teal and purple silk scarf as a symbol that GOD had met her in this place. Words never crossed her lips as she slowly walked away clutching the scarf like a child’s lost teddy bear.
In my prayer time later that evening, I repented before the LORD, for missing the mark and screaming in church. Certain that I had completely missed HIS purpose, my spirit was deeply grieved.
The next morning in church, one of the woman’s friends came running over to me, she exclaimed, “Do you know what you did last night?” As I am thinking, ‘Oh dear GOD help me’ as she continued, “the woman that we brought to you for prayer.” Hesitating, I said, “Well, we prayed for a lot of people.” Leaning into my face, she clarified, “The woman you screamed at, DO YOU REMEMBER HER?” All of my fears coming to surface, timidly I whispered, “Yes, I remember her. How is she?” The woman began jumping up and down, yelling, “She is free! She is free! She will never be the same!” As my fears begin to return down the path from which they surfaced, the friend explained that the woman was raped at the innocent age of twelve. When she went to tell her mother, her mother called her a liar and told her to never speak of it again. Over 50 years later, JESUS came and for reasons that only HE knows set her free through a very long loud scream.
Eagles do not have vocal chords as humans do, they screech out of a place deeper within them. They scream to release warnings to protect their own.
Obedience to the LORD often requires leaving the religious norms that confine us and walking in complete trust of the One who gave HIS life for us.
It is not about being the walking wounded, IT IS about being the resurrected, renewed, revived, rebuilt, rekindled, regenerated, restored and redeemed of the LORD JESUS CHRIST. It is your choice!
One SCREAMING EAGLE was soared to new heights that morning in Nashville, Tennessee and more than one daughter of the MOST HIGH GOD was set free! Glory to HIS HOLY NAME!
~~~~~~~
On a personal note: As one who was molested by a male cousin at the age of ten, raped by a Christian Pastor and Professor at the age of 18 and then raped again multiple times by a male pedophile and predator in my 30’s…I clearly understand the cost, the pain, the ravage, and the anguish of being violated. I did not speak about being raped by the Christian Pastor until 25 later because he was a friend of my Pastor and his family. The word "rape" simply could not cross my lips even though Curt died the year of my 30th birthday, it was 13 more years before I acknowledged his crime. In the mean time, what I did do was earn a BS in Psychology 1994, volunteered at a local family counseling center for 5 years working with children age (1-12) who had been traumatized, raped, beaten, abused in any possible way imagined and became part of a team that provided research evidence to the courts to change the State laws regarding these violations. In this season of ministry, GOD has ordained many times for me to minister to women that have been abused in similar manner. Jesus Christ is still the one and only true healer.
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