~ IMPARTATION ~
Missionary-Evangelist Esther Thornton,
Oregon
Dear Friends, I have
divided the following into two parts, to be placed in the magazine in the
months of May-June.
KEEP ON GOING - NEVER GIVE UP - PART I
A family that persists
in God and in their lives will reach the desired goals and exist peacefully
together.” Isaiah 61:7-8
For your shame ye
shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion:
therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be
unto them. [8] For I the Lord love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering;
and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant
with them. Amidst the circumstances of life, God is calling us forth to keep on
going and to never give up. Charles Spurgeon once said, “By perseverance the
snail reached the ark.”
I. In God’s creation,
there are various kinds of birds to consider in comparison to our lives.
I had a book once
that talked about “Turkeys and Eagles”. It talked about how the turkey always
pecks at the ground but how the eagle sets his sight on the heights.
We have raised a
number of animals on our farm, one of which was turkeys. Our chickens had a
chicken coop, but our turkeys were right out in the open. So, I asked Bob one
day if he would build a lean-two for our turkeys to get under to get out of the
rain.
But, these turkeys
were so dumb that, even when the covering was provided, they remained just
standing in the rain! The shelter was there, but they were too dumb to take
advantage of it.
Another story of the
eagle:
A farmer once took an
egg from an eagle’s nest. He took it home and placed it under one of his hens
and it hatched with a little brood of chickens. The farmer raised the bird with
great patience and attempted to tame him. The eagle never really seemed to fit
in with the chickens. It always walked alone; it could not seem to relate to,
or interact with, the chickens.
As the eagle grew, he
realized something seemed to be wrong deep inside of him. Even though he had
never known any other existence but life in the chicken yard, it just did not
feel like home to him. He wanted to leave the chicken yard and take to the
skies. He even tried to do so, and the farmer finally had to clip the eagle’s
wings to keep him from flying away.
Since the eagle could
not fly, he just sat in the chicken yard looking up at the sky. One day a storm
began to brew, the sky grew dark, and all the barnyard animals scurried around
for cover; the chickens were terribly frightened, as chickens are prone to be.
The eagle sat watching the scene in front of him, realizing the storm did not
frighten him in the least.
At that moment, he
could not help but stretch out his wings, and as he did, he noticed that the
farmer had failed to keep them clipped. Suddenly, his eye caught sight of a
great eagle riding the wind above him, his wings outstretched in majestic form.
The eagle that was
raised as a chicken looked again at the chickens scurrying around frantically,
then returned his gaze to the eagle soaring peacefully above him, then looked
back at the chickens and then up at the eagle again. He heard the eagle let out
an awesome, piercing cry. In that instant, he knew he had to get out of the
chicken yard! A mighty gust of wind swept beneath his outstretched wings and
lifted him into the air. With a shrill scream of victory and freedom, he left
the barnyard forever.
Have you ever felt
like an eagle who is stuck in a chicken yard? You knew that there is much more
within you than you are experiencing and expressing in your life right now.
That is because God has created us to soar the heights and not to get bogged
down with the problems and cares of life. The chicken looks down to peck the
ground, as his vision is limited, but the eagle longs to soar the heights!
I remember the first
time that I spoke in Africa in 1993. It was out in the open in a park-like area
in Nakuru, Kenya, with several hundred Africans all around me in a circle. I
was trying to get going and to get used to having an interpreter.
When, suddenly, the
Holy Spirit gave me the following scripture, which is one of my favorite:
Philip. 2:9-10
Wherefore God also
hath highly exalted (Jesus), and given him a name which is above every name:
[10] That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and
things in earth, and things under the earth; The anointing fell upon us, and
even the interpreter got so blessed that he could not interpret! And, because
Jesus has triumphed over all things; we, too, are “more than conquerors through
Him that loved us.”
And, we are
positioned with Christ in the heavenlies.
Ephes. 2:6
(God) hath raised us
up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Ephes. 1:19-21
And what is the exceeding
greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his
mighty power, [20] Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the
dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, [21] Far above
all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is
named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
The eagle is one of
nature’s best examples of strength, perseverance, and determination.
It is a bird who
refuses to be denied its destiny, one who never gives up.
It is uncomfortable
to feel like an eagle in a chicken yard. When you are living in a place that
keeps you from being who you were made to be and doing what you are meant to
do, you will be uncomfortable. Never try to hide your uniqueness or to feel you
cannot do what you believe you were made to do.
II. Different birds
that are like different kinds of Christians:
1. The Chicken:
Chickens are
generally skittish and afraid of life; they are lazy and do not reach their potential.
They simply peck around the barnyard and cluck. They cannot handle freedom but
must be kept in a chicken yard. Christians, who sometimes flap around and run
for the chicken house, need to stop running from the storms of life. God has
called and equipped us to overcome, not to be fearful or intimidated.
2. The Magpie:
Magpies are overly
aggressive bullies who abuse other birds. “Magpie Christians” generally drive
others away from God and are selfish, arrogant, and self-centered to the point
of rudeness. These harsh, pushy Christians cause much disrespect toward the
kingdom of God and give fellow believers a bad name.
3. The Kookaburra:
To the kookaburra,
life is one, big party, one big joke. “Kookaburra Christians” are those who
take nothing seriously and laugh at everything. They are not sensitive to
anything around them and they often wound, hurt, and offend others.
4. The Vulture:
Vultures are drawn to
death and uncleanness. “Vulture Christians” are attracted to people with
problems. They love to see people suffer and fail, and they use their words to
destroy people’s lives. They spread rumors and seem to secretly enjoy ruining
the reputation of a person or ministry.
5. Parrots and
Cockatoos:
These are the
“talker” birds in the bird kingdom. “Parrot Christians” are those who “talk the
talk”, but do not “walk the walk” They appear to know much more than they do
because they have learned to repeat what they hear and to mimic what others
say. They are all noise and no action, all talk and no depth of experience.
6. The Cuckoo:
Cuckoos do not like
to work and are happy to sponge off other people. These birds will not even
build their own nests; they look for nests other birds have already built, lay
their eggs there, and then leave their babies for other birds to raise. In the church, there are those who have a
religious spirit that they operate under. They want to ride on the coattails of
other people’s faith and enjoy the benefits of the Christian life without
investing in it.
7. The Peacock:
“Peacock Christians”
are flashy, showy, overly ambitious, worldly, full of pride, and very much in
love with and impressed with themselves. They have large egos and feel superior
to everyone else.
8. The Pelican:
He has a big mouth
and is only interested in eating. “Pelican Christians” do the same. They have
ravenous appetites and hunger for the Word of God. They could become “spiritual
giants” but are content to sit on the couch eating junk food, watching
television, and ignoring their spiritual lives. They are always happy to let
others take positions of spiritual leadership, even though they could do so if
they would simply put forth a little effort.
9. The Canary:
They are beautiful
birds with tremendous potential who spend their lives locked in cages. They do not
seem to realize the bondage in which they live; they even sing in the midst of
it. “Canary Christians” are those who go merrily along, content with the cages
they live in. They may be trapped in religious tradition, a lifeless church, a
powerless prayer, inferiority or insecurity, or a host of other problems that
keep them from enjoying the freedom and joy available to them in God. They
refuse to break free; therefore they never embrace life in all its fullness.
10. The Crow:
These noisy, dirty,
animals eat what does not belong to them, reducing the value of a farmer’s
livelihood and spoiling the fruit of his labors. They also enjoy destroying the
young of other species. Nothing matters except their own selfish desires and
they seek their own fulfillment ravenously. “Crow Christians” also enjoy
hurting others and causing destruction. They think nothing of ruining a
pastor’s reputation or dividing. They are some of the most cunning and dangerous
people in the church. They also spend a great deal of time pestering eagles.
11. The Eagle:
Charles Prestwich
Scott wrote: “Eagles come in all shapes and sizes, but you will recognize them
chiefly by their attitudes.” An eagle is loyal and committed; a reliable mate;
and a devoted parent. It has sharp, keen eyesight and knows how to fly
efficiently by riding the thermal currents of the earth. It dwells on the rocks
in high places and is confident enough to fly alone and to stand alone in life
when necessary and to be strong against the storms, spreading its wings and
soaring above the clouds and storms of destruction.
12. Eagles or
Chickens?
Joyce Meyer said,
“Over the years, I have encountered many people who are eagles, but think they
are chickens. That is a real problem because eagles who think they are chickens
will act like chickens. They will flap around the barnyard making noise instead
of soaring confidently above the storms beneath them. The Bible says “As he
thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Prov. 23:7) We become what we think about, and
focus upon, will shape the people we become. If a bird thinks he is a chicken,
he will be fearful, and go into hysterics when a storm comes, but if he thinks
he is an eagle,he will be strong and courageous.
What do you think of
yourself? How do you feel about yourself? Do you respect yourself? Do you value
yourself?
Many cultures in the
world suffer from a self-respect crisis. People don’t take care of themselves
because they don’t value themselves enough.
We are called to
sacrifice, to serve others, to give and to not live greedy, self-centered
lives. But, we are also to realize that we are the people in whom God swells.
He wants us to be the kind of people who cause others to want to know Him, and
to do so we must value and take care of ourselves.
We are God’s temple
(I Cor. 6:19) You will destroy the temple by being over committed, overworked,
living on junk food, not getting enough rest, and failing to exercise. God
wants us to take care of ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally, and
spiritually.
God wants us to be an
eagle, one who can fly high, be bold, live with power, keep circumstances and
relationships in perspective, live at peace, stay strong, and soar above the
storms of life. Begin to see yourself that way, because that’s the way God sees
you. Begin to value yourself, because He values you. Walk out of any “chicken
mentality” you may have, and live like the eagle you were created to be.
One lesson we have to
learn in being an “eagle Christian” is that there are times when we have to fly
alone. It means that we will often have to make and act upon decisions that
separate us from the pack and enable us to reach higher heights than the people
around us may want to go.
Joyce Meyer said that
one time when she was lonely she complained to God, “I don’t have any friends.
I seem to spend all of my time alone. Everybody thinks I’m strange and
different and they call me a fanatic. Some people in my family don’t even like
me anymore. But, God spoke to her heart and said, “Just remember this: other
birds fly in flocks, but eagles fly alone. What do you want to be, Joyce?” Being an eagle doesn’t mean you will never be
weary or feel stressed; it means you run to God and allow Him to renew your
strength when you feel weary or pressured. Many of us could avoid losing our
tempers or saying words we later regret if we would simply spend some extra
time with God when we realize weariness is setting in.
Don’t stop short of
knowing who you are, valuing who you are, and encouraging yourself to be and do
everything God intends for you. Even when you fell like an eagle surrounded by
chickens, don’t quit believing in God’s purpose for your life, and never give
up on yourself. You may be well aware of your weaknesses, but don’t be
discouraged by them. Run to God and He will help you overcome. He knows your
faults and loves you anyway.
Story of a remarkable
lady:
Marie Curie, also
known as “Madame Curie” was the first woman to ever win a Nobel Prize - and she
won two of them, a truly remarkable achievement. Born in Poland in 1867 to a
piano player and a mathematics and physics professor, she demonstrated an
interest in education at an early age and won academic awards for her school
achievements and acclaim for her remarkable memory. She hoped to continue her
education following her completion of secondary school at age sixteen, but her
father lost much of his money through an unwise investment: so Marie had to go
to work as a teacher, dashing her hopes for further study - at least
temporarily. When she was eighteen, she took a joy as a governess, during which
time she endured a sad love affair.
Marie and her sister,
Bronia, both affected by their father’s loss of money, agreed that Maria would
use the earnings from her governess job to finance Bronia’s education; and when
her education was complete, Bronia would fund Marie’s studies. Both sisters
kept their promise to each other.
Marie traveled to
Paris in 1891 to further her education in mathmatics, physics, and chemistry at
the world-famous university. With amazing dedication, Marie lived in a small,
cramped student-housing facility, where she survived primarily on bread,
butter, and tea.
Marie then met
physics professor Pierre Curie, and the two married in Paris in 1895. They
committed their lives to science, and Marie was named in honor of her native
country. Though their research was brilliant, in the early years they had very
poor laboratory conditions and were unable to support themselves. So they both
had to spend hours teaching in order to make a living and provide for their two
daughters.
Marie earned a
doctorate in 1903; the same year Pierre received the Nobel Prize for physics.
In 1904 she was able to leave her job as a physics teacher and become the chief
assistant of Pierre’s laboratory. The couple worked diligently and amongst
other great achievements discovered radioactivity.
Their partnership
came to a tragic end in 1906 when Pierre was hit by a car and killed. This
intensified her resolve to carry on the work and she was soon appointed to fill
the teaching position her husband had held, professor of general physics in the
faculty of sciences, and thereby became the first woman to teach in the
Sorbonne. In 1911, Marie won a second Nobel Prize, this time for chemistry, and
continued in her dedication to her work, particularly in finding therapeutic
uses for radium in an attempt to apply it in medical situations to alleviate
human suffering.
Marie Curie could
have given up on her desire to pursue her education, but she decided not to
suffer through the difficult laboratory arrangements under which she worked.
And, she could have given up on her work in the wake of her husband’s death.
But she pressed through her challenges, delays, and difficulties, and
contributed greatly to scientific advances that continue to affect and save
lives today.
III. God wants us to
get a goal:
We only have one life
to live. We hear of people who lived so nobly that their life was greatly used and
their years were not wasted. But, then there are others who waste their lives
and nothing is accomplished. We must check our lives before it is too late and
let God use us to the maximum that He desires to use us.
God wants us to have
“a holy determination”, not willpower, to reach our God-given goals and to
overcome in every area of our lives.
Get a goal that God
has for you.
IV. There are four
kinds of goals: measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely.
1. Measurable: Find
ways to measure them - a journal, a checklist, a chart, a graph, a spreadsheet,
or some other creative way to see how you are doing.
2. Attainable: Goals
that lie just beyond your reach - not too easy but not so difficult that they
stretch you to the breaking point.
3. Realistic: Don’t
set yourself up for disappointment by having an unrealistic goal.
4. Timely: Give
yourself deadlines to accomplish your goals.
V. Three Key Issues
that people face: Health, finances, and family.
1. Health:
God wants us to feel
good and have the passion and energy we need to enjoy our lives and do
everything He calls us to do. Some problems are stress related. Others develop
because people do not take care of themselves.
Joyce Meyer’s
daughter, Sandra felt badly and suffered with health problems for years. Many
of her problems resulted from the stress that came with being a perfectionist’s
perfectionist. After she gave birth to her twins, she had terrible problems,
back pain and other physical challenges to the point that she had to be taken
to the emergency room several times. Sandra finally reached a point where she
knew in her heart she could be healthy and feel well. She determined to find
the causes of her problems and to solve them. Though she had to be diligent and
disciplines, she applied the lessons she learned about nutrition and exercise,
and learned how to keep the stress of perfectionism from affecting her
physically. She then began to feel better and to gain strength and now, she
feels terrific and is in good health.
2. The second area
that affects people is Finances:
Many people today are
trapped in debt, wondering how to build a savings account and concerned about
how to finance their retirement or their children’s education.
Joyce Meyer said that
she remembers when Dave and she had to buy clothes for their children at garage
sales and drive cars so old, we never knew if they would run or not. They could
not affort to stay in hotels when she preached meetings at night, so no matter
what, they had to drive home. She bought canned good with no labels to save
money. She didn’t know what she would get inside the cans - green beans,
peaches or even cat food!
Never allow yourself
to believe that you will always be in debt, or never be able to save money.
Financial freedom is possible - it may not be easy, but you can achieve it.
3. The third area
that people face is family:
Joyce Meyer said that
her husband, Dave, asked God for a wife he could help. She said he didn’t know
what he had bargained for! Trying to have an intimate relationship with her
would have been extremely difficult for anyone - with her background of abuse.
He even wept at times as he didn’t know what to do. He would take a ride often
to weep and pray for the answer. Joyce had to go through a path of healing,
deliverance, and wholeness. She had to learn to think differently, to trust
people, and to allow herself to be loved and to love others. He even had to
teach her to be nice because she grew up thinking she had to protect herself,
which meant that she was often defensive and harsh. Dave refused to give up on
Joyce and they both refused to give up on God. Now they have had more than
forty years of marriage, and their relationship is better than ever. Joyce and
her son, David, clashed so badly working together in the ministry that she
wanted to send him away into something else. But, God spoke to her not to give
up on David. Over time, they learned to get along well and today he is the head
of their missions department.
Don’t ever give up on
your loved ones. Your patient love and faithfulness may be exactly what they
need to make a complete turnaround.
I Cor. 13 says that
love always believes the best; it is positive and filled with faith and hope.
God is love and He never gives up on us, so we should not give up on one another.
4. Against All Odds:
A lady named Pennie
Sheperd fell and broke her tailbone when she was thirteen years old. After she
married, there were times her husband had to help her out of bed. She wondered
how she could live another day with this.
She asked God for a
miracle, day after day. One day she heard God say: “Run to your miracle”. She
had not been a runner, nor enjoyed running, but since God had said it, she
committed herself to it. She began a program of running; being on a strict
diet; and being on a rigorous schedule every day. She would get up at 3:00 A.M.
After several months she still had no relief from the pain. The day of the
marathon drew near and just two weeks before, her knees gave out and she could
hardly even walk around the hotel room. She had a determination to do all that
God asked her to do and she said, “I am going to the starting line even if
someone has to carry me to get me there.”
Her husband and daughters, wrote scriptures and inspiring messages all
over her hands and arms. Before sunrise on marathon day, she literally hobbled
up to the starting line, with the Dr. next to her. She then said to her Dr.:
“My back doesn’t hurt!” She had not said these words for twenty-eight years. Her
knee hurt like crazy but her back didn’t hurt. Dr. Rogers helped her to warm up
for the race and a mile and a half into it, she told him, “I think I’m going to
be able to run.” - Which she did!
Keep on going! Never give up!
In His Service,
Rev. Esther Thornton
Global Evangelism
Fellowship
