Beating Off Buzzards!
My latest phrase that I have been repeating for weeks now is “Just beatin’ off buzzards!” The thought came from a story my husband related to me of one of Sister Nona Freeman’s preaching tapes. Although it appears to have been only one point in her sermon, I have to say that it applies largely to our lives lately.
The phrase refers to a time in Abram’s life in which he was first establishing his relationship with God. He had just received the promise that he and his heirs would own all the land he travelled. (My thought? Gee, if I had that promise, I’d walk until my feet bled: JCPenney, Dillard’s, Macy’s, and Bloom here I come!) God had also clarified that he would be given a biological heir.
It was a season of promise and dreams for the future! The Lord asked Abram to make a sacrifice to him. In Genesis 15:11, we find that the “fowls came down upon the carcases” and Abram had to “drive them away.”
All seemed to be going well until two weeks prior to the event. That’s when everything began to come against us: plumbing, work issues scheduled for the day of the meeting, extended family that doesn’t understand our ministry, everything. It was almost like the two of us were standing, drenched, in a lifeboat as the storm pelted us and rocked our little boat; we just clung to each other and kept believing that the storm meant God had a blessing in store for this ministry.
You see, those spiritual buzzards can be circumstances or even people’s actions or words; anything that discourages you when you have brought a sacrifice before the Lord, be it repentance or ministry, must not be allowed to steal your joy or discourage you from your mission!
The good news: we survived. The better news: the men’s breakfast and women’s luncheon brought such a spirit of unity and healing that the services Sunday were just beautiful, including a long awaited baptism in Jesus’ name! There was such a spirit of unity, peace, and love that prevailed; we knew that the storm was a deliberate distraction.
Thanks to Sister Nona Freeman’s message, we’ve learned our new phrase well. In fact, another outreach ministry that we have been preparing is about to begin and already the odds are stacking up against it. In faith, we just keep reminding each other, “We’re just beatin’ off the buzzards!”
"So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written,
Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"
I Corinthians 15:54-55
The phrase refers to a time in Abram’s life in which he was first establishing his relationship with God. He had just received the promise that he and his heirs would own all the land he travelled. (My thought? Gee, if I had that promise, I’d walk until my feet bled: JCPenney, Dillard’s, Macy’s, and Bloom here I come!) God had also clarified that he would be given a biological heir.
It was a season of promise and dreams for the future! The Lord asked Abram to make a sacrifice to him. In Genesis 15:11, we find that the “fowls came down upon the carcases” and Abram had to “drive them away.”
Photo Credit: Canvas to the Imagination
My husband and I have recently started several new ministries, some in-reach oriented and others outreach. One of these was our new post as leaders of the men’s and women’s ministries for our church. Our first meeting was this past Saturday. All seemed to be going well until two weeks prior to the event. That’s when everything began to come against us: plumbing, work issues scheduled for the day of the meeting, extended family that doesn’t understand our ministry, everything. It was almost like the two of us were standing, drenched, in a lifeboat as the storm pelted us and rocked our little boat; we just clung to each other and kept believing that the storm meant God had a blessing in store for this ministry.
You see, those spiritual buzzards can be circumstances or even people’s actions or words; anything that discourages you when you have brought a sacrifice before the Lord, be it repentance or ministry, must not be allowed to steal your joy or discourage you from your mission!
The good news: we survived. The better news: the men’s breakfast and women’s luncheon brought such a spirit of unity and healing that the services Sunday were just beautiful, including a long awaited baptism in Jesus’ name! There was such a spirit of unity, peace, and love that prevailed; we knew that the storm was a deliberate distraction.
Thanks to Sister Nona Freeman’s message, we’ve learned our new phrase well. In fact, another outreach ministry that we have been preparing is about to begin and already the odds are stacking up against it. In faith, we just keep reminding each other, “We’re just beatin’ off the buzzards!”
"So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written,
Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"
I Corinthians 15:54-55