I have a normal pattern of reading from a Psalm, another Old Testament passage and a New Testament passage each morning. It was while reading Psalm 40 that God launched me into this new activity of blogging. (Funny that this sounds a lot like jogging, which I also do.)

This morning while reading through Zechariah 12 I took note of verse 10 where it says, "They will look on me, the one they have pierced...." My sequential reading in the New Testament was John 19 which covers the crucifixion and the fulfillment of this prophecy, (vs. 37 "They will look on the one they have pierced." NIV

God's word is fulfilled hundreds of years later. A second part of that prophecy says that when they look on the one they have pierced they will morn and grieve as one who has lost an only child. It seems that the fulfilling of this part of the prophecy is yet to come when all of Israel will realize that the Jesus who was crucified 2,000 years ago was in fact the Son of God. Still, on another level, it is my sin that put Jesus on the cross and caused his side to be pierced. When I come to this understanding it should grieve my heart every time I fail to follow God's ways and will. In the end it was not the Jews that crucified Jesus but the sins of all of us. Thank you Lord for connecting these passages for me today and help me take seriously the sacrifice made to pay for my sin and restore me to a right relationship with you.

Eagles

"...like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them on its pinions." Deuteronomy 32:11

Last week I learned an important lesson about Eagles from Avery Willis, the head of the International Orality Network. Avery showed some video clips of eagles preparing their nest with soft material on which to lay their eggs. As the chicks hatch they feed and care for them until they get big enough to leave the nest. At that point, they "stir the nest," taking out all of the soft material, exposing the prickly, uncomfortable, pointed sticks. The parents know that the young eagles need to leave the nest and learn to fly. If the nest is too comfortable they won't overcome their fear of leaving and flying. Clearly, eagles are meant to fly and to soar. The parents are protectors and providers but also the source of whatever it takes to bring the young eagles to the next stage. Their are many more lessons from the eagles, and I encourage you to read "Learning to Soar," by Avery and Matt Willis.

If we are encountering issues and problems that are making life uncomfortable we might just ask ourselves, "what is God preparing us for?" Are we needing encouragement to leave the nest, to fly and to soar. If so, look for God's powerful outstretched wings beneath us. Don't worry, take a leap of faith.

Reading through the Psalms from 51-59 I felt the struggles and stretching going on in David. Several of these Psalms refer to his early battles with Saul and his running for his life. Sometimes we feel this kind of stress and it seems like the enemy is in hot pursuit. We are encouraged to run to God our fortress and we often do but that doesn't mean the battle is over. We may have some peace for awhile but then we are back into it. The good news is that life has it's seasons and David wasn't always chased by Saul. In fact, David was elevated to the place of power and authority.

If something is chasing you or me, (a recurring dream I have from time to time,) we can run to Jesus but not always staying at rest and avoiding the battle going on in the world. Jesus will give us comfort and encouragement so that we may then head out to face our enemy again. But there are also times of rising up on the wings of eagles and feeling God's power and presence filling our sails. These times of hope and strength give us more stamina in the midst of more intense battles. As Jesus said, "in this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

It's always been about the heart. I think that would be an appropriate title for Psalm 51, which I read this morning, or for all of life for that matter. God has placed us in a world that has many dangers and temptations. We will stumble and fall. What then? We can try hard to compensate for our mistakes by our human sacrifices but they will not bring peace and restoration. Our broken heart will open the door to the new day we desire. In spite of all his failings, God loved David because he was a man after God's own heart. It isn't about what we do but who we seek. And, of course, that will affect all we do.

PS 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.