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No matter how discouraging life may sometimes get because of the trials and
tribulations that come our way, we should never allow those obstacles to
bring down our spirits or question God's plan for our life. We must gird
ourselves up in confidence knowing that the Lord has a great purpose and
plan for our life and until our life’s plan has been fulfilled, our life is
still not finished. Be encouraged and know that greatness is instilled
within you that is meant to spring forth and make a difference in this
world that will never be forgotten. This truth is emphasized in the Bible
as we read in Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that He
which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus
Christ.” Do not allow yourself to become stagnant simply because you are
going through hardships, but rather use these temporary setbacks as
steppingstones to your brighter and fulfilled future. (Jeremiah 29:11)
I hope this message encourages and inspires your heart to never give up
when problems come your way. Stand firm in your faith knowing that God
will not leave you nor forsake you.
EAGLE STORY
Freedom and I have been together 10 years this summer. She came in as a
baby in 1998 with two broken wings. Her left wing doesn't open all the way
even after surgery, it was broken in 4 places. She's my baby.
When Freedom came in she could not stand. Both wings were broken, her left
wing in 4 places. She was emaciated and covered in lice. We made the
decision to give her a chance at life, so I took her to the vet’s office.
From then on, I was always around her. We had her in a huge dog carrier
with the top off, and it was loaded up with shredded newspaper for her to
lay in. I used to sit and talk to her, urging her to live, to fight; and
she would lay there looking at me with those big brown eyes. We also had to
tube feed her for weeks.
This went on for 4-6 weeks, and by then she still couldn't stand. It got to
the point where the decision was made to euthanize her if she couldn't
stand in a week. You know you don't want to cross that line between torture
and rehab, and it looked like death was winning. She was going to be put
down that Friday, and I was supposed to come in on that Thursday afternoon.
I didn't want to go to the center that Thursday, because I couldn't bear
the thought of her being euthanized; but I went anyway, and when I walked
in everyone was grinning from ear to ear. I went immediately back to her
dowl cage; and there she was, standing on her own, a big beautiful eagle.
She was ready to live. I was just about in tears by then. That was a very
good day.
We knew she could never fly, so the director asked me to glove train her. I
got her used to the glove, and then to jesses, and we started doing
education programs for schools in western Washington. We wound up in the
newspapers, radio (believe it or not) and some TV. Miracle Pets even did a
show about us.
In the spring of 2000, I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. I had
stage 3, which is not good (one major organ plus everywhere), so I wound up
doing 8 months of chemo. Lost the hair - the whole bit. I missed a lot of
work. When I felt good enough, I would go to Sarvey and take Freedom out
for walks. Freedom would also come to me in my dreams and help me fight the
cancer. This happened time and time again.
Fast forward to November 2000, the day after Thanksgiving, I went in for my
last checkup. I was told that if the cancer was not all gone after 8 rounds
of chemo, then my last option was a stem cell transplant. Anyway, they did
the tests; and I had to come back Monday for the results. I went in Monday,
and I was told that all the cancer was gone.
So the first thing I did was get up to Sarvey and take the big girl out for
a walk. It was misty and cold. I went to her flight and jessed her up, and
we went out front to the top of the hill. I hadn't said a word to Freedom,
but somehow she knew. She looked at me and wrapped both her wings around me
to where I could feel them pressing in on my back (I was engulfed in eagle
wings), and she touched my nose with her beak and stared into my eyes, and
we just stood there like that for I don't know how long. That was a magic
moment. We have been soul mates ever since she came in. This is a very
special bird.
On a side note: I have had people who were sick come up to us when we are
out, and Freedom has some kind of hold on them. I once had a guy who was
terminal come up to us and I let him hold her. His knees just about buckled
and he swore he could feel her power course through his body. I have so
many stories like that.
I never forget the honor I have of being so close to such a magnificent
spirit as Freedoms.
By Jeff Guidry
http://www.sarveywildlife.org
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Psalm 103:2-5 “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who
redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness
and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy
youth is renewed like the eagle's.”
Psalm 28:6-8 “Blessed be the LORD, because He hath heard the voice of my
supplications. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in
Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my
song will I praise Him. The LORD is their strength, and He is the saving
strength of His anointed.”
Psalm 1:1-3 “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the
ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of
the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law
doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the
rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf
also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
Joshua 1:9 “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be
not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee
whithersoever thou goest.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem67.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: A NEW HEART FROM GOD
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony193.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
