Eagles frighten their enemies with uplifted wings and loud shrieks.

The local church is akin to Noah's Ark. It's your only safe haven from the storms and floods of life. Don't abandon ship just because you didn't get the deck that you felt was reserved for you, or because some of the other "animals" on board don't suit your fancy. Don't "jump ship" just because the other "animals" on board often give off an offensive odor or stand on your turf.

Can't you just hear the animals in the ark talking right now... "I don't think it's fair; why doesn't Noah spend as much time with us as he does those crows and doves." "I'm tired of this cramped space and having to share the boat with animals who aren't like me." "Are we there yet?" "Where is Noah taking us anyhow?" "This ride is getting boring!"

"Really! This place is beginning to smell!" "I thought I had signed up for a luxury liner but I got a floating stall instead; this is not at all what I had expected." "The songbirds aren't singing my kind of music." "I don't get it; I wanted Noah himself to visit my stall, but instead he sent one of his sons to check up on me."

"Hey, lets all take a vote to decide when we want this flood to end. Then we'll vote to fire Noah and hire one of us, maybe the King of the Jungle over there, to lead us. As for this Noah guy, he's not really like us." "Gosh, the hippo next door to me stepped on my toes; I'm out of here!"

"I'm tired of watching out for those two insignificant ants wandering around on the floor; they act like they own the place." Hey, hey, hey, this bagged, dry Purina stuff is really getting old; how about some fresh pasture, man!" "Ya know, those two hyenas over there made fun of me; I'm going to another ark!"

"Noah never serves me exactly what I want and when I want it, so I'm going to find me another Noah." "Noah said that there was danger outside and that we needed to stay close together in here, but is there really rain out there?"

"That racoon across the hall looked at me wrong; I'm going to swim instead!" "Who does that skunk think he is? Does he think he is Noah's right hand man or bodyguard or something?" "The giraffe thinks he is higher than everyone else; lets give him the cold shoulder so that he'll leave and drown."

"I don't like the color of these floors; lets build another ark." "Ya know... I came into this ark for refuge and safety, but once I lived here for awhile I discovered there was a lot of dust, dirt and dung in the place. I'm really disappointed. I wanna go to an ark where there are no problems and where everything is clean, not so loud, and all the other animals are just like me."

I'd rather fail at doing something noble and honorable than to succeed at doing something selfish and self-centered.

'Tis fun to forget about myself and help another!

'Tis fun to sit at the feet of Jesus by reading my Bible.

Never say "impossible."

Mark 10:27 KJV - And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

Luke 18:27 KJV - And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

Mark 9:23 KJV - Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Never say "too difficult or "too hard."

Deuteronomy 30:11 NIV - Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.

Genesis 18:14a KJV - Is any thing too hard for the LORD?

If you believe you have received something from the Lord in prayer, you will start acting like you got it. At minimum you will start praising and thanking God that it is already yours.

You gotta believe you got it before you get it! (See Mark 11:24)

Act like God heard you when you prayed.

Act like your prayer is a done deal.

M.A.D.D. - M.en A.gainst D.evils & D.ivorce

Friends don't let friends drive into eternal fire.

No Peace = No Presence of God No Presence of God = No Presents From God.

Someone has correctly observed, "The Price of Peace is War!" Peace must be prayed for, paid for, worked for, sacrificed for, struggled for, stood for, and sometimes died for. Even The Prince Of Peace had to die for our Eternal Peace. The prerequisite to a season of peace is a season of war, always!

Atmosphere is Everything! Peace is worth any price... in the home, in the church, in a nation, in the world, or in the heart.

John 16:33 KJV - "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

The deeper the revelation of GRACE we absorb into our hearts, the more effortlessly and most naturally we will do the works of the Kingdom without internal struggle and mental calisthenics.

To walk with God, Dan the Achiever must die over and over again, and learn to become Dan the Receiver. Anybody else in the same boat?

Have Lofty Dreams & Goals, but also take time to notice and enjoy the Simple Daily Pleasures of living! Don't miss the little beautiful things on the way to the big thing. It's only the fun things along the way, all added up together, that make the final destination worthwhile anyhow.

Praise is simply Partying in His Presence.

The same praises that sound like a Hallelujah Breakdown to God, simultaneously give the devil a Nervous Breakdown.

P.R.A.I.S.E. = P.artying, R.eveling, A.cting I.diotic, S.inging E.xuberantly... all in the Presence of the King of kings and Lord of lords!

The same praises that the Bible says are like sweet incense to the Father are like dreaded disinfectant and insecticide to devils, discouragement and depression!

In the natural it may seem that you have little, but in the supernatural you own it all.

The definition of true Success and Happiness is Knowing the Will of God, Being in the Will of God, and Doing the Will of God.

Someone has made it their motto, "God's Will: Nothing Less. Nothing More. Nothing Else!" Anyone for adopting someone else's motto?

There are Friend-ships, and then again there are Friend-dips. Be sure you know the difference.

A good Friend-Ship can prevent a Ship-Wreck.

A FAN will always tell you what you want to hear, but a true FRIEND will tell you the TRUTH.

Jesus had many FANS but few FRIENDS. Perhaps it's the same today.

Fertilize your Friendships.

My goal in life... Like Abraham, I want the Lord to call me, "The Friend of God!"

Disconnect from former friends that have become abusive, manipulative, or

disrespectful. A brutal fact of life is that some friendships may go sour over time. No problem! God has got you covered! Jesus promised us in Mark 10:29,30 that if we'd just keep following Him, that he would multiply new relationships to us that would bring us deep fulfillment.

Expect respect, and you'll usually get it. Act rejected, and you will be. Sow honor into others. Sow respect! Sow manners towards others. Say, "sir" to some loser to sow dignity and self-respect back into his life. Open the door for a woman whom you can tell doesn't think very highly of herself. Tell another's child how special they are to you. Say, "sir" or "mam" to your boss; it will be an oasis of refreshing to them. Sow respect... someday you'll need it yourself to accomplish your dream.

RESPECT, not love, not emotions, not even common interests, is the foundation of any lasting relationship. Respect is the glue that holds and holds and holds.

Buy your spouse a gift and a card today for no particular occasion, other than creating a romantic moment. Spontaneous gift-giving and card-sending speaks volumes.

Atmosphere is Everything! Invest in beautiful decor, painting, wallpaper, floor coverings, window coverings, and artificial or living plants and flowers. Invest in quality sound systems. Invest in soothing landscaping. Invest in Praise & Worship music CDs. Invest in pleasing fragrances. Invest in quality clothing. Invest in grooming products and habits that set a mood of excellence. Invest in Christian artwork, inspiring plaques, scriptural tapestries, Bible verse wall mountings. Creating the right atmosphere in your home or workplace is not an expense, but an INVESTMENT into your peace, harmony and productivity. Atmosphere is Everything!

Talk like a Champion. Act like a Champion. Think like a Champion. Believe like a Champion. Pray like a Champion. Walk like a Champion. Dress like a Champion. Smile like a Champion. Love like a Champion!

Become ADDICTED to fellowship with the saints. Become addicted to local church attendance and involvement. Become so addicted to the house of God that you feel strange if you have to be absent for a while. Become a churchaholic and a junkie for the fellowship of the saints.

An eagle doesn't wait for everyone else's approval and encouragement before launching into the heavens!

Lord, please don't give me up to my own foolishness. Please be so kind as to interrupt and get my attention when I am straying off course!