You were made for the SKIES

Last week we visited the birds at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh.
One particular creature captured my attention and I haven't been able to forget him.
The Bald Eagle. So majestic. You don't realized how gorgeous and magnificent they are until you are face to face with one.
To be able to soar on mountain tops the way they do with that impressive wing span.
This eagle was perched on a limb, in a manufactured environment made to LOOK like his natural habitat. No net. No cage.

The sky above him an invitation to do what he was born to do. 

SOAR.

I couldn't take my eyes off of him.  As I stood there in amazement at this majestic creature I watch him raise his wings as if he was about to take off.  He stretch his neck and raised his wings a little higher and instead of flying --- HOPPED to another part of his tree.  

"HOW FRUSTRATING" I thought.  To KNOW what you were born to do.
To know your abilities.  To know what it feels like to SOAR and feel the wind under your wings.  The whole world beneath you. No cage holding you captive.  You can look up and see where you belong.
But you're broken and unable to fly.  
I don't know his story.  Whether his wings were broken and was forever bound to a life of captivity or that they clipped his wings because he was too unhealthy to survive in the wild......

But my heart hurt.  
Because I know the feeling.
To KNOW you were BORN for "this".  To KNOW what it feels like to SOAR and to know what it feels like to be broken.  
To know the freedom of flying and the frustration of knowing you were made for MORE .... but injured and too weak to fly you just couldn't get off the ground.  

Then there are those who CAN fly.  
Who have been given all the resources they need but don't even realize there is no net.  There's nothing holding you down.  But for whatever reason.....they're too comfortable in this manufactured environment too intimidated by the open skies. It's too risky. The imminent danger that are out there.  It's EASIER to stay captive.  It's become HOME.  So rather than embrace what they were made to do....and experience the FREEDOM that's available they'd rather just stay PUT.  It's made to look appealing.  This manufactured environment was made to LOOK like home.  But it's not your home.  You were made for MORE.

Regardless of the REASON.....
You were made to SOAR.
You were made for more than THIS.
You were born with DESTINY.  PURPOSE.
God had so much more in store for us than so many of us embrace or even comprehend!
If you're grounded because you've been injured....then wait on the Lord.
Isaiah 40 :30-31
He gives strength to the weary
and strengthens the powerless. Youths may faint and grow weary,
and young men stumble and fall,but those who trust in the Lord
will renew their strength;
they will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary;
they will walk and not faint.
It's why Jesus came.  To bring LIFE to the devastated place.
To resurrect what's dead.
To HEAL the broken places.  Jesus CAME to *SET YOU FREE*
And He paid an expensive and extravagant price for your freedom.

"God has sent me on a mission.
I have some great news for you.
God has sent me to restore and release something.
.......................And that something is YOU. :)
I am here to give you back your heart and set you free.
I am furious at the Enemy who did this to you and I will fight against him.
Let me comfort you............
For, dear one, I will bestow beauty upon you where you have only known devastation.
Joy, in the places of your deep sorrow.
And I will robe your heart in thankful praise. :)
In exchange for your resignation and despair." Isaiah 61

Look UP :)  

The sky above is your invitation to do what you were BORN to do.  SOAR.  

You were made for SO much more!