SOAR WITH EAGLES: Celebrate Love – God’s Gift to Us

SOAR WITH EAGLES: Choosing Joy

Are you in a dark place?  A place without lightbulbs?  Even if you had one, it wouldn’t work in this dungeon.

Are you grieving something?  A diagnosis of cancer?  The end of your marriage?  The poor choices of your child?  The death of a loved one?  The loss of your job?

These are the things that can stomp the life, the joy right out of a person.  Yes, even you.  Even me.

Are you thinking that Hell is actually a place here on earth, not below it?  I tell you, friend, that I am right there with you.

But I’m not going to stay there.  And do you know why?

Because God is extending His hand to me.  He is reaching out to me.  He wants me to grab hold and allow Him to pull me out of this life-sucking situation.

God isn’t called “The Great Comforter,” “The Great Healer” for nothing.  No, God is ever-present – even in the worst of times.  When misery raises its ugly head, we have a God who never left our side.

Our worst situations are opportunities to become close to God.  You see, God wants us to have an intimate relationship with Him.  We can’t have that when other things have our primary focus.

We were placed on this earth to serve God.  Not ourselves.

It’s a choice we make.  Simply put, you either choose God or you don’t.  What is the alternative to not choosing God?  It’s choosing Satan.  Makes the choice obvious now, doesn’t it?

So, I’m going to take God’s outreached Hand.  I’m going to read His Words.  I’m going to believe His Promises.

Because if I don’t, as sure as the seasons change, I’m going to stay in this dark place.  This place that weighs heavily on a person’s chest.

No, I don’t want a lifetime of that.  Or even a day of that.

I’m choosing joy.  What about you?

“God is our refuge and our strength.  A very present help in trouble.”  Psalm 46:1. 

Sign up for a free email subscription to SOAR WITH EAGLES at the top right of this post (underneath “Meet Cynthia”) by noon Eastern time on February 17th for your entry to win a copy of the best-selling book Jesus Calling:  A 365 Day Journaling Devotional by Sarah Young.  Winner will be announced on this site and by email on Friday, February 17th.

Jesus Calling: A 365 Day Journaling Devotional is written by missionary Sarah Young from Jesus’ point of view.  It is filled with uniquely inspired treasures from heaven for every day of the year.  A Best-Selling book in 2011 and 2012. 

TO GOD BE THE GLORY 

Cynthia Howerter © 2012

SOAR WITH EAGLES: Wordless Wednesday

It’s good to be home.  Mount Nittany, Centre County, Pennsylvania.  Home of The Pennsylvania State University.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY

Cynthia Howerter © 2012

SOAR WITH EAGLES: The Gift

I’ve learned many lessons the past several days.

The most important one is understanding what a gift it is to family members to know that their loved one accepted Christ as their Savior before their death.

The comfort this knowledge brings surpasses the kindest gestures of sympathy.

As many of you know, my only nephew passed away last week.  Brandon McDonough was thirty years old, the only child of my sister Pamela and brother-in-law, Terrence.

The sudden death of a family member is always shocking.  The death of one’s child – and an only child – is beyond heartbreaking.

In the midst of grief, our family knew with certainty where Brandon was.  Yes, his body was laid out before us.  But most importantly, his soul was already safe and content in Heaven.

While we cried, we also rejoiced.  Knowing that Brandon was at The Party.  In the presence of his Creator.  Surrounded by grandparents and relatives and friends who had passed before him.

After the last comforter left, my sister spoke of never being able to see her son married, of never being able to have grandchildren.

But what she said next, realized the truth of Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

Pamela expressed her desire that God would bring young people into her life in the future.  People that she might be able to help in some way.  She spoke of her hope to make a difference in the life of someone who is struggling or in need of encouragement.

It is just as I have long thought.  That in the midst of things that are bad, there is also good.

“God is our refuge and strength,  a very present help in trouble.  Therefore,  we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”  Psalm 46: 1-3.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY

Cynthia Howerter © 2012

SOAR WITH EAGLES: A Simple Thank You

Most people are really quick to let another person know when they mess up.  Think your waitress at lunch today.  Or the painters last week.  Bet you let them know that you weren’t pleased, didn’t you?

But what about the young high school kid who bagged your groceries yesterday, carefully putting all of the frozen foods in one bag and the bread in another?

Did you take a minute to thank them?  And I don’t mean “Thanks for bagging.”  I mean “You did a nice job putting the cold foods together.  Thank you for that.”  (Don’t forget the smile!).

Was someone polite while they waited on you?  Did the person ahead of you hold the door open for you?  Think about this.  Complimenting their good manners increases the likelihood that they’ll continue to use them.  Perhaps their courtesy will rub off on others as well.

Years ago, Dr. JoAnn Farr, a college psychology professor, pointed out to her students that people are really quick to criticize but rarely compliment.  Think about it.

So, let’s change that!  Let’s make an effort to thank people for a job well done, for exemplary manners, for going the extra mile.  I mean really thank the person.  Tell them what they did right.  And while we’re at it, walk over to the supervisor or the owner and tell them what a great job their employee just did.

You see, people thrive on praise.  It makes them want to give their best effort no matter what the job entails.  Encouragement causes a person to rise up, not down.

Conversely, if all a person hears is criticism, they most likely will not try to better themselves or their work ethic.  Ever wonder what caused all the grumpy people?

And you.  Yes, you!  Given a choice, which would you rather hear?  I thought so.

God wants us to be encouragers.  Not discouragers.

Think about this.  What happens to you when you sincerely thank someone?  Incredibly, you begin to glow.  From the inside out.  Saying kind words rids ourselves of negativity.  It puts joy in our souls.  Our steps are lighter.

And don’t forget that while they may be silent, others are watching and listening.  Perhaps it’s other shoppers.  Perhaps it’s impressionable children.

So, what do you think?

Why not make a conscious effort to sincerely thank someone every single day?  And then be sure to write to me and tell me what happened – not just to the other person, but to you as well.

“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.”  Solomon, King of Israel; Proverbs 12:25.

Thank you, dear readers, for your visits to SOAR WITH EAGLES!  Due to its popularity, SOAR WITH EAGLES will soon be changing from a blog to a website.  Stay tuned for our announcement for when this will take place.

And leave us some feedback, please!  Has a particular article at SOAR WITH EAGLES made an impact on you in some way?  If so, please write and tell us about it.  Like the grocery store bagger, we need feedback from our readers.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY

Cynthia Howerter © 2012

SOAR WITH EAGLES: Wordless Wednesday

SOAR WITH EAGLES: 7 Things Football Coach Joe Paterno Taught Us

The man who was Penn State is no longer with us.  I’m talking about the legendary college football Joe Paterno.

To people outside the Penn State community, he was “the winningest coach in the history of college football” and “a legend.”  To people who attended Penn State, Joe was so much more.

Joe Paterno will be remembered not only for his legendary coaching of the Penn State Nittany Lions, but for the many things that he taught everyone who attended and worked at The Pennsylvania State University.  Here are 7 favorites:

1.  You don’t show up for the game without preparing for it.  Actually, Joe knew life existed outside of football and he taught everyone at Penn State that no matter what you do, whether it be sports or academics or a career in any field, you need to be prepared.

2.  Attitude.  Joe knew it wasn’t about ”me” getting the touchdown.  It was all about ”us” working together to win the game.

3.  Education is the most important thing.  Joe believed this with all his heart.  No matter how valuable a player might be, Joe would not let them play if their grade point average slipped below a C.  Joe knew that an education can never be taken from a person.

4.  Set high standards and achieve them.  Anybody can show up on game day.  Anybody can show up at work.  But not everybody gives their best effort.  Joe taught the entire university to show up for life and go at it with everything we’ve got.

5.  Humility is more important than bragging.  All you had to do was look at the Penn State boys in the “plain wrappers” every Saturday to know that Joe didn’t believe in show.  The plain wrappers never sported a player’s name.  There were no stripes on the pants.  The helmets contained no sleek emblems.  No, every year the team wore the same plain blue and white.  And we all got it:  Joe believed it was more important to do your best than to brag about it.

6.  It isn’t how much money you earn, it’s what you do with it.  Over the years, Joe earned a lot of money.  He could have done anything he wanted with it.  Joe meant it when he said that he believed in the value of an education.  He and his wife Sue generously donated millions of dollars to the Penn State library, enriching the education of thousands of students for years to come.

7.  Never quit.  Joe made his teams practice until they got it right.  Isn’t that a life lesson for all of us?

 WE ARE PENN STATE

By Cynthia Howerter, Penn State University, Class of 1977

Cynthia Howerter © 2012