“The Crow’s Anthem” by Pamela R. Echols (Part II)

In today’s society we are inundated with a plethora of voices vying for our time, talent and treasures.  Some of the messages are so subtle, we are not consciously aware of the effects on our thinking.  You don’t set your mind to memorize commercials, however with so many voices being heard on a daily basis there is an imprint placed on your mind.

In a sermon a few years ago my pastor Rev. AR Bernard of Christian Cultural Center illustrated the effect that subliminal messages can have on our thinking. He began to sing the first part of a popular coffee ad jingle that said: “the best part of waking up….” I bet most if not all of you reading this, knows the second part of this jingle to be “is Folgers in your cup”. Interestingly, so did the majority of the congregation. Now you have to ask yourself a question; did you purposely decide to learn the Folgers coffee jingle? Of course not, but how ironic that you know it.

The things that we allow to infiltrate our thought patterns will ultimately affect our purpose. In this case the scarecrow has lost his purpose.  His purpose was to keep the crows away from the crop not to become the entertainment. Farmers place scarecrows in fields to deter crows from eating the seed and the crops. “You can’t stop crows from flying overhead but you can stop them from building a nest in your head”. Crows are seed stealers. In Matthew 13 (vs5-8) speaks of the sower who planted seed which fell by the wayside and the birds came and devoured them. Jesus explains the seed as the Word of the Kingdom (vs 19) and the enemy (Satan) comes immediately and snatches the seed away.  That’s why it is important to feed on the Word of God daily to replenish the seed that is stolen.  We need spiritual food like we need physical food.

All the enemy has to do is plant a thought in your mind, which becomes a belief and finally an action. In Numbers Chapter 13 and 14, the Israelites were kept out of the Promised Land because of their unbelief. A total of 12 spies were sent to survey the Land that God promised to give the Israelites.  However out of the 12, Joshua and Caleb are the only 2 who come back with a good report.  The Israelites who believed the negative report cried all night and complained to Moses and Aaron. (Chp 14:1).  Joshua and Caleb tore their garments because they were distressed at the reaction of the people.  Moses prayed to God on behalf of the people, but the Lord said “I have done great things for these people and they still reject me by refusing to believe in my power.”

What has God asked you to do, that you still haven’t made the effort to move forward.” It’s not humble to think you can’t do what God is asking you to do’; it’s arrogant to think you know yourself better that the One who thought you up” Marianne Williamson, “The Gift of Change”. There are times when God will bring you right to the edge, but fear keeps you bound. According to II Tim 1:6 “God has no given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love and of a sound mind.”

God has not set you up to fail.  The enemy will try, but that’s part of the territory when you signed up into God’s army by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.  Romans 8:31 states that “we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus”. When God brings you to that place to take the step of faith, know that the step of faith, know that He will never bring you to the place that He not be able to take you through.

Come to the Edge

We might Fall……

Come to the Edge

It’s Too High!!!

Come to the Edge

They Came….

He pushed….

And they flew….

Christopher Logue, English Poet

©Pamela R. Echols

Excerpt from the Gospel According to “The Wiz”