Dr. Anita McLaughlin -- A M Ministries, Inc.

The air is thin where eagles fly and everyone can not go.  Repeatedly I run across people who either have not counted the cost, or are working under a false assumption that ministry, is so easy anyone can do it.  God always makes it appear that way, because when he is involved; HE makes it look easy. What is impossible with man-- is possible with God. 

When the rubber meets the road, some find out that the air is thin where eagles fly.  The eagle has been adapted to fly where other birds can't and with out that adaptation by God they would not be able to fly there either. Unfortunately in the process of getting that revelation, many innocent people are hurt, disillusioned and come away thinking all Church leaders are that way.

It is time for the body of Christ and its leaders to truly count the cost. There is nothing we get from God that does not have a price.  Everyone is forwarding excerpts from Bishop T.D. Jakes' sermons, either honoring him or having some kind of opinion on what he is doing or not doing. I heard Bishop Jakes say once, "if I threw the keys to this church to you, you need to duck." You cannot know from the outside what it takes for a man or woman of God to do what they do.  Jesus was the Savior of the World, and it cost HIS LIFE!  There are those who think the Blood of Jesus came easy because he was God, forgetting that at Gethsemane he sweat blood.  He did cry out asking for the cup to pass from him, then he surrendered in "never the less not my will..."  There is a cost for everything you are asked to do for the Lord, for some it is time, for others financial gain, for some not going in the direction they had purposed, but in an entirely different direction which is unfamiliar and at times intimidating. 

Knowing there is a price and paying the price is two different things.  We have all seen beautiful homes or cars, and have thought I would love to have one of those, but we are not there when the owner gets the payment notice in the mail-- good economy or bad.  We are not responsible for the mortgage payment EVERY 30 days.  We only see one side, that being, how big and beautiful that home or car seem. 

It is time to grow up-- and move up a little higher-- and realize that the air is thin where eagles fly and everyone can not go.

Why are you bring up this topic I hear you saying?  Because too often the head (and ego) allows the mouth to make promises, that the body can't keep. Be careful when you see a vessel being used by God that you don't think-- "if you can do that-- I know I can".  Because when it is time to pay for what your mouth (and ego) have ordered-- you will find yourself needing to run and hide.  It's time to realize that God said, we are accountable.  After you put your hand to the plow (or opened your mouth) don't get frightened then-- it's too late; that is not time to look back, God said if we did-- he would not be pleased with us.  We need to realize that God said "we had to count the cost" BEFORE we commit." 

I have recently been stood up by four ministry leaders who gave their word to me, in projects that they didn't know that really were not that important. Preparations were made because they gave their word, and then they just disappeared.... What they didn't know is-- those projects were in preparation for really large future projects.

I don' have a problem when people can't keep a "man made promise" but to make a phone call, or even return a phone call, and say "I can't make it" should not too much to ask .  It is time that we all use the Spirit of God to direct us; utilize his unction in discernment and then ask ourselves a question-- being prepared to tell ourselves the truth-- "is this really something I want to do?", and if the answer is no-- say NO!  Realize that your integrity is involved, and when you just don't show-- IT SHOWS!. 

When we make a promise and fluff it off without even a word, it is an issue of ethics.  I don't fault someone who forgets; I have many items on my to do list  within the work of the ministry, and know that without making a notation in my calendar that it is easy to overlook things; but when you do remember-- CALL! 

There is another way to look at these minor lapses in behavior--  maybe God is trying to show you-- YOU! 

Did you underestimate the cost-- if you did say so, repent and honorably excuse yourself, find the door and get out. 

Did you think that "if you can do that-- I know I can" and then found out it wasn't as easy as the "Holy Spirit" made it look when "they" did it?  If so-- repent and honorably excuse yourself, find the door and get out. 

Maybe greed pushed you into a place you didn't know you would go, if it did-- repent and honorably excuse yourself, find the door and get out. 

Realize that the air is thin where eagles fly and everyone can't go.

At this point in my ministry I can't do what Bishop T.D Jakes can, and I don't have a problem with that and until God says so I will not try. I have learned to be true to me and who I am. Be true to yourself and who you are, if you make a mistake admit it. Allow this to be a training session for you and from this point forward, don't move until the Spirit of God tells you to move.  Don't be motivated by what anybody says but God.  Don't let anyone change who you are, and what ever you do don't forget, just because "they can do that-- doesn't mean that you can". 

Rom. 12:4-5 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So, we being many, are one body, in Christ, and every one members one of another.

1 Cor. 12:4-7 Now there are diversities of gifts but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

1 Cor 12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing?  If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?  But now hath God set the members everyone of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.