Champions Get Back Up

For a champion the connection between tests, trials, and tribulations are often a composite of failures and triumphs. If they were ever given a chance to tell their full story, most people probably wouldn't believe their level of resilience. Champions know what it is like to get back up again.

If you know what it is like to take a hurricane of a hit and boldly get back up again, you should read this article. If you know what it is like to carry the weight of responsibility that could have bent you back under the breaking point of pain- you should read this article. If you ever had to hold on to God because He was your only life support when stagnation tried to slip into your circumstances-you should read this article. If you have ever been underestimated while carrying an extraordinary assignment you probably never volunteered for- you should read this article. As a matter of fact I found the best candidate, a champion, to help me illustrate a prevailing process of tests, trials, and tribulations; composed of failures and triumphs.

Unconventional Places

Meet Elijah, someone who represented God in unconventional places. This man, Elijah is most noted as the prophet who stood on the foundation of divine order and divine laws of the true and living God. In 1 Kings 17:1-6 we find the prophet having to deliver an important message to King Ahab. Elijah tells the king that God says, "there is going to be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word."

Who is King Ahab

King Ahab was married to control, represented by his wife Jezebel. King Ahab also set up worship to Baal. The Ugarit, in northern Syria notes the religion of Ba'al as, Ba'al having emerged as the storm god, the bringer of rain, to fertilize the land. Let's put this in prospective. Have you ever had to deal with a controlling situation or person and it proved to be nothing but storm after storm under the false pretense of productivity, growth, and progress? Do you think that controlling King Ahab was looking for a prophet of God to come in and first of all to tell him anything? No, not at all. Do you think that King Ahab who was accustomed to storms clouded behind the false pretense of productivity, growth, and progress wanted to hear that he wasn't going to have any rain to fertilize the ground and that the only thing to make anything grow (dew and rain) was the word of God. No, not at all. But here comes Elijah, doing what he is chosen to do. Elijah, didn't sound like someone the king would listen to. Elijah was bold and did not hesitate in doing what was right and that was to do what God told him to do.

Sometimes People Underestimate You

Elijah, is an example that sometimes people underestimate you because they do not understand the method, but they can't deny the message. God will use you in places that will surprise even you! Don't ever be surprised about how, what, when, where, and why God does what he does. He is God all by himself and he uses us to fulfill his assignments in this earth!

Instructions: Leave, Turn & Hide

Then in the same chapter something unusual happens, after Elijah obeys and delivers the message God further instructs the prophet to LEAVE, TURN, and HIDE. Whenever, you are committed to fulfilling your God ordained assignment you will become overwhelmed if you remain, but never forget LEAVE! Deuteronomy 31:8- The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never LEAVE you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. TURN! 2 Chronicles 7:14- if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and TURN from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. HIDE! Psalm 27:5 For in the time of trouble he shall HIDE me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he HIDE me; he shall set me up upon a rock.!

God Will Take Care of You

Now, after God gave him the instructions, God told him that he was going to drink from the brook and that he directed ravens to supply him with food in the place that he told him to go. Elijah did what the Lord told him to do and the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening and he drank from the brook. God made sure that Elijah was feed in the morning and in the night. God will make sure that you are feed- even in an unusual place.

A Modern Day Elijah

This brings me to a living example of a modern day Elijah with the same name. About two years ago in the middle of a blistering 2010 February blizzard and a recession, my life changed forever.  Blindly I moved to 2020 Madison. God kept telling me, "Watch Elijah Feed the Birds!" I didn't understand what he was saying and honestly I started to question his voice. Nevertheless, my neighbor Elijah lived a couple of doors down the street and so I often would see him feeding the birds. It wasn't until last week that I understood what God was saying.

I was asked to be the guest poet at a Maryland State event honoring the legacy of Dr. King. Nervously, I sat and reviewed over the program to see where I was at on the schedule. To my surprise, there he was, my neighbor and the guest speaker for the event- Elijah. As he approached the podium, the crowd warmly greeted him and I smiled.

A Common Container for a Champion

He stood before the audience and eloquently carved out the common container for a champion. He graciously shared the motto of his nephew Christopher, who had been maliciously murdered. He told us that Christopher's motto was to speak your mind, love your soul, and pour out your heart. Elijah told us how people closed doors in his face but the same people ended up needing his help. He poured out his heart.

Elijah told us of how he was an unlikely candidate to represent people because he was Special Ed child from South Baltimore but he believed in God. He loved his soul. He told us of his set backs but he told us he never gave up. He didn't let that stop his ordained assignment. He shared his story of how he became a lawyer and God soon placed him in Congress.

He told us how the same little boy who was a Special Ed student from South Baltimore, became a representative in Congress and he was chosen for a special assignment. God had used Congressman Elijah Cummings to represent the Commander and Chief, our President of the United States, Barack Obama.

Congressman Cummings speaks his mind. This is the same Elijah I've watched for almost two years, speak his mind, love his soul, and pour out his heart. He told us how he too felt like a caged bird but his next words added fire to a burning flame. He said this is the time that we are UNCAGED. He said everything that you went through has prepared you for this moment. The spirit of God in me couldn't sit still. I began shifting from one side of my chair to the next, trying not to make my neighbor uncomfortable.

After Congressman Elijah Cummings had concluded, I was the second person to speak. I couldn't get finished the poem fast enough. I believe that there is a message for all of God's children. God had me remember the scripture regarding the prophet Elijah in 1 Kings 17: 6 that said, "And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook." God then made me remember the scripture in Matthew 6:26 that says, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

Don't Stop Feeding the Birds

For two years I watched Congressman Elijah Cummings, feed the birds. I watched him carry the weight of a community and still find time to feed the birds. God is so blessing us that we will be able to feed the birds! We, being made in the image and likeness of God! We, being his children. We, being God's chosen people. We, who are apart of a royal priesthood. We, who are apart of a holy nation. We, who belong to God! As of this time of publishing this article, I haven't had a chance to speak with Congressman Cummings, but as soon as I do, I am going to tell him the same thing I am writing to you. Don't stop feeding the birds! Don't stop pouring! I know it is hard standing in the face of evil and representing the KING of KINGS and fulfilling your God ordained assignment, but don't stop feeding the birds. I know it gets hard sometimes fulfilling what God called you to do because he uses you in more than one area, but don't stop feeding the birds. Don't stop fighting for God's Kingdom. Don't stop fighting for our community! Keep pressing! Keep the faith because I do believe that this is the time. It doesn't matter what comes your way-Don't Stop Feeding the Birds! Don't stop Feeding the Birds!

How are we going to feed the birds? With the Super Bowl- God's, Basic, Instructions Before, Leaving, Earth (Bible).

Note: The name Elijah translates to mean strength of the Lord

Matthew 6:26-Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

EVEidenz, copyright Pen You In