Jabez Prayer Or An Eagle In A Chicken Yard

The original book's popularity led its publisher to extend the line to a number of derivative works targeted at niche audiences.

(CLEVELAND) - The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking Through to the Blessed Life is an inspirational (and, in some circles, highly controversial) book written by Bruce Wilkinson published in 2000 by Multnomah Books as the first book in the "BreakThrough" book series.

The book became an international bestseller, topping the New York Times bestseller list[1] and selling nine million copies. It received the esteemed Diamond Award for over ten-million in sales presented by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association.

The original book's popularity led its publisher to extend the line to a number of derivative works targeted at niche audiences. These include books in audio and video formats.

They also authorized a wide array of official "Prayer of Jabez" merchandise including key chains, mugs, backpacks, Christmas ornaments, scented candles, mouse pads, and a framed artist's conception of Jabez himself. A line of jewelry was introduced in 2002.

Jabez Prayer Or An Eagle In A Chicken Yard

Arising each morning, a good way for your day to begin,
Recite a scripture of daily assistance,1st Chronicles 4:10,
As, “For whatever things were written…” Romans 15:4,
Old Testament’s gateway to the New Testament’s door.

Jabez sought God, “Oh that thou would bless me indeed,”
And, “to enlarge his coast that thy hand might be with me,”
Sincerely, “to keep me from evil” he desired the very best,
“Not to be grieved” and therefore God granted his request.

An eagle left her perch in search of food from evening prey,
A strong wind blew an eaglet out the nest rolling all the way,
Down the mountain through the bushes, finally it landed hard,
The egg did not break stopping in the middle a chicken yard.

And, due to the structural integrity of its powerful bloodline,
Amidst bumps & bruises from mountain to valley it was fine,
However, a mother hen with no eggs of her own atop did rest,
Not realizing that an egg this size came from no ordinary nest.

Even though much bigger as instinct took over, soon it hatched,
Not from little bits & pieces but with mighty thunderous cracks,
Upon emerging from the protective covering, blindness but then,
Being suddenly surrounded by chickens & a smiling mother hen.

Eagles force their young off the mountain yet catching before the fall,
However, it is just a matter of time before they fly high, standing tall,
Eaglet in the chicken yard observed walking thereby trading his beak,
Those mighty wings of valor for a lifetime of transportation via his feet.

Oh what a shame, a lifetime of chicken feed as that eagle certainly did,
Eventually getting a chicken education, chicken wife with chicken kids,
All the while enslaved in fearful mediocrity by the likes of chicken wire,
Unable to reach full potential, no one in the coop had ever gone higher.

Hosea 4:6, “My people perish for a lack of knowledge” read Isaiah 5:13,
Jabez did not seek or accept captivity because he had desires & dreams,
Do not saw God in half, seek His hands as they are attached to His Face,
Like Jesus said in Matthew 9:29, “be it unto you according to your faith.”

Isaiah 45:19, “I have not said to the descendents of Jacob seek me in vain,”
Galatians 3:6-10, children of Abraham by faith & we can ask in Jesus’ name,
1st Corinthians 10:11, they’re written down as examples for our admonition
And like David did in Psalms before God we too can present our petitions.

People like to quote, “Thy will be done” so, exactly what is God’s will?
Deuteronomy 29:29, things belong to us forever, which the bible reveals,
Joshua 1: 5-9, prosper & successful we must do according to all the law,
We serve the Father of all creation so stop thinking chicken nugget small.

From his birth to his death, chickens were all this eagle ever saw or knew,
Only giving credence to the infamous old adage, “monkey see monkey do,”
Here’s another equally important saying to interject, “you are what you eat,”
The eagle never reached full potential as chicken wings fly no higher than feet.

By Luke Easter

Luke Easter is a poet who writes about things that are very close to the heart of Salem-News.com. Another former U.S. Marine, Luke heals the world with an approach that reaches people on a different level, one known for centuries, yet too often forgotten in the one we live in.

We live in a world of social & economic injustice. The main reason for founding America in the first place was to relieve the oppression of the King of England. Patrick Henry said it best, “give me liberty or give me death.” And yet, all too often death seems to be the only way out. Why is there such a high suicide rate especially among teens, in the land of the free & the home of the brave? What makes headlines? Good news? Ha! More depressing stories than anything else. I feel poetry takes an edge off the hurt of bad news while still delivering it but in a, “glitzy” sort of way. Giving a different perspective. Kind of like slap in the face as opposed to a knife in the back. At least with the slap you’ll live to see another day and you will know whom it’s from. I wasn’t here for the beginning of the world but at 59, I just might be here for the end.

Even though it’s still a knife, rhyme poetry helps to dull the blade. And that’s my job. You can write to Luke Easter at: lyricsfromlucas@aol.com