The Australian coat of arms includes two iconic animals endemic to Australia, the kangaroo and the emu.
The kangaroo is the most famous Australian animal, and is one of the most recognisable icons in the world, said to be second only to the Statue of Liberty.
Kangaroos have large, powerful hind legs, large feet adapted for leaping, and a long, large muscular tail for balance. Roos can be found in all parts of Australia, even in city outskirts.
The emu is the largest bird native to Australia. The flightless birds measure up to 2 metres (6.6 ft) in height. They have long thin legs, allowing them to take strides of up to 275 centimetres (9.02 ft) Emus can travel at a fast trot and can sprint at 50 km/h (31 mph) for long distances. The emu inhabits most of Australia but avoids heavily populated areas.
The kangaroo and emu have one unique feature in common:
THEY CANNOT MOVE BACKWARDS
The long, large tail of the kangaroo
prevents it from moving backwards
and the three-toed feet of the emu
causes imbalance in a backward movement.
Because of their inability to move backwards, they were an apt choice for the coat of arms of a new, young country, representing forward progression.
I AM CHALLENGED
We who follow the Lord Jesus should be like the emu and kangaroo,
moving only forwards.
Jesus said
“No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back,
is fit for the kingdom of God”
Luke 9:62
If we are “looking unto Jesus” [Hebs 12:2]
we are looking ahead, moving forwards.
If we are moving forwards
we are being used more in God’s service;
we are becoming more like Christ.
Someone said
“If you have EVER been closer to the Lord than you are at this moment,
you are a backslider.”
HOW IS OUR PROGRESS?
Are we more Christlike today than we were last year, last month, last week?
We should be.
Mr Anon says:
# If there is no fruit in my life, there is no reason for my existence.
# The Lordship of Christ is neither optional nor negotiable.
# Where Christ does not rule, sin does.
MEETING IN THE CLOUDS 
Hi Angela,
I wanted you to know that I appreciate the support you’ve given me, at “A Place of Worship.” Therefore, I have nominated you for an award which is truly about you, The Reader Appreciation Award. My way of saying thank you! To learn more about this award, click on the link! Thank you so much! God bless! Have a blessed weekend, my friend! Don’t worry about linking back to me. This award is about you! :-)
Paulette
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To read more about the award, here’s the link! :-)
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Thank you Paulette. I appreciate your appreciation and accept with thanks, but the fact is that I am truly blessed when I visit ‘A Place of Worship’
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Hi Angela,
I enjoyed this message. I thank God for His grace and mercy. Great is His faithfulness toward us. However, as you reminded us, we should not continue in sin, that the grace of God abounds! I thank God for the Holy Spirit, which leads us into all truth and righteousness, when we allow the power and presence of the Lord to rule and reign in our lives! God bless!
Paulette
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Yes, the Lord reigns and rules in our lives, but sadly there are times when we depose Him and we suddenly and quickly fall into reverse mode . . . but – what an amazing God – He quickly works in us to bring us back to Himself and restore us.
We love Him dearly and wonder how we could be so easily removed from Him . . . and we long for the day when we will serve Him unreservedly with NO backward steps.
Angela
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Maybe too many who call themselves Christians have a different emblem? The Sloth. Spending most of their lives asleep, and only hanging on by their fingertips. I wonder what animal I most closely resemble? Probably an Ass, self willed and obstinate.
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Maybe we should resemble different animals at different times? At times we need to be lion-like and at times lamb-like and maybe at times even playful dolphin-like? . . . but NEVER a sloth! I don’t fancy being an ant or a bee but I admire at least one of their qualities: busy-ness and stick-a-bility to their task.
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It is amazing how God speaks through his creation. i love seeing how the kangaroo and emu can not go backwards. We do have the option of retreating and receiving restoration from the Lord Jesus. Keeping our focus on the Lord sure helps to keep our momentum moving forward. Thank you for an excellent thought provoking post.
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The kangaroo can actually move a few inches backwards and sometimes does when fighting, but it cannot “back up” for any distance. I’m thankful the Lord doesn’t allow us to reverse much before He brings us back to Himself. I’m also thankful that the devil is the one to turn tail and flee when we submit to God and resist him.
What an amazing God!
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Spot on meetingintheclouds, i loved it because I am an Aussie we have the unique animals of all.What a great coat of arms, no backward steps.should be our motto when being attacked by the devil
Blessings
Ron
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Yes Ron, by the Lord’s provision and power, we are able to stand, with no backward steps. In fact, when we submit to God and resist the devil, he is the one who flees . . . he retreats!
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You did it again, Mentor Angela . . .seeing the lessons God wants to show us in the kangaroo and emu. :) Thank you so much! One thing that helps me keep going forward is to keep reading His word everyday. A good thing is that it gets addictive! Once moving forward with Him, I don’t want to slip backwards or stop. No way!
God bless you, sweet lady, as you keep on keeping on with Jesus! “What an amazing God” – Angela quote! :)
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Yes, Debbie, reading, meditating on and memorising the Word keeps us going forward, and sweet fellowship with Him is the best ammunition against the distractions offered by the devil and his devices.
He draws us closer and closer to Himself. I can’t help wondering why He would bother with me, but He does, and I praise Him.
What an amazing God!
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Spot on Angela, very good and I don’t say that just because I’m Australian but because this Truth is very much condfirmed in the Scriptures, Paul said he was going to put his childish thinking behind him and….
Philippians 3:13-14 But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me Heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Paul made it too… he won the crown!
I created a Power point Angela about aiming for the goal, I will post it for you, I hope you like Guinea pigs.
Thank you again Angela, great message.
Christian Love Anne.
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Yes Anne, I’ve written many lessons on Philippians 3:13-14 but didn’t include it here. Thanks for adding it.
My favourite on maintaining focus is Peter who was able to walk on water while he kept his focus on Jesus, but when he lost focus and took notice of the stormy wind and wild sea, he was doomed.
One thing is sure (as I’m sure you’ve heard it said many times) “If we aim for nothing, we hit it every time”
We aim for our Lord’s “Well done”
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