One day the bluebird was sitting in his comfortable nest, being at peace when he heard this “Tap-Tap-Tap”. He wondered what it was. So, he investigated the sound. He followed the tapping to an old tree and saw this handsome woodpecker tapping his beak on a tree. Now that looked like fun, making cool holes on the side of the trees, and carving out nesting places and hiding spots from the weather. Then he decided to become a woodpecker. 

He studied the woodpecker and followed him around to see what kind of trees he chose to peck on. After a while he decided he was ready to be a woodpecker. He left his peaceful home and headed out to become a woodpecker. 

He found the perfect tree to start on. He landed on the side of the tree just like the woodpecker had done but had a little more trouble than the woodpecker seemed to have had. Then he pecked on the tree. Ouch, that hurts! He tried to tilt his head to the left then the right and still if really hurt when he pecked the tree.

Meanwhile, the woodpecker had been watching the bluebird when he was in his peaceful nest, and decided he wanted to be a bluebird. So, he found the abandoned blue bird nest and settled in. It was very peaceful and calm, but there wasn’t a lot to do. Soon his head seemed empty and needed something to do, what was it? 

He flew around and saw the bluebird banging his beak on a tree, and wondered what he was doing! It was painful to watch, so he headed over to talk to him.

He ask the bluebird what he was doing, because his beak is not meant to peck trees like that. The blue bird looked at him kind of dazed and nursing a headache and answered that he was being a woodpecker. The woodpecker had to laugh at him. Then looked at himself and felt a little ashamed of what he had done, trying to be a blue bird. He confessed that he was trying to be a bluebird. They smiled at each other and had a good laugh. They decided to be who God created them to be. It would be so much easier to be themselves.

For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Romans 12:4-5.

Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12:27-28.

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10.

Nothing on this earth can be trusted except Our Lord Jesus Christ. Things change and time moves forward.

We must know Jesus intimately enough to know His voice. He is the Word, and we need to read the Bible to hear his voice and know his ways.

We can turn to Him with every concern we have. Every decision we make, and every choice. He cares about our lives and wants the best for us.

We can trust Him and run to him for safety. It says the righteous run to Him. That should be how fast we come to Him when we are in need.

He is with us wherever we are, no matter what we are going through, He is with you, and can help you. Trust Him completely because He is trustworthy.

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Matthew 1:23.

Two oars are used to row a boat. Both are needed to go in a determined direction. With just one, it goes in circles or drifts off course, and you get nowhere, or end up somewhere you never intended to go. Or you work twice as hard as you need to, by switching the oar back and forth.

James 2:17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

James 2:20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?

James 2:26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Right between these verses is the declaration:

James 2:21, 22 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 

The key word here is “WHEN” in Verse 21. 

We can’t sit in our tent or home and wait for all the answers before venturing out. If Abraham had waited in his tent until he had all the answers, he wouldn’t have been obedient to what God had told him to do. He got up early and gathered the wood and set out do what God told him to do. See Genesis 22:1-19 for reference.

We won’t always be able to see around all the corners or into the future. But God knows all and when He says go here or there, or speak to that person, all we must do is obey. A balance between faith and action brings us closer to perfection, or completion. We need to know what God is telling us by reading His word and knowing what it says, then we can recognize His voice. When God tells you to do something, He will give you everything you need to do it. Trust Him completely.

David knew rejection and defeat, but he never quit trusting in the LORD his God.

1 Samuel, chapters 29 & 30 is an excellent teaching moment we can all learn from. (Previously David had been chased off by Saul who wanted to kill him, and he joined the enemy.) Then the enemy rejected him because they didn’t trust him. 1 Samuel 29:4 (they didn’t want him to go to battle with them).

So, he returned to where they had assigned him and found out his own family and those of his men, had been captured and their city burned. Everyone wanted to stone him.

But David encouraged himself in the LORD his God (1 Samuel 30:6 & 7) and ask for the ephod from the priest. (The ephod is a linen apron, a vestment for the High Priest to help making decisions). God answered David and he rescued all his people.

We have a High Priest today, our LORD Jesus Christ, and He will guide us to overcome anything we face.

Jesus himself was strengthened in the garden of Gethsemane when he was praying so intensely, 

Luke 22:43 Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.

We all need encouragement and strength that we don’t have in ourselves, and God is the perfect choice for filling that need.

Always remember:

Psalms 121:1-2 I lift my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5

This verse clearly tells us to ask for wisdom if we lack wisdom. Today we all need wisdom to know when to be silent, and when to speak. With all the available places to voice our opinion, sometimes we should restrain doing so. 

Therefore, the prudent keep quiet in such times, for the times are evil. Amos 5:13

Understanding when the time is right to speak and when to be silent is tricky and can be confusing. Knowing the right time is the key.

a time to be silent and a time to speak, Ecclesiastes 3:7b

With the explosion of social media, we must be wise with our words. There are many land mines, and traps in areas where temptations can lure you in. 

At the same time we are to be witnesses for our Lord Jesus Christ. We need to know His voice and what He is speaking to us. The best way to do this is to read and know completely His Word, the Holy Bible. Knowing what the Bible clearly says, will help us navigate through the pathway God is leading us on. Recognizing and distinguishing truth from lies will help us stand firm on His truth. Sometimes just quietly waiting for His leading, is leading the way.

Doctors and paramedics check for a pulse when someone is unconscious or when you are getting a checkup. Do they check to make sure you are still alive? Not always, sometimes just to see how fast your heart is pumping.

We also have a spiritual life that must have a pulse too. As Paul exhorted Timothy in,

 2 Timothy 1:6 For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

It’s good and important to meet with other believers, but we also have a responsibility to keep our own spiritual life pulsing with life. We must rekindle ourselves by reading His word daily and praying daily. Then when we meet, each one if us has something to offer to the whole church.

2 Thessalonians 3:13 But as for you, brethren, be not grow weary of doing good.