Daily Encouragement

Friday, April 22, 2022

Woodpecker on suet tractor (photo by Ester)

Ester snapped this photo of a female downy woodpecker at a tractor feeder filled with tasty suet. Looks like the woodpecker needs a napkin to remove the crumbs from the beak or I could whoosh them away with my leaf blower, though it might blow away the crumbs, woodpecker, tractor and all.

"The Lesson Of The Woodpecker"

Message summary: Today let us make a renewed commitment to perseverance in our faith. James wrote, "As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy" (5:11).

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“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you” (Job 12:7). "How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures" (Psalm 104:24). "As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy" (James 5:11).

I can step outside this season and almost always hear my favorite bird sound. It's not chirping or singing I'm listening for, but it's the peck, peck, peck of the woodpecker at work. I’m not any good at recognizing bird calls, but I sure recognize the pecking sound of a woodpecker! They are busy working as the Creator designed.

This unique bird is an example of persistent diligence and has unusual design features. The woodpecker’s strong, pointed beak acts as both a chisel and a crowbar to remove bark and find hiding insects. It has a very long tongue, up to four inches in some species – with a glue-like substance on the tip for catching insects. While most birds have one toe pointing back and three pointing forward on each foot, woodpeckers have two sharply clawed toes pointing in each direction (like a tripod) to help them grasp the sides of trees and balance themselves while they hammer, some even upside down. Many woodpecker species also have stiffened tail feathers, which they press against a tree surface to help support their weight such as the photo to the left.

As we look out from our home office window and watch woodpeckers at the birdfeeder or observe them on our walks we proclaim with the Psalmist, “How many are your works, O Lord in wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures” (104:24).

Job wrote: “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you” (Job 12:7). Of course animals and birds have a language foreign to human interpretation but we still learn much from them. Scores of books over the centuries have been written about the birds, their habits and habitats along with their many contributions to nature. Just as Job wrote, there are many lessons we can learn from birds and specifically today we consider a lesson from the woodpecker.

As I think about the woodpecker I hear the pecker telling me that perseverance pays off. Woodpeckers can be very persistent and are not easily driven from their territories or selected pecking sites. They peck, peck, peck until they gain access to the grub or ant and then fill up with a good meaty lunch.

The underlying Greek word for perseverance (proskarteresis) describes a steadfast single-minded fidelity to a certain course of action. It is a trait in decline these days and yet perseverance brings great reward, just not right away. Perseverance means to continue to do something with intense effort with the possible implication of doing so despite inherent difficulties. It pictures devotion of one’s self to the task, keeping on it, persisting in it, and being earnest toward it.

Albert Einstein offers this perspective on perseverance, "It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer". (He was pretty smart as well!)

Today let us make a renewed commitment to perseverance in our faith. James wrote, "As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy" (5:11).

Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, refresh our hearts and minds with a persistent spirit of joyful praise, contentment, and gratitude for as long as we live. We rejoice in Your goodness toward us and in Your steadfast love that never ceases. Today we make a renewed commitment to perseverance in our faith and in the godly works that faith produces. As James wrote You bless those who persevere and provide for us a sterling example of that in the life of Job. He seemed to have lost all that was precious and dear to Him, but He also experienced Your compassion, mercy and blessing as He remained obedient and reverent even when he didn't understand Your ways. Help us to do likewise. Amen.

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"Perseverance" Video Tommy Walker Band

"He Will Hold Me Fast" Video Selah Because God is always perseverant!

Today we share some woodpecker photos we have collected through the years. The attempts at identification are subject to being incorrect!

At wintertime the Downy woodpecker gives us some colorful variety out our office window along with all the sparrows and finches we normally see.

Red-bellied woodpecker (Photo by Doug Maxwell)

Red-bellied Woodpecker
(Taken by our neighbor Doug)

Red-bellied Woodpecker

(Doris High)

Red-bellied woodpecker

(Doris High)

Downy Woodpecker

(Doris High)

Woodpeckers vs. the World | National Geographic Video

Tomorrow (Saturday, 4/23) following a men's breakfast at the Shady Maple I plan to drive up to Jim Thorpe with some friends. We will ride the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway bike trai n with our bikes loaded on a separate car going up the Lehigh River Gorge. At the end of the train ride the bikes will be unloaded and returned to their rightful owners. That's when bike riders (families even with small children, teens and adults) will bike 25 miles back down to Jim Thorpe on a former railroad grade. If anyone (local readers) is interested in either of these events let me know and we can meet at the breakfast or Jim Thorpe station! According to the forecast it should be nice weather.

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