Red-headed Woodpecker / Melanerpes erythrocephalus

 

This bird is turning a terrible situation to its advantage. 

Millions of acres of America's woodlands have been ravaged by Dutch Elm Disease. As trees died, the Red-headed Woodpecker made the best of what appeared to be a very bad situation. Though the devastating diseases killed many trees, they then provided nesting sites for the birds. Red-headed Woodpeckers are now thriving in dead elms all across the Midwest.

We're facing a terrible situation in America. Millions live their lives as if there is no God; they don't worship God, obey God, serve God or teach others about HIM. They don't know, or care, what God said in HIS Word. They don't speak of God, which means they don't encourage others to adjust their lives to accept God's invitation to experience HIM and walk the Jesus Way. American Christians are facing ridicule when they're bold enough to live for Christ and persecution (both economic and political) if they're bold enough to actually talk about HIM.

America's soul is being ravaged by sin, but in the midst of this frightening devastation a curious thing is happening. Living in this ailing environment, facing the spiritual and economic consequences of fifty years of immoderation, indulgence and entitlement, some American Christians are thriving. Not by fleeing. Not by turning our backs on America's desperate and diseased. No. America's Christ-followers are reproducing at an incredible rate because they're "nesting" right in the middle of the decimation.

Disruption and decline can be frightening, but with change comes opportunity, and I'm persuaded these days of wickedness are days of possibility. 

There will be consequences if you live for Jesus; there will be consequences if you don't. Since you can't choose consequence-free living, but you can choose your consequences, which will you choose? The consequences of faithful living or the consequences of proud self-indulgence?

2 Timothy 3:1-5  -  But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. 

Comments

[Terry Dudek]

Beautiful picture! Isn't it just like God to take a seemingly bad situation and use it for good.

The ability to be able to stay focussed on a task is a real strength in many areas of our lives. That ability can be carried too far, limiting God's message. The other week we had a very severe storm pass through the area sounding the alarms. The storm was swift and strong. The next day our yard was riddled with tree limbs and debris. While cleanning it up I realized the necessity of storms, even in our lives. They get rid of the old, the weighting us down things of life, and allow new growth to occur. Painful yes, necessary yes if we are to grow closer to what God wants us to be. Acknowledged, not often enough.

Here is a verse of comfort from John 16:33,"In this world you will have trouble, But take heart! I have overcome the world."