Ahhhh!  Today, I decided to let the vacuum cleaner have a couple hours off, with pay,of course!  haha  Seems if you run those things, you can burn up the motor.  My landlord would agree with that statement fervently!! lol

Anyway, this afternoon found me sitting outside just looking around and listening.  It has been another gorgeous Northwest Georgia day.  As I was sitting, I heard the sounds of a woodpecker "working" pretty close.  I was intrigued, so I kept listening.  This went on for several minutes, and I finally saw said woodpecker.   He was in a tree, which was about 30 feet tall, only inches from where I was sitting.  As I continued to watch, even more enthralled since I could SEE the woodpecker, he began to peck his way around the tree.  Nothing substantial - it was as if he was making a peck here and a peck there.  No hardcore rat a tat tat tat tat that would ensure the tree coming down!  Suddenly, after about 2 or 3 minutes of pecking, he stopped, and perched himself on top of the tree and sat there.  Every so often I would see his little woodpecker head bob around as if waiting or looking for someone.  So I waited.

and I waited.  and waited some more. and watched.  Mr woodpecker would call out, some sound all his own, and I continued to watch.  and wait.  Pretty soon, I began to scold myself.  I  asked myself, "Am I really sitting here, watching this...?"  I even inquired of the Lord, "Ok, Lord, what should I see here?"  I continue to wait.  and watch.  and in frustration, I stopped watching, even chastising myself for wasting time. 

BUT GOD!!  Several hours later, I am sitting on my bed, reading, and getting ready to post this.  And I get it.  I get what it meant for me, anyway.  This woodpecker was telling a valuable lesson, if you will.  Woodpecker had labored, and called out and was resting.  COULD IT BE that is what we are created to do?  We(I) labor (not necessarily at a job, but labor in life, on a journey), and we(I) call out (to God, because I need Him, minute by minute; if His Spirit left me for one second, I could cease to exist), and we rest (in knowing...that He is). 

As I pondered this lesson, I realized that not always do I do these things.  Sometimes I labor too much - I get unbalanced, and I run - 90 to nothing, like a scalded monkey, if you will.  Other times, I crawl through my days, wondering what the point even is.  Sometimes I call out - sometimes I don't; not because I don't want to, or don't care to, but because I forget that there is ALWAYS a way, and I get lost in the midst of "stuff".  And lastly, sometimes I rest (in Him and the peace He brings in the midst of storms) and other times - I don't rest at all.  I forget that in Him, I have my being.  and that In Him, and because of Him, all things that were created exist.  And then, I see, once again.  and I find myself thankful, not withstanding the storm, but better BECAUSE of the storm. 

My encouragement verse is one we all know...by heart.  And it brings the message of hope. 

Psalm 23 - The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.  He makes me to lie down in green pastures.  He leads me beside still waters.  He restores my soul.  He guides me in the path of righteousness, for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for He is with me; His rod and His staff, they comfort me.  He is a table before me in the presence of my enemies; He has anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. 

Lord, help me to remember this word of truth, and dwell in You, forever.

Velvet