Category Archives: Being What God Created

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OK, I’ll Admit It, I’m A Wolf

Being What God Created. What are You?

God used a wolf to guide me to a closer relationship with Him. (Closer to God, and the wolf as well.)  Here’s what happened.

Mission Wolf is a solar powered wolf sanctuary in the remote mountains of Colorado.  (25 miles from our log cabin).  It’s a rescue place designed to make a home for wolves and wolf dog hybrids.  No more are they kept in cages, or on chains.  They are allowed to roam free in LARGE fenced, protected areas to live their lives as a wolf, not as a dog.

Each wolf here has their own story.  Some were raised to be used in a movie.  Take the movie shots, now they are not wanted.  Get rid of them.  Bummer.

Some (a lot ) of the wolves here were bred to be someones pet.  Oh how cute to have a pet wolf.  Especially a wolf puppy.  But here’s the problem!  The wolf puppy is not a dog.  He will grow up to be a wolf.

The people at Mission Wolf are very educated and helpful in explaining how wolves are designed to be the beautiful creatures God created them to be.  They explain how a wolf likes to nip and bite(playfully) as a way to show affection.  But when a human owner sees the wolf BITE, they automatically think, “Oh No!” and on a chain leash he goes!!!   Wolves also like to lick other wolves (and people) in the face and in the mouth.  This is their way of greeting.  You shake hands, you give a hug……… but a wolf will jump up to lick your face.  Ever noticed that your own little cute dog would do the same? (If you’d let him).  Yep, that cute civilized, obedient, trained dog of yours still has a “little wolf” in him.

I had my own personal meet and greet with the wolves themselves.

Yep, it’s the wolf’s way of saying, “Hey friend,  Glad to meet ya!”

Now I’ll be honest with ya.  I don’t mind getting “kissed” by the wolf.  In a strange way, it’s almost like I connect with them more closely than others.  The wolves seem to seek me out from the other people. (The owner says they know a kindred spirit. Hmmmm.) They accept me, I accept them.  For a brief moment I feel that my soul is at peace.

The owner/manager was giving us an educational tour.  He was speaking to us about the wolves and how they interact with us humans.  Then he said this……………. and I felt God speaking directly to me when he said……………“When you treat a wolf like a dog, to the wolf it’s pure torture!  Bam!!  Eye opening to me.  Life changing to me.  I’ve been taken off my chain leash and now I’m free!  LET ME EXPLAIN!!

See, on the spiritual journey that I was on,  I was expected to be a puppy dog not a wolf. Please people first, not necessarily my Saviour. A puppy dog begs, rolls over, fetches, and plays  dead on command.  A nice doggy obeys commands and directions from a man. (his owner)  He becomes a people pleaser.  We allow ourselves to get collared and chained.  We submit to a lifestyle that causes us to be only half of what we could and should be.  It’s more important to fit in and please people than to please God.  Did I actually just say that?  Are you actually living like that?  Well. when you compare your life to other Christians…… I have more faith, I go to more meetings, I donate more than she does, I try harder than they…… my friend, you just showed me your collar and leash!!  Now hold on.  Down boy.  Sit!

But a wolf,………well, he’s a wolf.  Spiritually he chases a relationship with his Lord and Saviour.  He’s alive and lives an abundant life just by BEING with his Lord.  No need to compare with other Christians.  No need to seek a petting on the head, (or a pat on the back).  No desires to become successful as defined by this world.  All these are collars and chain leashes that have been taken away. His life is filled with abundance just from BEING God’s creation and living/being with God.  What he does each and every day comes from this being with his Creator.

See, a dog fetches so he can get petted on the head.  A wolf doesn’t fetch, he CHASES.  He chases something to catch it, and EAT it. (Now that’s being real!)  A wolf doesn’t beg, roll over, and dang sho’ nuff doesn’t play dead.  He’s out there where it’s real.  He runs, he howls, he LIVES.  He has no chains, or a collar to hold him back.  He experiences life to the fullest!

A doggy has a comfortable, nice, easy, (can I say it?) BORING and “going through the motions” life.  His rewards are,…. treats, dog chow, and a people pleasing existence. I got a dog myself, I should know. Hey, I’m not knocking it, except from a wolf’s point of view it’s not enough.  So,…. spiritually are you being a puppy dog, on a leash, living life only to please people?  Or is there a wolf inside of you wanting to please God and experience a truly one on one relationship with Jesus?

Are you beginning to see the difference between Sparky and Lobo?  Is there a “little wolf” still inside of you, wanting you to take off the leash and become alive again spiritually?

1 Peter 4:10-11 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

Are you hearing what (the wolf) I’m trying to say concerning our spiritual journey?  When we live our spiritual lives like we’re a cutesy,nice, puppy dog,……. it’s pure torture.  But when we live,……. when we truly LIVE our lives being what God has created us to be……. Well, can’t you feel that “little bit of wolf” in your soul comin’ out.  Ready to Howl??

Don’t get caught in the trap of not being yourself.  The trap of not using your special gifts and abilities in your own individual way to glorify God. There is the poison of allowing others(and not the Holy Spirit) to dictate what and how you do things. There is a  deadly snare of letting this world put you down,  to fall for the trap of believing that you are not good enough, that you don’t have what it takes, or what you are or do will not amount to anything.  A wolf living in the wilderness gets to live free, but at the same time he must avoid the traps and snares set just for him.  So must you!  Live free, but avoid the traps!!

You have your own God given gifts.  Use what God has given you to come alive. Your glory is for God’s Glory!!  Don’t play fetch, but chase and follow our Lord.  Don’t roll over, but live life to the fullest!  And…..and,….. don’t play dead in this world.  But become alive spiritually by BEING What God Created You to BE!!  And LIVE!!!    AAAWWWOOOOOOO!

Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher   Spiritually, a wolf   AAWWWOOOOOO

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The First Christmas Without My Father

Yep, I Am My Father's Son

This is my first Christmas without my Father.  He passed away back in May.  In memory of him we had a breakfast of big biscuits, BACON!!, deer sausage,… and fried squirrel (his favorite).

Over all these years, I learned a lot from my Dad.  Here’s one of the many stories.  I was about 12 years old.  It was Christmas Day, but we were out early giving hay to the cows.  Back then, it didn’t matter what was happening, there were farm chores that had to be done.  Feeding the cows their daily ration of hay was one of them.   So we left the house a little early to get this done that day.  I’m twelve, but I’m feeling just as big a man as anybody.  See, Daddy would drive the truck into the field.  I would jump on back of the truck and throw the bales of hay off for the cows.  (AND I GOT TO USE A KNIFE!!).  For a young fellow, the excitement of using a knife to cut the baling twine from the hay bales was…….. (well, you just have to be a twelve year old to know how that feels)

We are trying to finish early with the feeding. One more small herd of cattle on the way back home to feed.  Then it’s back to the house and play with Christmas presents and eat,eat, and eat.  But first we had to stop by a house.  The house was one of the part time workers that would help occasionally with our farm.  As I remember, Daddy went in and gave the guy some money owed him.  I stayed in the truck warming up with the heater on, as it was really cold that day.

My Father comes out shaking his head, gets in the truck, and says to me, “He doesn’t have anything for Christmas.  He’s not celebrating or nothing!”

I guess that’s all that Daddy needed to see.  We go straight back to the house.  He tells me to wait in the truck.  It didn’t take him long to come back out with a grocery bag.  It was filled with oranges, some sticks of peppermint candy, and a few odds and ends from the food pantry.  Nothing special, no toys, no big surprises.  He told me as we were driving back to the man’s house that oranges and fruit was what my Daddy himself would get for Christmas.  Oh, occasionally they would get a toy or new clothes, but they could count on the oranges and fruit each Christmas.

We made it back to the man’s house.  Daddy got out, carried the grocery bag in, didn’t stay but a minute, and was back in the truck driving towards our home.  and he said, “Now he’s got Christmas.  He may not like oranges like I do, but at least He’s got Christmas!”

So what do you and I do when a loved one is no longer with us for the Holidays?  Well, we keep their traditions going, Don’t ya think?

This Christmas Day, some of my family and I will go somewhere to someone who is not having a Christmas.  It may be a needy family, or someone at the gas station, or maybe the waitress or one of the food servers that have to work on Christmas.  (Wherever my Heavenly Father gives me an opportunity) I will go and give them a present.  When I get back in my car, I will then say, “He/She may not like the present as much as I do, but at least He/She’s got Christmas!”

Yep, I am my Father’s Son!!!!!

But the angel said unto them, “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”  Luke 2:10 

I spend a lot of time with my Heavenly Father as well.  He’s teaching me a lot!  One of the many things, I’ve learned from Him is this.  This world can sure use a lot more love.  My Heavenly Father has filled me with His Love, Mercy, and Forgiveness till I’m overflowing with it.  So,………. I choose to go out and give some of that love away.  To a stranger, someone I’ve just met, an old friend……………  and to you reading this.  There is a great news of great joy I want to share with all people.  It’s the news of living a Christian Life.  I want to share it with you!!  Truly Merry CHRISTmas!!!!

There, you may not like it as much as I do, but you now have a little Christmas for yourself,…….. and maybe enough for you to now share with others.

Yep, I am my Heavenly Father’s child!!

(UPDATE)  At Daddy’s funeral a man came up to me and said he was a grandson of someone who use to work for my Dad.  Pretty sure because of what he told me his Grandfather was the one that got the oranges.

Merry Christmas!!!  Look for opportunities to “give a gift” to someone.

I thank ALL of you for reading this blog.  For sharing this with others, and for being with me on this journey, THANKS!  I’m looking forward to this new year!  Tell your friends to “saddle up” and join us!   We are all riding “different horses” but we are headed to the same destination!

SEE YA!!!! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher, spreading Christmas Cheer just like Both of my Fathers!!!

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What God Gives Me For Christmas

For Unto You (that's me and YOU!)

For Christmas, God gave me a gift!  A one time, yes you can have it gift!  I accepted my gift from God, and this has led to daily gifts.

Not just a present to open one day a year, but gifts given daily.  Gifts from a God to a little ole me.  Now that’s what I call a Christmas experience!!

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord  Luke 2:11

First things first.  One step at a time.  The first Gift from God that I accepted was His Son Jesus.  You see, along with choosing this gift, I chose to make Jesus my Saviour, my King.  I willingly decided that I will follow His teachings, read the Bible and follow His directions.  I accepted God’s Gift of Love into my life when I was about 10 years old.  I eventually accepted His desire to lead and guide me when  I was in my teens.  I FINALLY accepted His gift of wanting a TRUE LOVING RELATIONSHIP with me when I reached my 50’s.   (I’m a slow learner with a stubborn streak. aka a human being)

After receiving and accepting God’s Gift of Love, (Jesus), into my heart, I was given another gift.  I didn’t ask for it.  I really didn’t know about it, much less how it worked, or how to use it.  Didn’t matter.  There the gift was right there in front of me…..  With my name on it……. I opened it……. It said “Forgiveness”!   I realized I had been forgiven for what I had done wrong….. and I learned to forgive others.

There were other gifts that began to appear…….. peace, comfort, joy.  I realized that this Christian way of life was truly filled not with just words, but with a daily walk with an omnipotent, all powerful God.  And……each day there was another gift.

UHOH!  Confession time!!  I have a confession to make.  There were many days that the gifts given to me from God weren’t opened.  Some small gifts, some large……. and for whatever reason, I chose not to open them.  Seems strange that I would choose NOT to open a gift.  Honestly it appears that I was either selfish, doubting, stubborn, “in a bad frame of mind”, lazy, or just plain human stupid.  Somehow, some way, I decided not to open that day’s gifts.

But the gifts would keep coming.  No matter how bad, disrespectful, selfish, or I’ll say it like this……….no matter how bad a sinner I was being, there would still be another gift waiting for me to open.

So,……. if I can make my decision making, my thought process, my everyday walk in life line up with what Jesus wants and has in store for me, then these presents and gifts are mine on a daily basis.  Wheww, that’s a mouthful.  What I’m saying is this.  Follow Jesus.  His gifts to you are there every day.  You are the one making the decision to OPEN them.

Every day, there is a new gift from God.  Not because of you, but because of Him.  Each day another gift of abundant life, a closer walk with Him, a prayer (that goes both ways).  Each day a new beginning.  Each day is a gift from above.

What about you?  Are there too many gifts from God that you haven’t opened?Are there too many gifts from God just waiting for you to accept?  Yet, you won’t open them.  Why is that??

Look in the mirror in your home and you’ll honestly see why you don’t open God’s gifts to you.  Hey, go right now.  When you look in the mirror you’ll see the problem.  Nothing to be ashamed of.  You are just plain human stupid. (I should know.  I’ve got a mirror too…….in my house, in my car, mirrors everywhere).  We see our own human stupid weaknesses.  Other people are sometimes quick to point them out as well.  We aren’t good enough, we don’t understand, we don’t deserve, we can’t, we can’t, we can’t.  See, plain human stupid thinking going on right there.

Do you want to get rid of the “stinkin’ thinkin’ ” that keeps us from opening God’s gifts to us each and everyday?

First things first.  One step at a time.

For unto     _____your name_____    is born this day a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.  There, that’s the first gift opened.  Now be watching for all the other daily gifts given to you.  And tear into ’em.  Now that’s Christmas!!!  Wishing you a DAILY Merry Christmas!

See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth  wilderness preacher