Category Archives: Father’s Love

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Finding Comfort in Nature: God’s Messages Unveiled

As I walked deeper into the woods, only God was with me. Watching the leaves fall, one particular leaf caught my eye. It descended gently from the tree summits. Swaying back and forth, with a slow tumble, a dance was taking place that happens over and over. I actually got a picture as it is dancing to the ground.

What are you telling me, God? This is a question I ask constantly. I believe our Christian journey has many mysteries, don’t you? So, to help me focus on God and His plans for me, I try to live in curiosity, watching for the mysteries that He can help me solve.

By myself, I have trouble solving even the smallest of mysteries. Mysteries like crossword puzzles, the right amount of creamer in my wife’s coffee, what time the 5:00 news comes on.

I struggle with all the mysteries of life. I best understand a spiritual mystery by listening and watching, waiting for my Lord and Savior’s explanations. I need His help.

Hearing from God? I bet you are expecting me to say, read the Bible. Hmmm, appropriate answer, but that’s a great way to VERIFY a message from God. Pray? You undoubtedly get closer to God and His Will through prayer.

Being in nature is when I personally feel I “hear and see” God. Fly-fishing, elk hunting, hiking the mountains, walking in the park — these are all excuses to get me into the woods, into nature, where I can hear from God.

What are you showing me this time? Does God speak to me every time I take a walk? Do I catch a fish on every trip? Even though the answer is no, I still want to pay close attention to everything, so I can grasp whatever is being shown to me.

This one leaf landed on the path I hike on. Three days ago, the trees you see in the picture were still holding their leaves. A carpet of thick leaves now covers the woods’ floor. This leaf reminds me of a dear friend who is being buried today. I now think of someone who is changing careers. Now I have thoughts of my children having their own children. My thoughts focus on my life plus current shifts. There are always changes, good and bad.

My mind is full of too much thinking. It’s best for me to continue walking. The steady rhythm of my stride gives a calming effect. The smell of these leaves I’m strolling through, feeling this crisp autumn air, hearing the creatures of the forest (I hear geese!) are all making my senses come alive.

Being in nature clears my mind. My brain is jumbled with numerous thoughts, but they’re intentionally thinning out to a single question. God, what are you telling me?

Is God talking to me on this trip? He is. He says, “Keep walking, son. Lots of leaves to fall on this path. Lots of changes will always take place. You just keep walking; I’ll be there with you. That will never change.”

Comfort is what I felt on this hike. Not comfort that comes from a relaxing recliner chair. Not comfort from a fireplace. But comfort felt in my soul. How? I talked with a superior being! His words were “heard” by me on this hike! All the changes and shifts in my life, yet He said I’ll be there with you.

Regardless of your current shifts, here’s a poem for you. What I felt in the woods is summed up here.

“You can shed tears that she is gone, or you can smile because she has lived. You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back, or you can open your eyes and see all she’s left. Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her, or you can be full of the love you shared. You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday, or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday. You can remember her only in that she is gone, or you can cherish her memory and let it live on. You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back. Or you can do what she’d want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.” David Harkin

I walk and hike on this spiritual journey with Jesus. I love and live by the following verse: John 14:6 (VOICE) Jesus: I am the path, the truth, and the energy of life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

If you’re stuck behind a desk, you need to “take a hike” for better physical wellness. If you’re stuck in a rut spiritually, “take a hike” on the path called Jesus. Spiritual wellness is just as important.

I seem to get pulled into nature to hear from God. Where do you go to hear from your Heavenly Father?

See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher

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My Plumber Friend and the Promise of Heaven

How I KNOW my Mother is in Heaven.

My Mother passed away a few weeks ago. She is now in Heaven. The best way I can explain my KNOWING this is for you to read the following.

I invited some friends over to hang out, spend some time to watch a ball game, talk about fishing, and eat some BBQ. One of my close friends asked if he could invite one of his best friends over. I readily agreed, though I’d never met this friend of a friend.

Turns out, this friend of a friend, (his name is J.C.), was a plumber by trade. As he interacted with all of us guys, he became one of us. I mean, he loved fishing and sharing his stories. He also could eat his share of BBQ and was as big a sports fan as any of us. He’s just a fun guy to be around.

Coming back from my bathroom during a break, he commented the toilet wasn’t working, but that he had fixed it.

I’ll admit, I had been working on that leaking contraption for days. The float or valve thingy must have malfunctioned in some way. I checked. Guess what? There was no sound. No leaky noise, no hissing to interrupt what should be the normal quiet.

I asked J.C. how did he fix it? I’ll never forget his comment. “It’s what I do.” 

Jason, who brought us together, told me later. “J.C. is the only plumber I need to KNOW! He can fix anything. If you have a plumbing problem, He’s the only one I recommend. I BELIEVE in him. 

Hmmm. You know that old ‘country boy’ saying….. “It ain’t what you know, it’s who you know.”

How does my plumber friend, J.C., relate to your belief in Heaven?

Everything! I try to solve my plumbing problems, but J.C. comes in and fixes them (permanently, I might add). Even if he explained his work, I wouldn’t comprehend his methods. My experiences tell me I KNOW this guy is real.

There are other plumbers out there, but I’ve made my choice! It is J.C.!

I’ve got this friend, Jesus. A friend of this friend introduced him to me. Jesus didn’t just come in and try to “fix everything” in my life. Nope. He wanted to be in my life, even when I was fishing. He KNOWS about Heaven because He’s been there. There are many scriptures written about Heaven and how Jesus is there preparing it for my Mother. And me! And you!

It’s a choice, clear and simple. Jesus wants to just ‘hang out’, be a part of your life.

It’s a choice for you. Jesus could explain all the ins and outs of Heaven, still you and I wouldn’t understand how He does it.

It’s a simple choice for you to make. J.C. is my plumber. I believe in him. I know he can do what he says. That’s my personal experience, so let me know. I’ll introduce you.

Here’s another choice that is yours and yours alone. Jesus is my Savior and my friend. I BELIEVE in Him. I KNOW he can do what he says. That’s from my personal experience, so let me know. I’ll introduce you.

See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher I KNOW what I know, ya know?

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I’m not Worthy

Not Being Worthy does not come from bad following, but from no following.
Not Being Worthy does not come from bad following, but from no following!

Meet Kylo! He’s a blonde Border Collie. He’s a great dog! He loves his Masters/owners. That would be Jamie and JM, my daughter and son-in-law. They love their dog without question. Kylo loves them like no other. He is also obedient, he does what they say. He is smart, affectionate, friendly beyond measure. But,…….

But, yep you knew there had to be a but in there somewhere. We talking bout a big ole “Bertha butt”. And here it is. Kylo will go anywhere Jamie and JM are going. He wants to be WITH them no matter where. You name it and he is there with the two that he loves, and lives to follow.

BUT, he will NOT follow them into the water. He is AFRAID to swim. That means he will not follow them if he has to swim. As the picture shows, he will follow around the edge of the pond consistently keeping the shortest distance between him and the ones he loves. But he will not swim. He will pace back and forth until they bring the boat back to shore. Once his owners are back on dry land it’s like the greatest reunion and lovefest you’ve ever seen between dog and man.

If Kylo won’t overcome his fear of water, then does that means he is not following? Does it mean he is UNWORTHY? Is he is no longer wanted, no longer loved? STOP! I can’t keep writing…. This is not the truth!

Matthew 10:38 New King James Version And he who does not take up his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

Well, there it is in scripture. Jesus is saying if you don’t “take up your cross” then you are not worthy of Him. Understand what I’m getting at here. Take up your cross means to die to one’s self. Take up your cross means to let Jesus and His teachings of how to be a Christian be the driving force in your life. You follow Him, not your own thinking, planning, and living based solely on you and what you think is best for YOU! He becomes front and center in your life. See, if you choose to make Jesus your Lord and Savior, then you have “died” to your old self and become a new person through Him. He makes you worthy!

You get to pick. Choose to love Jesus more than everyone else—or not. Choose to die to yourself and live for Him alone—or not. To choose “not” is to become unworthy of following Him. Jesus does not declare them unworthy for following Him badly. Whoa! Say that again! You cannot say that you are unworthy because of following Him Badly! Those who will “not,” who refuse, make themselves unworthy because of their lack of complete and total commitment to Him.

There is a saying that is prevalent in religion. “God is good. I’m not. I need to get better”. That saying may be in man made rules and religion, but it’s nowhere to be found in a true relationship with Christ as a Christian. Follow, even if you’re afraid. Follow. Follow, even when you want to quit because this world is making you think you are not worthy. Follow. You are Worthy! Because of God’s Grace. Because of God’s mercy and forgiveness. You are worthy because of God’s Love! It’s nothing you’ve done. It’s because of who you are now following and what He’s done for you and me.

1 John 4:16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in Him

See There? You are Worthy! Share God’s Love!

See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher. “Loving cause God Loves Me!”