Category Archives: nature

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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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What the blog Wilderness Preacher is all about (including you)

Take the time to watch this video, . This video was made when Wilderness Preacher began back in 2014. Wow! Lots of water has passed under the bridge! Through a story it reveals what this blog/website is all about.  It’s not all about me, but in the sharing of everyday stories with you.  After watching this video, leave me your comments, suggestions, and even your own stories.  Your opinion is vital.  How can WE continue to improve this website?  It belongs to you as much as to me.  See Ya!!

Hebrews 13 :16  And do not forget to do good, and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

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Going Forward In Reverse

Do you ever feel like your life is going in reverse, but you have the “Ahah!” moment and realize you are actually moving forward? Well let this story of the ant going in reverse to move forward sink in to your heart and soul.

I’m taking a break from chainsaw work at the church camp, to eat a pack of Nabs. To you “city folks”, a pack of Nabs is what we call those six peanut butter crackers wrapped in a small package you can get at any convenience store. I don’t care where you’re from, they are called Nabs, not cheese crackers, not snack crackers, but Nabs. Glad we got that out of the way. 😉

But as I’m eating my NABS, a small crumb falls to the ground in front of the stump that I’m sitting on. In just a few brief moments, from nowhere, these three ants show up. Without missing a beat, they tag team on the cracker crumb and immediately begin their journey back to their nest with their new found food item. (pretty sure they would call it a Nabs too).

My phone took a pretty decent close up picture don’t ya think of these creatures working together? What caught my eye is how they worked together to accomplish their goal of carrying the food back to their home. One ant goes forward like any of us would think to do. One ant is kinda walking sideways but still facing forward. The other ant,……. well he chooses to walk backwards as he carries the food forward to his home. I was impressed.

How do ants communicate? Little ant voices, hand signals, a football type playbook??? I can picture in my mind right now……. “Hey there’s a piece of peanut butter nabs. Let’s get it! 32- 12- 16 Hut Hut!!” And there they go!

Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Proverbs 6:6

I’m not sure I want to be called a “sluggard” do you? That’s someone who is considered sluggish….. slow moving,….. inactive….. LAZY. UH oh!!

OK, here’s the point I’m making. Sometimes in our lives (and yes even in our spiritual lives), we get sluggish (slow moving, inactive). Especially when it seems that we are the ones having to go in reverse. You and I experience “going in reverse” all the time in our daily lives. We feel like we should be moving forward but that’s when “Reverse” hits. Reverse as in a financial setback, a relationship on the downswing, a physical ailment,…. even small things like not being able to find your phone. You fill in your own “reverse” i.e. hard times.

But let’s learn from this small ant. Could it be that God is having you go “in reverse” to move forward. For your own good,….. as well as maybe for others….?

Think about it. Whatever is happening in your life may seem to be causing you to go backwards. That’s what you are seeing. But IN THE EYES OF GOD, He’s got you moving forward on your spiritual journey. He’s even got you carrying some Nabs (spiritual food) back to have a feast on later.

Little ole ant. Sometimes he makes more sense about life than a wilderness preacher can. I need to be like that little ole ant. What would that be? Focus on going forward in my spiritual journey, even when it looks to everyone that I’m going backwards.

“Lord, thank you for this little ole ant! Thanks you that he taught me to continue to follow you Lord. To move forward and closer to you Lord Jesus. To keep my eyes on You even when circumstances cause me to be the one that is “going backwards”. Be with me as I travel this world in a “reverse” way as I travel through hard times. Whether traveling in good times, or hard “reverse” times, I’m glad God that You are there with me. I’m also glad that you gave us Nabs! Amen”

See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher Nabs eater, ant watcher