Category Archives: life’s journey, Jesus Take the Wheel

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Pressing Forward: Embracing Life’s Journey

Have you ever attempted to drive by only your rearview mirror? Ever try living your life by only looking back at what’s already happened?

Driving across country early, early one morning, I saw a most beautiful sight in my rearview mirror. It was a sunrise. A glorious sunrise. It’s always cool to me to see the sun burst over the horizon. Getting to see those first few rays followed quickly by a full sun shining is something that never grows old to me. Initially, there was darkness; subsequently, a shade of pink became visible. A beautiful dance followed, with the clouds swirling by, sharing their purples and reds. A brilliant golden glow began its rise above the horizon. Anticipating that first bright ray of sunshine, I drove the next couple of miles while basically looking only in my rearview mirror.

Just like that, it was there. A sunrise! Good morning, Lord! I’ve been driving for a few hours in the dark, kinda getting sleepy. The light wakes me up and motivates me to drive for several more hours. But I won’t be looking in the rearview mirror anymore.

  I’m looking ahead. Looking ahead so I won’t hit anything for sure, but looking ahead so that I won’t miss anything either. Now, the light behind me, which supports me, is guiding my path.

Philippians 3:14  GWT  I run (press on) toward the goal to win the prize that God’s heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus.

I want more out of this life. More out of work, my play, my marriage, my family, …. more out of myself. Not a greedy more. However, I desire more regarding God’s promise. He promised abundant life. Abundance is coming when I arrive in Heaven, but I also want it now! That doesn’t mean a fancy car and lots of money. Life won’t be free of hardships or devoid of painful experiences. No, God’s heavenly call means believing in Jesus. Trusting in a God who supports you. This belief and way of life gives us an authentic way to PRESS ON and continue our spiritual journeys. Isn’t His providing and protecting us a source of His giving us abundance?

We frequently long to go back in time and dwell in the past. Times spent with friends and family members, times to be cherished, good times in the past. The “good ole days” seem far superior to our current situation.

Driven by God’s promise, I move forward. His light shines the way for me. I know lots of time in religious talk it’s said to “keep your eyes on God”. “Turn your eyes upon Jesus”. I get that. Stay focused on Him. Don’t we try to stay focused on Him by “looking in the rearview mirror”? We think, “God, why can’t it be like it used to be?”

Nope, let’s press on. My friends, let’s keep going on our journey. Know this. Even on the darkest of nights, the sun is about to rise over the horizon. Sure, it is a glorious sight to see the sunrise in your rearview. However, observe future developments and see where the light guides you. 

Because God’s Son supports me, I am inspired to keep going. It’s a heavenly calling that you and I can receive even while still in this earthly human body. A relationship between little ole you and a Most Awesome God. Wow! And you thought a sunrise was a thing of beauty.

Sunrise, the all-day sunshine, and the sunsets provide us with light to see our path during the day. Even at night there is artificial light, as well as natural light to help us continue our journey.

These beautiful experiences you see in your rearview mirror. Cherish them. Use them to grow closer to God. Whether a spiritual high, a beautiful family experience, or even just a pleasant day, it’s great to relive them (in your rearview mirror).

But realize God has promised us abundance! Press forward on your journey. The illumination of the daytime reveals the view forward.

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Beautiful sunrises in the rearview mirror are astounding. But having hope, joy and peace provided by God gives me and you high expectations for our future.

Our spiritual view on this journey is accompanied by rearview mirrors(memories of past spiritual encounters) and full view windshields (full views ahead filled with hope, joy, and peace). Press on!

See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher

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The Curves In the Road (Why Life Is Not An Easy Road To Travel)

Let the journey begin. Even with ice still stuck to my windshield, I’m boldly pushing forward on my trip. Expectations of seeing lots of pretty countryside, the radio is blaring “Life is a Highway…… I want to ride it…. all night long” by Rascal Flats. All seems to be good, well, until I come to this….

Oooops. Now the road is very icy and there before me is the dreaded CURVE!!! Which means I’ve got to slow down, quit playing air guitar and beating my dashboard like it’s my drum set, and concentrate on keeping it between the ditches. Well, this curve is stealing some of my fun time on my journey, but so far so good. I’ll be glad to get by this curve. Well, I whoop this navigational obstacle only to be met with this……

Another CURVE!! Surely not another one. I conquered the first curve easy, but this one has even more ice on the road (and tracks where a couple of cars slid off during the night). Uh Oh! Better slow down even more and like it or not, my mood is changing from bad to worse. It’s a little nerve wracking, a little spooky being this close to the edge of a dropoff, but looks like I’m going to pull through. (Where are all the other cars that are usually out now?) You know, I get to thinking. Hmmmm. If I’ve had to take right curve after right curve after right curve, pretty soon I’m gonna be right back where I started!! Surely not huh? If I see one more curve sign, I’m gonna………wait. Up ahead there’s a sign. Is it? Can it be? Oh no……

Another curve AAGGHHHHH! Well, at least it’s turning the other way. Hey, I thought this trip would be easy, straight and narrow, full of fun sights and the radio playing my favorite songs. But nooooooo. Like it or not I feel my mood changing from happy, easy going,……. to well ANGRY!!! IF I see another blessed curve in my path I think I’ll explode. Shouldn’t of said that, cause guess what’s up ahead……….

By now, I know what you’re saying,……… “Bless his heart”. But what I’m saying is ahhhhh is “Well, bless MY heart!” Now what? Siri is telling me which way to turn. Do I listen to Siri? Nope, Cause I’m a Man so I make the decision totally because I’m a man! I take the shortcut that I’ve heard about (which will turn out to be wrong……..I know,… “bless his heart”)

There now has come a time on my journey where there are no more curves to face. But this is what I face ahead of me.

Well now that’s just nice! No curves, no ice on road (much), but I can’t see doodly in front of me because of the FOG. What next? Honestly by now I will admit to you that I have become angry. Angry at the weather, angry at myself (for taking short cuts and wrong turns), even angry at….. well, I’ll go ahead and admit it,….. I’m angry at God! I mean c’mon man, I’m just trying to have a fun journey in life. What’s next? I’m ready! Bring it on! And then I see this…….

Uh oh! Maybe I should take away what I said about being mad at God. “God, I was just irritated and frustrated,….. I’m not mad…. at YOU anyways….we good…. we tight….. Help me through this Jesus! ” I got to tell you that I even shouted out, ” Hey Jesus take the wheel!” Why? well, it’s a good country song! I like the girl who sings it! Honestly, right about now I could use a little supernatural help. Cause a few of those boulders ahead of me have rolled down the steep side of the hill and are in the middle of the road. With my luck, as I nervously zig zag this canyon road another big rock will hit me and add another dent to my already beat up Toyota Tundra with its already eight dents and fender benders. Hey, it’s not that funny, my truck just has ahh….. character.

And then it happens. That spiritual tap on your shoulder feeling. That feeling you get when you know God/Jesus is fixing to say something to ya. (have you ever felt it? Hmmm)

You (and I) have that “uh oh I’m in trouble” feeling. We know we probably deserve any punishment that’s coming. Instead, I hear this spiritually. “Dan, I’m not going to take the wheel. I don’t want to fix your problem with curves. I want to fix YOU.” It’s Jesus talking to me I have no doubt. (Have you ever had Jesus talk to you? Hmm) He continues. “I’ll fix you if you’ll let me. There will always be curves in your journey of life. You keep your eyes on Me,…… and on the road cause I’m still letting you drive.” 😉

So what was becoming an angry and even angrier trip became a true REAL life teaching moment for me. IF I (and you) turn my Eyes upon Jesus, then the things of Earth grow strangely dim. (Hmm sounds like a song).

A good friend of mine posted something on that dreaded platform Facebook that very day. It said, “Why be angry at the darkness of the world when you are holding a flashlight……. which is Jesus”………Bam! That’s it right there. That’s what I needed to hear. I’m thinking, well my friend? Well, bless his heart. No seriously I hope God truly blesses his heart, cause these words truly blessed me in my present journey.

Normally in my writings, I place a scripture here that I felt spoke to me and hopefully you. But not today. I want you to seek Jesus yourself. How or what would you need to do to feel that “spiritual tap” on your shoulder? Maybe you will read your Bible, Maybe just pray, Maybe go outside and yell at God, But do what you need to do to communicate to God. Well, what ya waiting for? Do it. He’s waiting to hear from you.

God/ Jesus is waiting to hear from you, then he’ll know you are in a better place to hear from Him. You’ll hear Him say “I don’t want to fix your problems,…… I want to fix you. Really and truly, I want a relationship. I want a living loving relationship with you my child. Then the fixin’ will happen on it’s on.”

You guys are all on a spiritual journey. We face and will face curves all the time. I know ,I know, we all can’t help but think, “if I just get around this curve, then everything will be OK. But what shows up AFTER you face the curve?…… another curve.

My prayer for you,…… and me. “Dear Jesus, I’m sorry for getting angry and for all those other shortcomings in my life. I feel that maybe I need to forgive myself as well. Help me to face the curves and danger zones in my journey. I want to see the whole road but I can’t see because of the “curves” going on in my life. But I’ll accept that you want ME and not just my problems to fix. But Jesus, you’ve got to help me. I need you in my life. I get it. I don’t need you to “take the wheel”. I need you to TAKE ME JUST AS I AM. I think now I can get that true peace and joy in my life “and turn that radio on wide open” 😉

When we turn our eyes to Jesus (which means using him as your “flashlight”), we start seeing the big picture. WE still may not know what lies ahead, but we’ve got Jesus in our heart in a truly living loving way. Then you know what the journey looks like before us? Well here is a small sample.

Our journey as God sees it. (and now maybe a little more how you see it.)

Here’s my phone number 601-832-8567. Call me. Somebody got “tapped on the shoulder” spiritually today. I’ll ride with you on your spiritual journey (even if your vehicle has dents and fender benders) I can’t do anything for you my friend. But I talk with someone and pray to someone for guidance and directions………and it ain’t Siri……… It’s Jesus, “MY FLASHLIGHT”!

See Ya!! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher