Category Archives: Steps Along This Journey

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Catching a Bolt of Lightning

Lightning

All the signs are there.  Moisture in the air, afternoon heat, an updraft from the mountain slope, all giving hints that a storm with lightning would appear.

Plus the fact that the weatherman said 60% chance of rain with severe storms.  So I knew that the storms would be approaching along with the lightning.  I set up my camera behind the safety of my living room window and waited for the show.  I wanted to “catch the lightning” in a picture.

Bam!  Ooops missed that one.  Boom! that one was a little too close.  It looks like I can see sheets of rain across the valley, so the main part of the storm should be here any…… Ka Pow! (blinding light)………   I got it!!!!!

The power of a lightning bolt is well, among other things, scary.  Especially to this farm boy who has witnessed lots of lightning as well as where lightning strikes occurred.  The splintered trees, the welded fence post, the cables welded together in a chicken house (that I was standing in), all testify to the powers of a lightning bolt.

I’m scared of lightning, just like my dog.  😉   But at the same time, I’m drawn to it.  When I’m in my safety zone, in a car, or better yet, in the house, I love to witness this power of God.  The power, the mystery, the wonder, the glory.

Psalm 97:3-5New International Version (NIV)4 His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles.

Jeremiah 33New International Version (NIV)  2 “This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name: 3 ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’

I’m scared of God and His Power.  But at the same time, I’m drawn to it.  When I’m in my safety zone, I love to witness His power.  The power, the mystery, the wonder, the Glory.

A quick discussion about this “safety zone” for God and His Power.  It’s called being in His Will.  God is with you on your spiritual journey.  His desire is for you to BE with Him as well.  Seeking God’s Will for your life is an everyday happening.  What is so amazing is that you can call to Him for guidance and He will answer you.  How?  In a quiet time with Him, in a prayer, when reading your Bible(yep, it’s still a good source).  My God is a Most Loving and Forgiving God.

At the same time, I wouldn’t want to be out of my “safety zone” when God’s Righteous power and His Wrath came through because……..Ka Pow!!!! You get the idea.

Stay safely in “the arms of God”.  Constantly look for His will in your life.  And get ready, because you asked Him and called out to Him didn’t you?  You did didn’t you?  Well then, the great and unsearchable things you don’t know (and understand) are on the way……………All the signs are there.  Be looking, especially with your heart.

See Ya!   wilderness preacher Dan Ainsworth

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I will lift up my eyes!

"I will lift up my eyes"

“I will lift up my eyes”

I look to the mountains for inspiration, but today I’m inspired by what’s 3 feet away.  God, what are you showing me?

This morning’s hike was at daybreak.  I actually was walking before daylight. I took this path, but when the sunlight began shining and showing the flowers and their glory, I turned and walked back.  And watched…… and watched……. and was inspired.

before the light shines

Before the sun came out, my focus was on the path and the mountains,…… and even what’s past that,…. the sky.  But as the light grew stronger I became more aware of the things closer to me.  I saw the trees, the pastures, and…… the flowers.   Those flowers!  As each one was being bathed by the new morning sunlight, I saw colors take on stronger hues.  Their intensity grew in every instant.  As the sun moved upon the horizon first one flower, then two, now five, now dozens…………. now the whole meadow is coming alive with colors.  My photography doesn’t do it justice, but you get the picture(Pun intended) 😉

These flowers are Being what God created them to be.  They are beautifully made, and God’s Glory shines all over them!

1 John 1:7The Voice (VOICE)7 If we walk step by step in the light, where the Father is, then we are ultimately connected to each other through the sacrifice of Jesus His Son. His blood purifies us from all our sins.

beauty3

 

I do focus on the mountains and what’s far away.  God’s teaching me.  He’s not far away, He’s here….. focus on the next step, the next day, even the next moment.  If I walk in His light, He will reveal to me things on my journey.  Things like we are all forgiven of our sins.  Things like we all get to share in this wonderful light from God, (His Son Jesus).

I turn and can feel the sunlight warming up my face.  I also feel God’s light and Glory shining on me.  He’s not a mountaintop away, He’s ……. well, ….. I feel him.  He’s right here with me…….and you.

Share His love with others.  Let your light shine!

See Ya!!!  Dan Ainsworth  wildernesspreacher

 

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I’m not broken down, She is!

I''m not broke down

I’m driving down a Colorado road sightseeing.  This guy is pulled over, with his hood up, and he’s in the truck talking on his phone.  “Need any help?” I asked.  His exact words… “No, I’m not broken down, SHE is!”(as he points to his phone).

The guy with a strong Boston accent continues. “The only way I can help her is to look under my own hood.  She has a vehicle just like mine, I’ve had this problem before and I know how to help her.  Thanks anyways.”

Well, that just made my day!  To see someone actually stop their own journey to help another.  To see someone look under their own hood so they can help someone else, well, that’s neat (and unusual).

But first, all the questions I ponder as I continue on my journey sightseeing.  What’s someone from Boston doing way out here?  Sightseeing I guess.  What would be wrong with her vehicle that he can fix by looking under his own hood?  A wire? A belt? Oil?  Battery cable?  Who knows?  The point is that the guy knows what’s wrong with her vehicle.  Ah, who is her?  Wife, daughter, friend, girlfriend?  The point is that she is someone that he knows well enough to stop and help because he knows.

It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. She knows that he knows, so that’s all she needs to know, ya know.  Cause when you know that you know, then when you don’t know you know to call who you know, ya know?  Whoa………..

Philippians 2:4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

The guy probably had some trouble before.  Now he was willing to help another by sharing his experience (even by looking under his own hood).  Do you remember that bad experience you went through a while back?  Been trying to forget about?  Hoping others have forgotten about it.  Maybe even in your spiritual journey something happened that now by “looking under your own hood” you can help others.  God blesses us with fellow Christians to help and support each other on our journeys.  God forgives and heals what’s under our own hood.  But it’s not just for your sake, it’s for others as well.

God’s a good “mechanic”.  Now we can look after the interests of others as well as our own.  You know??

I’m traveling down a road with friends that I know and a God that I know.  See Ya!!!