Posted on

We’ve Named The Place “Higher Ground”!

The Log Home Dream is Almost Finished!

We’ve named the place “Higher Ground”!

The old hymn goes like this……..”I’m pressing on, the upward way.  New heights I’m gaining everyday.  Still praying as I onward bound, Lord plant my feet on higher ground.”

What was once just an ambituous dream is now almost completed.  There are already friends and family staying with us.  Already been some worship services on the deck with that view.  Been prayer times, crying times, praising with the Native American Flute times.  Mostly, just been times with God.  Times to talk with Him about my doubts and fears.  Ya thought I didn’t and don’t have to deal with doubts, fears, and troubles?  Think again.

Remember this picture from December 2015?

That’s the picture from my blog three years ago when this dream of mine started.  Just a toy model and a chainsaw!!  A lot of water under the bridge since then.  A lot of sawdust carved from 40 home grown trees in Mississippi that I planted 35 years ago.

Has it been worth it?  Well,……… it cost a whole lot more in money and time than originally planned.  I lost my patience many a time waiting on the construction guy.  He was and is a great builder.  He is very precise and a perfectionist with his workmanship.  But he never got a hold of his time management.  What he said would take three days took seventeen!  When he said they would be there on Monday, we wondered which Monday he was talking about.  It was enough to make a preacher cuss……… and this wilderness preacher did!!

Higher Ground hymn 2nd verse….. ” My heart has no desire to stay, where doubts arise and fears dismay.  Tho some may dwell where these abound, my prayer my aim is Higher Ground!”

As all of us travel our spiritual journey, the doubts and fears can make us stop short.  Shucks, sometimes they stop us dead in our tracks.  There were many days I’d catch myself WASTING my thinking times worrying about the what ifs,……. the yea buts,…….. the I don’t knows,……. the are you sures.  So many people get caught in these “mud pits” and this is where they get stuck.  I didn’t want to stay there.  With God’s help, I pressed on.  Day by day.  One construction phase at a time.  Staci and I continued…….

“Higher Ground” 3rd verse       I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.

My Faith has grown during this project.  Things that were important to me, now,…….well not that it’s not important, but “living above the world” gives you a different perspective.  I don’t feel it’s necessary to count anymore.  Not needed anymore to keep up with numbers.  You know, how many people come, how many spiritual decisions made, how many guys showing up for the bible study, how many this and how many that. Ain’t got time for that!

When I go fishing I never keep up with how many casts, what baits were used, who caught what.  My 80 year old fishing buddy and I went the other day.  The fish weren’t biting well that particular day, but you couldn’t tell it by our having fun just being out there and with each other.  Just BEING!  We fish just to BE fishing!!  Same way with “living above the world”…….just BEING with God and sharing His love.  In His time, following His direction.

One important way I get to “live above the world” is by having some great people handle my everyday businesses.  People that I trust and respect.  I live like I’m retired, when actually behind the scenes these people are running the show.  I am truly blessed by these coworkers and friends!

Satan throws darts?   More like ballistic missiles, and hand grenades.  He throws a lot of CRAP as well.  Tries to stir things up between me and Staci, between me and contractor guy, between me and myself,…….. between me and my Saviour.  Ole devil is pretty good at it, I’ll have to admit it.  He can throw with the best of ’em.  He has a major league arm to throw all kinds of conflict and disruptions.  Still waitin’ on electrical guy!! (That’s been a major curve ball that the Devil appears to have thrown.)

Verse 4  I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till heav’n I’ve found,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

I’ve grown closer to God through the trials and tribulations of completing this dream.  I’ve grown closer with all the small victories along the way.  I might add I’ve grown closer to my God by reading other peoples books. ( shout out to June and Barry!)  I’ve seen and caught just enough of “God’s Glory” that I no longer plan for retreat times, prayer times, time alone with God times.  It’s changed into this.  I wake up and say “Lord, whatcha got in store for today!  I look forward to what’s in my journey”.  It’s all God’s time!  He is not interested in my helping Him,  He’s interested in my heart and with Being with Him.  All the things that I want and need to do for Him, then just fall in place.

So,…….. was it worth it?  This building of Staci’s and my log home?  Well, remember that the building of this log house is a physical way of showing how God has been “constructing” on me in my spiritual journey.  Taking crooked bent logs and turning them into something special.  I said “Lord, help me” and He’s taken me on one magnificent ride.  This spiritual journey has definitely been worth it.  (Even with all the CRAP the devil threw.)

OK, was it worth it?   For you?   If your reading this blog, then you know now that YOU have the opportunity to come out and visit with us.  STAY a day or two and see for yourself.  I can hear it now.  You telling your friends……. “Hey, next week I’m going to “Higher Ground”!!

But on a most personal and honest level, was this dream of building a log home in Colorado from trees that I planted in Mississippi worth it?  ………..stay tuned.!!!!…….(while my heart and soul are smiling and laughing)!!

See Ya!   Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher  (singing “Higher Ground” in my head)

 

Posted on

“Granny” Steps Out of Her Comfort Zone

There were visitors at my gold and silver mine this week.  “Granny” stepped out of her comfort “box” and joined in on the adventure.

It’s more than just a short hike to the mine.  It involves walking down a steep slippery mountain (and climbing back up).  Lots of loose rocks to twist an ankle.  The thin air will cause you to have to breathe a little extra.  Did I mention that there are rattlesnakes in the area?  Oh, don’t forget the bats that hang out in the cave.  I’ve seen a scorpion or two.  Well since I’m telling all,……… we’ve seen mountain lion tracks, two bears, and the ever present pack of coyotes all within walking distance of the mine.

I talked “Granny” into going.  Really what motivated her to go was that her “babies” were going and THEY wanted her to go as well.  I’ll admit, I wasn’t much help.  Telling her all the DANGERS and BAD THINGS that COULD happen only brought out the worry and doubts about this trip.  But then again I did encourage “Granny”.  Step out of the comfort box was my advice.  You can’t hear a true wolf howl unless you get off the pavement and into the dirt roads and paths.  You gotta go to the gold mine to see the “babies” find their gold.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” ~ 2 Timothy 1:7

A sound mind………. that means don’t do anything stupid.  But for so much of our lives and our spiritual journies we hold back out of FEAR,……DOUBTS,……and WORRY.

On your spiritual journey, as you search for that “gold mine”, remember God has given you POWER, LOVE, and a SOUND MIND.  Use it to find your treasures.  Use it to draw closer to God on your Christian Journey.  God gives you His Power and Glory so that in return you give the Glory and Love back to Him.  An awesome arrangement if you ask me.

Did the grandchildren, “babies”, find there gold in the mine?  Possibly, they all took a chunk of rock back home with them.

But let me share with you the treasures they did find.  They all stepped out of their own “comfort boxes”.  They hiked up a mountain pass, drove in the middle of a wilderness to see (and hear) a wolf, floated the rapids, saw fantastic views, and maybe, just maybe realized that God is with them everywhere they go.  Along with His Power and Love. 

And “Granny”, because you cast aside your fears and worries, you were there with your family as well.  They have wonderful memories of their “Granny” in the Gold mine.  You gave me a sweet memory too!

Live, become fully alive, not by hiding in your “comfort zones or boxes”, but by using God’s Gifts of power and Love.  Don’t let doubts and worries be your focus.

This family will tell ya that.  Yea, the journey involves a long, hot, bumpy, dusty,  “are we there yet” road (that’s the doubts and worries).  But the rewards are worth it.  (When they heard the wolf singing and howling)

“Granny”, there is another adventure waiting on you when you come back!  See, there is this ghost town with an abandoned mine…………..!!

See Ya!   Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher   AAAAWWWWOOOOooooo!!

Posted on

It’s in My Backyard

Colorado Wildfire

This is in my backyard!  The picture shows a closeup of what we see from our view at our log house.  It’s about 40 miles away, but definitely part of our view. Scary and powerful this destructive force.

It (this wildfire has been named the “Spring Fire”) destroys any and everything it comes across.  As of this hour, ( numbers change hourly) it has burned 105,000 acres, and destroyed 104 homes.  No telling the impact on the wildlife.  My heart hurts for what is happening there.

There are over 1,000 first responders there.  Firefighters, bulldozers, helicopters and aircraft that drop water are in the fight.  This is one of the largest fires in Colorado history.  My heart hurts but at the same time is so proud of these people who risk there all for people like me and you.  Sometimes fires here in the wilderness are started by lightning.  BUT…… in this case this fire was started by a careless, (and I’ll say it,…..STUPID) man.  A spark blew from an outdoor fire pit he was using during a fire ban and, well, there’s no going back now.

Today there is help from above! (literally!!)  It’s raining.  Something that we haven’t seen in many months!!  Beautiful fire quenching rain with some snow falling on the mountaintops even in July!  The church has been praying for rain.  Today, we got some.  My heart is filled with joy and Thanksgiving!!!  Thanks you Lord!!

Hebrews 12:28-29 “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.”

I’ve witnessed the power in an all consuming fire.  I’ve also seen what power even a gentle rain can show.

Each of us has a heart and soul that needs protection from  forces set out to destroy us spiritually.  I’ve witnessed first hand destructive forces out to harm my own soul, my relationships with family members, even my relationship with Jesus.  Scary the powers that are out there.  Until the time that our Heavenly Father brings the healing rains to our souls, you stay on guard.  You fight the fight.

When it comes to your very own heart and soul,  you are the first responder.  Just know that you’ve got an all powerful backup.  All you got to do is reach out to Him.  All that you got is,…. well,….He’s all that you need.  Say Lord, help me…….. and watch out!!!!!!  You’ll see powerful forces at work even in your very own heart and soul.

(Currently overnight because of the rains, and first responders the fire is currently 35% contained. )  It’s not over, but it’s headed in the right direction.  What about your heart and soul situation.  Is it headed in the right direction?

See Ya!!   Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher  dancing for joy because of rain