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Overcoming Flinching in Your Faith Journey

I find myself in a quagmire. (always wanted to use that word. It means an area of soft, wet ground that you sink into if you try to walk on it. It also means a difficult and dangerous situation.) Quagmire. I know what to do, yet I do what I don’t want to do.

My goal, I know, is to hit the bullseye 50 yards away. I know how my old timer 50 caliber muzzleloader shoots. Even though it lacks the superior firepower of modern day guns, its accuracy of placing a lead bullet into the target 50 yards away is exceptional. The sound of a “pop” comes when the rabbit ear hammer hits the percussion cap. A thunderous “BOOM” followed this as the spark from the percussion cap ignites the 90 grains of black powder. The explosion inside the heavy metal gun barrel propels the bullet to its intended target (along with a sizable cloud of smoke).

 I know I only need to aim the gun, holding steady on the target so the bullet hits its mark. I know to hold steady. I know I should gently squeeze, and not harshly pull, the trigger to preserve the accuracy of my aim. I know what I want to do for a bullseye.

I know what I want to do, yet I do what I don’t want to do. I FLINCH!

 Watch this 10 second video of me flinching as the gun fires, (Then, come back to read my excuse for why I flinch). I am an experienced black powder hunter, yet I flinch. I know not to do it, yet I do it! It causes me to miss.

My excuse?…… Something inside of me senses the percussion cap explode right in my face a split second before the gun bellows out a bullet headed for the target. The fear of the gun’s recoil/the kick, the loud noise, even the fear of me missing, causes me to flinch. My profound confession to all of you is this. The fear of missing the shot makes me miss!

Paul writes in Romans 7 that he knows to do the right thing, but still continues to do the wrong. That’s got to be a miserable place to be. I’m there, you’ve been there. Even Paul himself tells us he’s been there. He’s miserable.

Paul writes, “So you see how it is: my new life tells me to do right, but the old nature that is still inside me says to do wrong. Oh, what a terrible predicament I am in!” Romans 7:23-25. TLB

But here’s the good news! Keep reading the scripture from Paul. Romans 7 continued says, “Who will free me from my slavery to this deadly lower nature? Thank God! It has been done by Jesus Christ our Lord. He has set me free.”

How do you “flinch” in your Christian walk? Let me share a few examples: Why pray? It won’t do any good. (That’s a flinch.)

 I’m seeking God’s will for my life, but I choose instead to, (flinch)

 I’m as much afraid, (flinch) of God answering my prayer, as I am that He won’t hear my prayer (flinch).

  See? If you and I can be honest, we have way too much fear/doubt/unbelief (flinching) in our relationship with Christ. Our fear/doubt/unbelief (flinching) actually causes us to miss out on God’s promises!

Our heavenly Father has His Power and His Love that He promises to give us. We flinch at every encounter we have with Him. What is so amazing about this awesome God with His power is that He gives to each of us. He doesn’t count our misses. We shouldn’t either. It is because of Him, not me. He grows me day by day to focus on Him (the bullseye) and not on all the distractions (fears, doubts, unbelief, the FLINCHING)

He will even help with your flinching. Just pray to Him!

Lord, help me use this power for Your Glory. And Lord, help me with my fears, doubts, unbeliefs (flinching). I want to be solid. Bullseye!

muzzloadershot

What makes you flinch?  Share with me and others.  Leave a comment below.

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Carved Trees and Lasting Legacies

While bushwhacking in the Colorado wilderness, I discovered this carved tree. This aspen tree shows evidence of Mr. Monte’s presence. There were no roads or trails in the vicinity. My search for a quicker route to a fish-filled mountain lake resulted in this discovery. It makes me curious to think about how many people have walked this same spot. Maybe just old Chas and me. I’m willing to wager he was riding a horse. What motivated him to write this message? Was he starting an adventure? Might those have been his last days on Earth? We can only guess why Mr. Montes stopped 75 years ago, but I’m thankful he did. It prompted reflection on my lasting impact. How will people remember us? Ever thought about it?

Well, think about this. The legacy you leave can be the life that you lead. That’s a pretty neat saying! Some leave a legacy for others to remember them by as a building, a sizeable chunk of money, or a monument. Chas Monte left a message on a tree. 

We have the power to build a lasting legacy. I advise against carving messages into trees. So, how is that done? You define your legacy by how you live your life. Guiding your life is much like leading a horse.

Whoa! (Grab a cup of coffee as I explain). Have you ever considered the idea of your life being like your own horse? Consider this: you’re in charge of both your life and your horse. You lead your horse to water, down the path, over the river and through the woods. I think you get the idea. You also have your own life to lead, don’t you? Your life is in your own hands. Your actions, destinations, timing. You determine your life’s path.

Yes, we sometimes feel out of control. A scared or disobedient horse causes the same ‘out of control’ experience. Life can feel the same way. We sometimes get spooked. Sometimes we act against our better judgment. We don’t practice what we preach. Your frightened horse will go off the path. My horse and my life share a tendency to stray. I’m still trying to guide my life. Life’s journey is a struggle; things aren’t always falling into place.

Your life reflects your choices and actions. Your life follows your lead. You lead and guide with your heart and soul. That’s the best I can explain it. You have chosen your horse. Saddle up, take the reins of your life, and trust and pray as you continue on your Christian journey.

The righteous will stand firm. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Psalm 112: 6,7.

We have the privilege of making our own decisions. I determine the path my life takes. I lead and guide according to my beliefs, following my Lord and Saviour with all my heart. My life and legacy will reflect how I follow God’s lead and guidance.

You can pass your legacy, the life you lead, on to others. Not that you go around bragging, tootin’ your own horn. Your life draws attention. They see your trust in the Lord. They feel your heart. You’ve taken the reins of your life. While you lead your own life, it’s good to follow God’s lead and direction.

Lead as you are being led. Follow Him!

See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher “learning to follow as I’m being led”

Leave a comment, or send me a private message describing your legacy.

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How Hawks Use Talons: A Lesson for Your Spiritual Journey

Are those claws sharp? That’s the most asked question about my hawks and owls that I fly. And YES!! They are sharp!


Claws? Talons is a more correct word used for birds of prey. Talons must stay sharp as they are the tools the bird uses to grab, hold, and tear prey apart. Not only are they sharp, but there is immense power in the hawks “pressing power” This is her ability to squeeze, whether its prey, or as it perches on my glove.

When training a hawk, a great way of knowing her mental state is by how she is pressing/squeezing my gloved arm. If she’s nervous or scared she clamps down with intensity. If she’s relaxed there is very little if any pressure coming from her talons When my hawk gets excited to go hunting she will “dance” on my glove with a grab, release, grab then release motion indicating her raised level of excitement. So I do talk or should I say communicate with her. She makes me aware of her thinking by the amount of pressure applied to my glove.

These talons and beak must stay sharp! The beak and talons are critical tools that these birds of prey use for their survival. Hawks have a way of sharpening their tools. It’s by continually using them. If you place a hawk in a pen, always giving it cut up meat (they don’t eat salads ya know), their beaks will grow abnormally long. This would require a manual process called “coping” to file the beak down to where it would function. My hawks must always be able to rip and tear their food. They have been created to do just that.

“Talons/tools” used on your spiritual journey

What are your ‘tools’ that you must use on your spiritual journey? A) If I’m not continually sharpening my relationship with God, it stands to reason that it will grow dull. A dull, boring walk with God doesn’t give you the joy and peace that would come if you stay sharp.

B) Another tool I value is my guidebook (the Bible) to keep me on the right path and provide spiritual food.

C)I value the power/tool of prayer as it sharpens my awareness of what I’m sharing with God as well as what He’s sharing with me.

D) I value the worship that I have to Jesus for His not only forgiving me, but His desire to walk with me each and every day

All those tools just mentioned are our “talons” that have been given to us to keep us going and growing on our spiritual journey. How do you stay sharp? By continually using these “tools/talons”. My prayer for you this week is that we stay hungry, and that we stay sharp!

I have come to realize the power that talons give my Redtail hawk. (I’ll show you my scar from wearing too short a glove one day.)

For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword (or talon I might add). It penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 Now that’s sharp! See Ya! Dan Ainsworth Wilderness Preacher