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The B.S. in Your Christmas Season and How to Get Rid of It

christmas-tree

What? You are too busy doing and getting stuff for everybody to celebrate the Christmas season?  Whoa there pard’ner, friend, and fellow travelers.  Maybe you best get “off that horse” for a minute.  By that I mean, put the phone down, stop the car, take a break and seriously take a minute to get refreshed.  Do like me as I write this,….. grab a mug of hot chocolate.  Say what?  You’re even too busy for this?  Man, you ARE busy aren’t you?

Busyness.  While intending to do good, it consumes us in the process.  Busy at work?  Sure, the more I do, the better I am.  Busy with family?  Sure, the more I decorate, cook, shop, and buy gifts, the better father/mother/husband/wife I’ll be.  Busy with this Christmas season that is fast approaching?  Sure, the more cards, gifts, parties, candies, and whew!…….. I’m worn out just thinkin’ bout what all YOU got to do.

Don’t get me wrong.  I enjoy all this gifts, parties, candies, cards and whewwwww!  I have no desire to be a scrooge and “Bah, Humbug” everything that intends to bring joy during this season.  But when did all the Busyness (with a capital B) become our idol and start taking away from (and not adding) to our peace and joy?

Now, the stuff that you have.  When does all your Stuff (with a capital S) go from being fun things to give and receive, to stuff that now is done out of obligations, requirements, and (keeping up with the Jones, or who are they…… the Kardashians)  😉

We see people that have Busyness and Stuff taking over their lives.  When we see others living that way we think, “well I’m glad I don’t do that”!  But the problem comes when you and I don’t see ourselves living like that.  Ever wonder why we don’t see it in ourselves.  It’s because we are too Busy with too much Stuff.  The B. and S. in our lives.  B.S.  ……. It’s a fun card game, but a big problem in each of our lives.

Luke 2:10-11 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you.  He is the Messiah, the Lord.

The greatest gift……. Jesus.  He was given to me and you.  That’s what Christmas is all about.  Aren’t you glad that you don’t have to be busier than anybody else to receive this gift.  Aren’t you glad that Jesus loves you no matter how much stuff you have?

Our busyness takes over when we let it.  The older lady at a retreat in Lake City, Colorado was who first showed me about being too busy and the B.S. in my life.  I can do something simple like hang lights and decorations.  Does it bring me peace and joy or is it part of the B.S. in my life?  Honestly, it depends on where I’m at spiritually doesn’t it?  Think about it.

So what advice does your guide the wilderness preacher have as far as getting rid of the B.S. in your Christmas season?  Try this.  If you can do this, I honestly believe it will help you have a peaceful and more joyful Christmas season.  Here is my suggestion to you, (and myself as well).

Give a gift to someone that you know that really isn’t expecting anything.  It could be something nice, or something simple.  Could even be that you tell them what they mean to you.  But it’s the thought and action that counts, (to them…… as well as you).  If you are so caught up in your own little world that you can’t do this, well then there’s more B.S. on you than I thought.

Give a gift back to Jesus this Christmas.  I know the perfect gift for Him.  Our time.  Spend time with Him.  Sing a Christmas Carol to Him, just the two of you.  Read a Bible verse alone with God.  Share a mug of hot chocolate with Him.  He honestly could care less about our Stuff and our Busyness.  He cares about You!  Spend time with Him.  After all, it is His birthday!

 

In this spiritual world we travel, there will always be B.S. to deal with.  I’m so glad that my Messiah, Jesus Christ gave me a pair of “spiritual Cowboy boots” that protects me especially when I deal with my own B.S.  Remember, it’s not all the stuff we deal with on the outside, but what we let into our hearts (the inside).  A simple act of decorating, giving a present, picking out a gift could be an expression of joy, or it could be another B.S. moment.  You decide.

“Oh tidings of comfort and joy”    Merry Christmas friends!

See Ya!   Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher, part time stocking filler upper

 

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You Are A Part of God’s Glory

upsidedownlogcarved

   The picture shows a log that has been turned upside down so that you can see where I’ve measured,scribed, cut ,carved, sawed, whittled, measured, notched, sanded, shaped, chiseled, and measured some more.  There are also stains on the logs from the blood, sweat, and tears that have been added to this log home.  I’m now close to getting to the top of the nine foot walls of the log home that I’m building.  It’s time to take a break….. and BE THANKFUL!!

 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15

Every log that is part of my home is either crooked, bent, scarred, blemished, ……..in other words, none of them are perfect.  But, BUT…., after I take hold of them and they get measured, scribed, cut, carved, sawed, whittled, measured, notched, sanded, shaped, chiseled, and measured some more……….. They fit.  They fit perfectly!!!  Just like me and you!!  Seriously, you fit into your own home filled with God’s Love.

Just like this log, I’m betting you had your life turned upside down at some point in time.  Didn’t know why did ya?  Didn’t understand did ya?

But God got a hold of you.  You may think of your life as just everyday living,…….. work, play, and any everyday activities.  But my friend, what if in God’s Eyes and His Love for you He saw it as time to be with Him.

God’s Love.  God’s Love, there is none better.  In spite of what some churchy religions seems to tell us, you can’t be “gooder” to get more love from God.  And in spite of what the world tries to tell you, you can’t be too “bad” to experience God’s Love.

That one thing right there is what I’m so thankful for this Thanksgiving.  God sent His son Jesus, because of His love, to save you through Him, not condemn you.

Jesus wants a loving relationship.  You can not be too “bad” to receive this love.  You will waste your (and His) time by trying to be good like you want to do it.  Instead, just seek the peace of Christ in your heart.  Let Him be the one who “pulls” you into doing good.  Let Him be the one that “carves out” the bad.  You need to Love on Jesus, cause He wants to Love on you.

Somehow, somewhere, you won’t understand it, and you won’t know just why, but God is gonna turn your life upside down.  He will then measure, scribe, cut, carve, saw, whittle, measure, notch, sand, shape, chisel, and measure some more.  That imperfect person you are will now fit perfectly.  Not because of you, but because of Him.  Because of His Love.

“Lord, I’m thankful that you love me.  Lord, I’m thankful that you take control and with your loving eyes, you measure, scribe, cut, carve,  saw, whittle, measure, notch, sand, shape, chisel, and measure me every day.  Most of all, I’m thankful for the Blood, Sweat, and Tears you have given for my life.  My glory is for you.  To God be the glory.

See Ya!    Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher, being thankful.

 

 

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Life In The Fast Lane

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You’re kiddin’ me right?  The only way that I can cross this road is to make a U Turn?  Seriously?

In the middle of nowhere, rural south Mississippi, with very little traffic, there has been a major change.  Where is the stop sign? What’s happening here?  I mean, is there a legitimate reason for doing this?

To cross this highway involved stopping at the stop sign, looking both ways, crossing to the median, looking both ways, then driving on past.  You would leave the 4-lane behind and continue on your drive.  Not now buddy!  You can’t drive across anymore.  They (who is they?) have put a barrier up where the road intersection used to be.  NOW, you must turn right and merge into traffic.  Just a little ways down the 4-lane they give you a U-Turn lane.  To get to where you’re going, you take the U-Turn, then merge into traffic, then get in the right turn lane.  Then you’re back on track.

You got this?  Does it make sense?  Before it was this……… Stop at the stop sign.  Look both ways for any traffic on the 4-lane. (Never was hardly any.)  Then proceed with caution on your journey.  Now, now it’s like………. slow down at intersection, turn right, merge into U-Turn lane, go forward, get into right turn lane, turn right, go forward, now move ahead. (Now whip it!)

It’s all done without stopping.  It just doesn’t make any sense to me.  Was the intersection redone because of a safety issue?  Do the log trucks in this area create a problem with the (used to be there) intersection?  Has the Highway commission and public transportation seen a better way of doing things? I don’t know!  It’s confusing to me.  I don’t understand.  All I know now is that to get to where I’m going, I’ve got to turn right,make a U-Turn, turn right again and then I’ll be……….. uh….. then….. well I’ll be!!

I see a spiritual lesson here as plain as day, as plain as the new asphalt on this new intersection.  When we choose to become Christians, what directions do we take?  First, we come to God. (in a car we would turn to the RIGHT!)  Then we ask for forgiveness and change our ways. (We make a U-Turn).  Next, we turn right again (We follow God’s Will and Direction for our lives) and then……. we get to where we’re goin’.

I can make no acknowledgement that I understand this process. (either  the actual road intersection or the spiritual “intersection”)  I feel inferior sometimes when I can’t explain this process to others. (either one).  But what causes me to live my spiritual life as a Christian is the same reasoning that is used to cross this highway.  What is this reasoning?  Believe.   By believing, I choose to take a new and different path to get to where I’m goin’.  Whether I choose a new path to cross the highway, or whether I choose to follow Christ to get me where I’m goin’, it’s based on what I believe.  Not what I understand.

Isaiah 55:8-9New International Version (NIV)8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,    so are my ways higher than your ways    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher part time highway inspector, full time believing in a Holy Spirit filled journey