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Give me a sign, Lord. Then I’ll…. ooops!

Give me a sign, Lord. Then I'll...oops

Well, here’s your sign laying in the road.  I stopped, backed up, and moved the sign off of the pavement. It started me to thinking.  Did someone hit this sign with their car because they didn’t see it?  Maybe they were going too fast, or texting while driving, or so preoccupied with whatever was happening on their side of the windshield that they didn’t see what was on the other side of the windshield.  Whoa!!!!! What if they had hit a child instead of just the sign?  Would whatever reason they have for this collision be good enough to justify that they hit something or heaven forbid someone?

Signs, signs, everywhere signs (a 70’s rock song).  But do we read the signs?  Stop sign? only if there are other cars. Caution light?…..means hurry up before it turns red.  Yield sign?…… not if I’m havin’ a bad day buddy.   A slow- children at play sign? To someone it must mean plow into it and launch it from the shoulder of the road to the driving lane itself.

Too many of us live our lives the same way that we drive.  We concentrate on just what’s inside the windshield.  You know, me, myself, and I.  We even ask God to give us a sign and help me and what happens?  We plow right through it. Whoa!!!!!

Mark 8:11-12 The Voice   11 they were met by Pharisees—ready with their questions and tests—seeking some sign from heaven that His teaching was from God.

Jesus (sighing with disappointment): 12 Why does this generation ask for a sign before they will believe? ….

Why is Jesus disappointed?  He knows that He has already given us many signs.  He also has given us…… Himself.  Yet, we try to do it without Him, focus on our inward selfish lives, preoccupied with me,myself, and more of me.  Is it any wonder that we don’t see Him?  He’s disappointed also because we plow right through chances and opportunities to “slow down” and just BE His children.  (Do you ever play with God?  After all you are His child.  Just a thought.)

  In your spiritual travels, that slow- children at play sign is there for you.  You are the child that God is trying to protect……. from you yourself.  While “driving” down this “road of life”, we can actually run over ourselves.  We can be our own worst enemy. Focus on being God’s child, not on wanting more signs.  He won’t be disappointed!  Neither will you.         See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth  wilderness preacher

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Why is Your Garbage on my Driveway

Your garbage on my part of God's green Earth

Ok, you’ve “done gone and made me mad”!  This is my piece of God’s green Earth.  It’s where I live.  I see this view every day.  But I can’t enjoy this view because of your Stinkin’ Garbage.

What’s on the list?  Don’t get me started.  plastic bags, candy wrappers, bottles, beer cans.  I could go on and on…… I think I will….. Wendy’s, McDonald’s, and Sonic bags and paper towels.  Chick-Fil-A bag and wrappers….. This fast food location is over 40 miles away, yet you wait until my driveway to litter.  These bags serve a purpose when you order to go. They just don’t belong next to my mailbox.  Wait, I’m not finished with the list of your junk.  discarded motor oil containers, a dirty diaper…. A DIRTY DIAPER……..a t- shirt, personal hygiene items…… cigarette butts, a busted coffee mug, a stray dog, hair brush, your junk mail (with your name on it……Busted).  Yes, believe me when I say that I have picked up this garbage all within 25 feet of my mailbox.  All within the past three  months.  I guess I’m through ranting and raving……. No I’m not….. I also picked up  your Electric bill.  It’s yours because my name isn’t xxxxxx  sxxxxxxx , and I don’t live in Mt. Olive.  The half full bottle of wine was a different find, along with the Jergens skin so soft.  What’s next?  Oh, I know.  The worn out, slightly stained sofa or love seat.  I’ll pull in my driveway off Airport Road and there it will be.  OK, you get my drift.  Well, apparently I’m getting everybody else’s.

Romans 12:2Contemporary English Version (CEV)2 Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.

Well, I’ve calmed down. Staci gave me a snickers candy bar, and yes, I threw the wrapper in the trash can.  Aren’t there times when you feel like you are getting dumped on by everyone?  Those are especially the times we need to let God change the way we think. There will always be “trash and garbage” from other people.  Whether it happens because they are careless, out of convenience, or just plain inconsiderate, it’s going to be happening. It’s irritating, but don’t let it come between you and God.  You may then become the trash you so despise.

I’ll continue to pick up other folks trash that is thrown on me.  Why? Cause it gets in the way of my seeing God’s beauty and Glory.  Focus on His works.  Focus on what He’s creating you to BE.  Don’t focus on the trash…….. but look at God’s green Earth.  Where?  It’s at the end of your drive.  But more importantly, God’s “green Earth” is in your own heart.  Because of this world you’ll have to deal with garbage thrown even at your heart.  Why?  I don’t know. Trash happens.  You’ll have to pick it up, and throw it away yourself.  Don’t let it get in the way.  Make sure your heart stays clean!  Allow God to change the way you think.

 

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Made from Scratch (something from nothing)

 

made from scratch

made from scratch

 

 

It’s a badge of honor and glory.  When something is home made, hand made, made from scratch, it means that it’s a better product, right?

“Made from scratch” definitely makes it better to me.  Betty Crocker brownies from a box are pretty good.  Brownies that are home made, hand made, made from scratch just have that extra oomph to make them a special treat. Chocolate pudding?  Well, start with cocoa and all those scratch ingredients, cook it according to the recipe book, serve it warm…….. and Man, what you talking ’bout!   Compared to “made from scratch” chocolate, instant chocolate pudding is like eating the wet paper towels used when you spill your coffee on the computer. (There it’s cleaned up, sorry for the interruption)

Friends of mine, Jon and Liz have a farm where everything seems to be made from scratch. It’s a beautiful site.  You would agree with me.  Picture a country setting, a warming spring day, tractor plowing the fields and garden, and what looks like close to a hundred chickens, ducks, geese, guineas, and other feathered friends. These birds are canvassing over and across the just plowed corn field scratching to their hearts content.  It was a beautiful site seeing all those birds free ranging in Jon’s field. This farm will be producing lots of vegetables and fresh eggs.  But, as a fly fisherman, what was the beauty that I was most interested in? ……….Feathers!!!

It’s a badge of honor and glory to tie your own “made from scratch” flies.  Even more glory when you catch fish on the flies that you yourself have tied.  Jon and Liz gave me a bagful of feathers the next day. (I guess he could tell I was drooling over all those “feathers” walking around in his garden.)  Hey, fly fishermen don’t think exactly like everyone else.

I’ve taken those feathers, and have made a fishing fly that is home made, hand made, and made from scratch.  In a few days, this fly will be cast on the water ever so gently, with the hope of catching another trophy.

Ephesians 2:10New International Version (NIV)10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

God has made you.  You are His home made, hand made, made from scratch.  It’s a badge of honor and glory.  Yet sometimes we put ourselves down.  We think that we are no good.  I’ll never forget even though it was years ago.  A severely mentally handicapped young man came to our church and sang “Somebody bigger than you and I”.  It made me realize that I was not much more than this mentally handicapped  young man.  But there he was saying “I know I’m somebody, cause God don’t make no junk!”

Well, there you go.  In spite of your problems, your shortcomings, your not being perfect……. you are home made, hand made, and made from scratch.  And God don’t make no junk!   It’s a badge of honor and glory.  Make something from nothing!  Let your glory be for God’s Glory!

See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher