Tag Archives: a step onward and upward

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A Trip Full of Obstacles and Distractions

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The trip was full of obstacles and distractions

The trip was full of FUN!!

[Hard to believe this has been seven years ago!] Headed out on our first ever Mississippi alligator hunt we faced problems.  The weather was not ideal.  We got lost. Somebody (oops, me) forgot the plug in the boat.  Where did all these bugs come from.  Bug spray must be made out of sugar water!!  We snagged, but lost a HUGE gator. Our guide (my huntin’ buddy Jeffrey(let’s git em)Walker) is killing himself trying to make this trip work. A pole broke.  I got a sore throat.  I could go on and on. (Whine,whine,whine)

I think I will go on!  In spite of problems, obstacles, distractions, you name it……… we had the BEST time together.

Allow me to share what happened.  Being together with family and best friend…… facing problems together….. sharing with each other the good and bad……. and celebrating a successful hunt.  That somehow made this one of the most meaningful family “adventures” we’ve been on.

It’s the same way in our spiritual journeys.  Obstacles and distractions ( too busy, interrupted prayers and quiet times, doubts and fears of our own making, you name it.  You could go on and on.  If only I could _________, then my spiritual life would get better.  (Whine, whine, whine)

Well friend, I want you to go on!  In spite of problems, obstacles, distractions, you name it………. Keep Going!!!!!!  Skin those knees, run out of breath. Swat the skeeters! Just Keep Going! Our God is there!  He’s in the boat with you. Laugh with Him, Rejoice with/in Him.  Celebrate!!

Proverbs 15: 13  A happy heart makes the face cheerful……..

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Hurt People Hurt People (Comforted people comfort others)

It’s my Birthday, let’s have knee surgery!


Yep, the ole knee needed some surgery. The Doctor said there were a couple of tears, he could go in and fix it, ………..and I would be good to go within a week! Thankfully this was not a bunch of repair or replacement work on the knee. So honestly, it hasn’t been as bad as it could have been. But,……… bad enough to cause a little pain and hurt. How do I celebrate my Birthday when I’m hurting? (Just like you, admit it right now), if you or me are hurting, it’s pretty much a given that others are going to have to hurt as well.

C’mon now. I’m admitting so you might as well admit it too. We are not the best patients. We don’t like to experience pain. If we HAVE to experience pain, then ALL of us want someone else to be right there experiencing their own pain as well. Ever notice that the people we are the closest to, and care for the most, are the ones that we jump on the quickest. Well yea,…….duh…….. they are the easiest targets. Plus, they don’t know to get out of the way. 😉

Pain , what pain!! Need to stick my arm and hook me to an IV! Bring it on lady! What now? Banged my left arm on the side rails of the bed. Who did that? Dunno, they’ve taken my glasses so I can’t see who did it. It might have been me myself. I can’t remember now cause the nite nite medicine is starting to take effect.

Whew, that was quick. I’m awake now. After I’m allowed to fully wake, in walks THAT nurse. You know, when you first go in for surgery, everybody is, “Hey, how ya doin’, oh it’s your birthday, aren’t you sweet!” But THAT nurse is like, “Hey, let’s get you out of here, NOW!!!” She’s bossing me around. Do this, do that. Oh she’s got a smile on her face because she knows the torture she’s fixing to give to me. PAIN??? When the nurse ripped off the heart monitor pads along with hair, skin, and what seemed like the very fiber of my being, what did I do? Nothing. I took it like a man! Pain?? Bring it on lady. Pain? No problem. I can handle it. Load me into the car like a sack of potatoes. Shut the car door. Smile and wave at THAT nurse as she’s headed for the next victim. I’m now headed home. What pain and hurt I will be experiencing, I will be able to handle it. How will I handle it you ask? By making sure others are hurting. Just like you remember, I’m a people. And,…. hurt people hurt people.

Staci is driving me home. That makes her the easy target. I honestly don’t mean to be short,testy, and a little on the grumpy side. The pain is not too bad, but there is enough hurt there for me to be,….. well,…..short, testy, and a little on the grumpy side.

Traffic is terrible. That’s her fault. I deserve a honey bun. We stop and it takes FOREVER for her to go get it. Since I took it “like a man” concerning all that THAT nurse did to me, I now made Staci relive the whole thing with me. “Like a man”, I’m expecting sympathy from my sweetheart. Instead I get “poor baby”. I might as well go back to sleep.


2 Corinthians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

I’m back home now, the sleepy time medicine has gone away, and most of the skin injuries from THAT nurse have started healing, I’ve got to admit something.I realize that during my time of pain and hurting, Staci was by my side comforting me.

Our God and Heavenly Father provide us with comfort from all of our troubles. He does this out of love and compassion. He also does this so that we in turn can share His comfort to others just like He does to us. Totally makes sense, except when YOU are the one hurting.

Hurt people hurt people. We see it all around us. Comforted people comfort others. Do you see much of that? Hmmm…. you yourself can take a step in showing someone some comfort. Our Lord and Saviour stands there ready to comfort you during your times of hurt. Talk with Him and to Him about your needs. Then BE a Christian and share some comfort to this hurting world. One person at a time. Even to THAT nurse!!

See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher.

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Getting In Shape To Truly Come Alive

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I’m putting these boots back on!  Five years ago I bought these boots to wear as I walked/ exercised/ got in shape.  I was getting into shape to live above the world, (and in the peaks of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains).  But,….. I’ve been busy the past two years building our log home.  No time for exercise, (cause I been working), no time for the right kinds of food, (honey buns and ‘tater chips are quicker).  I can tell I’m not in shape to live life at it’s best.  How can I tell?

Mother gave me a to do list.  Landscaping, cleaning out the barn, more landscaping, winterizing where her plants grow for the winter, and….. more landscaping.  I’ve moved more pine straw with just a pitchfork, than what a 2 mile wide tornado would do!   I jumped on it.  Gonna whoop these chores.  AND I DID!!   But , man am I sore.  My muscles ache from head to toe. All that lifting, moving, swinging and dancing with the pitchfork……. I think I’m stiff hurting all over.  As I write this, my earl lobes even ache.  I must be out of shape!

Time to take some action.  I call my son Jordan for advice.  See, he is a Sports Performance Specialist working with athletes.  You need to increase your pitching speed from 89 to 92?  He can help.  You need to be faster, jump higher, farther etc.  He’s your guy.  What you have physically, he can take and tweak improvements.  It might take extra time, work, and or dedication, but he gets athletes to live at their best.  Maybe he can help me.

Our conversations turn into Jordan asking me what my goals are as far as being in shape.  Here’s my chance.  So I tell him…….. “I want to be that guy that’s always showing off his abs.  You know, the guy that is a picture perfect specimen with ripped muscles and no fat whatsoever.”

He doesn’t even laugh, at least not that I can hear him.  He begins explaining how a regimen of eating (or I would say, barely eating) proper foods plus extensive cardio training could give me those results.  There was no mentioning honey buns so I quickly came back to reality.  ” No, honestly, I want to be in shape enough that I can truly live life.  I’ll fight the arthritis, aging, weight gain…… all those things we all face.  But I want to know that I did what I could do by taking care of my body to fully live my life.  I may not look like and have a model’s body on the outside, but on the inside……. I want to give it my best.  So get the boots out and let’s exercise!!!

My personal sports performance specialist has now given me a series of exercises that are designed to do just that.  Doing these exercise makes me more mobile, agile, and a little quicker on my feet.  Might even lose a few pounds because of it.  The biggest difference?  It’s how I feel about myself.  There is more of a positive outlook on everything.  Not just how many reps I can do, but that I truly am doing something for myself that truly helps me live life better.  Oh I still get those aches and pains, still have to stretch tight muscles, still have to resist honey buns and snickers candy…… but I can feel it on the inside!  And it’s a good thing!

I’ve got a question that I’ve asked Jordan and now I’ll ask you.  What exercises are there that can help me spiritually to live life at its fullest?  Easy answer!  Read the Bible, pray, and meditate on God’s Will.  Easy enough because we all know these exercises, but are we doing them correctly?

Jordan text me his thoughts on this, and coming from this sports training professional it caused me to think harder on what he said.  Here are his words:

“I think a lot of people will pray, or think about things, but then just end up doing what feels right to them.  Just like when you are going hard at a workout, you feel like 3 sets might be enough.  Is it because 3 sets really is enough or because you got tired at 3.

For both things (physical and spiritual), I think a person needs emotional maturity.  If you don’t have it, you will quit when things get hard or be susceptible to only making the decision that makes you “feel” right.  You have trouble telling the difference between your emotions and the Holy Spirit’s guidance.”

I catch myself doing just that sometimes.  I’ll read a few verses, then think…..that’ll do.  I’ll meditate briefly, then think what all needs doing.  I’ll pray, but just the basics.    Hmmm……… sounds like I did three reps, figured it was good enough, or got tired one.  Not much exercise for improvements there huh?

Jesus said,……. “I have come that they may have life, and have it the full.” John 10:10

Jesus has given me and you a life to live.  If I can “exercise” to improve my spiritual journey, then by all means I’m ready to “put those exercise boots on”.

Praying and reading the Bible,…….. not just going through the motions, not just 3 reps and call it cause your tired.   But exercise your praying and reading to benefit your everyday living.

Spiritual Exercise is not an end all, be all, all by itself.  It’s to help you live.  It’s to help you live an abundant life.

Focus on letting your praying and Bible reading be exercises.  Exercises that pull you closer to God’s Will.  Exercises that help you live….. and come ALIVE!!  Now give me 5!!!

See Ya!   Dan Ainsworth  wilderness preacher