Tag Archives: a step onward and upward

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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

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What If God Says No

In the middle of this extreme drought here in Southern Colorado, I’ve planted my yard in native grasses.  I watered just enough for the seeds to sprout.  BUT, I’m not wanting to water anymore for fear of running my well dry.  It’s that dry.  But I’ve got lots of good reasons for planting my yard.  Mainly to cut down on the dust, and give the deer something to munch on.  No plans for mowing at all.  I just want a natural meadow.  Now I’m leaving it up to Mother Nature,……. or should I say my God.

If we don’t get rains soon, this grass will die.  I find myself asking God for rain so that MY yard grass will grow.  I catch myself becoming concerned over this little patch of green turning brown.  I find myself facing the fact that God may not send the rains needed.  I Realize that God’s answer may be NO.

Ok, Ok,  this is small potatoes in the grand picture of my and your life in this world.  No big  deal whether my grass lives or dies.  But we all have wants and needs in our lives.  And the answer we hear concerning our wants sometimes is……. no, not now,……. ain’t happening.  That leads us to our next question.  Why am I hearing No?

I don’t think I’m being like a fussy kid in the candy store.  I seriously am not saying, “I want this and this and this.”  I’ve got no plans to throw a temper tantrum if I don’t get my way.  For all the right reasons I’ve got a want in my life. (it’s this little ole desire to see it rain).  My mind spins because…….. well, maybe I’ve not done something I should have done, maybe I’ve not been good enough, maybe I , maybe this and maybe that.

With these thoughts of God and how He interacts in my life, I find an answer to being told no.  The answer comes from a local rancher here in Colorado.  He didn’t even know my question, but he gave me the answer I was searching for.

I was on his place setting bee swarm traps. (It’s that time of year again.)  Looking around at his cattle and also seeing that his grass was more brown than green, I asked him, “how will you survive this extreme drought?”

His answer………..”I don’t know”……….. and that was that!

But his presence, his body language, his manner, (his being a Colorado Cowboy), gave me much more insight into this simple but complicated answer.

He has faced droughts before.  He has faced times of no rain, times of too much rain, times of well, living life on the ranch.  No need to figure out life’s good and bad.  Just need to live….admit that you don’t know…..and keep going.

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God endures forever.  Isaiah 40:8

Such a mystery to all of us how bad things happen, why good things happen.  We spend enormous amounts of time trying to “figure out” the whys of life.  Maybe coming to the point in our life when we can comfortably say, “I don’t know” concerning spiritual and physical happenings in our lives is when we reach the point that TRUST and HOPE and FAITH become more than just words.

I say “I don’t know” more than I want to when asked about spiritual matters.I don’t know why bad things happen to good people.  I don’t know why circumstances catch up to some people but not others.  I don’t know if my puny yard of grass will live or die.  I don’t know , I don’t know, and I just don’t know.

But just like the rancher, there is a confidence in my answer of I don’t know.  You see, it’s not in realizing the answers to life that is important.  It’s realizing that my Lord is with me forever, no matter what!It’s not what you know, but WHO you know!!

I am someone who has let faith, trust, and beliefs as a Christian  take over my way of thinking about this life while here on Earth.

Call me a simpleton.  Call me naive.  CALL ME A CHRISTIAN!

See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher

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Any Hope For the Next Generation?

Wondering What Their Future Will Be

I’m wondering what the future holds for my son and daughter. What does the future hold for all you guys in your 20’s and 30’s?  Even those in your 40’s.

It’s a whole different world out there.  I know, I know,……. I’m gonna sound like an “old geiser” whose wishin’ for the old days, but my oh my, how this world is changing.

I grew up making a living by mostly working on a tractor, working on a farm for my living.  Actually there have been many different careers that I have been involved in to pay the bills.  From working on the farm with cattle, gardens, and chickens to selling insurance and mutual funds, digging graves, and owning a funeral home.  What I’ve learned on this career journey is preparing me for what’s to come as I enter the final quarter of my life.

The newer generation is also learning as they begin their careers.  But whew………. what’s out there today for them to have to be involved in.  GOOD and BAD!!!

I got my knowledge from reading books (even the encyclopedias…… man I do sound like an old geezer).  They get theirs, well shoot, they just google and ask Siri.  Even gettin’ me to look things up that way.

I got the world’s news from reporters.  They get theirs from “talking heads”.  They get theirs from people who take what’s truly happening and “spin it” to meet specific goals and agendas.  Where’s the truth?  How is anyone supposed to know what is truly happening?

This newer generation spends time with a bent neck looking down at their phones or whatever devices to see who is socially interacting with them.  How many likes, how many views.  Back in the day, the only electrical device I bent my neck down to watch was the toaster!  (I know, I’m an old timer.)

Anywhere you look it seems that people are getting angry/impatient/selfish and troubled.  I guess I was too busy back in the day on the tractor with cows and the dog to notice the angry and troubled people then.

 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, evil men who push away the truth from them.   For the truth about God is known to them instinctively;  God has put this knowledge in their hearts.  Since earliest times men have seen the earth and sky and all God made, and have known of his existence and great eternal power. So they will have no excuse when they stand before God at Judgment Day.

   Yes, they knew about him all right, but they wouldn’t admit it or worship him or even thank him for all his daily care. And after a while they began to think up silly ideas of what God was like and what he wanted them to do. The result was that their foolish minds became dark and confused.  Claiming themselves to be wise without God, they became utter fools instead.  Romans 1:18-22

That scripture was written a couple of thousand years ago. Hmm……., I guess the world hasn’t changed that much after all.  Maybe things just happen faster nowadays.

Here’s some advice from someone in the 4th quarter of his life.   Someone who can say, “I have been with God on this journey,….. and He has been with me.  That makes me a HAVE been not a “has been”.  This someone is me.  My advice to the newer generations?………..

Don’t become wise without God.  This world is crazy enough without you becoming mixed up in it.  Stay above the fray.  Be in the world but NOT of the world.  Make sure God is with you.  Most of all,…….. make sure you are WITH God.  There’s not enough time in this blog to tell you all you need to know about this life and journey.  It will take time to learn,…… it will take a life time!  Make sure your life is ALIVE!  How does one do that?  That’s the mystery of this spiritual journey you and I are own.  There are highs and there are lows.  Ups and downs, but stay focused on your Lord and Saviour Jesus.

I have been and will continue to be.  Since I have been, this means that I am not a “has been”.  I firmly have hope for these newer generations.  Hope, not in worldly craziness, but in God’s eternal stability and support……. for them.

My 4th quarter has begun.  My son taught me that the last two minutes of the ball game were the most important.  All the other time in the game is leading up to this most important time.  I agree.  I say it again!  I have been and will continue to be.  Since I have been and am BEING, this means that I am not a “has been”.  My 4th quarter will involve interacting more with these newer generations.  I may not physically be on my tractor plowing new ground and cultivating the soil,……. but that prepared me for my time now of plowing new relationships with people and cultivating friendships with others on this spiritual journey we are all own.

I have hope for these newer generations.  If you don’t,……. I KNOW WHERE YOU CAN FIND SOME!!

See Ya!   Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher