What’s in your back yard?

50 feet from swimming pool
less than 120 feet from house in back yard

Our sissy dog Dudley, a Shih Tzu, family pet, and definitely an inside house dog, got scared of the lightning and thunder while we were away from home.  He manages to get out of the house, chew a hole in the back yard fence and……. he’s gone!  Stayed out all night!  Look what was at the backyard the same time sissy dog Dudley was running away from the thunder.  What happened with the Big Dud?  He’s alright.  We found him the next morning.  (I’ll share that story in a few weeks).  But for now, look at that big cat!!

This is at our backyard, not in the wilderness of Colorado, but in the “wilderness” of my backyard in Mississippi!  This huge bobcat has been seen a few times on my deer trail cameras.  I’ve actually seen him with my own eyes in the daytime once this year.  He’s a big ‘un.  My dog Dudley, would have to look up to see the cat’s tail.  Seriously, this is a big cat.

I saw his track a few days ago right next to our backyard fence.  I’m thinking that no predator would be crazy enough (or hungry enough) to come this close to humans and the house.  So, I set up the trail camera next to the back yard.  (Click, click snapshot!) I hate to be the bearer of bad news, …….. but this cat has been in my back yard.  What has brought this big cat so close to where we live?  The bird feeder, the squirrels, food scraps,…… uh oh delicious Dudley?

1 Peter 5:8The Voice (VOICE) Most importantly, be disciplined and stay on guard. Your enemy the devil is prowling around outside like a roaring lion, just waiting and hoping for the chance to devour someone.

Most of the time I share stories of God’s love, His abundant life for us, and how we travel our spiritual journey being what God has created us to be.  But I need to remind myself and you, that our enemy the devil is out there prowling around doing all he can to destroy us.  Our lives, our families, our friendships, our Christian walk, any and everything he can get his claws into.  And remember, he’s a big ‘un.

Our enemy desires to consume us, but we find strength to resist him when we are dependent upon God for His strength.  The best way to fight the devil?  Be aware that he is closer to you and your house than you think.  Live your life depending on God (with His strength, not just yours)  My God is an awesome God. and, He’s the BIGGEST BIG ‘UN.    See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth  wildernesspreacher

Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Adventurous Year

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Well, the year is about over my friends.  I couldn’t and wouldn’t do this blog without YOU!  I want to get to know all of you even more this coming year. From my family and friends who have been with me for years, to you online readers that have become my friend over the past months.  From you guys in Colorado, Michigan, Washington, New Jersey and 15 other states.  From all ya’ll in Mississippi,  From you that read this from Brazil, Mexico, Spain, and 10 other countries so far. Continue to travel with me on this spiritual journey.

I sense a great need in friendship from my readers.  As we all travel this journey, we do need to realize that there are others traveling with us as well.  Our Lord and Saviour has blessed each of us by promising to be with us every step of the way.   What have I learned from this past year?  My journey is not just a God and me trip, but a God and we adventure.  This includes YOU!

I want to personally hear from each of you.  Send me an email   danainsworth@wildernesspreacher.com  I want to know what your interests are.  I want to know what you are facing this coming year in your own spiritual journey.

What will the wilderness preacher be doing this year?  Sharing, lots of sharing.  There will be several weeks of fishing this summer with families at Horn Creek Christian Camp, Colorado.  (They asked me if I would volunteer to help take families fishing………duh….YEAH!).  Fishing adventures with folks back in Mississippi are planned.  Several hiking trips, a few ATV rides, hunting expeditions, campouts, campfires under the stars, white water rafting, and just sittin’ back drinking coffee with friends are all in store for the year 2015 (and possibly another journey requiring a passport to another country sshhhh)  All of this with you being invited to come along.  Whether some of you actually get to enjoy the adventures with me personally, or whether you get to live them with us by reading online,  we will continue on this spiritual journey seeking God and living our life as He has created us to be!  See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth

 

We can pray as they soar

I was making a video of a nasty storm when I spotted these 2 birds of prey.  You know, birds like hawks and eagles, etc.  Within minutes, the bottom would be falling out from this storm.  But there they were, soaring through and above the storm.

Iwe pray while they soar

Soaring is when you use the wings God gave you to glide along your journey.  These birds didn’t flap their wings a single time as I watched them.  Instead of using their own power by flapping their wings, they just soared.  God’s power from winds and thermal drafts allow these beautiful creatures to soar.

Seeing these birds reminded me of my dear friend (and her family) who are all having to face a nasty storm in life.  This family has been lifted up in prayer.  God is definitely lifting them higher spiritually.  Higher, so that they will be using the wings of Eagles to navigate through and over this storm.

I wish I had answers to life’s questions.  God, why is this happening?  Why them?  What will happen next?  On and on.  It’s  my weak human nature showing through that makes me crave these answers.  I want to do all the flapping myself.  I can fly under my own power.  I’ve got my own “wings”.

But, somewhere in the journey we begin to trust in God’s power.  We “spread our wings”, not to flap in busyness. But, our wings are now spread so that we can use God’s power and His Glory to “lift” us up and along on our journey.  It’s no more the tireless flapping (which looks busy), but now it’s the reaching out for God and His power (sorta looks like we’re not doing anything).  But a valuable move has been made.  The faith and trust required to depend solely on God can only come from……. well, God himself.

My dear friend and family,  I hurt for you.  We love you so much.  You are being such an inspiration, spiritually, to all of us who are walking around looking skyward.

There you are soaring high up in the sky.  Soaring with the help from an Almighty God.  I’m sure the view is different from on Eagle’s wings you are now soaring with.  All we see from this view below is a nasty storm.  You are living life from day to day, “one day at a time” as you say.  The faith and trust to travel hour by hour, day by day, depending on God alone is nothing short of living the miracle.  What miracle?  Having a living relationship with a living God.  He is there “lifting you up on Eagles wings”.  We lift you up in prayer.  God is lifting you even further, closer to Him.  Soar my friend!  We hurt and fret for you from below.  God is lovingly and powerfully guiding you closer to Him from above. Soar, fly higher my friend.

eaglesoar

But they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles…….  Isaiah 40:31
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