Tag Archives: hearing from God

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Do you need to restore your joy as a Christian?

RE-store, RE-condition, RE-connect, RE-vive!

RE-store, RE-condition, RE-connect, RE-vive!

After 15 years, I’ve decided our deck needs to be worked on.  It’s weathered, cracking, splintering, and you know, just wearing down from the forces of nature.  The Mississippi sunshine beats down on it.  The rain has a big part in wearing down this decking.  Also the human traffic, dragging chairs and furniture, the salt and chlorine from the pool….(even the cat who claws the post). Any and everything that can wear this wooden deck down is in high gear to try to turn it from a well conditioned deck into a rotting mass of wood and decay.

Until! ………..  DadadaDAAAAA! (Musical Intro!)  Until I hear about the 40% off all paint at the paint store.  My wife and daughter always tell me they shop because of sales.  (Seems like they always BUY because of sales too).  Well, I’m joining in myself.  Save 40%, so I’ll buy a bunch of buckets of paint for that deck of mine.

I’ve known for quite some time that the deck was needing a RE– conditioning.  I’ve just let it rock on.  The store has a paint that will RE-store your deck.  It also will RE-condition, and RE-vive.  Even says on the paint can that it will “make it like brand new again”.  I’m wondering if it works that well if I can take a drink of it.  A big ole swig just might be what I need for myself.

Restore unto me the joy of your salvation, and let a willing attitude control me Psalms 51:12  International Standard Version

OK, personal question here….. Is the joy of being a Christian fading, being worn away, and is being lost from all the weathering in your earthly life?  Well, it’s time to get RE- ‘d.  Anything that begins with RE-.   Restored, revived, realigned, reconnected, recharged, rekindled, REVIVED.

What’s amazing is that God Himself will be the one that restores you.  You are the one that must become motivated enough to ask for this reconditioning.  It’s a process between you and God.  It may not be an overnight thing.  It might take a “couple of coats”.  You gotta believe that your Lord and Saviour wants you to have a life that’s protected from this world’s harm.  You gotta believe that He knows and cares about your condition.  You gotta believe. You do don’t you?

See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher

 

 

 

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Facing Your Fears

Click on the video to see how I face my fear of bees.  They do get after me.  …….. To be continued…… next week!

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.  Ephesians 5:17

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Riding Horses Gives a Different Point of View

a different point of view

Instead of hiking, I’m riding horses with Zach and Jay.  This is a journey with a new way of thinking and a completely different point of view.  Why?  Because I’m riding a new horse.  Ruby, is not even 3 yrs old! Also Ruby is new to me, I’ve never ridden her.  It’s going to take me a little time to see how she responds to me.  Also, it’s going to take a little time to see how I respond to her.  We’ve got to develop a little trust for each other.

This trail is the one that I hike in the early mornings for exercise, for clearing my mind, for being in nature, for time alone with God.  I immediately can tell things are different from all the times I’ve walked on my own feet.  The main difference is that I have a different point of view.  I’m seeing things differently from a few feet higher off the ground, sitting on top of Ruby.  I am aware that there will be no movement in any direction unless Ruby takes me there.

I haven’t ridden a horse in a while.  I wanted to get “back in the saddle” to get the feel again.  (I’m possibly going to be an extra in a movie that may require my riding a horse.  Shhh……. if I make it into the movie you guys will be the first to know.  To be an extra in a movie has been on my bucket list.  I’ll let ya know if it happens.  Now you know why I’m having to grow my beard!)

I’m having a great time with the guys. We are all enjoying the outdoors and the horseback riding.  We do the “guy talk” with each other, you know, gruntin’ about work, hunting, fishing, the ladies, (as if any of us know what we’re talking about). But also I’ve got to admit that I’m nervous.  Well, just my legs and rear end. The legs are clamped on like vice grips.  It’s as if my rear end is covered in Gorilla Glue.  I’m not going to let go!  Seems like I can’t get relaxed because I’m holding on too tight.  I don’t know why.  The horse is acting great.  It’s just me thinking about all those what ifs.  What if she spooks….what if I do something stupid, it makes her jump…. what if…….. well you never know.  I’m not on my own two feet, I’m trusting Ruby’s four feet!

We’ve probably been riding for over an hour when it happened.  No, I didn’t fall off,…… I relaxed.  Just out of the blue Ruby and I became a team.  She was probably glad I took the “clamps” off her rib cage.  I could sense her movements and almost tell what she was thinking.  I was enjoying the view.  It was like I felt her say, “Enjoy the view and the ride, I’ll be carrying you all the way”.

Isaiah 46:4The Message (MSG)3-4 “I’ve been carrying you on my back
    from the day you were born,And I’ll keep on carrying you when you’re old.
    I’ll be there, bearing you when you’re old and gray.
    I’ve done it and will keep on doing it, carrying you on my back, saving you.

My horse is carrying me all the way.  We come to the creek where I usually have to go around when I’m walking on my two feet, and cross a log to get to the other side.  Not with Ruby.  She is carrying me over this water.  The other guys are also carried across.  Just like our Lord and Saviour who promises to carry us on His back. We just need to “Let go and Let God”.  Maybe in our spiritual journey we “hang on like vice grips and Gorilla glue”. I guess you are like me and get nervous when you are not on your own two feet, but instead you are letting God carry you.  That’s what was becoming clear to me on this adventure.  My different point of view?  I’m trusting my horse instead of myself!  You see things different when you are being carried by a horse.  Things definitely look different when you are being carried by God.

Jay gave some words of wisdom when he said, “So, if you make it back home without falling off, it’s been a good ride!”  I took a spiritual meaning from that.  When God is carrying you on this journey, stay in touch with Him so that you won’t fall off.

Zach gave me some encouraging words.  “Let’s ride again next week!!”   Sounds good to me.  Let God carry you on lots of spiritual journeys.  Go for it.  Keep riding, letting God carry you.   You’ll see things in a different way.  Ride on!

See Ya!!   Dan Ainsworth  wildernesspreacher