Tag Archives: helping others

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Too Full of Joy to Die

How to LIVE! When You Are Dying

Meet Jim!  He should have been dead 3 times by now.  He has been battling Pancreatic Cancer for 2 plus years.  Yep, He’s been given the death sentence from doctors and lab tests.  But,…..an even more powerful event is going on with Jim.  He’s been given a life sentence by God,……. a life sentence filled with JOY and PEACE.

Jim truly lives each minute of every day by seeking joy while here on this Earth.  I’ve honestly come to realize that Jim is seeking joy, but joy is seeking Jim wherever he goes.

Several years ago,I asked him what changed in his life when he was given the “dreaded news” of Cancer.  My particular question was, “Did you start praying”?  Did you start praying HARDER???”  He told me that since he was already a praying man, that nothing really changed, he just planned on keeping on praying as he has always done.  Wow, a man walking with God through thick and thin.

Something else from Jim.  “When you lose your future you no longer dwell on the past, that leaves only the present. ” (That’s deep thinking for me and you, but it’s deep living for Jim.

He’s explained to me that since his life “is over” he devotes his time and energy to restore, to renew, to rebuild others.  He gets such a deep sense of joy from living like this. What a way of truly living your life.  I’d of never thought of living that way.  Living your life helping others,……. just like Jesus would do.  Oh, wait, that’s called living like a Christian.

And this subject of DEATH.  I deal with it like every body else in the good ole USA.  I never think about it, …..act as if it will never happen to me.

Jim explained it to me this way.  Dan, (insert your name here _______), dying for me will be like this.  I’ll cross a bridge on my journey that I’ve not crossed before.  YOU CAN’T CROSS IT WITH ME!  Not just yet anyways.  Crossing this bridge will seem like a big step for you.  But for me it’s just a  continuing of my journey.

Jim is a strong believer in Christ.  He tells me he doesn’t intend to live like he is dying.  That’s so obvious Jim, my friend.  You inspire others more than you will ever know.

Hey!  You folks out there reading this.  Do you want to talk with Jim yourself?  Are you dying from a dreaded disease?  Are you running out of time because of something this world has thrown at you and into your life?  I’ll give you Jim’s phone number.  He can restore the joy into your life just by talking and sharing with you.  He seriously doesn’t have the time.  But what time God gives him, he turns around and gives to others.

I’m glad God placed Jim in my path on my Christian journey.  I’m fighting things of this world that try to steal my joy.  Big things like a flat tire, delays, spilling my coffee, a deer hitting my truck.  These things are stealing my joy.   I feel like such a pansy.  Instead of whining about losing my joy, maybe, like Jim, I should be growing it more!!

Jim is fighting, no battling, no Jim is LIVING his life in a way that his JOY is increased each day.  LIVE ON JIM!!!   You inspire me as well as all around you.

You have not only have you brought joy into my life.  God Himself has been pleased by you.  Your Heavenly Father is pleased with His child named Jim.  You give Him joy by how you live.  Well done!!

John 11:25  Jesus said…… he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live…

We will meet you again on the other side.  The journey will continue…….

 

See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher (filled with joy)

 

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The Hard Work Has Its Rewards

Take a drive down Airport Road the next few days and you will see flowers along side the fence.  The flowers continue for days it seems.  Actually, if measured, it’s more like a half a mile of continuous yellow daffodils.  These daffodils are one of the first signs of spring on our farm.  How did they get there?

I know the answer,  So let me share with ya!  My Father planted them.  He was in his 80’s when he started this project. (He’s 87 now!)  Every year he has planted more.  At times, he planted some himself, Other times, he would hire someone to help, (even had Mother out there helping, not sure he paid her though!)  But over the years a few clumps of flowers have turned into a river of yellow and greens.  You can’t help but notice them as you drive by.

It was a lot of hard work.  Planting the flowers and bulbs took a lot of time.  Care had to be given especially when they were just planted.  So why would he do this?  He can see God’s beauty in everything (even in people).

Colossians 3:17 (NIV)17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

I’ve got to brag on this man even if he is my father.  He has driven up and down this road an uncountable number of times over the years.  This is his farm.  He has seen a lot of wonderful things on this place.  A newborn calf, a new crop of hay, a barn being built and filled with this hay,…… all he has witnessed in his lifetime.  Other things he saw driving up and down this road.  He saw two sons grow up.  They both are able to still live close by.  He has seen the deer, a covey of quail…….. and a hawk.  He worked the land, fixed the fences, mowed the road right of way…….  He did it all.   AND, he did it in the name of the Lord Jesus.  Yep, it was all for the glory of God!  (Even when he lost one of his fingers in a cow roping accident!)

Which is why there are flowers beside the road.  Everyday that he drives up and down this road he sees God’s beauty.  He sees and feels God’s presence.  In his own country farmer way, he has planted these flowers hoping that OTHERS will see and feel the God my Daddy worships. 

The flowers are a way that he can share this beauty with others, including you.  So when you drive by his farm and see the flowers, you won’t hear an organ or piano playing,(but you can hear God’s music from the wind, trees, cows, and farm activities).  You won’t hear a choir,(but you will hear the birds, the quail, turkeys,…..and the hawk).  You won’t hear any preaching. (Well, there are two donkeys that will Heeeee Hawwww at ya!)   But, do yourself a favor.  Slow down, roll your windows down and drive slowly by.  You will hear and see God and his beauty.

2 Timothy 2:6 (NIV)6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.

Wiley Ainsworth, the hard working farmer, has received his share of God’s blessings.  Now, this hard working man gets to see others receiving a blessing from the flowers that he planted for God’s glory.

Papaw, the hard work is and will continue to pay off.

See Ya!!  Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher, Stopping to smell the Roses Daffodils

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What I Heard from the Herd

calf

Well, looka there!  A brand new member of a new generation.  So much for them to see.  So much for them to learn.  Who’s going to show them all there is to see and know?

Momma cow is going to be busy taking care of Jr.  She will have to show him where the good grass is, where the gates are, where the pond is located.  She will “train” her baby by making him aware of where the salt lick is, where the farmer places the hay bales.  She will be there as he learns about barbed wires, snakes, electric fences, and gullies that you can fall into.  Momma cow has a tremendous responsibility when it comes to “training up” her calf in the way that he should grow.  But she loves her baby.  Nothing had better come between her and her baby.  (Especially me with my camera.  Two seconds after this picture, she had me running back to the truck for cover!)

Cows are creatures who live in herds. (Us people live in herds also)  So while momma teaches her calf and provides for him, the herd itself also has a chance to help “train” this youngster.  Ever notice in a herd of cows, at certain times of the day when they are grazing, that most of the calves are grouped together with one or two cows overseeing them?  We call it “kindergarten time”.  Each of the calves will learn a lot on their own as they interact with other calves and the rest of the herd.  The interaction with calf and other grown cows is amazing to me.  You can tell that the calf doesn’t “belong” to the other grown cows.  But there is a bond between them because they are in the same herd.

VBS

Staci and I, along with a couple of youth in our church had the opportunity to help “train” the children at our church’s Bible School (Shout out to Zach, Luke, and Brandon!)  We shared Bible stories to these children who are “part of our herd“.  Just like in the animal world, mama (and Dad) has the biggest responsibility for raising and training their baby.  But as part of the herd, YOU and I have a great opportunity to help with the growth of this newer generation.

What about you and your herd?  It may be a son, daughter, grandchild, a friend’s child, a friend of a friend’s child.  It may be someone who is to become a friend and part of your herd regardless of age.  But think a minute on this.  You yourself know about life.  You yourself know where the “fence” is, where the “hay bales” are located.  You know the dangers of life in the “pasture”.  You have faced the “coyotes of life”, the “storms” in the valley, and the dangers associated with living.  Don’t ya think it makes sense to share your experiences with these younger ones coming up.  Why, they don’t even know what “rain” is yet!!!!!!!

Oh, you are saying to yourself…….. you’re not qualified, huh?  Let mama take care of ’em huh……..  Well, mama needs help.  Jr. needs help…. from you.  These new generation creatures are facing a much different “pasture” than what was before.  They face difficulties and adverse conditions that were not there even 20 yrs ago.  You and I (as part of the herd) must help with their training.  Why?  It pleases the ultimate farmer……. The Head Rancher in the Sky………God Himself…… He is pleased.   YeHawww  Cowboy!!!

See, if we let this new generation go their own way, it will lead to hard times for them.  If we spend some of our time, give away some of our experiences, it will benefit them at some point down the road.  This new generation is not good at expressing their thanks and gratitude for the help that you give them, but you help them OK?  You go out of your way to help mama train them OK?  Here’s why.

Proverbs 22:6 – Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

A 55 yr old friend of mine is going through some tough times right now.  But he told me that he relies on a scripture that he learned in Bible School when he was eight years old !!!!

That scripture was about how God takes care of the birds of the air, and that He will take care of you.  Someone in his herd “trained” him when he was eight to prepare my friend for when he was 55 yrs old.  Who would of thought that??

My challenge to you is this.  You are part of the herd.  Some group of people could use some of your experiences of life “in the pasture”.  They don’t need a Bible scholar, or a counselor, or a school teacher, or a crisis manager.  These young “calves” need something much more.  They need YOU.  Just a few words here and there. Just a brief nod of approval.  Just a time of interaction with them.  A time spent with this younger one will be a time of “training” for them….. and a rewarding time with “your herd” for you.  That’s no bull!!

See Ya!!!  Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher,  part time Cowboy