Monthly Archives: December 2016

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A New Year of BEING children of God

 

 

It’s a new year and I’m celebrating!!!!   Happy New Year!!!!    And …..  Happy New Year BEING  one of the children of God!!!!!!  Not because of something I did, but something that God does.  He gives His love, His mercy, His forgiveness.
Sure if you get to know me and took a closer look, you would see that I am definitely not perfect, I make mistakes, I am human and fall short of God’s Glory.
And I’m sure if I took a closer look at you,  well there you go.  You yourself are not perfect, you make mistakes, and fall short of what God plans and intends for your life.
Well, I tell you what.  Let’s all focus on our Father and not on each others shortcomings and weakness.  Let’s not focus on each others’ sins, but focus on the Father’s love and forgiveness.  He claims us as His children.  It’s in the Bible!
John 1:12-13, NIV. “To all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. Galatians 3:26

So, I don’t know about you, but to me, that’s something to really celebrate.  So raise your glass, give a toast, shoot the fireworks, Praise the Lord, praise Him with singing.  Do a dance, say a prayer, have a feast, laugh, cry, but definitely give thanks to God!!!!  He is your Father.

“Lord, I want to Thank You for all that you are to me.  I’m glad I can call you my Heavenly Father.  I’m joyful that you would think to call me your child. Forgive me when I fail you.  Give me strength and guide me this new year coming up.  Most of all, Lord ………. Help me.  Amen.”

How bout you saying the same prayer you just read.  You’ll be talking to your Father.  He’ll be listening to you.  Then when you say “amen”, let the celebration begin!  (My feet are dancing under the table as I write)

See Ya!   Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher, dancer/celebrating life with the Father

 

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The Gift That Isn’t Being Opened

   Would you leave one of your gifts unopened for Christmas?  But it’s to you, it’s for you, it’s been given to you out of genuine love.  So what’s the deal?  Why does this gift not get opened by lots of folks?  I opened mine and it has made a world of difference to me.

The gift that I opened wasn’t from Staci or any of the family. Santa Claus wasn’t responsible for it.  It wasn’t delivered by UPS or the mail.  Actually the gift sat right in front of me many days.  It practically begged me to open it and receive what was inside.  But I was busy, other things going on.  Honestly, thought that it wasn’t something for me.  But how would I know if I hadn’t opened it?  I guess just like most of you,  I had preconceived ideas about this gift.  I didn’t want what was in this gift because it might change how I feel about  other things I had.  It might change me.

Why did I open this gift?  I realized that I needed to change.  I want to live life to the fullest.  People around me seemed to live their lives each and every day as if it’s no big deal.  But I wanted more.  I needed more.  I asked for more.   And then,…….. I prayed for more.  That’s when the present was opened for me.

 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 1 John 4:9

Yep, the gift I’m talking about is Jesus Christ.  He is my Lord and Savior.  He is my Counselor, my Guide, my Companion .  But what I realize each and everyday is this.  He is my Gift of love,…….my gift of life.  What I realize as I continue on this journey is that He is my Gift that gives to me each and everyday.  And to think that I wouldn’t open it a while back. I guess that saying is true.  “It’s not what you know, but who you know!”  I’ve come to know Jesus by accepting and receiving God’s gift.

This gift is given to me and you without any requirements or demands.  It doesn’t matter if you’ve been “naughty or nice”.  It doesn’t matter who you are, what age, where you live.  What matters??   This gift is given to you because of God and His infinite Love.   But you have to receive His gift.  You have to BELIEVE his gift.  If you receive and believe then this changes your life completely.  Changes how you think.  Changes how you live.  Changes how and what you love.

Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Christmas.  It’s the time of giving gifts.  My prayer is that you have, and will continue to everyday open and receive the perfect Gift from God.  Having Jesus in your life each and everyday as you travel this spiritual journey makes all the difference in the world.  You and I get to have a life filled with an abundance of peace and joy!  It’s a huge difference in knowing about a Christian way of life and actually living this Christian way of life.  All because of a simple action of opening and receiving God’s present to you.

Merry Christmas!!!

Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher,  receiving and believing God’s present every day

 

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That Sinking Feeling

What you see is what’s left of the ladder going to my Mother’s attic.  The step I was standing on broke. Then, two more steps broke under me as I made a short but intense journey down to the floor.  I know it was quick, but I remember thinking “This is gonna hurt”.  A big scratch from one of the now exposed nails, a slight twist of the ankle, a bruised tailbone (what, I still have a tail!), and hurt pride were my results from this encounter with the attic ladder.  I didn’t fall very far, but it was far enough.

My Mother needed help getting the Christmas tree and decorations down from the attic.  I’ve always like going back up in the attic.  Lots of memories up there.  Shucks, some of my toys from fifty years ago are still up there.  Today my assignment was to bring down the Christmas tree, lights, decorations, etc. for this years’ time of celebration.  To get to all the “stuff” that is in the attic, you have to pass through the gatekeeper.  You must climb the only source available to get to the attic.  That source?  An over 50 year old flimsy ladder.

It wasn’t a big surprise.  I had actually replaced a couple of steps a few years back. (Just didn’t replace the step I was standing on that broke).

What was amazing to me was how my brain was working.  In a split second it went from singing “I’ll be Home for Christmas”, to thinking I’m Fixin’ to Be on the Floor for Christmas.  From happy, carefree, holiday spirit to pain, anxiety, hurt, and thoughts of “this is going to be TROUBLE”.

2 Corinthians 4:17, NLT For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

I’ve read that during the holiday season, many folks have that sinking feeling.  It’s a time of year when we should be joyful, happy and celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus.  But the way our brain works sometimes, it causes us to also realize the hurts and pains in our lives.  Maybe you’ve lost loved ones, a friend is moving, health issues, things just haven’t turned out this year like they should have.  All good reasons to feel sad and experience the sinking feeling.  That sinking feeling can happen in an instant.  Your living and loving life when all of a sudden, uh oh you are “falling from a ladder”, and your sinking feeling is overwhelming you.

Look at that scripture again.  Our troubles produce a glory??  Gotta be kidding right? Well, guess not, it’s right there in the Bible.  So, I’m hearing you ask me, “How do my troubles produce a glory from and to God”?  Honestly, I don’t think I can answer for you on that one friends.

What I can say and do know is this.  I speak from experience because I have “fallen from a ladder” several different times, both physically and mentally.  While my earthly body and brain are focusing on the current hurts and troubles that I’m experiencing,  there is a spiritual part of me that remains focused on Christ.  Even when the pains of the life on Earth are giving me depression, sadness, and hurt there is a part of me that stays with God.  I know that God is staying with me.  That’s how I feel that glory is being produced.  The glory that an all powerful God is taking time to be with me is an amazing thing.  The glory that I am giving to this all knowing, all powerful God because He is with me is my humble way of giving back to God.

The troubles that you are going through right now?  I bet it’s tough.  Probably like falling from a 20 foot tall ladder.  But hear this.  Your troubles are huge because they are your very own troubles.  But compared to ……….   Hmmm, compared to……..  Wow, compared to…..  to the Great  and Everlasting Eternal Love of God, your troubles are small and won’t last very long.

I’m not putting down your troubles as a trivial and meaningless matter.  I’m lifting up your troubles to our All powerful, great and mighty God.  Jesus is Lord.  He is Lord of our lives.  He is Lord of our good times,  and ……… He is Lord of our troubles!  To God be the Glory!

Merry Christmas!

See Ya!   Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher, full time ladder climber (to higher ground)