Monthly Archives: February 2019

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Out of Order

That’s the sign that was on the air compressor at the service station. You know, the place you fill your tires with air at the service station. The air hose, the air tank, (Staci has always called it the ” tire air filler upper thingy”). Whatever you want to call it,…… it wasn’t working,………and to prove it, it had an “Out Of Order” sign taped to it.

I was pumping gas into my vehicle when I noticed a lady pull up to the air compressor. Her back left tire was flat as a pancake. I mean it was flatter than one sheet of paper. I had a feeling of what was going to happen next. And sure ‘nuf, it did. The ladies face went from normal with a semi smile to a……… well, (I can read lips and what she said was not lady-like) AND well, her face was contorted with anger and madness. She was NOT having a good day!!

She pulls her car with the three good tires into one of the store’s parking spots. Immediately pulling up behind her are these two guys in a work truck. A few simple hand gestures, maybe three or four sentences exchanged, but some type of communication has taken place. The lady goes into the store,……..and the guys jump on fixing her flat tire!

They had their own jack! The pit stop guys at a major race would have been proud of these guys. They quickly had the “flat as a flitter” tire removed. Did I mention that it was 13 degrees? Maybe that’s why they were so fast. As I was leaving, they were putting on the spare and the lady was walking out of the store with a much more appealing facial expression.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me Psalm 51:12

So many things in this world appear to be “out of order”, “not working”, “unplugged”. People are searching for something to help get them “on down the road”. Spiritually speaking it’s true as well. That’s where you and I come in.

Just like the amatuer tire changer guys, we have to be ready for those opportunities that will happen right before us. (Even in 13 degree weather). Spiritually speaking we need to help someone that has a “flat tire”, by lifting them up. We need to keep our “jumper cables” handy to help a fellow Christian “come alive”!

As you are out there, notice and be ready (even expecting) for those opportunities when you can share with others your Christian experience and God’s Love. Don’t think that everyone is out there handling their own situations with no problems to deal with. Surprise, surprise…………people everywhere are pulling in “needing help”. You’ve got to make the decision……. Is there an “out of order” sign hanging around your neck?

Dear Heavenly Father, restore unto me the JOY of knowing you each and every day. Recharge my battery so that I can help others come alive. I realize that by helping others, your presence is felt even more in me. But I need your courage and strength to be able to reach out to people. In this cold world, help me to share Your Love. I love You Lord. Amen.

See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher

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I’ve Got To Follow To See

Rabbit tracks…… Let’s follow because I want to see where he is now.

Taking a hike in my snowshoes the other day, I came across this set of tracks. Definitely fresh, and easy to see because of the fresh snow. The story was being told right there in front of me. Little bunny stopped and ate some grass sticking above the snow. Just a few feet further he made a quick right turn and was off to who knows where. I guess I’m the “who” that wants to know “where” so I follow. Rabbit Foo Foo was hopping through the forest. (Now you’re singing that old nursery rhyme too aren’t you?) This rabbit wasn’t picking anything up, he was just traveling through the snow. Occasionally, you could see where he stopped and ate. Uh oh, if you look right there you can see that he …….. ah,… well,…… when you got to go , you got to go! Right there in the pretty white snow. He went. Silly Rabbit…… (don’t say it 😉 ) ………… Trix are for kids. (I knew most of ya would say it!)

I bet I trailed the rabbit over a quarter of a mile. I saw where he came from, saw where he went (literally), and now I see where he has gone into a hole under some logs in a brush pile.

Following this rabbit was not my plan when I started on my snowshoeing hike this morning. But such an interesting story was before me in the snow, that I had to follow. I wasn’t interested in anything else going on around me. I was dead to the world because I am now totally consumed with following this story. That got me to thinkin’.

Luke 9:23 Then Jesus said to them, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

The cross back in Jesus day meant death. So when scripture says to “take up your cross”, I see it as meaning we must die to ourselves. You and I can easily turn our lives into an “all about me” plan. You know, everything we do is about me, myself, and I.

And along comes this Rabbit (I mean Jesus) and His story. We can’t keep making our own trail in the snow. We must follow Him if we want to see and hear Him. When we get so caught up in Jesus and His story for me and you, we truly become “dead” to the world.

I lost all track of time following the rabbit’s trail. There was no thoughts going through my head about me, myself, and I. It was all about the rabbit. Since I was “dead to the world” because of my focus on the trail, I must have been “carrying my cross”. And I thought it was because I was in snowshoes walking in heavy snow. ha……. Wasn’t really that heavy either.

Pray this prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to be so focused on following you, that I take up my cross “become dead to the world”, and follow wherever You go. Give me direction and spiritual “eyes” to see where Your story for my life is taking me. I want to see and hear from you. I love you Lord.

Focus more on where God is leading you and less on making your own trail.


See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher!