Dan
A Journey to Press On
Ever try driving forward by only looking in the rear view mirror? Ever try living your life by only looking back at what’s already happened?
Driving across country early, early one morning, I saw a most beautiful site in my rear view mirror. It was the sunrise. A most glorious and bright sunrise. It’s always cool to me to see the sun burst over the horizon. Getting to see those first few rays followed quickly by a full sun shining is something that never grows old to me. In this particular instance, there was darkness, then a shade of pink. A beautiful dance followed with the clouds swirling by sharing their purples and reds. Anticipating that first bright ray of sunshine, I drove the next couple of miles while basically looking only in my rear view mirror.
Then there it was. A sunrise! Good morning Lord! I’ve been driving a few hours in the dark, kinda getting sleepy. The light wakes me up and gets me in the mood to drive for several more hours. But I won’t be looking in the rear view mirror anymore. I’m looking ahead. Looking ahead so I won’t hit anything for sure, but looking ahead so that I won’t miss anything either. That light that’s behind me (and got my back) is shining the way forward for me now.
Philippians 3:14 GWT I run (press on) toward the goal to win the prize that God’s heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus.
I want more out of this life. More out of my work, my play, my marriage, my family, ….more out of myself. Not a greedy kind of more. But I want more of what God has promised. He promised abundant life. That doesn’t mean a fancy car and lots of money. Doesn’t necessarily mean a life free of hard times and no painful experiences. No, God’s heavenly call means believing in Jesus. Believing in a God who is behind you (and has got your back). This belief and way of life gives us a true way to PRESS ON and continue our spiritual journeys.
There are many times that you and I want to look back in time and basically live in the past. Times spent with friends and family members, times to be cherished, good times in the past. Yep, even the “good ole days” all seem so much “gooder”, and “better” than what we are living in and with now.
But there is that promise from God that drives me forward. His light shines the way for me. I know lots of time in religious talk it’s said to “keep your eyes on God”. “Turn your eyes upon Jesus”. I get that. Stay focused on Him. Don’t we tend to try to stay focused on Him by “looking in the rear view mirror”? We start thinking, “God, why can’t it be like it was or used to be?”
Nope, let’s press on. Continue on your journey my friends. Know this. Even in the darkest of nights, that sun is about to rise over the horizon. Sure, it is a glorious site to see the sunrise in your rear view. But even more is to be seen by looking ahead and seeing what this light is showing you as you go forward. Knowing that God’s Son is behind me (and got my back) is a belief that inspires me to press on. It’s a heavenly calling that you and I can receive even while still in this earthly human body. A relationship between little ole you and a Most Awesome God……….and you thought a sunrise was a thing of beauty. Who’s got your back???
See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher and driving to the song “Runnin’ Down A Dream” by Tom Petty
My Roots are in The Rock of Ages
This tree is rooted in the Rock of Ages. I so want to be just like this tree. Everything, I mean everything, that it receives comes from the Rock of Ages. Its nourishment, the rooted foundation, the sustainment,…. all, I mean all that it is, or ever hopes to be……… it depends totally on the rock.
“But Wilderness Preacher man”, some of you readers are saying, ” are you OK?” “Look at the tree again. It’s scrawny. It’s feable looking. It’s a weakling. No strength in that pathetic specimen of a tree. You sure you want to be like that?”
Go ahead and say it. You see no value in this tree. You are looking at this tree like my timber guy looks at trees. What value can this tree provide? How can I cut it up to make what I want out of it, is what he is thinking. You are looking on the outside, on the production, not on the inside and what it is BEING.
But I WANT to depend on this Rock of Ages for all that I am meant to be. If the nourishment from this rock only allows me to survive, Then Glory Hallelujah!! If the “spiritual food” from this rock causes me to flourish, to grow 50 feet tall, to (in the eyes of the world be SUCCESSFUL and PRODUCTIVE), then Glory Hallelujah!!!! It better be giving Glory, cause if it becomes all about me, myself, and I, that’s when that “timber man” will take notice and “cut me down”.
Sharing something personal now. I write this wilderness preacher blog to help you (and me) take one more small step to BEING closer to God. This is my way of “preachin”. I view this blog more as sharing with you my friends. I share what “spiritual food” I receive from my Rock of Ages. The world and honestly most people look on a successful preacher by how many numbers and how many buildings, and how many projects, and how many trips are planned. The Wilderness Preacher views success not by all that I am “doing” but by just the “BEING”. I think my Heavenly Father has the same view. “BEING” in His Grace, His Love, His Mercy, His Providing………. BEING in The Rock of Ages will give me all the opportunities to “do” things for Him.
And you???…………..You are JUST a housewife, just a secretary, just a single dad, just a mom, just a fledgling writer, just a country lawyer, just a retiree, just a teacher, just a small time pastor, just little ole you…… a little weakling,…… and a little scrawny “tree”. WHAT? Nope! Not when you’re rooted in the Rock of Ages! Just BEING where God planted you, and depending on Him……. The world will never see nor will it understand the STRENGTH you have been given. Funny thing, it’s not because of what you do….. it’s because of the grace/nourishment from the Rock Of Ages!
Maybe in the eyes of the world, or (Careful now, in your own eyes) you view yourself as worthless. Pity party time!! “Nobody loves me, everybody hates me……. guess I might as well eat worms.” Never heard that? It’s a blast from the past. 😉
A beautiful hymn “How Firm a Foundation” has a verse that goes like this……
Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.
This song uses these verses from Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
A song that uses God’s own words that we in turn sing back to Him. Now that’s what a hymn should be. We are created to glorify God. We use what He gave us (in scripture) and give it back to Him (in singing this hymn). He gives to me, I in return give back to Him. It’s such a satisfying thing.
A life and all its blessings. He gives to me and you. Jesus came to Earth to give life. We in return give back to Him each and every day of this life. Give to Him each opportunity you face. Give to Him each difficulty you face. He gives to you, you give to Him…… such a satisfying thing.
You and I may always be considered scrawny, weak, insignificant,…… a nobody in this world eyes. Wait a minute. Not me! Not you! I know I’m somebody! My roots are in the Rock of Ages. All that is within me is reaching up to the Heavens. The world may not see what I get to see. I see a wonderful and LIVING relationship between me and my God. And I must say, I enjoy the “view”.
See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher, hiking in the wilderness