Category Archives: nature

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My Roots are in The Rock of Ages

tree rooted

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”.

tree scenery

See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher, hiking in the wilderness

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Going Forward In Reverse

Do you ever feel like your life is going in reverse, but you have the “Ahah!” moment and realize you are actually moving forward? Well let this story of the ant going in reverse to move forward sink in to your heart and soul.

I’m taking a break from chainsaw work at the church camp, to eat a pack of Nabs. To you “city folks”, a pack of Nabs is what we call those six peanut butter crackers wrapped in a small package you can get at any convenience store. I don’t care where you’re from, they are called Nabs, not cheese crackers, not snack crackers, but Nabs. Glad we got that out of the way. 😉

But as I’m eating my NABS, a small crumb falls to the ground in front of the stump that I’m sitting on. In just a few brief moments, from nowhere, these three ants show up. Without missing a beat, they tag team on the cracker crumb and immediately begin their journey back to their nest with their new found food item. (pretty sure they would call it a Nabs too).

My phone took a pretty decent close up picture don’t ya think of these creatures working together? What caught my eye is how they worked together to accomplish their goal of carrying the food back to their home. One ant goes forward like any of us would think to do. One ant is kinda walking sideways but still facing forward. The other ant,……. well he chooses to walk backwards as he carries the food forward to his home. I was impressed.

How do ants communicate? Little ant voices, hand signals, a football type playbook??? I can picture in my mind right now……. “Hey there’s a piece of peanut butter nabs. Let’s get it! 32- 12- 16 Hut Hut!!” And there they go!

Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Proverbs 6:6

I’m not sure I want to be called a “sluggard” do you? That’s someone who is considered sluggish….. slow moving,….. inactive….. LAZY. UH oh!!

OK, here’s the point I’m making. Sometimes in our lives (and yes even in our spiritual lives), we get sluggish (slow moving, inactive). Especially when it seems that we are the ones having to go in reverse. You and I experience “going in reverse” all the time in our daily lives. We feel like we should be moving forward but that’s when “Reverse” hits. Reverse as in a financial setback, a relationship on the downswing, a physical ailment,…. even small things like not being able to find your phone. You fill in your own “reverse” i.e. hard times.

But let’s learn from this small ant. Could it be that God is having you go “in reverse” to move forward. For your own good,….. as well as maybe for others….?

Think about it. Whatever is happening in your life may seem to be causing you to go backwards. That’s what you are seeing. But IN THE EYES OF GOD, He’s got you moving forward on your spiritual journey. He’s even got you carrying some Nabs (spiritual food) back to have a feast on later.

Little ole ant. Sometimes he makes more sense about life than a wilderness preacher can. I need to be like that little ole ant. What would that be? Focus on going forward in my spiritual journey, even when it looks to everyone that I’m going backwards.

“Lord, thank you for this little ole ant! Thanks you that he taught me to continue to follow you Lord. To move forward and closer to you Lord Jesus. To keep my eyes on You even when circumstances cause me to be the one that is “going backwards”. Be with me as I travel this world in a “reverse” way as I travel through hard times. Whether traveling in good times, or hard “reverse” times, I’m glad God that You are there with me. I’m also glad that you gave us Nabs! Amen”

See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher Nabs eater, ant watcher