Category Archives: People I’ve met along the way

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Living With No Fear

Staci has no fear, and it’s because of several reasons. She is truly a pioneer woman, she likes adventures, and she likes to have FUN!! (The song “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” can be heard playing in the background!) Honestly, from someone who knows her well, (that would be me) 😉 in her brain she is still a teenage girl livin’ on the edge.



What would it be like to live without fear? Living life abundantly, no self made limits because of the “what ifs” , the “yea, but I don’t know about this”, the “you might get hurts”, or whatever doubts, fears, and anticipations of “the next thing that’s going to go wrong” in my life.

Now, I’m not talking about common sense decisions that are made to prevent harm to our lives and our bodies. That old joke of, “Here, hold my drink while I try this!” Or “hey let’s eat a Tide pod!” I mean, c’mon man, any and everybody must use their common sense to avoid harm to themselves. (I guess not, just read where some girl fell into a tiger den trying to get a selfie. 😮

Even Staci has enough sense not to do that……………..well, except for that closeup with the Buffalo. 😉 Staci is not scared of anything. Ooops,……….. forgot she is scared of frogs! But that just shows she’s human.

Anyways, what I’m talking about is living life to the fullest. Getting the most out of life. There’s no way for us humans to do this when fear is in control.

“Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

In the times you are afraid, filled with anxiety, full of worry, concerned about the unknown, are you truly living?

You are on a Christian journey right? Hmmm let’s see, is your day filled with worry, dread, trepidations, distress…….. fears? Whoa there pardner. You may need to “get off that horse”. The Christian journey should be filled with words like trust, follow, Be. Trust in Jesus, follow Him, and Be who He created you to Be! That’s “the horse” you need to be ridin’.

We may not be in control, but God is. We may not know the future, but you know the God that does. Choose for yourself not to let fear have control in your life. Let faith take the place of fear. Hmmm, that’s a scary thought in and of itself, huh? I can’t help you with that one, but I know someone who can. I pray to Him all the time.

“Lord, could you help me and my friend with our fears. The enemy uses our doubts and our worries to try to control us. Also God, when we are fearful it takes away from our relationship with You. Could You help us with that? Help us to follow you even into the “valley of the shadow of death”. Help our unbelief. We turn around and give You the Glory for who You are. You can make this ‘scaredy cat’ become a Lion! Help me and my friends grow from the frightened pathetic puppy into a howling Wolf!! It’s all because of You. God we love you! Amen.”

Live with Faith, not fear. It gives a better view for life!



See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher

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Getting In Shape To Truly Come Alive

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I’m putting these boots back on!  Five years ago I bought these boots to wear as I walked/ exercised/ got in shape.  I was getting into shape to live above the world, (and in the peaks of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains).  But,….. I’ve been busy the past two years building our log home.  No time for exercise, (cause I been working), no time for the right kinds of food, (honey buns and ‘tater chips are quicker).  I can tell I’m not in shape to live life at it’s best.  How can I tell?

Mother gave me a to do list.  Landscaping, cleaning out the barn, more landscaping, winterizing where her plants grow for the winter, and….. more landscaping.  I’ve moved more pine straw with just a pitchfork, than what a 2 mile wide tornado would do!   I jumped on it.  Gonna whoop these chores.  AND I DID!!   But , man am I sore.  My muscles ache from head to toe. All that lifting, moving, swinging and dancing with the pitchfork……. I think I’m stiff hurting all over.  As I write this, my earl lobes even ache.  I must be out of shape!

Time to take some action.  I call my son Jordan for advice.  See, he is a Sports Performance Specialist working with athletes.  You need to increase your pitching speed from 89 to 92?  He can help.  You need to be faster, jump higher, farther etc.  He’s your guy.  What you have physically, he can take and tweak improvements.  It might take extra time, work, and or dedication, but he gets athletes to live at their best.  Maybe he can help me.

Our conversations turn into Jordan asking me what my goals are as far as being in shape.  Here’s my chance.  So I tell him…….. “I want to be that guy that’s always showing off his abs.  You know, the guy that is a picture perfect specimen with ripped muscles and no fat whatsoever.”

He doesn’t even laugh, at least not that I can hear him.  He begins explaining how a regimen of eating (or I would say, barely eating) proper foods plus extensive cardio training could give me those results.  There was no mentioning honey buns so I quickly came back to reality.  ” No, honestly, I want to be in shape enough that I can truly live life.  I’ll fight the arthritis, aging, weight gain…… all those things we all face.  But I want to know that I did what I could do by taking care of my body to fully live my life.  I may not look like and have a model’s body on the outside, but on the inside……. I want to give it my best.  So get the boots out and let’s exercise!!!

My personal sports performance specialist has now given me a series of exercises that are designed to do just that.  Doing these exercise makes me more mobile, agile, and a little quicker on my feet.  Might even lose a few pounds because of it.  The biggest difference?  It’s how I feel about myself.  There is more of a positive outlook on everything.  Not just how many reps I can do, but that I truly am doing something for myself that truly helps me live life better.  Oh I still get those aches and pains, still have to stretch tight muscles, still have to resist honey buns and snickers candy…… but I can feel it on the inside!  And it’s a good thing!

I’ve got a question that I’ve asked Jordan and now I’ll ask you.  What exercises are there that can help me spiritually to live life at its fullest?  Easy answer!  Read the Bible, pray, and meditate on God’s Will.  Easy enough because we all know these exercises, but are we doing them correctly?

Jordan text me his thoughts on this, and coming from this sports training professional it caused me to think harder on what he said.  Here are his words:

“I think a lot of people will pray, or think about things, but then just end up doing what feels right to them.  Just like when you are going hard at a workout, you feel like 3 sets might be enough.  Is it because 3 sets really is enough or because you got tired at 3.

For both things (physical and spiritual), I think a person needs emotional maturity.  If you don’t have it, you will quit when things get hard or be susceptible to only making the decision that makes you “feel” right.  You have trouble telling the difference between your emotions and the Holy Spirit’s guidance.”

I catch myself doing just that sometimes.  I’ll read a few verses, then think…..that’ll do.  I’ll meditate briefly, then think what all needs doing.  I’ll pray, but just the basics.    Hmmm……… sounds like I did three reps, figured it was good enough, or got tired one.  Not much exercise for improvements there huh?

Jesus said,……. “I have come that they may have life, and have it the full.” John 10:10

Jesus has given me and you a life to live.  If I can “exercise” to improve my spiritual journey, then by all means I’m ready to “put those exercise boots on”.

Praying and reading the Bible,…….. not just going through the motions, not just 3 reps and call it cause your tired.   But exercise your praying and reading to benefit your everyday living.

Spiritual Exercise is not an end all, be all, all by itself.  It’s to help you live.  It’s to help you live an abundant life.

Focus on letting your praying and Bible reading be exercises.  Exercises that pull you closer to God’s Will.  Exercises that help you live….. and come ALIVE!!  Now give me 5!!!

See Ya!   Dan Ainsworth  wilderness preacher

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Birds of the Air

I feel like I’m at an airport.  This picture is showing pinion jays cruising in and out on their natural runways.  It doesn’t take long for these birds to find the food in my bird feeders.  Chickadees, jays, nuthatches, woodpeckers, red-winged blackbirds, grosbeaks, and some sparrows all come to dine at Dan and Staci’s buffet tree feeder.  Dang chipmunks and squirrels drop by as well.

They are all welcome.  It’s a joy and delight to watch these birds every morning,  Grab a cup of coffee, grab a front row seat (by the fireplace), and let the show begin.  Constant fly-ins, fly-outs, fly-bys, flying using those wonderful feathers God gave them to use.

 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Matthew 6:26

Hmmm…. if I just filled the bird feeders with sunflower seeds, then this can mean that God is using me to feed HIS birds !   In some small and seemingly insignificant way I’m being used by my God to fulfill His desires and His plans.  Never looked at it this way, just thought I was feeding the birds.

Maybe you have a bird feeder.  Hmmm……….maybe you have a “people feeder”.  What I’m getting at is this.  Each and everyday day you get a chance, an opportunity to help another person as they travel on their own journey.  It may seem small and insignificant….until you realize that God can use you and your “oh,it’s no big deal” opportunities…… to further His desires and His plans in other peoples lives.

Being used by God for His Purpose, His Desires, His Glory……… that’s a pretty good place to be!  It gives you a chance to bless and be blessed.  Being a part of God’s plan and handiwork is truly a desire of mine.  You and I don’t need to belittle or “shoot down” our small times of helping others.  A kind word here, a thoughtful act there, a prayer given for someone, a Christian deed done for another person,……..it all gives Glory back to God!

So,……put out a “people feeder” in your spiritual journey.  Fill it with whatever “bird seed” God’s given you to share.  It might be He’s given you His love to share.  Or share some of your  kindness, faith, and hope to others in this world.  After all, Jesus was given to you and me.  We in turn can share.  Small and insignificant you may think, but in the big picture you and your activities are fitting into the plans of God.

Helping somebody with a flat tire, letting someone use your phone, cheerful words, take ’em with ya to eat, ……..just listening to someone…., I could go on and on.  These are just the “bird seeds” that this someone needed.  Look-a-there!!   Your Heavenly Father feeds the birds of the air.  He also “feeds” His children!  And,…….you get to be a part of it!!

See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher