Category Archives: Steps Along This Journey

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I Can Sell It for $325, or It Can Be Yours For Free

Beauty in the Eyes of the Beholder

Yep, I drew it.  It’s worth $325.00.  But I want to give it away…… to you.

Suppose I told you that someone from and of the  “art world” saw my painting and told me this. “Your art is original, simple yet inspiring,…….simple, yet complex.  You take colors and weave together a story.  It has a beginning, but begs of the person viewing to continue the story as they see it.”

Huh??  I had some left over floor paint, so I drew a picture on a block of wood.  Now I’m being told that it has a value to it.  Funny isn’t it how we place a value on something.  It’s worth what someone will pay for it, right?  It’s worth what we hear someone else say THEY will pay for it.  

Funny how you yourself place a value on your own life.  Too many times it depends on what others are saying about us right?  Too many times we put ourselves down because we know our own faults, we know what needs improving.

Shucks, my picture that I drew……… I can see fifteen things wrong with it,… I can see fifteen things I need to do to improve it.  Yet someone has placed a value on it.  A value that I myself didn’t think was there.  He makes me realize that my painting has true value in spite of what I think of it myself!

I guess I’m brought up in the world of “it’s not good enough”. (You too Huh?) No matter what I do, my painting,my work, MY LIFE……. it’s just not good enough.  And then someone of the “spiritual world” comes long and says, “You, Dan, and you _______, you are very valuable to me.  I pick you.  I want YOU!

 You have been bought and paid for by Christ, so you belong to him—be free now from all these earthly prides and fears. 1 Corinthians 7:23 TLB

Don’t we do a disservice to Christ our King when we put ourselves down.  I mean if “art world guy” were to say my painting is worth $325, why should I argue him down to $15.  Only because I feel like I’m never good enough.  You say $325?  Sold!!!  It’s all yours.  Art Guy Buddy, You want me to draw ya another one?

So when Jesus says you and I are worth dying, (and living) for, do we instead put ourselves down?  He died on the cross for us.  He rose from the dead.  That’s why we celebrate Easter!  It’s how He paid the price for us!

He died so that you and I may TRULY LIVE!!   Sold!!  I’m all yours Lord. Jesus, Can I live another day for you Lord?

I’m not going to sell this picture to “art world guy”.  I want to give it to you.  Then you can take my picture with a story beginning drawn in it……. and continue the story for yourself.

Interested in owning this picture for yourself?  Private message me on this blog site, or message me on facebook.  It’s free!

Well, Dan, what if more than one person wants this picture?  Hmmm…..then looks like I got some more painting to do.  We can do this together.  Tell me your favorite three colors.  We’ll see what story that I’ll begin, but that you will continue.

YOU ARE VALUABLE!!  YOU ARE A CHILD OF THE KING!!   In spite of what “someone” says, (including yourself sometimes), you are a masterpiece in the making.  Jesus says you are worth it!!

See Ya, Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher, part time artist

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The Prusik knot

The Harder I Hold On, the Faster I Fall

It’s the story of your life right now, huh?.  The more I hold on, the more that I fall (and fail).  Well pardner, you need to quit holding on with your own strength and put trust in something you don’t fully understand.

Take a look at this knot.  It’s a prusik knot.  IT WILL HOLD YOU and keep you from falling.  It’s a friction knot climbers use here in the mountains.  The knot will hold you,……….but you can’t hold it.  See it’s made to slide up and down a main rope.  Let go of the knot and it holds tight!  Grab the knot with your hand….. and careful, it starts sliding.  I know, I know, it doesn’t make sense.  My body and brain so afraid of heights is telling me to “hold on with all my might”!  So I grab around the knot……. and fall.  When I let go, I stop falling.  It’s very difficult to tell my “afraid of heights” brain to let go.  But that’s what it takes.

Well, here you and I are on our spiritual journey.  We fall by holding on instead of letting go.  Hard to tell our “afraid of heights” soul that we must trust God isn’t it?  I mean we feel that if we can hold on, we can better our situation.  WE can be better at handling our lives than say God Himself??  Whoa there!!  Did I just admit something?  I must be holding on …….and falling/failing.

Let’s go a little deeper here.  What examples can I give of holding on instead of trusting God and letting go?

Ever feel that you are not “good enough” to be loved by God?  You are holding on, better let go.

Ever think that God doesn’t have time for you?  Better let go.

How bout those times you think that Jesus wouldn’t, couldn’t, shouldn’t die for YOUR sins?  Turn loose, or you’re falling.

Now here’s one……… you think that you’ve been “good enough” with your life so you shouldn’t get a disease, face financial problems, have stress.  In other words, God should be good to you based on how you’ve been acting.  Really?  You are holding on too tight.

It’s possible to hold on too much to our religion (our church activities, or our”good and great habits”) that we actually miss the true Christian relationship with Jesus.  The life filled with mercy, love, and forgiveness.  Better let go and let God.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.  Matthew 22:37-39

I know that climbing to the top of a mountain requires a lot of energy.  I have to pull and step and climb one step at a time.  Little did I realize that getting to the top requires me to “rest” and stop and let go of my rope so I wouldn’t fall or slide back down.

It’s the same with our spiritual journey.  It takes energy.  We climb one step at a time, one day at a time. And………….we let go.  We let go of our own strengths (and weaknesses), so that we can completely trust our Lord and Saviour.  He keeps us from falling.  He keeps us.

Let go!

Lord, there is so much I don’t understand about You.  Shoot, I don’t even know how this stupid knot works!  But it does, and so do You.  Help me to let go.  To let go of how I try to live this life,…….. and to fully let You take over.  With my heart, soul, and mind I want to let go and let you hold me.  It scares me.  So help me with my doubts and fears. Thank You Lord!  AMEN!!

See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher

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Walking In My “Bare” Feet

Train up a child in the way he should go!

I told my mother that I’m walking outside in my “bare” feet.  She scolded me and said, “get your socks and shoes on or you’ll catch ‘new moan’yer’.  (Hey, that’s how we pronounce it, so…. that’s how I’ll spell it!)

It reminded me of when I was 12 years old.  She said the same thing back then.  I hated socks and shoes.  Rather be barefoot anytime!  But in a Mother’s eyes, I’m just asking to get sick.  Playing in the rain, or snow, or in mud puddles for some reason didn’t seem like much fun to her.  But, to me….. yeehawwww!

There were many times my parents were “training” me back then.  I’m reminded of it almost every day, because I’ve “used” this training each and every day of my life.  It also reminds me of this……..

Train up a child in the way they should go, and when they are old they will not turn from it.  Proverbs 22:6

I got my training from two wonderful parents.  I’ve given my training to two wonderful children.  So I’ve seen this “training” experience from both sides.  Funny how I’ve passed my parents training of me down to my training of my children.  Yeah, I’ve even told them that “they better quit that or they are gonna catch new moan’yer’.

I think you have got to agree with me that our Heavenly Father also is in the training business.  Least I hope He is cause I need a little help being His Child.  I even ask Him in my prayers for this “training”.  Most of my prayers include asking Him to lead,guide,and direct me.  That’s what I call TRAINING in a most personal way.  Thank you Lord!!  Pray and ask God yourself for this training.

Relax, Mother……… I was outside in the cold in my BEAR feet, not bare feet.  I’ve listened and learned from your advice…….and I thank you as well.

Now, about that “Don’t eat raw brownie mix” advice……………

See Ya!   Dan Ainsworth wildernesspreacher  a grown man, but still haven’t “growed up”.