Posted on

No Pain, No Gain

You should’ve seen it! A splinter big (and long) as a Q-tip!! Half way in and half way out! It felt that big anyways. Actually a half inch sliver of wood would be more accurate. Funny thing is,…. I didn’t know it was there until…… THE PAIN.

I remember a few days ago, working on some log benches. As my hand slid down the side of the board, I felt the all too common “sting” of a splinter. (You’ve been there, done that right?) Close inspection revealed nothing,…. nada. I couldn’t see anything. It must have stuck in me and then came right back out. Boy was I wrong. How did I know I was wrong? The Pain!

After two days, whatever was in there was needing to come out. Dr. Dan, using my handiest surgical tools, (a fish hook and tweezers) proceeded to filet open the wound, grasp the foreign object, and successfully remove said object (without any whining)! Success!

My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Proverbs 4: 20-22

My retired Marine buddy said the other day that pain is “weakness leaving the body”. That got me to thinking. How many times has God allowed pain in our lives, so that we could get rid of some weakness. I wouldn’t say God caused the pain, but just going through our everyday lives and activities, somehow you and I get a “spiritual splinter”. Maybe we grabbed something we shouldn’t have. Maybe something grabbed us! Anyways, you checked around and nothing, nada……….. until THE PAIN.

I hate pain, it brings out the “whiny, whiny” in me. But maybe just maybe, God can and does use our pains to help us see our weaknesses.

The pains in your life whether physical, mental, or spiritual, are there. If that pain is the result of “weaknesses”, then let the ultimate Great Physician remove them. Be attentive to His Word so that you will know when to call on Him for His healing. God’s Word in your life, your heart, your soul,….. It brings life to those who find it.

See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher

Posted on

Relying On God

This blackbird (aka- grackle) catches my eye. He’s sitting next to the gas pump as if he owns the place. As soon as my truck stops, he does his little parade walk over to the front of my truck.

I immediately begin a conversation with him. “Little birdy, what are you doing walkin’ around my truck at this gas station? Shouldn’t you be flying south for the winter”? Luckily for me, all the other gas customers are too busy in their daily hustle, and hurried lives to see me talking to this bird. Well, Staci sees me and does her eye roll thingy. She’s seen me have conversations with birds and animals before. But hey, I’ve seen her roll down the window as we drive by a donkey and yell “Heeehawww”! So there. 😉

This little birdy doesn’t have time for conversation. He’s busy. Busy eating the grasshoppers that are stuck on my front grill! I’ve got it figured out! This blackbird just sits and waits for the vehicles to pull in, then proceeds to dine on the buffet that is before him. That’s a smart bird.

As my truck is fueling up, I get within thee to four feet from the bird. He’s not scared of me. He’s too busy picking my grill clean of whatever bug swarm I’ve driven through. We say our goodbyes, I get back in the truck, watch Staci roll her eyes again at me (and the blackbird) and continue our travels.

Driving away from the gas station, I look back. There goes the blackbird walking over to the next car. He’s jumped up on the car’s grill. Another bug buffet is on tap. I’m thinking,…….. I need to be more like that bird.

In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch. Psalm 5:3

Why be more like that bird? Time for me to confess. My prayer conversations to God usually include requests and a few “can I have this” items. It may be some little bitty somethin’ or it may be something big. What’s good is that there IS a conversation with God about my needs and wants and desires and on and on…… What’s bad is I’m beginning to sense is that there is no “eagerly watching……and waiting.”

Kinda like the kid who goes into the candy store with his father. The child says, “Daddy, can I have these jawbreakers”? Before Dad can reply, the child has grabbed a handful of candy. There’s no interaction between son and father. It’s been taken for granted.

Here’s the deal. Maybe all of us should be like this blackbird. He’s used his own smarts to realize there is food at the service station. Then he eagerly watches……and waits. If I use my own smarts to get my spiritual food, I do think that’s good. But when I lose sight that God is my provider and not me,…… well, that’s when it becomes bad. I rob God and myself of that “eagerly watching” that is so important in this living relationship I have with my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

“Lord, I’m sorry when I’ve taken things for granted. Help me with my understanding that watching and waiting are not necessarily bad things. Watching and waiting can and should be times filled with eagerness and anticipation of what You are doing next God. Could You help me to see my times of waiting as times to rely on you. To rely on you with eagerness and excitement. Amen”

See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher

Posted on

People Love To See The Lights!

Every year this family decorates their entire yard with Christmas lights. Every year lots and lots of people drive by to see their lights. So many cars, that now the community where they live have the police directing traffic and the neighborhood streets turned into one way traffic lanes. (I’ve always wondered if there were ever any “Scrooge” neighbors not liking all the traffic chaos outside their homes.)

My, oh, my the cars that were driving by just to get a look at the lights. Staci and I got a call from some good friends of ours (shout out to Stephen and Joy!). They wanted to know if we wanted to ride a ways and see some Christmas decorations. There’s this family that over the years has accumulated a massive Christmas light decoration. They have even won a few national awards. Did we want to go? I pondered over the idea that it would be past my bedtime when we got back. But hey!!….. let’s live a little! Ha! Sure count us in.

The lights were really cool looking. It was fun just to gaze while also listening to the music that was playing. Again, what struck me was the fact that so many, many cars were driving by. So many, many people were caught up in the moment of seeing the lights

You are the light of the world–like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14 NLT

The little baby Jesus was sent into this world to ultimately shine for us……… and through us. So, don’t forget that YOU are part of this Light of the World. God is shining through you. Just like our friends did, you need to invite people to see the Light shining in and through you. So many people nowadays are spiritually sleeping. But you keep inviting them to the “Light of Your Life” light show. They will one day hang out past their “spiritual bedtime” just so they can also admire the lights! It will cause them to “live a little” spiritually.

Dear Jesus, Thank you for coming into this world and also for coming into each of our lives. We love You for that. Help all of us that we can let our lights shine in our everyday lives so others can see. You are the ultimate light. Let the light you give to shine through me be my gift to others………..and in turn let this gift be to You as well. Happy Birthday Jesus. Amen

Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher