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When Garbage Leads To “Stinkin’ Thinkin'”

Oh Boy! That’s a lot of garbage! It’s right in front of my Christmas decorations I’m in the process of putting up. Why so much garbage?

Everyday life brings with it the garbage. Milk jug, plastic bags, food wrappers, food scraps, junk mail, cardboard, more paper from the mail, a pair of worn out socks,…… it goes on and on and on! What’s worse,……. I didn’t get the trash out in time last week so now it’s piling up from my being late and careless.

Our garbage is picked up every Thursday morning. Sometimes they don’t drive their big garbage truck by till after noon. But today they decided to come early. I mean it must have been at sunrise early. I got the garbage out at a normal time. For me it was a normal time, but the trash guys had already come and gone. I realized this later when I went to town and saw EVERYBODY’S garbage picked up but mine. Now What?

Well, guess I’ll have to keep up with it till next Thursday. Yep, keep up with the old garbage and at the same time, the new everyday regular garbage keeps coming. It’s stacking up….. overflowing,….. TAKING OVER!!!!!!!

Psalm 51: 10 -12 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

I experienced an episode of “stinkin’ thinkin'” the other day. You know what I’m talking about. When your head get filled with doubts, problems, pressures, aggravations (I got put on hold for 45 minutes gggrrrrr). Everyday activities brings with them the everyday “garbage ” thoughts that have to be handled. Most of the time you and I can handle them with a “normal” amount of brain usage! But then for whatever reasons, the thought processes that allow us to function in our everyday lives becomes backed up with garbage. Trash, garbage, junk, …….we get overrun and the “stinkin thinkin” takes over. What’s the cure?

Let’s see. A cure for garbage thoughts in my head,……. I got it. any of the following will do: vacation, massage, food, a “take my mind off of it” movie, even a Hallmark movie, more food, and CHOCOLATE!!!

All of the above work for me. Well, maybe not the Hallmark movie that I’ve seen twice already. Seriously, I bet these work for you too. But for only so long, then the garbage “stinkin’ thinkin'” starts piling up again.

The best cure for stinkin’ thinkin’…………. is an everyday walk with God. The garbage that gets into our heads is still an issue, but with God’s help it gets taken out and doesn’t back up and take over. I’m so grateful that our Lord and Saviour is there to walk and talk with me each and everyday. I’m glad that He doesn’t just show up in my life every Thursday morning with His great big “Trash truck”.

Focus on the blessing that God is with you each and every day. Him being with you, that’s a blessing right there. Jesus going where you go. You going where He goes. As everyday life throws garbage at you, have you ever thought about how God reaches around you and grabs that “empty can”, “banana peel”, or “‘tater chip bag”, and says “I’ve got that.”

I’m not trying to make this a trivial and belittling thing about God’s Power and Glory. What I want you to understand is this.

Give your life to God. Give your whole life to God. Surrender everything you have to Him. Yep, everything. Give Him your time, talents, money…….. everything. But ALSO, ….. ALSO,.. give Him your garbage, your trash, junk, and all the”crap” going on in your life.

“Lord will you please help me and my friends here, with our “stinkin’ thinkin’ “. I surrender it all. Like that song You keep placing in my path everyday says, “God you’ve got all my victories, and God you’ve got all my defeats” Thanks for BEING with me each and everyday. I’m wanting this Christmas to be less about the garbage piling up and more,more, more about God, and what You mean to me. Amen.

See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher

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Why I See Things That Other People Don’t

This is what people saw as they walked by on the sandy beaches of the Gulf near Mobile Alabama.

That’s what most people saw. Some crazy guy getting super close to a Blue Heron, just to take a picture. Hmmm…… but this is what I saw………


Same picture right? Well, yes and no. It’s the same picture, but taken from different point of views. Look again.

What they see……

What I see……

They see some guy sneaking out onto the sand to get within just a few feet of a wild bird. They probably notice me and my awkward stance. They probably are wondering when the bird will fly away,….. or when the bird will ATTACK this guy for getting too close. They may notice the sunset, but my guess is that they are focused on the what ifs….. What if this guy gets too close. What if this guy has to run away from a bird attack. What if his phone doesn’t take good pictures. What if this, what if that.

Look again…

What I’m Seeing…

I saw a beautiful sunset in the making. At that moment, I saw this Blue Heron wading and fishing in the shallow water. I wanted the silhouette that this bird had formed to be in the same picture frame as the sunset. That’s why I eased down closer to him. I was in a world all to myself. My focus was on the colors of the sky….. focus was on the bird….. as well as the texture of the waves of the water. I was so focused that I saw a buoy (channel marker) off in the distance. (Got to get that in the shot as well.) My focus was not on me and my awkward pose……. but on a mystery that was right before my very eyes…….. and in front of my phone camera as well. I was “in the Zone”. No, it wasn’t that I was after a great picture. It was more than that. I saw something so beautiful that somehow I wanted to be a part of it. I want in on that sunset. Let me get closer to the bird as well.

Why do I say it’s a mystery? Well, you tell me. What is it about sunsets that cause us to pause? What is it about a big bird wading in the water just a few feet away? What is it about the colors and texture of the water as it makes the waves? This is something that to me, grabs your soul and causes you to be amazed. This picture I’m calling a mystery causes you to ponder, to think, and to smile from deep within. Can’t explain it, so I’ll just be content to call it a mystery.

Open the eyes of their hearts, and let the light of Your truth flood in. Shine Your light on the hope… Reveal to them the glorious riches You are Preparing…… (this is where the song “Open The Eyes of My Heart” comes from) Ephesians 1:18

Accepting Jesus as Your Lord and Saviour means that you become more focused on Him and not on your own “awkward” ways. You start “seeing” with your heart instead of your eyes. God’s truth, His Hope, His Glory begins to be seen instead of the “what ifs”. I probably can’t explain it any better. Then again, it’s a mystery that’s not to be explained as much as it is to be chased. I’m wanting to “see” with my heart. I’m wanting to see using God’s eyes and see things as He sees them. That’s what makes me and you see things in a different way from lots of people.

So chase that beautiful picture of a sunset. Chase after God Himself. Get “in the Zone”. Focus on Him my friend.

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. Open the eyes of my heart. I want to see You. I want to see You. To see You high and lifted up. Shining in the light of Your glory. Pour out Your power and Love, as we sing Holy, Holy, Holy. Amen

See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher

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I’m Fine. I Can Fix Myself

I fixed it myself! The pin that hooks this bushhog equipment to the tractor was missing, so I fixed it myself! See? in the picture,….. I took the tire tool from my truck, wrapped it with duct tape, and also tied it in place with parachute cord, and now I can continue my work cutting the grass.

YES! I fixed it! I’m a MAN!! I “Macgyvered it”. (A TV show back in the day where this guy solves all of his AND the worlds problems by unconventional methods.) Give me some duct tape and some wd40 and guys like me can fix anything, right? I mean, that’s pretty smart fixin’ the tractor connection by using a tire tool and tape. I thought so too. Until it broke.

We all have this desire inside of us to be able to fix ourselves. A self help type of attitude. Why is that? Is it because we want to be able to fix our own problems so nobody else will know? Is it the challenge or the feeling of accomplishment when we do “fix ourselves”…… even temporarily. It’s probably some “deep down in our inner being” thought process that kicks in. I’m thinking about taking a psychologist fishing with me and asking them a bunch of questions. Nope, not going to their office, cause they will try to fix me. I want to fix myself. Hmmm, see….. I just did it. I’d rather fix myself than get help.

I don’t know how the pin came out of the tractor hook up. It broke, it may have even over time just slipped out. But I’ll fix it. Mad and aggravated over what’s happened, but I’ll fix it.

While I’m in the middle of my breakdown my phone rings. A friend of mine calls, just checking in, seeing what’s going on. And I did it………. I said what all of us say…………… Those DREADED WORDS……… I answered the phone and said……. “I’M FINE”.

I’m broken down. There’s no mowing until I get this fixed, and yet I say “I’M FINE”. Hey, you understand don’t ya? We can’t let on like everything is NOT OK! I’m Fine. You’re Fine. Everything’s Fine!

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16

Let me hit you right between the eyes with something. How are you doing? And don’t say “I’m fine”. We both know better. You got a pin loose and you’re broken down. That “broken pin” and “breakdown” is all over you. Marriage problem, kids, health issue, spiritual emptiness??? What’s your “broken pin”? You going to try to fix it with duct tape?

You need some help. Send me a private message. Honestly, I can’t do much to help you. But I know who can. See, I pray to Him constantly about my “broken pins” and “breakdowns”. I’ll pray for you as well.

I’m learning as I gain experience on this Christian journey that it’s not about being “fine”. It’s about BEING! It’s not about how good I am, how much I do, how many mistakes, how many successes, how many failures. If that’s what life is all about then I’ll constantly be in “I’ll fix it then I’m fine” mode.

This abundant life I’m chasing is about approaching God. Seeking God, knowing God. Going to Him to help with my breakdowns. The broken pins will still be there. I will still have times of need. It’s a different way of life. It’s a different way of thinking. It requires you to fully give all you have to God. All you have…….. that includes your “broken pins”. He’ll take them. God’s mercy and grace will restore your life better than you trying to fix yourself. God’s direction and grace…… or you and you’re duct tape. You get to decide.

“Dear Jesus, I’ve got friends out there who have “broken pins” and “breakdowns”. They say “I’m fine”. but…….. Would you just gently nudge them so they would feel Your presence. Then let Your mercy and grace flow into their hearts and lives. You are a mystery and hard to understand. Still we approach you asking for your help in our time of need. Sure do love you God!! Amen”

See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher