Tag Archives: a step onward and upward

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What’s Holding You Back?

The poor tree.  It’s spent a lot of years with this tire wrapped around its trunk.  You know that’s bound to have been a problem.  Yet, even with this tire in a position to restrain the tree, the tree has continued to grow.

I’m betting that years ago the tire didn’t even bother the tree.  As the tree grew thicker in circumference the tire started making its presence known.  If I were that tree, I’d be complaining……….. and so would you.   “How come I’m the only one with a tire wrapped around me. Lord, it’s not fair!”  Or the classic, “Well, if things weren’t like they are, I could be doing so much more.” Or how about this one. “Hey, have you noticed I have a tire wrapped around me?  Let me tell you about it.”(Or let me tell you about any and every problem that is in my life.  How much time have ya got?)

Poor, poor, pitiful me. I guess that’s just part of being human on this spiritual journey.  We focus on the bad, the problems, the headaches, the uncontrollable events in our lives.  We focus on the “tires” that surround us.  NOT THIS TREE!!!

This tree has taught me (and now you), a lesson.  A lesson in life.  A lesson in endurance and perseverance.  The lesson?  Keep on keeping on.

Instead of focusing on the tire, the tree focused on growing.  And grow it HAS!!  Down here in the South we would say that this is a “big ole” tree. It slowly but surely………….. (maybe I should say it patiently and steadily) grew.  The tire actually has not stopped the tree from growing. I’ve seen barbed wire wrapped around a tree that would eventually kill it.  Why?  Because the wire grew INTO the tree.  But this tree continued to patiently grow.  As it has grown, it has continued to swell inside of the tire.  The tree is in the tire, but not of the tire.

The tree is not so “poor” after all.  It has grown over time, in such a way that it is having an affect on its surroundings………… not letting the surroundings and situations affect it.  This is a strong and powerful tree.  I want to be like that!!

The lessons I’ve learned from this tree.  Have patience.  Keep going by growing.  Don’t focus and worry about what’s surrounding you.  Spend time and energy on what you let grow inside of you.  It’s more about your attitude than the “tire”.

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had. Romans 15:5

See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher

 

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A New Year of BEING children of God

 

 

It’s a new year and I’m celebrating!!!!   Happy New Year!!!!    And …..  Happy New Year BEING  one of the children of God!!!!!!  Not because of something I did, but something that God does.  He gives His love, His mercy, His forgiveness.
Sure if you get to know me and took a closer look, you would see that I am definitely not perfect, I make mistakes, I am human and fall short of God’s Glory.
And I’m sure if I took a closer look at you,  well there you go.  You yourself are not perfect, you make mistakes, and fall short of what God plans and intends for your life.
Well, I tell you what.  Let’s all focus on our Father and not on each others shortcomings and weakness.  Let’s not focus on each others’ sins, but focus on the Father’s love and forgiveness.  He claims us as His children.  It’s in the Bible!
John 1:12-13, NIV. “To all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. Galatians 3:26

So, I don’t know about you, but to me, that’s something to really celebrate.  So raise your glass, give a toast, shoot the fireworks, Praise the Lord, praise Him with singing.  Do a dance, say a prayer, have a feast, laugh, cry, but definitely give thanks to God!!!!  He is your Father.

“Lord, I want to Thank You for all that you are to me.  I’m glad I can call you my Heavenly Father.  I’m joyful that you would think to call me your child. Forgive me when I fail you.  Give me strength and guide me this new year coming up.  Most of all, Lord ………. Help me.  Amen.”

How bout you saying the same prayer you just read.  You’ll be talking to your Father.  He’ll be listening to you.  Then when you say “amen”, let the celebration begin!  (My feet are dancing under the table as I write)

See Ya!   Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher, dancer/celebrating life with the Father

 

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That Sinking Feeling

What you see is what’s left of the ladder going to my Mother’s attic.  The step I was standing on broke. Then, two more steps broke under me as I made a short but intense journey down to the floor.  I know it was quick, but I remember thinking “This is gonna hurt”.  A big scratch from one of the now exposed nails, a slight twist of the ankle, a bruised tailbone (what, I still have a tail!), and hurt pride were my results from this encounter with the attic ladder.  I didn’t fall very far, but it was far enough.

My Mother needed help getting the Christmas tree and decorations down from the attic.  I’ve always like going back up in the attic.  Lots of memories up there.  Shucks, some of my toys from fifty years ago are still up there.  Today my assignment was to bring down the Christmas tree, lights, decorations, etc. for this years’ time of celebration.  To get to all the “stuff” that is in the attic, you have to pass through the gatekeeper.  You must climb the only source available to get to the attic.  That source?  An over 50 year old flimsy ladder.

It wasn’t a big surprise.  I had actually replaced a couple of steps a few years back. (Just didn’t replace the step I was standing on that broke).

What was amazing to me was how my brain was working.  In a split second it went from singing “I’ll be Home for Christmas”, to thinking I’m Fixin’ to Be on the Floor for Christmas.  From happy, carefree, holiday spirit to pain, anxiety, hurt, and thoughts of “this is going to be TROUBLE”.

2 Corinthians 4:17, NLT For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

I’ve read that during the holiday season, many folks have that sinking feeling.  It’s a time of year when we should be joyful, happy and celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus.  But the way our brain works sometimes, it causes us to also realize the hurts and pains in our lives.  Maybe you’ve lost loved ones, a friend is moving, health issues, things just haven’t turned out this year like they should have.  All good reasons to feel sad and experience the sinking feeling.  That sinking feeling can happen in an instant.  Your living and loving life when all of a sudden, uh oh you are “falling from a ladder”, and your sinking feeling is overwhelming you.

Look at that scripture again.  Our troubles produce a glory??  Gotta be kidding right? Well, guess not, it’s right there in the Bible.  So, I’m hearing you ask me, “How do my troubles produce a glory from and to God”?  Honestly, I don’t think I can answer for you on that one friends.

What I can say and do know is this.  I speak from experience because I have “fallen from a ladder” several different times, both physically and mentally.  While my earthly body and brain are focusing on the current hurts and troubles that I’m experiencing,  there is a spiritual part of me that remains focused on Christ.  Even when the pains of the life on Earth are giving me depression, sadness, and hurt there is a part of me that stays with God.  I know that God is staying with me.  That’s how I feel that glory is being produced.  The glory that an all powerful God is taking time to be with me is an amazing thing.  The glory that I am giving to this all knowing, all powerful God because He is with me is my humble way of giving back to God.

The troubles that you are going through right now?  I bet it’s tough.  Probably like falling from a 20 foot tall ladder.  But hear this.  Your troubles are huge because they are your very own troubles.  But compared to ……….   Hmmm, compared to……..  Wow, compared to…..  to the Great  and Everlasting Eternal Love of God, your troubles are small and won’t last very long.

I’m not putting down your troubles as a trivial and meaningless matter.  I’m lifting up your troubles to our All powerful, great and mighty God.  Jesus is Lord.  He is Lord of our lives.  He is Lord of our good times,  and ……… He is Lord of our troubles!  To God be the Glory!

Merry Christmas!

See Ya!   Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher, full time ladder climber (to higher ground)