Tag Archives: a step onward and upward

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The B.S. in Your Christmas Season and How to Get Rid of It

christmas-tree

What? You are too busy doing and getting stuff for everybody to celebrate the Christmas season?  Whoa there pard’ner, friend, and fellow travelers.  Maybe you best get “off that horse” for a minute.  By that I mean, put the phone down, stop the car, take a break and seriously take a minute to get refreshed.  Do like me as I write this,….. grab a mug of hot chocolate.  Say what?  You’re even too busy for this?  Man, you ARE busy aren’t you?

Busyness.  While intending to do good, it consumes us in the process.  Busy at work?  Sure, the more I do, the better I am.  Busy with family?  Sure, the more I decorate, cook, shop, and buy gifts, the better father/mother/husband/wife I’ll be.  Busy with this Christmas season that is fast approaching?  Sure, the more cards, gifts, parties, candies, and whew!…….. I’m worn out just thinkin’ bout what all YOU got to do.

Don’t get me wrong.  I enjoy all this gifts, parties, candies, cards and whewwwww!  I have no desire to be a scrooge and “Bah, Humbug” everything that intends to bring joy during this season.  But when did all the Busyness (with a capital B) become our idol and start taking away from (and not adding) to our peace and joy?

Now, the stuff that you have.  When does all your Stuff (with a capital S) go from being fun things to give and receive, to stuff that now is done out of obligations, requirements, and (keeping up with the Jones, or who are they…… the Kardashians)  😉

We see people that have Busyness and Stuff taking over their lives.  When we see others living that way we think, “well I’m glad I don’t do that”!  But the problem comes when you and I don’t see ourselves living like that.  Ever wonder why we don’t see it in ourselves.  It’s because we are too Busy with too much Stuff.  The B. and S. in our lives.  B.S.  ……. It’s a fun card game, but a big problem in each of our lives.

Luke 2:10-11 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you.  He is the Messiah, the Lord.

The greatest gift……. Jesus.  He was given to me and you.  That’s what Christmas is all about.  Aren’t you glad that you don’t have to be busier than anybody else to receive this gift.  Aren’t you glad that Jesus loves you no matter how much stuff you have?

Our busyness takes over when we let it.  The older lady at a retreat in Lake City, Colorado was who first showed me about being too busy and the B.S. in my life.  I can do something simple like hang lights and decorations.  Does it bring me peace and joy or is it part of the B.S. in my life?  Honestly, it depends on where I’m at spiritually doesn’t it?  Think about it.

So what advice does your guide the wilderness preacher have as far as getting rid of the B.S. in your Christmas season?  Try this.  If you can do this, I honestly believe it will help you have a peaceful and more joyful Christmas season.  Here is my suggestion to you, (and myself as well).

Give a gift to someone that you know that really isn’t expecting anything.  It could be something nice, or something simple.  Could even be that you tell them what they mean to you.  But it’s the thought and action that counts, (to them…… as well as you).  If you are so caught up in your own little world that you can’t do this, well then there’s more B.S. on you than I thought.

Give a gift back to Jesus this Christmas.  I know the perfect gift for Him.  Our time.  Spend time with Him.  Sing a Christmas Carol to Him, just the two of you.  Read a Bible verse alone with God.  Share a mug of hot chocolate with Him.  He honestly could care less about our Stuff and our Busyness.  He cares about You!  Spend time with Him.  After all, it is His birthday!

 

In this spiritual world we travel, there will always be B.S. to deal with.  I’m so glad that my Messiah, Jesus Christ gave me a pair of “spiritual Cowboy boots” that protects me especially when I deal with my own B.S.  Remember, it’s not all the stuff we deal with on the outside, but what we let into our hearts (the inside).  A simple act of decorating, giving a present, picking out a gift could be an expression of joy, or it could be another B.S. moment.  You decide.

“Oh tidings of comfort and joy”    Merry Christmas friends!

See Ya!   Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher, part time stocking filler upper

 

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It’s Meant To Be……… Or Is It?

Are you one of those “good folks” that something bad has happened to?  It certainly is difficult for us to understand how bad things happen to good people.  It’s certainly not fair, and it causes us to question what and why something is going on.  It does me anyway.

My son Jordan, asked me the other day if anything had ever happened in my life that wasn’t meant to be?  Whoa!  That’s a deep question.  I mean, everything happens for a reason, right?  But is everything meant to be?  My answer is yes,……. I think……. well,……. maybe,……. it depends,……..OK, I’m not really sure.

“It’s meant to be” can be used by any of us to describe what is happening in our lives right now.  It also could be used as an excuse.  “It’s meant to be”, so why bother trying to change anything.  “It’s meant to be” can be used to motivate and give us determination to proceed with an activity we are pursuing in our lives.  “It’s meant to be” can be used to deal with any and every situation.  Whether it’s to have this guy as a boyfriend, or whether this girl is my soulmate, in my mind, “it’s meant to be” will ultimately play a role in how things work out.

But is this “it’s meant to be” mindset actually talking about fate, or destiny, or God’s Will for and in my life?  This question is a big ‘un” isn’t it?

I have a friend dealing with a disease that has changed his life.  “Meant to be”??? or just bad luck.  I have another good friend that is battling cancer.  Surely this is not meant to be.  Just a “bump in the road” right?  What about my buddy that’s having a career change but it’s not by his choosing?  Oh well, guess it’s “meant to be”.

What about you?  Everything that is happening in your world right now meant to be?

I’m genuinely seeking an answer.  (Send me a private message we’ll talk just me and you.)  My Christian friends like to say that it’s God’s Will.  All things come together for the Glory of God.   My less religious and “let’s be practical” buddy would probably say, “Hey @#&* happens!”

But my son asked me a question.  So here is what I think (and truly believe).  Is everything that happens in my life meant to be?  Yes.

Whew that was easy, I answered the question.  What is not easy is understanding the question and also understanding the answer.

Trust the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:5-6

I believe that everything happens for a reason.  I live by this belief.  Living in my faith is my choice.  It’s better than “dying” in my doubts.

I believe it was meant to be for my son to ask me the question, “Is everything in your life that happens “meant to be”?

I believe this has caused me to search (and ask God) for an answer.

I believe this caused me to hear my preacher at our local church Sunday Morning.  What I heard was this…… “we put too much faith in our doubts, and we put too much doubt in our faith.”

I believe this caused me to trust in my God even more…. to not rely on my own ability to think, but to “submit” and talk it over with God.

I believe that my friends are all right.  I believe that God’s Will is the ultimate and that along this Earthly way, @#&* happens also.

I believe in the phrase “It’s meant to be”.  I may misuse it as an excuse, I may selfishly use it to try to get things that Dan wants.  I may use the phrase totally because I can’t think of a rational reason for something happening.  It may come across as a “cop out” because I can’t explain my belief in God and Jesus and this Christian walk.  Being able to explain is not that important, being able to live a meaningful life is.

My belief is “meant to be” in a God who forgives, loves, and chooses to live inside of each and everyone of us.  My belief is that it is “meant to be” for you to allow God to be with you no matter what bad has happened.  When  God is by your side, (and in your heart), this phrase, “it’s meant to be” takes on a new meaning.

I also believe that it was “meant to be” for you to read this.  Something pulled you here to give you this opportunity to take one step  closer to God.  Curiosity, a desire of your own, or God’s Holy Spirit Himself……. something caused you to read this.  Or was it just “meant to be”?  What do you think?

See Ya!!

Dan Ainsworth  wilderness preacher

 

 

 

 

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Stomping All Over the Scripture

stairstogod

On our adventures out west this past month, Staci and I stayed at a good friend’s house a couple of days.  Each time we would go up or down the steps, I realized that I was stomping all over scripture passages.  Actually stomping on these words from God……. but in a good way.

How many times do we talk about our spiritual Christian journey being like a physical journey, a trail to walk, a mountain to climb, a path to follow, and in this case, a stairway to climb?  Did you ever think that each and every step we take may contain a message from God Himself?  If we get in a hurry, we may miss one of the messages.  If we really get in a hurry and don’t pay attention, we may miss the message and worst of all, the step itself.  And we fall flat on our faces.  I’m telling you that because that’s what I did on this staircase.

But Hey!, I’ve got a good excuse.  I thought I heard the elk bugling outside so I hurriedly ran up the stairs to get to a window to look out over the mountain.  Some where between “be supportive of one another” and “count your blessings”, my clumsy size 10 1/2 shoes missed the next step.  Missed by that much! Missed just enough to trip, fall, and catch myself on “Forgive and forget”.  I certainly wanted to forget what I just did, but I had trouble forgiving myself for falling on the stairs.  I limped, shuffled, crawled, and staggered to make my way to the window.  False alarm…. no elk, just a coyote, and a sore elbow.

I guess what I’m experiencing here as I rub both elbows and a wrist to make the pain disappear is this.  Have you ever been in such a hurry to hear something from God that you missed the everyday messages, and hurt yourself in the process?  The daily steps that we take to get us higher and closer to the top(God) may just be what we are supposed to be seeing and “hearing”.

I don’t know about you, but climbing a set of stairs sometimes seems to me  like a bother, a chore, just something to take to get from one floor to the next.  Never mind the view as I go, just want to hurry and get to the final destination of the next room.

I think this is what I’m seeing in these steps.  I want to hear from God so bad that I miss all the “little” messages he’s got placed in every step I take.  Steps that I take each and every day.  Everyday steps, boring steps, steps that seem like a bother, a chore, may actually be filled with messages from God.  We mess up and fall spiritually when we make the mistake of missing the “little ” messages because we think He speaks to us only in the “BIG” messages.  You know what I mean.  We want to see the writing on the wall, hear it in the lightening, from some major event in our life.  I’m finding out in my own life, that God is speaking to me in small steps.  In everyday activities. In what sometimes seems like just a normal routine.

That’s what was refreshing to me about these steps I’m stomping on.  I’m beginning to realize that my spiritual journey is one small step at a time.  There  occasionally may be a big event that takes place, but each and everyday there are definitely small steps to take….. one at a time.

But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.’ Jeremiah 7:23

So,……… in this spiritual journey we are on, let’s focus on something really, really big.  Focus on something really, really important to our lives.  Let’s focus on a major STEP that God has placed in our lives.  What would that be you say?  The next small step.  The ordinary step right in front of you that is leading to higher ground spiritually.  Don’t get caught up in how God is supposed to be “talking” to you.  Better to be caught up in how you need to be “listening ” to God.  It’s one small step of many.  It’s the step right in front of you.

See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher