Tag Archives: Being God’s Creation

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My Roots are in The Rock of Ages

tree rooted

This tree is rooted in the Rock of Ages.  I so want to be just like this tree.  Everything, I mean everything, that it receives comes from  the Rock of Ages.  Its nourishment, the rooted foundation, the sustainment,…. all, I mean all that it is, or ever hopes to be……… it depends totally on the rock.

“But Wilderness Preacher man”, some of you readers are saying, ” are you OK?”  “Look at the tree again.  It’s scrawny.  It’s feable looking.  It’s a weakling.  No strength in that pathetic specimen of a tree.  You sure you want to be like that?”

Go ahead and say it.  You see no value in this tree.   You are looking at this tree like my timber guy looks at trees.  What value can this tree provide?  How can I cut it up to make what I want out of it, is what he is thinking.  You are looking on the outside, on the production, not on the inside and what it is BEING.

But I WANT to depend on this Rock of Ages for all that I am meant to be.  If the nourishment from this rock only allows me to survive,  Then Glory Hallelujah!!  If the “spiritual food” from this rock causes me to flourish, to grow 50 feet tall, to (in the eyes of the world be SUCCESSFUL and PRODUCTIVE), then Glory Hallelujah!!!!  It better be giving Glory, cause if it becomes all about me, myself, and I, that’s when that “timber man” will take notice and “cut me down”.

Sharing something personal now.  I write this wilderness preacher blog to help you (and me) take one more small step to BEING closer to God.  This is my way of “preachin”.  I view this blog more as sharing with you my friends. I share what “spiritual food” I receive from my Rock of Ages.  The world and honestly most people look on a successful preacher by how many numbers and how many buildings, and how many projects, and how many trips are planned.  The Wilderness Preacher views success not by all that I am “doing” but by just the “BEING”. I think my Heavenly Father has the same view. “BEING” in His Grace, His Love, His Mercy, His Providing………. BEING in The Rock of Ages will give me all the opportunities to “do” things for Him.

And you???…………..You are JUST a housewife, just a secretary, just a single dad, just a mom, just a fledgling writer,  just a country lawyer, just a retiree, just a teacher, just a small time pastor, just little ole you…… a little weakling,…… and a little scrawny “tree”. WHAT? Nope! Not when you’re rooted in the Rock of Ages! Just BEING where God planted you, and depending on Him……. The world will never see nor will it understand the STRENGTH you have been given. Funny thing, it’s not because of what you do….. it’s because of the grace/nourishment from the Rock Of Ages!

Maybe in the eyes of the world, or (Careful now, in your own eyes) you view yourself as worthless.  Pity party time!!  “Nobody loves me, everybody hates me……. guess I might as well  eat worms.”  Never heard that?  It’s a blast from the past. 😉

A beautiful hymn “How Firm a Foundation” has a verse that goes like this……

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,

For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;

I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand

Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.    

This song uses these verses from Isaiah 41:10  Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

A song that uses God’s own words that we in turn sing back to Him.  Now that’s what a hymn should be.  We are created to glorify God.  We use what He gave us (in scripture) and give it back to Him (in singing this hymn).  He gives to me, I in return give back to Him.  It’s such a satisfying thing.

A life and all its blessings.  He gives to me and you.  Jesus came to Earth to give life.  We in return give back to Him  each and every day of this life.  Give to Him each opportunity you face.  Give to Him each difficulty you face.  He gives to you, you give to Him…… such a satisfying thing.

You and I may always be considered scrawny, weak, insignificant,…… a nobody in this world eyes.  Wait a minute.  Not me!  Not you!  I know I’m somebody!  My roots are in the Rock of Ages.  All that is within me is  reaching up to the Heavens.  The world may not see what I get to see.  I see a wonderful and LIVING relationship between me and my God.  And I must say, I enjoy the “view”.

tree scenery

See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher, hiking in the wilderness

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What the blog Wilderness Preacher is all about (including you)

Take the time to watch this video, . This video was made when Wilderness Preacher began back in 2014. Wow! Lots of water has passed under the bridge! Through a story it reveals what this blog/website is all about.  It’s not all about me, but in the sharing of everyday stories with you.  After watching this video, leave me your comments, suggestions, and even your own stories.  Your opinion is vital.  How can WE continue to improve this website?  It belongs to you as much as to me.  See Ya!!

Hebrews 13 :16  And do not forget to do good, and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

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The Curves In the Road (Why Life Is Not An Easy Road To Travel)

Let the journey begin. Even with ice still stuck to my windshield, I’m boldly pushing forward on my trip. Expectations of seeing lots of pretty countryside, the radio is blaring “Life is a Highway…… I want to ride it…. all night long” by Rascal Flats. All seems to be good, well, until I come to this….

Oooops. Now the road is very icy and there before me is the dreaded CURVE!!! Which means I’ve got to slow down, quit playing air guitar and beating my dashboard like it’s my drum set, and concentrate on keeping it between the ditches. Well, this curve is stealing some of my fun time on my journey, but so far so good. I’ll be glad to get by this curve. Well, I whoop this navigational obstacle only to be met with this……

Another CURVE!! Surely not another one. I conquered the first curve easy, but this one has even more ice on the road (and tracks where a couple of cars slid off during the night). Uh Oh! Better slow down even more and like it or not, my mood is changing from bad to worse. It’s a little nerve wracking, a little spooky being this close to the edge of a dropoff, but looks like I’m going to pull through. (Where are all the other cars that are usually out now?) You know, I get to thinking. Hmmmm. If I’ve had to take right curve after right curve after right curve, pretty soon I’m gonna be right back where I started!! Surely not huh? If I see one more curve sign, I’m gonna………wait. Up ahead there’s a sign. Is it? Can it be? Oh no……

Another curve AAGGHHHHH! Well, at least it’s turning the other way. Hey, I thought this trip would be easy, straight and narrow, full of fun sights and the radio playing my favorite songs. But nooooooo. Like it or not I feel my mood changing from happy, easy going,……. to well ANGRY!!! IF I see another blessed curve in my path I think I’ll explode. Shouldn’t of said that, cause guess what’s up ahead……….

By now, I know what you’re saying,……… “Bless his heart”. But what I’m saying is ahhhhh is “Well, bless MY heart!” Now what? Siri is telling me which way to turn. Do I listen to Siri? Nope, Cause I’m a Man so I make the decision totally because I’m a man! I take the shortcut that I’ve heard about (which will turn out to be wrong……..I know,… “bless his heart”)

There now has come a time on my journey where there are no more curves to face. But this is what I face ahead of me.

Well now that’s just nice! No curves, no ice on road (much), but I can’t see doodly in front of me because of the FOG. What next? Honestly by now I will admit to you that I have become angry. Angry at the weather, angry at myself (for taking short cuts and wrong turns), even angry at….. well, I’ll go ahead and admit it,….. I’m angry at God! I mean c’mon man, I’m just trying to have a fun journey in life. What’s next? I’m ready! Bring it on! And then I see this…….

Uh oh! Maybe I should take away what I said about being mad at God. “God, I was just irritated and frustrated,….. I’m not mad…. at YOU anyways….we good…. we tight….. Help me through this Jesus! ” I got to tell you that I even shouted out, ” Hey Jesus take the wheel!” Why? well, it’s a good country song! I like the girl who sings it! Honestly, right about now I could use a little supernatural help. Cause a few of those boulders ahead of me have rolled down the steep side of the hill and are in the middle of the road. With my luck, as I nervously zig zag this canyon road another big rock will hit me and add another dent to my already beat up Toyota Tundra with its already eight dents and fender benders. Hey, it’s not that funny, my truck just has ahh….. character.

And then it happens. That spiritual tap on your shoulder feeling. That feeling you get when you know God/Jesus is fixing to say something to ya. (have you ever felt it? Hmmm)

You (and I) have that “uh oh I’m in trouble” feeling. We know we probably deserve any punishment that’s coming. Instead, I hear this spiritually. “Dan, I’m not going to take the wheel. I don’t want to fix your problem with curves. I want to fix YOU.” It’s Jesus talking to me I have no doubt. (Have you ever had Jesus talk to you? Hmm) He continues. “I’ll fix you if you’ll let me. There will always be curves in your journey of life. You keep your eyes on Me,…… and on the road cause I’m still letting you drive.” 😉

So what was becoming an angry and even angrier trip became a true REAL life teaching moment for me. IF I (and you) turn my Eyes upon Jesus, then the things of Earth grow strangely dim. (Hmm sounds like a song).

A good friend of mine posted something on that dreaded platform Facebook that very day. It said, “Why be angry at the darkness of the world when you are holding a flashlight……. which is Jesus”………Bam! That’s it right there. That’s what I needed to hear. I’m thinking, well my friend? Well, bless his heart. No seriously I hope God truly blesses his heart, cause these words truly blessed me in my present journey.

Normally in my writings, I place a scripture here that I felt spoke to me and hopefully you. But not today. I want you to seek Jesus yourself. How or what would you need to do to feel that “spiritual tap” on your shoulder? Maybe you will read your Bible, Maybe just pray, Maybe go outside and yell at God, But do what you need to do to communicate to God. Well, what ya waiting for? Do it. He’s waiting to hear from you.

God/ Jesus is waiting to hear from you, then he’ll know you are in a better place to hear from Him. You’ll hear Him say “I don’t want to fix your problems,…… I want to fix you. Really and truly, I want a relationship. I want a living loving relationship with you my child. Then the fixin’ will happen on it’s on.”

You guys are all on a spiritual journey. We face and will face curves all the time. I know ,I know, we all can’t help but think, “if I just get around this curve, then everything will be OK. But what shows up AFTER you face the curve?…… another curve.

My prayer for you,…… and me. “Dear Jesus, I’m sorry for getting angry and for all those other shortcomings in my life. I feel that maybe I need to forgive myself as well. Help me to face the curves and danger zones in my journey. I want to see the whole road but I can’t see because of the “curves” going on in my life. But I’ll accept that you want ME and not just my problems to fix. But Jesus, you’ve got to help me. I need you in my life. I get it. I don’t need you to “take the wheel”. I need you to TAKE ME JUST AS I AM. I think now I can get that true peace and joy in my life “and turn that radio on wide open” 😉

When we turn our eyes to Jesus (which means using him as your “flashlight”), we start seeing the big picture. WE still may not know what lies ahead, but we’ve got Jesus in our heart in a truly living loving way. Then you know what the journey looks like before us? Well here is a small sample.

Our journey as God sees it. (and now maybe a little more how you see it.)

Here’s my phone number 601-832-8567. Call me. Somebody got “tapped on the shoulder” spiritually today. I’ll ride with you on your spiritual journey (even if your vehicle has dents and fender benders) I can’t do anything for you my friend. But I talk with someone and pray to someone for guidance and directions………and it ain’t Siri……… It’s Jesus, “MY FLASHLIGHT”!

See Ya!! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher