Tag Archives: building a log cabin

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Sharing Lives and Dreams Together

We Are a Team in This Dream

WARNING****  This blog is full of love, devotion, trust, and living an abundant Christian life.  If all you are use to is the hate, arguing, tensions, bitterness and divisions that you see in the news and in the world today, well friend, you may not can stomach what’s fixin’ to be said.

Staci is my team mate on this dream that we are living.  She is my soulmate on this Christian journey we are on.  She is my “bestest friend” and that makes things “gooder than good”.

This chapter in our lives of building a log home in Colorado has been a cherished time of excitement.  It’s also been a time of waiting,……. and waiting some more.  Like I’ve said, we are living the dream and that will include both good and bad, thick and thin, for better and worse.

Scratch that “for worse” part out.  I’m learning it’s all about your perspective.  It’s how you see things.  Times may not always be the “bestest”.  But being blessed with someone who is there no matter what, now that’s for better or “bestest”. ( I know you English teachers cringe when I write like this, but it’s how I talk, so buy a bridge and get over it 😉    )

Staci, the pioneer woman, has been the ultimate team player with me on this dream adventure.  She picks me up when I’m down, she provides valuable input and insight.  She will even wrestle with the chainsaw and other log tools.  She’s able to explain to other folks what we’ve got going on much better than I.  She does all the everday mundane chores and still finds time for me.  I love her more than I can say.  I know it looks like I’m obsessed with her, infatuated, devoted, caring, and just plain whooped because of her……… Well I am!

We make a good team.  I pick her up when she’s down.  I share with her my input and insight.  We LIVE together, not just exist.  We laugh, we cry, we pray, we love, we share, we ah,well, ya know, we do any and everything together.  We are a dream team.

Funny how with all the billions of people in this world, God chose two teenagers who only lived  4 miles from each other to become soulmates.  Now 7 dating years and 35 married years later,………well, they still act like two teenagers.

I wake up every morning and fix her a cup of coffee. (Dudley the dog, gets his coffee too).  It’s another small way of showing affection.  It’s my time to say thanks to God for this wonderful gift He gave me.  As I’m filling the coffeemaker with fresh grounds and water, I’m quietly giving thanks each time to God for her.  It’s one of the few religious rituals I do.

I will forever be devoted to her.  Whether it’s building a log home, or taking a  trip, or just everyday mundane activities my life would be void and empty without her.  She brings me out of my shell.  She inspires me.  She makes me laugh.  She brings more life to me.  She has been the answer to my prayer.

I guess I’m getting mushy and “lovey dovey” with my sharing of what Staci means to me. If this TRUE LOVE we are living is too much for you,…….buy a bridge and get over it……… cause we ain’t about to stop it!

Whatever we are doing, have got going, or are facing,….. both good and bad, knowing she is by my side is the greatest feeling in the world.  It’s the BESTEST feeling in the world.  Thank you Lord for giving her to me.

Proverbs 31: 10, 12  Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.  The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need for regret.  She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

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You Are God’s Dream

Most of you have been following the construction of my log home in Colorado.  It’s a crazy adventure, I know.  But you are seeing my dream come true.  It’s taken time, more time than I expected.  Time to deal with the everyday activities involved with building a house.

It’s taken passion.  My passion.  This “project” has taken my heart and soul, my true passion to continue it from the very start.  I needed the passion to sustain me through the hard times, the difficult times,………. and the truly “I don’t know what I’m doing” times.

It’s taken love.  I love doing this.  It’s my physical way of showing my Christian journey.  To take a pile of logs, (trees that I planted myself 35 years ago).  A pile of logs that are crooked, scarred, weathered, containing knots and cracks.  But these logs have now been turned into a crafted tight fitting piece of furniture called a log home.  Every inch of this house has been touched by Staci and me.  I know it’s “character” inside and out.  And I love it.  It’s mine!  This log house is my dream coming true!!   Woo hooo!!!

You my friends are God’s dream.  Stop with the “stinkin’ thinkin'” that God has no place for you and that you are not good enough.  Hey just like me, and my logs, you are “crooked, scarred, weathered, full of knots and cracks”.  But if you will allow God to fulfill His Dream in your life, you will be perfected and made complete as only God can do.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Wow, talk about passion and love.  God sent His son Jesus to die for our sins.  Jesus in turn, becomes the way for us to follow.  We have to believe.  God then uses His time, His Passion, His Love to “craft” each of us into what He wants us to BE!!  What is that?  His dream come true.

Staci and I took the time to go to a Bible class here at our church in Westcliffe.  The speaker mentioned how God wants us to be His dream.  I think I understand better now.  God wants to take you “into His arms”.  He’s definitely got the time.  He’s got the passion, and He’s most certainly got the LOVE.  What better way to realize God wants a personal relationship with you.  You, little oh good for nothin’ you.  God’s wanting to throw some Love your way whether you realize it or not.  Whether you’ve stopped to look at it this way or not, you need to realize something that is life changing.  YOU ARE GOD’S DREAM.  Follow Him and you will be God’s dream coming true!!  Woo hooo!!

See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher, Living the Christian Dream, and still woo-hooin!!

 

 

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The Prayer Chair

Praying to see and hear God

This is my “prayer chair”.  Can you see the mountains in the view behind? No?,…. neither can I.  That’s why I need a prayer chair.

Every morning before all the construction guys get here, I take a moment for just me and God.  I like sitting in the prayer chair and looking at the mountain view.  Except, this morning I can’t see the mountains.  I know they are still there, I just don’t see them.  Most mornings, I can actually hear the wind and waterfalls from across the valley.  Not this morning.  I don’t hear a thing.  I guess the clouds and fog are blocking my view.  I know the mountains are still there.  Something has come between me and “my” mountains.

You would think that something as BIG as 14,000 ft tall mountains would never disappear.  But something comes in between me and “my” mountains.  Maybe it’s low flying clouds.  Or smoke,…… or dust,……or rain.  What ever the reason, those majestic mountains become hidden from our view.  I know they are there, I just can’t see or hear them.

“My” God and I have a close relationship.  I cherish it.  But some days, I feel that I’m not seeing or hearing from Him.  I know He’s there.  It’s just that the “clouds”, “dust”, “rain”, and “smoke” of this life get in my way of seeing and hearing from God.  I bet you have trouble with your “hearing and seeing” from God too, huh?

You would think that someone as BIG, Mighty, and Majestic as God could never disappear…….  We all know that He’s still there.  It’s just that our view is  being blocked.  Matter of fact, on this day I actually drove my 4-wheeler over into the mountains.  Being on the mountain top itself there was no smoke or clouds to deal with.  It reminded me of why I first came to Colorado and traveled to these mountains  To be what God created me to be.  It was a time of refreshing for me.  A time to BE closer to my God.  Being on and in these mountains makes me more aware of God’s presence in my very own life.

My prayer time is my way of keeping my view clear so I can see and hear from God.  Things in life that I have no control over seem to constantly get in my way of “the view”.  Thus the constant battle of staying close to God.  Prayer has a way of flowing through the “smoke” and “clouds”.

Let your prayer constantly be one of seeing and hearing from God.  Even when life throws all the “smoke” and “clouds” your way.  Let your prayer time with God be your “4 wheeler” that brings your spirit back to the mountain top with Him.  Prayer is a vehicle we use to stay close to our Heavenly Father.  Happy Ridin’ partner!!

I will lift up my mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.  My help comes from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.  Psalm 121:1-2

See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher