Tag Archives: Christianity

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The First Christmas Without My Father

Yep, I Am My Father's Son

This is my first Christmas without my Father.  He passed away back in May.  In memory of him we had a breakfast of big biscuits, BACON!!, deer sausage,… and fried squirrel (his favorite).

Over all these years, I learned a lot from my Dad.  Here’s one of the many stories.  I was about 12 years old.  It was Christmas Day, but we were out early giving hay to the cows.  Back then, it didn’t matter what was happening, there were farm chores that had to be done.  Feeding the cows their daily ration of hay was one of them.   So we left the house a little early to get this done that day.  I’m twelve, but I’m feeling just as big a man as anybody.  See, Daddy would drive the truck into the field.  I would jump on back of the truck and throw the bales of hay off for the cows.  (AND I GOT TO USE A KNIFE!!).  For a young fellow, the excitement of using a knife to cut the baling twine from the hay bales was…….. (well, you just have to be a twelve year old to know how that feels)

We are trying to finish early with the feeding. One more small herd of cattle on the way back home to feed.  Then it’s back to the house and play with Christmas presents and eat,eat, and eat.  But first we had to stop by a house.  The house was one of the part time workers that would help occasionally with our farm.  As I remember, Daddy went in and gave the guy some money owed him.  I stayed in the truck warming up with the heater on, as it was really cold that day.

My Father comes out shaking his head, gets in the truck, and says to me, “He doesn’t have anything for Christmas.  He’s not celebrating or nothing!”

I guess that’s all that Daddy needed to see.  We go straight back to the house.  He tells me to wait in the truck.  It didn’t take him long to come back out with a grocery bag.  It was filled with oranges, some sticks of peppermint candy, and a few odds and ends from the food pantry.  Nothing special, no toys, no big surprises.  He told me as we were driving back to the man’s house that oranges and fruit was what my Daddy himself would get for Christmas.  Oh, occasionally they would get a toy or new clothes, but they could count on the oranges and fruit each Christmas.

We made it back to the man’s house.  Daddy got out, carried the grocery bag in, didn’t stay but a minute, and was back in the truck driving towards our home.  and he said, “Now he’s got Christmas.  He may not like oranges like I do, but at least He’s got Christmas!”

So what do you and I do when a loved one is no longer with us for the Holidays?  Well, we keep their traditions going, Don’t ya think?

This Christmas Day, some of my family and I will go somewhere to someone who is not having a Christmas.  It may be a needy family, or someone at the gas station, or maybe the waitress or one of the food servers that have to work on Christmas.  (Wherever my Heavenly Father gives me an opportunity) I will go and give them a present.  When I get back in my car, I will then say, “He/She may not like the present as much as I do, but at least He/She’s got Christmas!”

Yep, I am my Father’s Son!!!!!

But the angel said unto them, “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”  Luke 2:10 

I spend a lot of time with my Heavenly Father as well.  He’s teaching me a lot!  One of the many things, I’ve learned from Him is this.  This world can sure use a lot more love.  My Heavenly Father has filled me with His Love, Mercy, and Forgiveness till I’m overflowing with it.  So,………. I choose to go out and give some of that love away.  To a stranger, someone I’ve just met, an old friend……………  and to you reading this.  There is a great news of great joy I want to share with all people.  It’s the news of living a Christian Life.  I want to share it with you!!  Truly Merry CHRISTmas!!!!

There, you may not like it as much as I do, but you now have a little Christmas for yourself,…….. and maybe enough for you to now share with others.

Yep, I am my Heavenly Father’s child!!

(UPDATE)  At Daddy’s funeral a man came up to me and said he was a grandson of someone who use to work for my Dad.  Pretty sure because of what he told me his Grandfather was the one that got the oranges.

Merry Christmas!!!  Look for opportunities to “give a gift” to someone.

I thank ALL of you for reading this blog.  For sharing this with others, and for being with me on this journey, THANKS!  I’m looking forward to this new year!  Tell your friends to “saddle up” and join us!   We are all riding “different horses” but we are headed to the same destination!

SEE YA!!!! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher, spreading Christmas Cheer just like Both of my Fathers!!!

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You Get Hurt When Trying To Help

Silly Honeybee!   She caused nothing but hurt and I was only trying to help.

I was fixing her hive, making improvements, making things better for her.  Obviously, she didn’t see it that way.  Obviously, now I see things differently. (with only one eye!)

And now there you are……… not with a swollen, hurt eye, but with a big hurt of your own.  Hurt feelings, a hurting heart, and well, just a hurting all over.  Why?  because you are trying to help someone.  You are trying to help, but nothing but hurt is showing up.  Who is it you are offering help?  Maybe a friend, a family member, an ex?  Maybe a complete stranger………or maybe even yourself.  You honestly are offering true help, not a selfish “do what I say do”.  You are looking out for that someone, and whatever hurtful situation is there.  Now it is now being thrown back on you.

Hurt people hurt people.  Say it our loud.  Hurt people hurt people.

A difficult place for any of us to be.  You have nothing but good intentions, but the hurt person is hurting.  I’ve hurt before,……. so have you.  All the good advice, all the positive words, all the motivational speeches, ALL that can be said or done, will only meet a solid wall of hurt.  

Try hitting your thumb with a hammer, then adding 24+32+89.  Go………….

Years ago as a preacher, I would give scripture, advice, and counsel to a hurting world of church folks.  Now, on this journey with God as the wilderness preacher, I see things in a different view. (even on days with one good eye).

It’s all about the hurt.  Hurt people hurt people.  There it is again.  While I so wish that I could do or say something to make your hurt go away, it doesn’t.  While you so wish that you could do or say something to someone to get rid of their hurt, it doesn’t.  Bummer.  Matter of fact you and I get hurt in the process of trying to help.  Double bummers.  What cha going to do?

Jesus gives us a great example.  HIMSELF!!!  I don’t think anyone tried to help others as much as He did.  I don’t think anyone got hurt from trying to help like He did.  He died for our sins.  He was crucified for helping people full of hurt.

My different point of view is this.  Give that hurting person what it takes to get rid of the hurt.  Love.  God’s Love.  Help in word or deeds will actually become helpful when the hurt is relieved.

Just as it’s not pleasant to look at my hurting eye, it’s not pleasant to look on someone that’s hurting.  And now, now you got to love on them.  Can’t do it you say??  I know, cause it’s someone who just hurt you even as you are trying to help.  No love to share with them, right?  AHhhhhh, that’s why it needs to be God’s Love.  And you got to be the one that shares it.

These hurtful situations are just another opportunity for you to know God and His ways for you.  Ask God for guidance with what to do or say.  Keep asking.  Keep helping others.  Yep, you’ll also keep getting hurt at times as well.  But this journey will allow you to KNOW God better and better.  It’s in His word.

With my different view now, I feel like I no longer need to be an “answer man” trying to solve a hurting world’s problems.  Instead, I need to share God’s Love to others who are on this spiritual journey that you and I are on.

Maybe we all should share God’s Love as we “help” others with their hurt.  Love your neighbor, love the stranger, even love the “ex”.  You’ll need help from God for that.  I hope you yourself are not hurting so much that you refuse God’s help.  Are you hurting?  Remember, hurt people hurt people……and that hurt’s God himself.

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. Ephesians 1:17

Love Ya!  Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher

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Faith Like a Farmer

"You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet"

 

You see a picture of vines, mud, bugs, and dirt.  The farmer sees……. WATERMELONS!!!

What’s the difference?  Well, it depends on who’s point of view that you are looking from.  A casual passerby looks across this field and all he sees are the vines.  If he looks closer he might notice the mud and dirt.  But not the farmer…….

The farmer sees watermelons!  Why?  Because he’s been living out in the field for several weeks.  Preparing the soil, putting in fertilize, planting the watermelon plants by hand, keeping the weeds out, his work goes on and on.  Why does he do it?    Answer…… FAITH!!

The farmer knows that there are many flowers (baby watermelons) out in his field.  The potential is enormous as to how many TONS of watermelons that possibly can be harvested from his field.  There is also a huge possibility that his crop will never materialize because of disease, bad weather, bugs, too much rain, too little rain, etc, etc,.  So why does a farmer take such a big risk on his time and investment?  Answer…… Faith!!

To me what is missing in our society today is the farmer’s faith.  A faith that is lived regardless of life’s conditions.  A faith that better things are to come.  A faith that drives every farmer to battle all the negative things thrown his way.   A faith, hope and belief in waking up each brand new day realizing………… “you aint’ seen nothing yet”!  Don’t you wish you could wake up every day with this attitude?

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.  Hebrews 11:1

So even if you live in a concrete city, or work inside all day, you can still be a farmer.  Grow your faith.  Read the word, pray, search for the friendship and fellowship of God.   The potential is enormous.  Sadly, there is a huge possibility of negative things coming your way to hinder or even stop you from growing with God.  Well, you got to have faith.

Back to what is missing in our society (and maybe even in your life).  When the farmer encounters bad weather, bad conditions, bad ANYTHING, does he give up?  Nope, because he has faith.  If his crop doesn’t produce a new world record for production does he give up?  Nope, cause he has faith.  And strange as this may sound, if the crop was a total loss, would the farmer quit?  Nope, because he has faith.

A farmer’s faith does not depend on the conditions around him.  It depends on the “condition” inside of him.  Faith from within,……. it’s needed in a farmer’s life.  He lives and breathes everyday knowing that the next day will be another one of those “you ain’t seen nothing yet” days.  This world calls a farmer “backwards”, “naive”, or “simple”.  But with faith like that I call him “NOBLE”!

Mr. Farmer, you keep LIVING your faith while many around you just “talk” it.  I myself will continue to live my faith in my spiritual journey.

I will continue trusting God to help me make right decisions.  I will continue to realize that sometimes even when I make “wrong” decisions, it turns into something right in the long run.  My faith points that out to me.  By faith, I will live this life not in fear, but in great anticipation that even in all the NEGATIVE around me, there is an assurance of things not seen.  There is a POSITIVE force leading me to unknown mysteries.  There is a Lord and Saviour who considers me one of His “watermelons” and has promised to be with me every day of my life.

There is a promise from God that………”you ain’t seen nothing yet”!

See Ya!!   Dan Ainsworth  wilderness preacher  Becoming “alive” because of faith!