Tag Archives: helping others

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Leaving Things Better: A Wilderness Preacher’s Lesson

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

Several years ago I enjoyed a long hike into the Colorado Wilderness. When I say that I enjoyed, it means that I endured, persevered, and patiently withstood the trek straight up into the mountains. But the beauty and the amazing sites on top of this mountain made this strenuous hike enjoyable.

On a trip of 5 miles one way, you need to carry as little weight as possible. I’ll always remember the guy who would cut his toothbrush in half to save the space and weight. Seems such an insignificant thing to do right? Yet this guy would be ready for an amazing backcountry trip carrying only 26 pounds on his back. Me? My pack would be totally ready for the same exact trip but would weigh in at 38 pounds! Who knew that extra socks and clothing, extra food (just in case), extra batteries, and those EXTRA bag of cheetos would add so much weight!

One thing that I did learn over my many mountain adventures was how necessary a saw would be. Maybe I should say how necessary a saw BLADE would be.

Think about the difference in size and space. A saw, let’s say a bowsaw is considered light. But that handle is extra weight that will add up when you count each step up the steep, steep climb. Why take a handle when you can FIND a handle when you arrive at your destination?

See the L shaped tree limb in the picture above? I found it. Perfect! Yep, it made a perfect handle to the saw that can now be used at the high altitude camp location.

I shared some advice with several younger guys who were heading out on a hunting trip and were planning to camp at this very same camp I was at months earlier. I said to them, “Look around when you get to the campsite. There will be a rusty, but sharp handsaw that you can use when you get there. No need to burden yourselves with the extra weight as you ascend to the top. The saw will be hanging on a tall tree to the left of where previous campfires were established.

I honestly forgot about that saw blade. I left it knowing that someone else could benefit from my actions. Isn’t it a good feeling to know that YOU can do something that will help others. And you don’t do it to promote yourself. You don’t do it to collect “brownie points”. You do it because somewhere in your journey on this Earth you learned to ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you’.

I’ve never considered helping others to be a sacrifice. But God does! So give, give, give! Give to others what you have. Not just money, but give of your time and talents. Someone you know may be feeling down. Reach out with a few cheerful words. Someone may be going through marital problems, or bad days at their work, or just plain experiencing the age old situation of “everything that can go wrong is going wrong”. You don’t have to be a professional counselor, or expert on giving scholarly advice, or even someone who is able to solve each and every problem.

YOU JUST HAVE TO BE SOMEONE WILLING TO GIVE A LITTLE OF YOURSELF TO OTHERS!!! even if it’s just a rusty saw blade.

Giving of yourself. I guess that’s why it’s called a sacrifice. If you and I keep everything to ourselves then that action of giving is not experienced. But when we give of and from ourselves to others, then that experience of giving is activated. Thus a sacrifice has been made. No need to focus on whether the actions were microscopic or super big!

Oh yea! I honestly forgot about that old saw blade I left for others. Until, until these young hunters brought it back down off the mountain to give it back to me. “We figured you would want it back. Thanks for leaving it there for us to use. It really helped.”

Hmmm. Now what am I going to do with this rusty saw blade that is now 5 plus miles from the camp? Well seeing it again gave me this idea for another wilderness preacher story. And you know? This saw blade has something in common with me as well as a lot of you out there. We may have become rusty over time, but we still can be useful to others.

Hmmm. Guess I’ll head back up the mountain trail. Just to leave this saw again for others. In some small way I sense that God is smiling. I know I am.

See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher rusty but still being useful

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Too Full of Joy to Die

How to LIVE! When You Are Dying

Meet Jim!  He should have been dead 3 times by now.  He has been battling Pancreatic Cancer for 2 plus years.  Yep, He’s been given the death sentence from doctors and lab tests.  But,…..an even more powerful event is going on with Jim.  He’s been given a life sentence by God,……. a life sentence filled with JOY and PEACE.

Jim truly lives each minute of every day by seeking joy while here on this Earth.  I’ve honestly come to realize that Jim is seeking joy, but joy is seeking Jim wherever he goes.

Several years ago,I asked him what changed in his life when he was given the “dreaded news” of Cancer.  My particular question was, “Did you start praying”?  Did you start praying HARDER???”  He told me that since he was already a praying man, that nothing really changed, he just planned on keeping on praying as he has always done.  Wow, a man walking with God through thick and thin.

Something else from Jim.  “When you lose your future you no longer dwell on the past, that leaves only the present. ” (That’s deep thinking for me and you, but it’s deep living for Jim.

He’s explained to me that since his life “is over” he devotes his time and energy to restore, to renew, to rebuild others.  He gets such a deep sense of joy from living like this. What a way of truly living your life.  I’d of never thought of living that way.  Living your life helping others,……. just like Jesus would do.  Oh, wait, that’s called living like a Christian.

And this subject of DEATH.  I deal with it like every body else in the good ole USA.  I never think about it, …..act as if it will never happen to me.

Jim explained it to me this way.  Dan, (insert your name here _______), dying for me will be like this.  I’ll cross a bridge on my journey that I’ve not crossed before.  YOU CAN’T CROSS IT WITH ME!  Not just yet anyways.  Crossing this bridge will seem like a big step for you.  But for me it’s just a  continuing of my journey.

Jim is a strong believer in Christ.  He tells me he doesn’t intend to live like he is dying.  That’s so obvious Jim, my friend.  You inspire others more than you will ever know.

Hey!  You folks out there reading this.  Do you want to talk with Jim yourself?  Are you dying from a dreaded disease?  Are you running out of time because of something this world has thrown at you and into your life?  I’ll give you Jim’s phone number.  He can restore the joy into your life just by talking and sharing with you.  He seriously doesn’t have the time.  But what time God gives him, he turns around and gives to others.

I’m glad God placed Jim in my path on my Christian journey.  I’m fighting things of this world that try to steal my joy.  Big things like a flat tire, delays, spilling my coffee, a deer hitting my truck.  These things are stealing my joy.   I feel like such a pansy.  Instead of whining about losing my joy, maybe, like Jim, I should be growing it more!!

Jim is fighting, no battling, no Jim is LIVING his life in a way that his JOY is increased each day.  LIVE ON JIM!!!   You inspire me as well as all around you.

You have not only have you brought joy into my life.  God Himself has been pleased by you.  Your Heavenly Father is pleased with His child named Jim.  You give Him joy by how you live.  Well done!!

John 11:25  Jesus said…… he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live…

We will meet you again on the other side.  The journey will continue…….

 

See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher (filled with joy)

 

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The Hard Work Has Its Rewards

Take a drive down Airport Road the next few days and you will see flowers along side the fence.  The flowers continue for days it seems.  Actually, if measured, it’s more like a half a mile of continuous yellow daffodils.  These daffodils are one of the first signs of spring on our farm.  How did they get there?

I know the answer,  So let me share with ya!  My Father planted them.  He was in his 80’s when he started this project. (He’s 87 now!)  Every year he has planted more.  At times, he planted some himself, Other times, he would hire someone to help, (even had Mother out there helping, not sure he paid her though!)  But over the years a few clumps of flowers have turned into a river of yellow and greens.  You can’t help but notice them as you drive by.

It was a lot of hard work.  Planting the flowers and bulbs took a lot of time.  Care had to be given especially when they were just planted.  So why would he do this?  He can see God’s beauty in everything (even in people).

Colossians 3:17 (NIV)17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

I’ve got to brag on this man even if he is my father.  He has driven up and down this road an uncountable number of times over the years.  This is his farm.  He has seen a lot of wonderful things on this place.  A newborn calf, a new crop of hay, a barn being built and filled with this hay,…… all he has witnessed in his lifetime.  Other things he saw driving up and down this road.  He saw two sons grow up.  They both are able to still live close by.  He has seen the deer, a covey of quail…….. and a hawk.  He worked the land, fixed the fences, mowed the road right of way…….  He did it all.   AND, he did it in the name of the Lord Jesus.  Yep, it was all for the glory of God!  (Even when he lost one of his fingers in a cow roping accident!)

Which is why there are flowers beside the road.  Everyday that he drives up and down this road he sees God’s beauty.  He sees and feels God’s presence.  In his own country farmer way, he has planted these flowers hoping that OTHERS will see and feel the God my Daddy worships. 

The flowers are a way that he can share this beauty with others, including you.  So when you drive by his farm and see the flowers, you won’t hear an organ or piano playing,(but you can hear God’s music from the wind, trees, cows, and farm activities).  You won’t hear a choir,(but you will hear the birds, the quail, turkeys,…..and the hawk).  You won’t hear any preaching. (Well, there are two donkeys that will Heeeee Hawwww at ya!)   But, do yourself a favor.  Slow down, roll your windows down and drive slowly by.  You will hear and see God and his beauty.

2 Timothy 2:6 (NIV)6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.

Wiley Ainsworth, the hard working farmer, has received his share of God’s blessings.  Now, this hard working man gets to see others receiving a blessing from the flowers that he planted for God’s glory.

Papaw, the hard work is and will continue to pay off.

See Ya!!  Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher, Stopping to smell the Roses Daffodils