Tag Archives: nature

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Watching God By Planting Seeds

This acorn that I planted (for the deer) has sprouted and is on its way to becoming a great big mighty oak tree.  It will take time.  It will take patience.  Yes, I planted it, but the miracle is how it takes on a life and begins to grow.  Amazing to me how an acorn, (or grain of corn, or flower seed, or any kind of seed, can sit there dormant and idle.  Until,……., until, the right conditions appear (warmth and moisture), then this “dead” seed takes on a new life and begins to grow.

I’ve decided that’s why I love to garden,……… and plant flowers,…… and plant future trees.  It’s because I get to see them grow.  Through the everyday activities of planting and cultivating these plants, I get to see God’s miracle of life working through these plants.  I plant them, but God grows ’em.

I’ve decided that’s why I love to share as the wilderness preacher.  I plant the seeds in your heart.  There’s the seed of growing a relationship with God.  There’s a seed of living a Christian walk and way of life.  I’ve shown people how to “see” God in everyday outdoor activities.

My favorite kind of spiritual seed to plant?  It’s this.  Knowing that at anytime, anywhere I can say “Lord help me.” And He does, and He will.  It’s according to how He wants me to grow.  I hope you have allowed that “seed” to sprout and grow into a mighty force in your spiritual life.

I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.  1 Corinthians 3:6

What kind of seeds spiritually have and are you planting?  Where’s your garden?  Is it only in your own heart?  Well, that’s a good place to start, but there are opportunities for you, even you,….especially You to plant also in others.  See it’s no “big thing”.  You and I are only planting seeds.  We share opportunities, plant “ideas”.  Others come along and “water” them.  But the beauty, mystery, and miracle in all this is how God makes it grow.  We get to see His work in others.  We get to experience Him in our own lives.

Go out today and plant some seeds.  Plant them in a flower pot. Plant them in your yard or garden.  As they grow, it will remind you how God makes them grow.  It will also serve as a reminder of how He is inside of your heart and growing you!!

See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher loving life and the mystery of how God grows us.

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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

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What’s Holding You Back?

The poor tree.  It’s spent a lot of years with this tire wrapped around its trunk.  You know that’s bound to have been a problem.  Yet, even with this tire in a position to restrain the tree, the tree has continued to grow.

I’m betting that years ago the tire didn’t even bother the tree.  As the tree grew thicker in circumference the tire started making its presence known.  If I were that tree, I’d be complaining……….. and so would you.   “How come I’m the only one with a tire wrapped around me. Lord, it’s not fair!”  Or the classic, “Well, if things weren’t like they are, I could be doing so much more.” Or how about this one. “Hey, have you noticed I have a tire wrapped around me?  Let me tell you about it.”(Or let me tell you about any and every problem that is in my life.  How much time have ya got?)

Poor, poor, pitiful me. I guess that’s just part of being human on this spiritual journey.  We focus on the bad, the problems, the headaches, the uncontrollable events in our lives.  We focus on the “tires” that surround us.  NOT THIS TREE!!!

This tree has taught me (and now you), a lesson.  A lesson in life.  A lesson in endurance and perseverance.  The lesson?  Keep on keeping on.

Instead of focusing on the tire, the tree focused on growing.  And grow it HAS!!  Down here in the South we would say that this is a “big ole” tree. It slowly but surely………….. (maybe I should say it patiently and steadily) grew.  The tire actually has not stopped the tree from growing. I’ve seen barbed wire wrapped around a tree that would eventually kill it.  Why?  Because the wire grew INTO the tree.  But this tree continued to patiently grow.  As it has grown, it has continued to swell inside of the tire.  The tree is in the tire, but not of the tire.

The tree is not so “poor” after all.  It has grown over time, in such a way that it is having an affect on its surroundings………… not letting the surroundings and situations affect it.  This is a strong and powerful tree.  I want to be like that!!

The lessons I’ve learned from this tree.  Have patience.  Keep going by growing.  Don’t focus and worry about what’s surrounding you.  Spend time and energy on what you let grow inside of you.  It’s more about your attitude than the “tire”.

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had. Romans 15:5

See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher