Tag Archives: nature

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Merry Christmas! God With Us!!!

A Colorado “Wilderness” Manger scene! Do you see the Bighorn Sheep? How about the Elk/Deer? What’s that other animal behind the manger? A Fox, a coyote, maybe a mountain lion?….. You tell me.

All these “animals” were made from scrap pieces of firewood. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder I guess. As I was moving the scrap wood one day, I thought to myself, this piece looks like a fox with a bushy tail. Hey, there’s a scrap piece of firewood that looks like a bighorn sheep. (I looked really hard, but couldn’t find a bear or an alpaca in the scrap pile 😉 )

You’ve seen all kinds of manger scenes over the years. They usually have Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus. Most of the time there is a camel, or donkey, or some wise men and maybe even an angel or two. I’ve even seen an manger scene with a cowboy and his horse kneeling in front. Oh yea, and the one where Santa Claus is kneeling in front of the manger. (Not sure how my theology friends deal with that one.)

When I was just a child our church (Shout out to Goodwater Baptist Church) had a LIVE nativity scene. We dressed up as Mary, Joseph, Wise men, Angels, etc.etc. AND WE USED LIVE ANIMALS!! I vaguely remember our mule getting scared and pulling one of the posts down. Seems like some angels fell from the rooftop,……screams,… chaos, spilt hot chocolate…some of ya’ll will have to fill me in on the details. Ha!

In the Colorado Wilderness we don’t have camels. But we do have elk. In this wilderness, we don’t have sheep (like in the Bible), but we do have Bighorn Sheep. In the Colorado Wilderness we don’t have what’s in other parts of the world, but we do have Baby Jesus!!!

“Behold, a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel” (which being interpreted is, “God with us”). Matthew 1:23

Now that’s a Merry Christmas right there! The story is such a mystery! But somehow in God’s Divine way of thinking, He chose to send our Saviour Jesus Christ into this world as little bitty baby. Born in a little bitty stable, lying in a little bitty manger. I got it figured out. God did this so that my little bitty brain could understand that even though God is all knowing, all powerful, and all EVERYTHING,….. He still wanted to be WITH itty bitty me!

If you can see a fox shape in a culled scrap piece of firewood, I’m thinking that you also can see that God wants to be WITH you! If you “see” a sheep or a deer in my wilderness manger scene, I’m thinking that you just look at those pieces of wood an well, there it is. No need to analyze, compare, measure or take a DNA test. You just look and say, “I believe that looks like a fox”!

God chose to send Jesus to Earth as a little bitty baby. HE did this because He wants to BE with You. Such a strange way to wave the world. You can be with God simply by believing in Him. Such a strange way to save your own life.

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 Now that’s Merry Christmas right there!

Maybe you yourself need to “Kneel” in front of your own manger scene and tell God that you believe and are thankful that He wants to be with us. God is with us! He’s with us in the good, and the bad. His overflowing peace, joy, and Love is there with us. I wish all of you a Merry Christmas!!

“Dear Jesus, I thank you that you came to Earth to be with all us itty bitty folks. Thank You. Happy Birthday Jesus! I pray for those out there who are dealing with whatever “bad” things that are happening in their lives right now. I ask for the comfort you give, the peace that comes from you, the forgiveness that is needed. I’m so glad that you came to BE with us! WE love You. Amen.”

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Going Forward In Reverse

Do you ever feel like your life is going in reverse, but you have the “Ahah!” moment and realize you are actually moving forward? Well let this story of the ant going in reverse to move forward sink in to your heart and soul.

I’m taking a break from chainsaw work at the church camp, to eat a pack of Nabs. To you “city folks”, a pack of Nabs is what we call those six peanut butter crackers wrapped in a small package you can get at any convenience store. I don’t care where you’re from, they are called Nabs, not cheese crackers, not snack crackers, but Nabs. Glad we got that out of the way. 😉

But as I’m eating my NABS, a small crumb falls to the ground in front of the stump that I’m sitting on. In just a few brief moments, from nowhere, these three ants show up. Without missing a beat, they tag team on the cracker crumb and immediately begin their journey back to their nest with their new found food item. (pretty sure they would call it a Nabs too).

My phone took a pretty decent close up picture don’t ya think of these creatures working together? What caught my eye is how they worked together to accomplish their goal of carrying the food back to their home. One ant goes forward like any of us would think to do. One ant is kinda walking sideways but still facing forward. The other ant,……. well he chooses to walk backwards as he carries the food forward to his home. I was impressed.

How do ants communicate? Little ant voices, hand signals, a football type playbook??? I can picture in my mind right now……. “Hey there’s a piece of peanut butter nabs. Let’s get it! 32- 12- 16 Hut Hut!!” And there they go!

Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Proverbs 6:6

I’m not sure I want to be called a “sluggard” do you? That’s someone who is considered sluggish….. slow moving,….. inactive….. LAZY. UH oh!!

OK, here’s the point I’m making. Sometimes in our lives (and yes even in our spiritual lives), we get sluggish (slow moving, inactive). Especially when it seems that we are the ones having to go in reverse. You and I experience “going in reverse” all the time in our daily lives. We feel like we should be moving forward but that’s when “Reverse” hits. Reverse as in a financial setback, a relationship on the downswing, a physical ailment,…. even small things like not being able to find your phone. You fill in your own “reverse” i.e. hard times.

But let’s learn from this small ant. Could it be that God is having you go “in reverse” to move forward. For your own good,….. as well as maybe for others….?

Think about it. Whatever is happening in your life may seem to be causing you to go backwards. That’s what you are seeing. But IN THE EYES OF GOD, He’s got you moving forward on your spiritual journey. He’s even got you carrying some Nabs (spiritual food) back to have a feast on later.

Little ole ant. Sometimes he makes more sense about life than a wilderness preacher can. I need to be like that little ole ant. What would that be? Focus on going forward in my spiritual journey, even when it looks to everyone that I’m going backwards.

“Lord, thank you for this little ole ant! Thanks you that he taught me to continue to follow you Lord. To move forward and closer to you Lord Jesus. To keep my eyes on You even when circumstances cause me to be the one that is “going backwards”. Be with me as I travel this world in a “reverse” way as I travel through hard times. Whether traveling in good times, or hard “reverse” times, I’m glad God that You are there with me. I’m also glad that you gave us Nabs! Amen”

See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher Nabs eater, ant watcher

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Are You A Mule or Horse?

I never thought I’d ask a lady such a question,….. but I did. “Mam, would you mind if I took a picture of your ah, mule?” That’s probably not a question most of us have ever heard, much less said to someone. Apparently this lady has heard it plenty of times before. She immediately jumped off her mule. (guess she didn’t want to be in the picture). I snapped a few pictures and asked her a few questions.

I’m at the Horn Creek Trailhead. It’s pretty obvious she and her friend are heading out for a ride with her mules into the Colorado backcountry. Several times I’ve seen people bring their horses to ride the trails. Today I’m witnessing two mules on this journey.

“So, I’m wondering if you think your mule is stubborn,” I said as I took pictures. Her comments surprised me. “Not at all,” she said, “As a matter of fact, I consider him smart. He is sure footed, easy going, not easily spooked. But the best thing is he won’t put his foot down somewhere that he feels will cause him harm.”

“So why are they known for being stubborn?” I mean, I had to ask her that because that’s all I’ve ever heard about mules. They are stubborn.

Her conversation with me was truly enlightening. Because they tend to protect themselves from harm way more than horses, they are cautious and careful,…….. sometimes to the point of looking “stubborn”. They may not want to load into the trailer because in their eyes it will be nothing but trouble. That creek may be deeper than it looks so he’s gonna hesitate a while. (The horse on the other hand will plow right through the water, trotting (and stumbling) his way through.)

I guess that’s the difference I’ve seen between horses and mules. Horses are known for their spirit, speed, grace, and power! Mules are known for their….. stubbornness.

But as this lady told me more and more about her mule, I began to realize how valuable (and how misunderstood) is this creation of God’s called a mule.

Why did she like a mule better than a horse? Her answer was filled with pride. “Because he’s my mule!” A bond has been created between the lady and her mule that is stronger than anything a horse could offer. Remember me saying a mule is very protective and strives to stay away from harm? So he is also with his owner. They develop a close bond. Mules tend to remember things (both good and bad). He will go out of his way to protect himself and his rider. I’d want that characteristic for sure on some of these trails out here. Try riding on a three foot wide trail. Especially one that drops off on one side straight down for about fifty feet. (that’s what I’ve been told is the drop off distance,……. I’m too scared to look for myself!)

I think I want to be more like a mule. Especially in these “crazy” times we are facing and living in. I want to travel my life’s path with a “sure-footed walk”. Don’t let the doubts and fears take over. I want to live my life in an “easy going” mule kinda way. That translates to not letting the “things of this world” bother me so much. I want to enjoy this God-given abundant life without being “easily spooked”.

Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. 1 Corinthians 13:11

MY owner (God) and His Cowboy Son (Jesus) have a deep bond with me. I have a deep bond with them as well. This journey will have highs and lows, ups and downs, laughter and tears. But knowing that I’m becoming sure footed, easy going, and not easily spooked will allow me to experience God in ways that only us “mules” can understand!

Can I get an AMEN! Can I get a Hallelujah! Can I get a HEE HAW!!!!! 😉

See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher

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