Tag Archives: nature

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The Bird Bath

Now That's Being A Church Right There!!

 

The birds have made a bird bath out of the puddle in the streets!  Now that’s being a church right there!

It finally rained here in drought strickened Colorado a couple of Sundays ago.  Just enough to wet the ground…… and just enough to form a few puddles in the road.  Whoa, and boy did the dirty birds take advantage of it.

Not the best picture, (I didn’t want to get too close and spoil their fun), but you can see these dirty birds were celebrating their new found water source.

I’m calling these birds “dirty birds” for a reason.  They are English sparrows.  They are a pest.  Their other name should be “flying rats”.  Pigeons get the blame for all their dirty deeds.  Poopin on sidewalks, on cars, on……ME!!!  Look at any Wal-Mart Entrance, and in the big letters on the wall above you as you walk in, there will be a nest.  And when you walk under it……..splat!!

Hey, I like birds.  But English sparrows are different.  The live in towns and cities where they expect a “free ride” from the trash us humans leave around.  And to top it off, they can’t even sing.  Just chirp,chirp, chirp, chatter,chatter, and more chatter.  How wrong is that?

But today, these dirty birds are teaching me a lesson.  Honestly, today maybe God is using these dirty birds to teach me a lesson.  A lesson on living water.

1 John 1:7  If we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

These “dirty birds” were getting cleansed.  They were taking a bath in fresh rain water.  And they were enjoying the moment.  No need to see who was the dirtiest.  No need to see who splashed the best.  Just getting cleansed.  Just taking the time to enjoy the water sent from the Heavens.  Hmmm………. sounds like what church should be.

I bet there are a bunch of “dirty birds” at the church where you attend.  I’m also betting there are a bunch of “dirty birds” at the church where those of you that don’t go –would go– if you did go.  Huh?  What I’m saying is this.  Pick a church, any church, and you’ll see a bunch of “dirty birds”.  Some try to hide it, pretend they aren’t dirty as YOU, or even try to get away with being dirty by saying, “I’m fine, how are you?”

But friend, here’s the wake up call for you.  Look at the picture again.  The birds are tellin’ ya!  It’s not how dirty everybody is, IT’S HOW CLEAN AND REFRESHING THE WATER FROM HEAVEN IS!!

You pick a church and you go to it.  Give it a try!  Rule #1…. Don’t go to see all the “dirt”.  Rule #2… Go to SEE the Living Water!  Spiritually, that’s Jesus Himself.  He’s there!  I’ll be totally honest with you.  He’s everywhere.  But the fellowship of being with other “dirty birds” who are being cleansed is what church is about. (Or should be!!)  You regular church goers, yep talking to you,…… make these new dirty birds feel right at home in your cleansing water puddle with the steeple on it.  It’s not your water, it came from above, remember?    And you dirty birds that don’t participate in any church activities,…… yep, talking to you this time,……here’s a question.  Does it make any sense for the bird to never go to bird bath?  Oh, there’s always reasons, but why wouldn’t the birdy not take a little time out of his day to fellowship in the water puddle with the steeple on it.  The birds taught me this…… When you are focused on the water, the cleansing refreshing water, you lose sight of all else.  Too much joy from being refreshed to worry about any and all dirt from You as well as others.

Come to church.  You’ll see  me there!  I’ll be splashing away in this Life Giving Water!  I know, I know, you can dunk yourself in cleansing water anywhere, anytime, anyplace.  But friend, there’s something special about having a fellowship with fellow believers who are on the same journey as you.  Even for a loner like me……..(and some of you).  The joy, inner peace, being refreshed in my soul is magnified when I’m with other Christians.  Even when we all are the “dirty birds”!

See Ya!   Dan Ainsworth Wilderness Preacher

 

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What If God Says No

In the middle of this extreme drought here in Southern Colorado, I’ve planted my yard in native grasses.  I watered just enough for the seeds to sprout.  BUT, I’m not wanting to water anymore for fear of running my well dry.  It’s that dry.  But I’ve got lots of good reasons for planting my yard.  Mainly to cut down on the dust, and give the deer something to munch on.  No plans for mowing at all.  I just want a natural meadow.  Now I’m leaving it up to Mother Nature,……. or should I say my God.

If we don’t get rains soon, this grass will die.  I find myself asking God for rain so that MY yard grass will grow.  I catch myself becoming concerned over this little patch of green turning brown.  I find myself facing the fact that God may not send the rains needed.  I Realize that God’s answer may be NO.

Ok, Ok,  this is small potatoes in the grand picture of my and your life in this world.  No big  deal whether my grass lives or dies.  But we all have wants and needs in our lives.  And the answer we hear concerning our wants sometimes is……. no, not now,……. ain’t happening.  That leads us to our next question.  Why am I hearing No?

I don’t think I’m being like a fussy kid in the candy store.  I seriously am not saying, “I want this and this and this.”  I’ve got no plans to throw a temper tantrum if I don’t get my way.  For all the right reasons I’ve got a want in my life. (it’s this little ole desire to see it rain).  My mind spins because…….. well, maybe I’ve not done something I should have done, maybe I’ve not been good enough, maybe I , maybe this and maybe that.

With these thoughts of God and how He interacts in my life, I find an answer to being told no.  The answer comes from a local rancher here in Colorado.  He didn’t even know my question, but he gave me the answer I was searching for.

I was on his place setting bee swarm traps. (It’s that time of year again.)  Looking around at his cattle and also seeing that his grass was more brown than green, I asked him, “how will you survive this extreme drought?”

His answer………..”I don’t know”……….. and that was that!

But his presence, his body language, his manner, (his being a Colorado Cowboy), gave me much more insight into this simple but complicated answer.

He has faced droughts before.  He has faced times of no rain, times of too much rain, times of well, living life on the ranch.  No need to figure out life’s good and bad.  Just need to live….admit that you don’t know…..and keep going.

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God endures forever.  Isaiah 40:8

Such a mystery to all of us how bad things happen, why good things happen.  We spend enormous amounts of time trying to “figure out” the whys of life.  Maybe coming to the point in our life when we can comfortably say, “I don’t know” concerning spiritual and physical happenings in our lives is when we reach the point that TRUST and HOPE and FAITH become more than just words.

I say “I don’t know” more than I want to when asked about spiritual matters.I don’t know why bad things happen to good people.  I don’t know why circumstances catch up to some people but not others.  I don’t know if my puny yard of grass will live or die.  I don’t know , I don’t know, and I just don’t know.

But just like the rancher, there is a confidence in my answer of I don’t know.  You see, it’s not in realizing the answers to life that is important.  It’s realizing that my Lord is with me forever, no matter what!It’s not what you know, but WHO you know!!

I am someone who has let faith, trust, and beliefs as a Christian  take over my way of thinking about this life while here on Earth.

Call me a simpleton.  Call me naive.  CALL ME A CHRISTIAN!

See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher

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Finding God In The Small Things

Even in the smallest of things, God’s presence can be felt!

I’m outside on the deck taking in the view here in Colorado.  A majestic view at that!!  Mountains as far as I can see.  Then, this little fellow shows up.  Stunned I am, because now my view has gone from BIG, BIG, BIG,…….. to the smallest of small!  I was seeing God in a vast mountain scene, now he’s showing Himself in one of His smallest creatures.

I even got a picture of this hummingbird blinking his little eyes.

How cool is that!  You have to be quick in order to catch a hummingbird blinking. (For the record, I’m known for taking shots of people right as they blink, so it may just be my picture taking skills 😉   )

And then I sense it.  God’s presence.  His Holy All Powerful, All knowing, Magnificent Presence, is right there with me.

 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. 1 Kings 19:11-13

A gentle whisper, a cooling breeze,……… a small hummingbird.  Just like you, I catch myself looking and hearing from God.  Just like you I want to hear from God in some kind of BIG WAY!!  A miracle, a life changing event, even God speaking words directly to me.  OK God!!  I’m ready!!  Show up with Your Power, Your Glory, Your all seeing, all knowing presence.  I’m ready for a grand entrance, fireworks, cue the movie theme with surround sound!!!!  Show what You got!!!!!!………………..

And then,……… the hummingbird shows up in my hand.  Or a gentle whisper from someone, or a dog’s tail wagging, or one of many “small” things that happen everyday.  Suddenly I realize God is in the smallest of small everyday things.  I’m humbled.  I also realize I’m putting my Lord, my God in a box. I say that because I’m limiting my presence with Him when seeing and hearing from Him in only those BIG life changing moments.  I need (and want) to see and hear from Him in each and everyday of my life.

Looking for God by looking at a most majestic mountain scene,………. and then the hummingbird shows up.  So does God.  He’s always been there, I just need to focus and refocus continually to see Him.

Doubts creep in, fears seep through, and that’s when you feel you can’t hear from God yourself right?  Keep looking and listening.  Not with just your eyes and ears, but with your heart as well.  Ask God to speak directly to you.  He may come at you with fire, lightening and thunder.  Or He may speak to you with a gentle whisper.

You just don’t think that a Most Holy All Powerful God would take the time to be with you?  Just You?  Good question.  I guess you just don’t think I would ever have a hummingbird sitting in my hand either did ya?

Look and listen for God.  Pray to Jesus. Ask Him to be in every part of your life.  Then look and listen for God.  He will show Himself …….. in a BIG way, or in that gentle whisper.  I know!!  How do I know?  A little birdy told me!

See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher