The Prayer Chair

Praying to see and hear God

This is my “prayer chair”.  Can you see the mountains in the view behind? No?,…. neither can I.  That’s why I need a prayer chair.

Every morning before all the construction guys get here, I take a moment for just me and God.  I like sitting in the prayer chair and looking at the mountain view.  Except, this morning I can’t see the mountains.  I know they are still there, I just don’t see them.  Most mornings, I can actually hear the wind and waterfalls from across the valley.  Not this morning.  I don’t hear a thing.  I guess the clouds and fog are blocking my view.  I know the mountains are still there.  Something has come between me and “my” mountains.

You would think that something as BIG as 14,000 ft tall mountains would never disappear.  But something comes in between me and “my” mountains.  Maybe it’s low flying clouds.  Or smoke,…… or dust,……or rain.  What ever the reason, those majestic mountains become hidden from our view.  I know they are there, I just can’t see or hear them.

“My” God and I have a close relationship.  I cherish it.  But some days, I feel that I’m not seeing or hearing from Him.  I know He’s there.  It’s just that the “clouds”, “dust”, “rain”, and “smoke” of this life get in my way of seeing and hearing from God.  I bet you have trouble with your “hearing and seeing” from God too, huh?

You would think that someone as BIG, Mighty, and Majestic as God could never disappear…….  We all know that He’s still there.  It’s just that our view is  being blocked.  Matter of fact, on this day I actually drove my 4-wheeler over into the mountains.  Being on the mountain top itself there was no smoke or clouds to deal with.  It reminded me of why I first came to Colorado and traveled to these mountains  To be what God created me to be.  It was a time of refreshing for me.  A time to BE closer to my God.  Being on and in these mountains makes me more aware of God’s presence in my very own life.

My prayer time is my way of keeping my view clear so I can see and hear from God.  Things in life that I have no control over seem to constantly get in my way of “the view”.  Thus the constant battle of staying close to God.  Prayer has a way of flowing through the “smoke” and “clouds”.

Let your prayer constantly be one of seeing and hearing from God.  Even when life throws all the “smoke” and “clouds” your way.  Let your prayer time with God be your “4 wheeler” that brings your spirit back to the mountain top with Him.  Prayer is a vehicle we use to stay close to our Heavenly Father.  Happy Ridin’ partner!!

I will lift up my mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.  My help comes from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.  Psalm 121:1-2

See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher

Can You Make Those Around You Better?

The Girl Behind The Camera

The girl behind the camera is Julia Bhansali.   Julia is signed with my daughter Jamie’s modeling agency, JEA Model Management.  She has “the look” so she makes great pictures.  But according to Jamie, not only is she good in front of a camera, she is good at taking photographs and videos.
Today Julia’s challenge is to shoot pictures of the wilderness preacher and his log cabin work………………  and make me look good.  Challenge accepted, but I’m thinking this may take a while.
I’ve never enjoyed having my picture taken.  I don’t have “the look”.  I always feel like if I take a picture of myself, all the flaws and imperfections are there for the whole world to see.  (You feel the same way about pictures of yourself don’t ya?)  The same with taking pictures of my work on the log house I’m building.  The pictures I take are to show a work in progress.  But if you look closely, you will see faults, defects, mistakes, and slipups.
But I have learned that pictures tell a story to lots of people better than the written word.  Pictures can tell MY story even better than MY own spoken word.  So, I’ve accepted the fact that I need help to tell my story.  So, “Jamie and Julia, can you help me tell my story?”………………….  They do, and………… they make me look better in the process.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Can you make those around you better?  The people in your life, at work, at home, at school.  There may even be a person that out of the blue God sends your way.  It’s your opportunity, your chance.  All people have flaws, faults, mistakes, and slipups in there lives.  That’s easy to see.  But do this for others and yourself.  Do, say, and BE what you can to help those around you have a better life. 
Helping others to be a better person themselves,………It’s a way of sharing God’s Love.  It’s the way of being/living as a Christian.
Thanks Jamie and Julia for helping me be better.  Jamie was directing and giving ideas (and camera angles).  Julia was in my face, not looking for flaws, but looking for my story.(I’ll never forget, while she is filming me as I played the flute, she was humming along to the same Christian praise song that I was playing.)
You two young ladies helped me share my story in a better way.  But in the process you’ve made me a better man.
Click here to see Julia’s movie clip of “As For Me and My House”