Hunting

A couple of times a year my husband and some of his associates invite customers to join them for a dove hunt at the company hunting camp in South Texas...and sometimes the spouses get to be invited..this was one of those times. I am not much for the actual bird shooting part but there is something about putting on my jeans and boots and sitting and waiting in a vast field of nature listening to the sounds of nature, watching all the moving parts and finally having an excuse to shoot my gun. My personal quota is "0" and I achieve it almost every time with a couple of accidental exceptions.......but I can sure go through a box a shells just as fast as the hunter beside me...my husband!

Birds fly randomly...some fly overhead, some come out of no where, some are team fliers while others are solo. You are never quite sure from which direction to be be looking...so you stand waiting, loaded gun in hand ready.....and on watch! What if we approached life like a hunting exercise. Dressed, focused, loaded and on watch ...waiting!

1) Dressed Ephesians 6:13- 14 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

2) Focused Daniel 10:12
Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.

3) Loaded: Hebrews 13:20-21 May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever.

4) Watch: Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

5) Wait: Romans 28: 24- 25 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.


Just five things: Dress, focus, load, watch..and wait. Oh if only I could keep these on the my front burner throughout the day..My expectations of success would be lifted and my quota of patience, kindness, forgiveness, grace, and self control would be elevated to a God focused level....instead of a self generated quota which even if it was at a high level could never be on my own.


I am truly a country girl at heart and there are only a few times that I get to hang out in the country. Being immersed in a nature surrounded atmosphere brings me back to basics every time. And such a reminder that Christ is the basis ...for my whole existence on this earth, For my life, for my needs, my countenance, my character...my attitude, my strength, my courage, my beliefs, just everything. But too many times I lose track of that and slide into a rattled arena of flying distractions which come from all directions. I am not dressed, or prepared, or loaded with prayer or on watch....and too many times I am too busy trying to accomplish something of my own initiative instead of waiting on God's timing for it to be done by him. And I feel bombarded....and am caught so off guard that I begin to get overwhelmed and lose focus on what my real agenda is...and that is living to glorify God.

We don't know what is coming at us..and when it is coming...but what we do know is that if we allow God to dress us with his truth and his faithfulness, keep us focused, load us with his wisdom and strength, and help us to keep a watchful eye on circumstances that are coming at us ....and then wait on him to nudge us according to his timing...he will be right there beside us to help us achieve His heavenly quota of fruitful living through his love.

Dear Lord Thank you for the blessing of nature...we have so much to learn thought it and from it. Please help me Lord to try to stay focused on what it is that you have inteneded for me to do and not be sidetracked by flying distractions. Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!