A Christian Hunter's Devotions and Studies

[TreeWalker]

Hello fellow hunters.........I want to use this journal as a testimonial and a working study for myself and others. With our faith may we help eachother and others in our day to day lives.......

Feel free to add comments, favorite verses, or ask any questions you may have........and open discussion is encouraged........I think we as hunters and outdoorsmen/women are very spiritual by nature and truely appreciate the strength of God's love and grace.......

Here's the very first verse to start this journal off......


Philippians 2:3
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves."


I like this verse, because it is a "wake up call" for me..........I at times get a little "secure" in the way I hunt, or my job, or my family........pride often leads to a fall, I often must remind myself who blessed my life with these things.........I did not do it on my own, that is for sure....but sometimes I forget....and sometimes the feeling of betterment comes over me, when that feeling should be of being blessed and my thoughts should be concentrated on others.....

[buckee]

That's a great starter verse you picked there Clay ..Something for me to meditate on today.

Proverbs 11
1 The LORD abhors dishonest scales,
but accurate weights are his delight.

2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom.

3 The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

[iabow]

This is a cool idea iminrut.Heres afew.
Rom4 message bible
When everthing was hopeless,Abraham believed anyway,deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn't do but what God said He would do.

Matt 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of god,and his righteousness;and all these things shall be added unto you
col 2:10
I am complete in him
Heb13:5
I will never leave you nor forske you
Rom8:6
for to be carnally minded is death:but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

These verses mean something to me because I'm learning to be truthful w/ myself and My Father and deal w/the way I see myself and issues in my life.
How many of you watch Kenneth Copeland,Joyce Meyers or Creflo Dollar TBN channel?

[TreeWalker]

Great verses guys..........and I want everyone to know that we can do so much more with this topic/journal............

One of things that I keep reflecting on when I'm in my treestand, is all that our good Lord has bestowed upon us..........some wonder how a guy can pass the time, hours upon hours, in a treestand.........as I sit there, I try to take in as much of the things around me and make note of them in my mind, and thank God...especially for those that I take for granted........it keeps me pretty busy, LOL

My hunting outings may seem like a loss when I don't fill that tag, but often the Lord blesses me with some wonderment of the outdoors, that I can't help but feel gifted.......

Like when I saw my first sparring match, when I got to see does battle it out like a boxing match.......watching a little yearling buck jump and bounce around(showing off) only to slip on a patch of ice and Fwap, he landed on his side.....funniest thing I ever saw......

Birds chirping and singning all around me under the canopy of a giant cottonwood during an early fall rain shower..........watched as two mink (guessing a male and female) scurried there way under and past my stand..................feeling the rush only a bowhunter knows, as a 140" 8-point bedded down withing 25-30 yards of me and my treestand for about an hour before last light, only to get back up, look at the does already out in the field, only for him to turn and walk straight away from me...never giving me a clean shot...........

I am truely blessed to be able to enjoy these things, it is impossible not to recognize God's works.......they're infinitely around us

[Steven]

A verse that really resonated with me was one of the first I read in my new bible. Thanks again, Clay. It is a verse in 1 Peter.

1 Peter 1:3-5
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inherritance that can never perish, spoil or fade- kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are sheilded by God's power until the coming salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

That really sticks with me based on where I've been in recent days.

[huntinsonovagun]

Good thread.....this helps. Keep posting!!! I'll try to post every now and then too. Let's keep this one going!!!!

[buckee]

I thought this might just be a good place to give you guys my testimony.

My testimony:

I also grew up in a Christian oriented home. My father, however, was and is a very abusive and controlling person. My Mother on the other hand (God rest her soul) was a very gentle, kind, loving Mom.
My Dad physically and mentally, abused my Mom and some of us older kids (I'm one of 6 kids....3 sisters and 2 brothers). With me being the first born son, I suffered his tyranny the worse. He would always hit me in the head when he was displeased with something I was doing, and never had an encouraging word to say, which was a constant thing. If Mom stood up for me, which she did quite often, the abuse would shift from me to her. Mom suffered a lot, at his hand. I'm not sure who got it worse, me or her, but I suspect it was her.
I think the mental abuse I suffered from him was worse than all the physical stuff, because the side effects of it,, I still carry around.
I decided at a young age that if that's what Christianity was all about ... I didn't want anything to do with it.
I left home after a big blow out with Dad at age 14. I stayed away for about 6 months and returned home at his and Moms request only to see things get worse.
Being the 60's, I found the perfect escape for me....DRUGS. I started smoking Mary-Jane and it wasn't long before I was into LSD, Mesq, speed and of course good old alcohol. I just wanted peace in my life and couldn't find any.
I admit, that when I was high..I had a certain amount of peace in my mind, but sooner or later, I had to come down and face the real world where there was no peace.
I got married after making a girl pregnant at age 17 and left high school to become a man ...lol. To make a long story short, my marriage only lasted 6 years, because I was more interested in pleasing my friends (drinking and drugging buddies) than being a good Dad. There were times that I was a good Dad, but I could see that I was turning out to be just like my father and I hated him and myself for it. It gave me the excuse I needed to get drunk or stoned and just worry about having a so called good time.
After my 1st wife and I split up (for the last time) I moved in with a couple of friends of mine (drinking buddies) for 2 years.
One day I ran into an old girlfriend of mine from high school, who, I still had a crush on. She had dumped me in high school, because I was just too serious all the time. She had been married for 7 years and I thought everything was going good for her. I had a coffee with her and chatted about old times, but didn't dare tell her how I felt about her, for fear of another rejection or for fear that maybe she felt the same why and I didn't want to be responsible for breaking up her marriage. (Marriages seemed pretty easy to break up back then and still are)
About 6 months went by and she called me one night, saying that she was afraid of her husband and could she see me. I met her downtown and took her back to my place to talk. She ended up spending the night there (no sex}because of her fear of her husband.
The next morning, a detective knocked on my door and inquired whether she was there. Upon letting him in, we found out that her husband had been looking for her all night with a loaded gun and ended up shooting his own head off early that morning. He, also had a huge drug problem, bigger than mine.
I decided then and their that I was going to take care of her and told her how much I loved her all these years. She kind of shyed away at first, because of everything that had happened. She felt responsible for his death and just wanted to be left alone.
Finally I asked her if she would come to BC with me and get away from all HIS friends and that whole way of life and get a new start on life. It also gave me a chance to start over again.
She accepted my offer and moved to BC. I worked in the bush to support us and things were going pretty good for a while. It was just a matter of time, before I started drinking heavily again and sampling whatever drugs I could find. I could feel myself slipping back into my old ways and dreaded the thought of having another relationship go bad. We also had a little girl after her losing 4 children from miscarrying and tubal pregnancies. (that's another story}.
One day a JW came to the door and invited them in. I was starting to search for something better in my life, but had no idea what. We, {my wife and I) both studied at the table with the JW's for about 6 months. I knew that some of the things they were saying was true, but there were some things that just weren't making any sense to me.
I prayed and asked God to show me the truth. I wanted to know the truth...that's all...nothing more and nothing less. In a world full of different faiths and beliefs, I just wanted to know the truth.
The JW's wanted us to attend their services, but their was something that was stopping me. I felt this prodding to go to an ordinary Christian church, just to get some perspective on what I had been listening to for the last 6 months.
We went to Church one Sunday morning ...sat in silence ...and listened to every word that was said....especially about Jesus, the Son of God.
We went home silent...thinking about what we had heard. Echoing in my mind were the words "You must be born again to inherit the kingdom of God"
The JW's had been talking a whole bunch about this Kingdom, but had never told us how to be part of it, other than changing the way we do things.
I questioned them on some scripture and about being born again and what it meant. They told me that only the 144 thousand, who had already been chosen JW's, would be involved in handling the governing in the new Kingdom of God.
I asked them who these people would be governing and they said US. I then asked them what a kingdom is made up of. They said rulers.
Nothing was making sense to me ....a kingdom in my mind was made up of people, lots and lots of people....some governing and a whole bunch more who are just regular people like me.
The next time they came to visit, I of course had been reading my bible and going beyond what they had told me to read and their little explanations for certain scripture. I had realized that their whole faith was based on little (and big) misinterpretations of scripture and what was being said.
I had read the part about knowing who was of Christ and who was not and how to tell.
I sprung the big question ....do you believe that when Jesus rose from the dead, he was in the flesh.
OH, NO they said, he was just a ghost or a spirit.
I asked them ...If he was just a spirit then how could people touch him, feel his wounds and how could he eat with his followers if he was a spirit.
They got mad at my questioning and tried really hard to prove their point but failed.
After they left that day, it hit me and my wife at the same time. The truth, I had been seeking, had come out of my own mouth, while sitting there talking with these JW's and it was like it wasn't even me talking, but someone a whole lot more knowledgeable than me.
My heart had been convinced ...I had to be born again.
I called the pastor over from that church we went to and we told him what we had been going through.
I confessed to him, that I believed, I was that sinner that Jesus had died for on the cross and that I believed that he rose from the dead, in the flesh, to walk among his followers in order to give us the assurance of out own resurrection on that glorious day.
We (my wife and I) bowed our heads, there at the Kitchen table, with the pastor there with us, confessed our sins and asked Jesus to come into our hearts and lives.

He did !!!

At that very moment, we knew we had been changed. Something happened inside of me ..the load that had been on my life all these years had been lifted from me and I felt like I was on a natural high. Not some cloudy drug induced high, but a clear thinking mind sort of high, and a feeling of closure, being hugged by someone I couldn't see, peace ...all kinds of wonderful feelings flooded over both of us. It's hard to describe the feelings that went through us that day.

March 06, 1985 ... I was born again

The Lord has dealt with many things in my life since that day and is still dealing with many things in my life.
But, there is one thing I know ....Jesus loves me and took it upon himself to take on the punishment for my sins and to die in my place, so that I could be saved, by grace.

Grace, Grace, Grace ....what a wonderful word, what a wonderful Saviour

[Steven]

Thank you, Buckee, for opening up yourself and sharing your pain, tribulations and ultimate joy. I know it takes alot of courage to share your inner most feelings and I have a whole new respect for you. I already respected you, but it has now increased ten-fold.

God Bless

[Mathews XT Man]

AMEN, Buckee!! WOW! What a testimony, I never had to go through aything like that at all. I grew up in a Christian home, and never really thought too much about it. We didnt swear drink or smoke and never could understand why anyone would want to. My Grandparents also were Christians, and to this day my Grandmother, my fathers mom, really impressed me with her faith. Whenever we'd go visit them she would go whip up a quick "lunch". I tell you, were talkin fryed chicken, real mashed potatoes,gravy....all from scratch. Then before we'd eat, she'd say grace....WOW!!! You knew she was talking to the lord!!! Her voice would be so reverent, and would lower a couple octives....really a Godly woman! Well anyway, I accepted Christ at a young age, and never looked back! You know, the older I get the more it means to me! You wake up in the morning with a sense of gratefullness to be alive! I always tell people that when Im in my treestand, Im just a "little " bit closer to God!! You know, I've had four close to death experiences to date, any one of them should have done me in, but I believe the Lord has me here for some purpose yet to be completed. One of the experiences, I was helping my neighbor harvest corn. I got the tractor stuck while chopping a load, and he came over to pull me out with the big Versatile. I hooked the chain onto both tractors, except I forgot to put a clip in the clevis of the tractor to pull me out. He started to pull and "POW"!!!! my window shatterd!! he came running back, opened the door and was white as a gost!!! Seems the clevis spread open and came flying back right into the cab and missed my head by inches!! I didnt even notice that it had till he pointed to the tear in the insulation above my head! Seems it hit the crosspiece of the front cab window and riccochet up and hit the ceiling. I looked at him and laughed, and said, I guess the Lord dont want me home today!!! keep this tread going, I just may live to read it all!!

[dogdoc]

What a testimony..God works in mysterious ways---Even the JW played a vital role in you finding your way to Christ. You do have to appreciate the hard work and witnessing the JW do.

Your testimony brought both chills and tears to me. Thanks for sharing and if just one lost person happens to read your testimony and find Christ it will be worth the finger cramps of typing that long testimony

God Bless you and your family
todd

[huntinsonovagun]

WOW!!! I guess I'll start with me in this post....just so ya'll know

I don't remember a time when we DIDN'T go to church. Both my parents are Christians and I was raised in a Christian home. Prayed and ate at every meal as a family, and still do. Naturally, I became a Christian at a young age. I have fallen, and still fall, but, for the most part, have lived a Christian life. Not a long dramatic testimony, but I'm glad I was saved at a young age because I really don't want to go what some of you have gone through. Sometimes I wonder why God picked me to have Christian parents?? I am really lucky, or I should say blessed, by the GRACE of God. I look at all these people and think, it is so simple, why would you want anything else?? I really can't complain about my life, but still I do. I mean, my parents are still together, we are all Christians, it just seems so awesome, then there are others. It just makes me wonder why He picked me. I would not have it any other way though.

[Steven]

John 15:1-4

<font color="red">I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch that bears no fruit, while every branch that bears fruit, he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. </font>

And a verse that helps me deal with the people I work with. Most are druggies and heavy drinkers and adulterers. I need strength to maintain my moral beliefs around them. They are also my friends; maybe I can help them with God's help.

1 Peter 2:11-12
Dear Friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires which war against your soul. Live such good lives among pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good eads and glorify God on the day he visits us

[Chrud]

This is a verse that I really liked the first time I read it.

Genesis 27:3
Now then, get your weapons--your quiver and your bow--and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me.

Hunting and fishing are my favorite things to do in life. I just really like this verse because of that.

[007hunter]

Here is a quote my pastor used in his sermon last week.

Prayer should be used as a steering wheel not as a spare tire.

Meaning we should pray always not just when we are in trouble and need a way out.

[TreeWalker]

[ QUOTE ]
John 15:1-4

<font color="red">I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch that bears no fruit, while every branch that bears fruit, he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. </font>

And a verse that helps me deal with the people I work with. Most are druggies and heavy drinkers and adulterers. I need strength to maintain my moral beliefs around them. They are also my friends; maybe I can help them with God's help.

1 Peter 2:11-12
Dear Friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires which war against your soul. Live such good lives among pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good eads and glorify God on the day he visits us

[/ QUOTE ]

Steven....I think you're "getting it" my soulful friend........we are living testaments to God and his good works.........we will be ridiculed, prosecuted, denied and shunned by others....but God's grace through us will be undeniable, unmistakeable............we must remain strong and steady in others eyes...............hopefully they will come to know Jesus from witnessing God working through us

Great job so far guys, you are all living tributes to God's grace and love. I'm still a work in progress.....I didn't have a verse that jumped out at me, but a message that did........

Convictions..........what is your understanding of it ?? Here is my take on it.........a conviction is something that you may not necessarily know that is wrong, but God worling through you telling you that it is wrong......your conscience(spelling) so to speak.......example: Before I was saved, I used to get a 6-pak for the road home after a hard days work, it would last me a couple days....I liked that couple beers to unwind and "think" on the hour drive home.......................When I first became saved(or as some would put it, aware).....I would still stop for that occasional 6er, but now something was different......something was telling me that I shouldn't stop.....guilt and dread would flood my thoughts.........and those times that I followed through and denied that message from God, I felt even more horrible and things wouldn't go right in my daily life following that...........

That is just one example of many.......God was trying to prune that dead branch, but it was up to me to make the decision.......I've had many convictions, and day by day....month by month....I pay more attention and heed God's gentle hand.....the grace and love to offer the help to rid me of all of those dead branches that suck the much needed life out of the fruit-producing ones.................I hope that this all makes sense ??!!

If you feel guilt or the resistance to do something that you may know is wrong....listen to that message.....it is a conviction....a dead branch that God wants to prune from your tree of life........the more of those dead branches that you get rid of, the more those fruit-bearing branches will produce....the more God will work through you and in your life......it's an exciting thing