Thoughts
When I first started really pursuing activities in the outdoors, I was amazed at how refreshed I came back from these events. Whether it was hiking, hunting, fishing, sitting in a blind or up in a tree, God would speak to me. Sometimes I read my Bible; at other times, a Christian book. There were points when I memorized scripture, or just sat and listened. It came to me that part of the reason for returning refreshed was that God used these outdoor moments to get ahold of my heart because I could hear him. My daily life, like yours I’m sure, can be very busy and noisy. Noise comes in a lot of different forms, but it all has the same effect on me–trouble hearing God. Now as I approach my outdoors activities, I look forward as much to being quiet with God as I do the outdoor experience itself, simply because I anticipate meeting my Creator and having Him talk to me. (DM)

Action Point
We can’t always be running off to the woods and the wild to get alone with God. We’ve got to figure out how to carve out time in our daily lives to listen to God’s voice. It’s the lifeblood of serving Christ until He returns.

Thoughts
There are several essential tools needed on a hunt. Often one of those essentials is a flashlight. As I walk out to my favorite hunting spot in the morning, unless the moon is still out and bright, I often find that I need my flashlight to navigate my way to where I want to setup. I have hunted on the same property since I was a kid. I know it pretty well and can manage to find my way around; but I still usually end up needing more light.

There has been a time or two on an evening hunt when I have stayed out right up until dark, only to discover that I have neglected to bring my flashlight with me. Stumbling around in the dark can be a pretty nerve wracking experience, even for a grown man–hearing sounds and seeing things that aren’t really there only because of the lack of light. You may be lucky enough to see a dim light in the distance and follow it out. Finally stumbling onto the right trail, knowing where you are and how to get back to camp certainly brings welcome relief!

When we are faced with darkness, we look for that slightest bit of light to brighten our path. As Christians, we have the ultimate Light for our path, yet so often, we still tend to stumble around in darkness. (JC)

Action Point
God says in Isaiah that we should depend on God and His Light, not on our own light. When we are dependent on ourselves, we often end up worse off than when we started. The fires we set to light our path usually end up burning down the things around us. Give even the smallest tasks or problems to Him. He will light your path and give you direction.

Thoughts
There are several criteria that I use when choosing an area to fish for spotted sea trout–the presence of bait, water quality and clarity, timing of tide changes, and the correlation of forecasted wind direction and speed. These factors help me determine whether to set up and spend the day fishing or seek a different area. When these criteria are met, I have confidence in the area.

Recently I had to make a big decision for my family–a career change that would drastically alter our lives. My wife and I prayed diligently and sought God’s guidance. I also used criteria to help me in this decision:
How will the decision honor God and reflect on me as a Christian?
Which choice will have the greatest impact on the Kingdom of God?
In time I was able to discern what I needed to do and established confidence in my choice. (WD)

Action Point
You may be faced with an important decision that will affect your life. Through prayer and reflection, allow the Holy Spirit to guide you, help you discern what is best for you, and ultimately reveal your Creator’s purpose and plan for your life.

Thoughts
After reading the praises in Psalm 146-150, I realized that I don’t praise God enough for who He is and for His creation. The Bible study verse above caused me to reflect on our recent travel. The great diversity and complexity of His creation are absolutely magnificent. We caught numerous species of fish, crustaceans (crabs) and mollusks (clams, mussels, octopus), saw whales within 100ft of our 16ft boat, observed black and brown bear, bighorn and Dall sheep, mountain goats, moose, bison, elk, deer, antelope, wolves, coyotes, pheasants, grouse, and viewed a great variety of habitats–ocean, tundra, bayou, grassland, mountain, desert, and the hardwood and coniferous forests. We experienced stormy winds, lightning, and hail in the Southeast and returned home to snowy hills and mountains of the West.
PRAISE GOD FOR HIS GREAT CREATION! (TL)

Action Point
Spend time reflecting on what you experience in the outdoors. Share those experiences with someone and praise God for His creation.

Thoughts
Today we honor men and women who have served in the military, many of whom paid the ultimate price, their life, in order to preserve our American way of life and the freedom that we all enjoy. However, does the moral decline of our nation and the decline of Christian principles within our families mean that these men and women have died in vain? General MacArthur put it this way:
“We have had our last chance. If we do not devise some greater and more equitable system, Armageddon will be at our door. The problem basically is theological and involves a spiritual recrudescence and improvement of human character that will synchronize with our almost matchless advance in science, art, literature, and all material and cultural developments of the past 2,000 years. It must be of the spirit if we are to save the flesh.”

The Bible declares that Jesus Christ, Himself, will be King of kings and Lord of lords on earth.
“He shall judge between many peoples, and rebuke strong nations afar off; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Micah 4:3).

History records the stories of soldiers around the world who have died striving for peace and freedom. Through Christ, they will live again, after the resurrection. Then they will experience true peace, liberty and freedom. As Christians, we can experience now this peace which comes only through Christ Jesus.

Action Point
Today, Memorial Day, 2008, is the day in which we remember and honor those who have served in our military to keep us free. Let us give homage to all the men and women who are now serving to keep terrorism from our cities, our borders and our shores.

This Sportsmen’s Devotional was written by:
R.A. Kimsey (Sergeant)
U.S. Army 411 Combat Engineers Battalion
Mari Kina, Philippine Islands (WWII).

Thoughts
Fishing for largemouth bass is my first love in fishing. When I began learning the art of the sport, I would be all over the lake trying to catch fish. I would catch a fish and keep moving. I finally learned that with bass, where one is caught, there is a good chance there will be more fish in the same area. I had to stay the course–let the net down again–and I began catching more fish. TB

Action Point
Simon stayed the course, let his net down one more time, and was rewarded for following Jesus’ direction. What God has in store for us is similar to catching bass. You need to keep trying and let the net down one more time. This is applicable to everything we do in life: family, jobs, and God witnessing through us to others about His refreshing love for them.

Thoughts
Do you have a talent? I’m sure you do! We all have at least one talent or skill that we do well. My friend, Tim, is good at seeing things. He once saw a deer over a mile away with the naked eye, and could tell not only that it was a buck, but the approximate spread and points (verified by another eye-witness). Some people are good listeners. There are two kinds of listeners–the kind that listens to you as you open your heart to them; and also the kind that can distinguish the different sounds of the forest. Others are good trackers; and still others seem to have an unerring sense of direction.

Our word for talent comes from the biblical word “talent” and had the same meaning as that used by Greeks and Romans. In Bible times, the value of a talent was measured by multiplying the weight of a person (usually about 76lbs) times the value of the kind of currency being used. (At today’s cost of silver in troy ounces, a talent of silver would be worth about $67,000.) Based on these two measurements, weight and kind of currency, the word talent was transliterated for us to express the belief that if you had a special talent or skill, it was worth your weight in gold or silver!

There are many parables and stories in the Bible that illustrate this idea. We also know that when we are skillful at something, we can become even more proficient with practice. However, a talent is most often thought to be an inborn trait rather than a skill that is learned; and that the person possessing it would be better at it than others even if he never practiced at all. DWH

Action Point
What talents were you born with? The Lord blessed you with these particular talents. Don’t make light of them or scoff at them. Share them generously with others. Avoid being judgmental when someone else does not have your particular talent. You had better believe that they have been given a different talent and they could use theirs as a blessing to you!

Thoughts
In addition to being a fishing and hunting guide, I am a high school English teacher and baseball coach the other 180 days of the year. I have a saying posted on my classroom wall: “You are what you are when no one is looking.” The words are meant to prompt integrity–take responsibility for your life and be someone great. Don’t be a double-agent–a person who acts a certain way when a teacher, coach or parent is around, then changes to go the wrong direction when left alone. Those who are great in life work hard, care about others, and do what it takes to improve without someone hovering over them. (BG)

Action Point
In the scripture, I believe Jesus was asking followers to be genuine even when He wasn’t looking. Of course, we all know He is always looking. The Bible is sound doctrine, not the teachings of the world. When in doubt, search the Word. It has never changed and never will.

When in the outdoors, if you profess to be a conservationist, practice what you preach. Abide by game laws, even when game wardens are not looking. And, treat others in the wild as you would if Jesus were hunting or fishing with you. Of course, He always is.

Thoughts
During an elk hunt in New Mexico last December, we had a day of rain followed by a day of snow. Hiking on partly frozen snow-covered mountainsides was quite treacherous; and, as the morning wore on, I put less thought into where I was walking. As soon as I stopped paying attention to my footing, I slipped on an icy rock, dropped my rifle, hit the ground hard, and slid several feet before coming to a stop in a painful heap of camo and mud. I was fortunate to wind up with only nasty scrapes and bruises. The sad part was that I knew better. (One of the last things my dad said that morning was, “Watch your step!”) All I needed to do was heed the signs, listen to my old man, and respect my environment. (RC)

Action Point
More than once Jesus said, “He who has ears, let him hear.” In one parable Jesus compared our ears to soil. In each of the cases that He described, the seed was the same seed, the sower the same sower, the message the same. What was different? The listener.
It’s not that we don’t have ears; it’s that we don’t use them. It’s one thing to not hear and so, not to know. It’s another to hear, but not learn.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like (James 1:22).

That morning in the woods, I should have listened to my dad’s advice, but I thought I knew better than he and didn’t heed his words of caution. If I had just listened and acted on what he said, I might have avoided the painful fall. God loves you, and just wants an opportunity to show you that He does. Take time to really listen to Him when he talks to you.

Thoughts
I sincerely hope that impatience is not one of your traits. I say this because it is in my nature to be an extremely impatient person–perhaps as the result of being a spoiled only child, or due to my arrogance. Regardless of what other excuses I may come up with, impatience has affected me most of my adult life; and the funny thing about it is that whenever I pray for patience, God does not give it to me. Instead, He gives me a situation where I am forced to have it!

Currently, I am in the midst of such a situation–waiting for something–and by the time you read this, I may have my answer, though I may not. When the waiting began, I thought I would have it by this time. However, now I realize that I am in the middle of another “God lesson”, and the outcome will be according to God’s timetable, not mine. So, I am sure that sleepless nights and clock watching will result in what God wants. It took a long time for me to learn that no matter the answer, God’s plan for me is always worth waiting for. He brought me to this place, and He will bring me through it! (JC)

Action Point
The outdoors is a wonderful place to develop a lot of different traits and talents that help build character, responsibility, and among other things, good ethics. I find it easiest to submit to God when I am outside in the midst of a hunting or fishing adventure. That’s where I feel comfortable and more at peace. I see God in sunrises and sunsets; hear Him in every splash of a jumping fish, every call of a duck or goose, and in the cackle of a rooster pheasant. At those times, when I submit to God, the simplest of things become my biggest rewards.