Bible Study Verse
James 4:13-17
Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins. (NIV)

Thoughts
My son and I drew elk tags for a hunt this fall in AZ. Not just any tags, these are for early season rifle bull in Unit 1! These are premium tags, some of the most coveted in the entire nation. Understand, this is an early season rut hunt. The big bulls are out acting stupid chasing the cows. The weather is perfect. The chances for real trophy bulls are excellent. Needless to say, we are excitedly preparing for this hunt. A lot of time has and will be spent planning scouting trips, getting firearms sighted in, and getting hunting and camping equipment ready. But, the hunt is still four months away. Who knows what might happen between now and then?

We’ve had this truthful reality driven home in the last three weeks as we have attended funerals for two of my son’s friends. One was a high school baseball teammate, the other a lifelong childhood friend. Both were taken from us in tragic accidents. Both were good young men that had a lot of living in front of them or so we all assumed. Both are now gone. It’s been a really tough time, especially for my son. But, he’s strong and has held up well, and has been a great help and comfort to others around him even though he himself suffered his own grief for the loss of his friends. (Cliff S)

Action Point
As Christians our lives are not our own to live for ourselves, they belong to God. God has given each of us spiritual gifts to use for Him, and has a plan for us to use those gifts. Furthermore, He expects us to use those gifts. Too often we get caught up in our own plans and forget to seek God’s will and direction in our lives. Too often we forget to thank God for each day He has given us here with our friends and loved ones. Too often we miss the opportunity to use those gifts He has given us to bring those around us to the kingdom. That is a form of sin. The last three weeks have reminded me that there are lost souls in my circle of friends that need to hear of Jesus, His love, and His gift of salvation. I pray that I am never found guilty of neglecting the gift that is in me and not using it for Christ. As a Bible teacher often says, “If you have Jesus inside of you, you have the ability to tell others of Jesus. No special training is necessary; just tell them what He did for you.” To that I will add, tell them today, before it is too late. Mists can vanish quickly.

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
Savor each moment of planning your hunt. It’s a special pleasure when you get to do that with your children. Much of the pleasure of a hunt is the anticipation and preparation. With proper planning, the trip will be an experience to remember for the rest of your life. Oh, and send Sportsmen’s Devotional the pictures with permission to use them. You just might see your photo on a future devotional

Bible Study Verse
Psalms 63:8
My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. (NIV)

Thoughts
My daughter and I were out shooting our guns to get ready for the upcoming turkey season this Spring. As we took our practice shots, one of the key concepts that I explained to her, since she was bumping up to a bigger gun, was how the different chokes worked on guns. We talked about trying to have a nice tight grouping of pellets on our target. The further and further we got away from the target, the harder it became to be accurate with our shots. The longer the distance, the wider the pattern, and the less likely to hit the mark. (Dave M)

Action Point
How important is it to be close? Very. The closer I am to the turkey, the greater the odds of my accuracy. The closer I am to God, the more likely I am to hear Him speak and do His will. So how do I stay close to God? I need to pray regularly, read His word daily, visit with other believers frequently, go to a church that teaches God’s word, and look to see God working in my daily life encounters. I can never earn my way to be in God’s grace! If I truly want to do his will, I need to stay close to Him. I may stray here and there, but the closer I am to Him consistently, the more likely I am to do His will.

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
Be sensitive to the needs of your kids as they get started hunting using guns. Don’t give a little guy or gal a gun that’s going to knock their shoulder off. One bad experience with a gun can make most “gun shy” and not want to join you in the field. Be sensible – the smaller the child, the smaller the gun

Bible Study Verse
Luke 19:39-40
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (NIV)

Thoughts
It was picture perfect! The big nine-pointer stepped out in the shooting lane behind me. He had just jumped the fence coming from the open hardwoods where he had been feeding and was heading for the deep cedar thicket to bed down. With dry lips and shaking hands, I raised my rifle and steadied the crosshairs just behind the shoulder. My Marlin 30.30 brush gun spoke to the buck. He fell within forty yards. As I admired his wide rack, I performed my ritual. I took off my hat, bowed my head, and thanked God. (Brian H)

Action Point
My ritual is performed every time I harvest a game animal. If I am successful it’s not so much that I’m good, it is that I’m blessed. We have learned very well the verses that tell us to lean on God, to rely on Him, and ask for His provision and intervention. We have however forgotten the flip side of that coin. When God does step in and provides, we are slack at thanking Him. How often have you prayed for something earnestly and then when your need is met, you give God a half-hearted “thanks, God”? The Bible says that if we don’t praise God, the very rocks will cry out! If we don’t make praise, worship, and deep thankfulness our core values, then we slight Him and we miss the blessings associated with praise and worship! Let’s become a people of praise and thankfulness. When we say thanks to God, let’s determine to make it more than a half-hearted thank you. Instead, let’s make it a deep penetrating act of worship and praise. Let’s continue to lean on God, but let’s make thanking Him and praising Him a high priority.

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
If you use rattling horns when hunting whitetails, use your watch. Many times hunters will rattle too often. Rattle, check the time, and wait fifteen to thirty minutes before you rattle again. Rattle too soon and you could bump that buck that’s coming in.

Bible Study Verse
Romans 5:4-5
And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. (NLT)

Thoughts
Like many sportsmen I have ordered most of my outdoor gear from Cabela’s catalogs for years. So imagine my excitement when I found out Cabelas was going to build a store in the town in which I work. Better yet, they were building it just a few short miles from my station. Every day many of us at work would watch with great excitement as lumber went up, roofing went on and concrete and asphalt were poured. Massive wooden beams were delivered for a hunting lodge look with a giant aquarium and an indoor mountain, I was giddy with excitement. Great was going to be the day when it was finally completed.

Then one day while we were at the station cooking dinner we received an alarm. As they dispatched the fire engines and ladders to the yet unfamiliar address, we made our way to the truck. While putting on our gear and readying to load the rig, the dispatcher finished telling us the structure that was burning was the new Cabelas. My heart skipped a beat and I could swear I felt the earth stop rotating, ever so quickly, but just for a moment. “Did she say Cabelas,” I asked myself. It can’t be! Then as our truck exited the station and turned south, the unmistakable view of a large column of smoke rose against the horizon. The earth stopped turning again, even if for just a second. (Brett M)

Action Point
Disappointment is a part of life. Sometimes our disappointments are large and sometimes small. Two things we can be sure of though, the first is that we will have disappointments. Moses was disappointed in Aaron when he came down from the mountain and discovered the golden calf, Exodus 32. The man who was robbed and left for dead, was disappointed when the priest and the Levite ignored him and chose to walk down the other side of the road, Luke 10:25-37. Consider Jesus’ final days. The disappointment He must have felt in His disciples when in the garden of Gethsemane He asked them to stay awake with Him, only to find them a short time later, sleeping, Mark 14:32-41. If that was not bad enough He was later betrayed by Judas, Luke 22:1-6, and denied by Peter, Luke 22:57-62. Disappointing.

The second thing we can be sure of is found in the above verse. That the expectation of salvation will not disappoint us. Great is going to be the day when we all realize salvation.

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
If you ever have the chance to visit a Cabelas store, DO IT! It is more than just a store. It is a living wildlife museum.

Bible Study Verse
John 15:13
No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends. (HCSB)

Today is Memorial Day
Honor Those Who Have Served or Are Serving

Thoughts
To many Memorial Day is just another day off from work, but today the staff at Sportsmen’s Devotional remembers and honors those who gave their lives to protect America and other nations. It began in the 1770’s when men fought and died to help our nation become free. In wars since then Americans have stepped forward over and over again and given the ultimate sacrifice. We have never asked for anything from the nations where Americans have fought and died except for a small piece of land to bury our soldiers killed in action. My father was a veteran having served in World War II and later in Vietnam. He lost many good friends in both conflicts. One thing he taught me was to stop on this day and reflect on those who gave their lives for us.

Here at Sportsmens Devotional we know thousands of our most faithful readers are sportsmen and women that are currently serving us in other nations within the armed services. We want to say THANK YOU for looking after those seeking to be free as well as protecting us today here in America. We also want to recognize the large number of veterans that have served our nation in past conflicts. THANK YOU! FINALLY, LORD THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE PAST AND THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF SALVATION THATJESUS BOUGHT WITH THE SACRIFICE OF HIS LIFE. (Mark Q)

Action Point
On Memorial Day. I take the time to seek out at least two veterans and thank them for their service. You can also do this with family members that have lost loved ones while serving our nation. Consider practicing this each Memorial Day and follow through.

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
In the military they teach a soldier to keep their weapon clean and in perfect working order. Apply this to your hunting arms. RIG, Rust Inhibiting Grease, is a dependable universal gun grease and has been around since the 1930’s. It offers excellent storage protection for firearms.

Bible Study Verse
Romans 1:8
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. (NKJV)

Thoughts
Many things are spoken of throughout the world today. If you just turn on your computer or the TV, you’ll be informed instantly of news, gossip, and the newest technology. Pick up a hunting or fishing magazine and learn of the latest, greatest hunting technique or the new record breaking animal that was recently harvested.

How about faith? How often do you hear about faith that is spoken of throughout the world? Unfortunately, we do not hear good reports of faith nearly as often as we hear about worldly things happening around us. This is especially true in a culture that is so full of greed and selfishness. (Jimmy S)

Action Point
Pray for a faith that is worthy of telling others about. Faith that God the Father will favor. Think of your faith as an even more important story than the greatest hunt you’ve ever been on. Strive to make your faith stand out amongst all others. Live a faith so strong and true that others love to hear about it.

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
If you’ve never hunted out of state, think about putting in with a friend or two in another state. You can then experience the challenge of learning new country, hunting by different strategies, and perhaps even experience some extremely different weather. New challenges are sure to make a better hunter out of you. It will, no doubt, make memories worthy of telling!

Bible Study Verse
Acts 13:8-10
But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?” (TNIV)

Thoughts
In turkey hunting you are trying to trick the Tom into thinking you are a hen that “wants” him. You are calling, putting out decoys, and anything you can to try to trick him into thinking you are a real hen. The difficulty with this comes from the fact that in nature the hens go to the Tom. So not only are you trying to trick them into thinking you are a real hen, but also that he should go against what is normal and pursue. This is what makes hunting turkeys so fun. Rarely do they come running right in. Most of the time you need to really work them with calls and decoys so they feel comfortable. (Ross G)

Action Point
In the verses above Elymas was trying to trick Paul & Barnabas. He was trying to take the truth they were preaching and twist it. He knew that if the people heard the truth they would follow that instead of the message he was trying to tell. Paul response is great; he looks him in the eye and calls Elymas out. We need to the same, as the world and others try to twist the truth of the Gospel. We need to by the power the Spirit confront it for what it is. Is there something in your life that is trying to twist the message of the Gospel? Lean on the Spirit, and call it out so you can be delivered from it!!

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
The more realistic your decoy looks, the better it will work. The thing that makes the biggest difference is the tail fan. A great way to spruce up a decoy is to put the tail from a turkey you have shot in the past on the decoy

Bible Study Verse
1 Corinthians 9:16
For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel. (NASB)

Thoughts
For Paul, telling the gospel was something he was compelled to do. It’s the same with outdoorsmen – we can’t help telling others about our hunting and fishing adventures. It’s who we are. People don’t know the real person without knowing something about what is most important to him.

It’s the same for the Christian believer. Others should know who we are, what is most important to us, what motivates us, and why we make sacrifices. Paul said “I have a stewardship entrusted to me,” I Corinthians 9:17b, (NASB). We have a responsibility to tell the good news. Knowing Christ makes the good news our story. We don’t tell it for our sake – we tell this incomparably important story “for the sake of the gospel,” Corinthians 9:23a, (NASB) and for those we love. (Steve S)

Action Point

1. It’s not hard to let others know you’re active in the outdoors. It’s important to let people know you are a Christian, too.
2. It’s not hard to get motivated when it comes to the outdoors. Let Christ motivate you to love the lost.
3. It’s not hard to love the world God made. Love God too, and be obedient to him.
4. It’s not hard to tell about your favorite hunts. Tell people the incomparable story, too.

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
While you’re hunting or fishing, think of spiritual biblical lessons the sport teaches. Pass those lessons along to someone else

Bible Study Verse
Romans 8:32-34
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died-more than that, who was raised to life–is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. (NIV)

Thoughts
The call from my son came around 6:00 pm, “Dad, have you checked to see if you got drawn for elk?” The draw results were out on the Game and Fish website and I could not get my fingers to move quick enough on the keyboard to find out. There it was! My name had been chosen for a bull elk tag. I was thrilled. I had been waiting since 1989. It took me 20 years of waiting to draw a tag. (Byron S)

Action Point
Being chosen is a thrill. So much so, I had to call two or three friends and share my good news. There is other Good News that should thrill us even more. So much so. we never stop sharing the Good News with others. Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, came to earth to dwell among us. He chose to give up His life for us so that we might be justified in God’s eyes. He wiped away all of our sin. Then God raised Him from the grave to life everlasting. He has promised us that if we believe on His name and confess with our mouth that He is our Lord and Savior, we will join Him in everlasting life.

That elk permit is a real bonus while I am here on earth. The really good news I want to share is that you can be chosen too and you don’t have to wait. You can have it now! Just believe that He died for your sins and then He rose up from that grave. All He asks is that you believe. If you have not asked Him into your heart, do it now. Confess your sins, ask Him for forgiveness, and tell Him that He your King of Kings and Lord of your life.

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
In AZ we don’t always get chosen in the elk draw, but there are other ways to receive a permit. Check for left over tags with your Game and Fish department. Also, you can put in for special draws where some units need to be “thinned” when there are too many elk in the area

Bible Study Verse
1 Timothy 4:7
Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather train yourself to be godly.

Thoughts
As a former college and professional baseball player, I saw superstition daily. Players would wear the same shirt under their uniform – without washing it – while they were on a hitting streak. Players would eat a certain meal, like chicken (Wade Boggs), before every game. Some thought there were hexes put on their bats when they were in a slump. Some thought you couldn’t put on your socks unless you put on the right sock first. Never touch the foul line – that was a definite no-no – and, never call the manager of the team, “coach.” (Bink G)

Action Point
There is an old mariner’s tale that says bananas on boats bring bad luck. There are a few friends of mine in the chartering business who take it to heart and get really upset when a customer broards with the yellow fruit. I kind of have fun with it and hide a banana occasionally on my buddy’s boat to get a rise out of him.

Why do so many look to the stars, horoscopes, and psychics to find the answers to life? The world may be changing, but the Word has not and will not. Seek the Maker of the stars, not the stars.

Back to baseball, my ritual was to draw a cross in the dirt at home plate before every at-bat. It wasn’t a superstitious act, just an act of honor and reverence. Did I get a hit in every at-bat? Of course not, there was only one man who walked on water.

Sportsmen’s Tip of the Day
When taking kids fishing, take lots of snacks to keep them occupied in case the action is slow. Yes, included bananas.