Thoughts
It was my son's first elk hunt. His grandfather, a couple of friends and I were working our way back to our trucks when I stopped to take a break and was separated for just a moment from the rest of the group. In that split second (okay, maybe a minute or two), he spotted an elk. I suddenly heard a cow call just in time to look up and see him take a shot. At age 13, he had taken his first elk.

Have you ever considered how important first's are:
-the first time you fell in love;
-first kiss;
-first time your child said "Dada" or "Mama";
-the first day of the new year--a favorite for new resolutions;
-your first big game draw and first big game success;
-your first car?

God made first's to be special in our lives because they are special to Him. When speaking of giving to God, King Solomon instructs us to "give Him the first and the best". (BM)

Action Point
In all parts of your life, give God your first's--the first part of your day through prayer and devotions; the first part of your week by going to church; the first part of your paycheck--to name just a few. Remember how important first's are to you and know that they are just that special to God. Give God your first's and see if He doesn't "burst your barn".

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
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.

Thoughts
As hunters and fishermen we so much like to sit with others and talk about our last outdoor trip--the successes we had or the beauty we enjoyed in the outdoors. With that in mind, as Christian outdoor men and women we should have no problem sharing His wondrous works and deeds. We, of all people, have more opportunities than most to experience His beauty and majesty in the outdoors and to appreciate how unique the critters are that He has created (JS).

Action Point
Next time you're sitting around telling hunting and fishing stories, try to incorporate God into the conversation. What a perfect opportunity to give Him credit for all He has done in your life and for all He has created.

Thoughts
My son's first big game kill was a Javelina he killed on the last day of a three-day hunt. In 2002, my son killed an elk on the fifth day of a six-day hunt. In the fall of 2001, I killed an elk on the fifth day of a six-day hunt. (Is there a pattern here? Maybe we should sleep in on those first four days and just go out on the fifth day!) As I write this, I think of how many times I've walked into camp late in the morning, not paying attention to my hunting, only to have an animal I hadn't seen jump up and startle me--one that if I'd been hunting I might have seen and been able to kill. The problem was, I had given up, I'd quit hunting; I had reached the point where I thought the hunt was all over and that I had no chance of finding and killing an animal.

The thief on the cross had to have had similar thoughts. I can picture him saying to himself, "Today's my day to die. It's all over. In a few hours I'll be dead and I have no hope." But, what the thief didn't know was that one of the other criminals being crucified that day was the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Son of Almighty God. What specifically it was that Jesus did to open the thief's eyes to this we don't know for sure, yet, we do know this: God opened both his eyes and his heart, just as He does for all sinners who find the truth and accept Him. Because of God's love, this man repented and asked Jesus for forgiveness and salvation. And we also know this: Jesus forgave him and promised him that he would be with Him in paradise, that day! Jesus gave the man the one thing he desired, hope! (CS)

Action Point
Wherever you are in your walk on this earth, a young pup or long in the tooth, it's never too late to turn to Jesus. He is there with arms open wide just as He was for the dying thief. Turn to Him today, ask Him to forgive your sins and to come into your heart. Don't worry about the words you use, Jesus will hear you and Jesus is faithful; He will do as He has promised. It's never too late!

Thoughts
One day, one of my mentors asked me about my favorite meal. I began to share with him how much I enjoy a juicy steak at camp, hot wings and cheese enchiladas. He could see how excited I was getting just thinking about these meals and how I was going to have one of them for lunch that day. I even told him how far out of the way I will drive for that perfect steak or my favorite wings joint.

He then proceeded to ask how far out of the way I go to eat up God's Word; how excited do I get to spend time with the Creator? Ouch! He threw me a curve ball. I have never forgotten that moment in my life and wanted to pass it along to you today. (GD)

Action Point
Is God and His Word my joy and heart's delight? I am reminded that I bear the name of the Lord. How much more important is this than some meal that will only satisfy for a short period of time and then the urge to eat comes right back in a few hours. Rest today in Him and His Word; and find joy and delight in bearing the name of the Lord God Almighty!

Thoughts
Thinking about basic provisions: If you go for a long journey into the Grand Canyon mid-summer without an adequate water supply, you are going to wish you had brought some. God knows that every beast of the field needs water, and He provides accordingly. God also knows that every human needs Living Water and He supplies that in ready supply as well. The trick is to drink plenty of water before you become dehydrated. (TH)

Action Point
Drink plenty of Living Water so that you don't become dehydrated spiritually. Drink of God's Word just as you drink water each day.

Thoughts
When I think of running, I think about pronghorn antelope. Now, they can run. As the second-fastest land mammal in the world, they can hit speeds of more than 60mph, only bested by the African cheetah. I have known a few unethical hunters that thought a Chevy 350 could outrun them. One in particular was gaining on a herd of antelope just before he hit the prairie dog mound that put an end to the chase. After several hundred dollars of repairs and a fine for harassing wildlife, he learned that stalking was a much better method for hunting antelope. (RT)

Action Point
God gave the antelope great speed and eyesight to avoid predators. God has given us the Holy Spirit, and Spiritual gifts, and He does not want us to be ignorant of those gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1). By keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus and staying in God's Word, we can avoid those things that entangle us and prevent us from crossing the finish line of the race He has marked out for us.

Thoughts
After going to work for a Wyoming outfitter, I purchased a seven-year-old horse. The former owner said that Dakota had some mountain experience. After taking a six-mile ride, I found out that Dakota needed some training: When he came to a creek, he jumped across; if he saw a log across the trail, he jumped over it; when faced with a high obstacle, he walked in circles. He had to be directed around the obstacles. To insure a safety for the rider, Dakota had to be disciplined. So, whenever he approached an obstacle, I pulled back on the reins; and, if he tried to jump, I pulled back harder.
(How often has God had to pull back on our reins and point us in the right direction?) Gradually, discipline and trust paid off--Dakota made the right decisions. When he saw and approached obstacles, he walked around, through, or stepped over them. As he acquired more training and experience, his nervousness decreased. During the hunting season, Dakota turned out to be a good lead horse for the pack train. (TL)

Action Point
Hebrews 12:10 states: Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we share in his holiness.

Just as Dakota had to be disciplined and eventually learned to make right decisions, God wants us to be righteous by following His Word. As we become more like Christ, God promises us peace in our heart.

Thoughts
Several years ago my husband and I were camped out for his archery bull elk hunt. He left early and I relished in a few more hours of quite sleep in the pines. I was awakened by his truck returning to camp and my husband jumping out yelling, "Get up honey. I killed my elk and I need your help! Hurry! It's going to be a warm day."
I quickly put my boots on as my husband drove us to his bull. When we got there, I was relieved to see he killed fairly close to the road so we were able to back the truck right up to it. My sweetie quickly connected a cable to the back legs and gave me orders to begin cranking on the "come along" just as fast and hard as I could while he lifted and pushed the elk into the back of the truck. I did this with all my might. When we hit the end of the cable, I turned around to see that only the hind end of the elk had made it into the bed of the truck; and the shoulders and head remained on the ground. My husband caught my defeated expression and pleaded, saying, "Babe, please, I need your help."
I stared at him and asked, "How can I help?" He said that I must get down on the ground, wrap my arms around its chest and lift with all my strength while he lifted from the antlers. "Okay," I said. "May I point something out to you?" He sighed deeply as I continued: "A... the front half of this elk outweighs me by about 200 pounds. B... It is smelly; and C... The chest of this creature is not only bloody and frothy from your well placed broad head, but also wet with who knows what else! You cannot be serious!" Well, he was quite serious; and after another long-locked stare, I understood that this was incredibly important to him (not to mention, he was desperate). After a monumental effort and one episode of near panic as the elk's front legs wrapped around my neck and my face smashed against its chest, we got that elk in the back of the truck. A hug and a high five ended our victory, and we drove back to camp with a memory to last a lifetime. (SDS)

Action Point
Genesis 2:18 tells us that God did not like Adam to be alone and so he made him a helper, a wife. Helping our spouses is taken to a deeper level when we consider that God asks that our hearts be a safe place of trust. This is a place where bountiful goodness and blessing can be found for a lifetime. It takes an act of God to make the necessary changes in our hearts and homes; but I know from experience He is willing.