For those of you who don’t know, I’ve been enjoying some time in the woods lately “hunting” bear. So far, I’ve only seen a female with 2 cubs who were delightful to watch. I loved it. As I was walking into the treestand one day, enjoying the day and being alone and talking to God, I suddenly became nervous, in the woods by myself… which doesn’t usually happen to me. I usually love my alone time traipsing through the woods in the solitude. This writing came from that afternoon. … which also happened to be the evening I got to hang out with the Mama Bear and her babies…. which was a wonderful night I won’t soon forget! I am a bear hunter.
That’s what my love calls me (~smile)
When he gifts my new gun
One I dreamed about from the pages of Cabela’s and the aisles of Kittery Trading Post
And put together in my mind
That he sought after for me at gunshops and with phone calls,
and worked to buy for me,
While I was unaware
and
Surprised me
With his knowing, loving grin::
And I received it as a lady who was gifted diamonds ::: (~smile, again)
I am a bear hunter.
when I’m dressed in my camo, pink on the very edges of the pockets,
my .308 Ruger rifle, stainless scope
and a little bravery
slung over my shoulder
walking into the woods.
Woods.
Where I yearn to be
bear hunter or not::
to refresh my soul and breathe in moss and trees and trail
and Him
Be not wise in your own eyes…It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Proverbs 3
I step from the field, open and bright, golden with sun and straw
into the forest, focused and keen, alone in my thoughts and quiet
close to the leaves unfurled and settled into the twilight of a late summer-fleeting afternoon
adjusting my eyes
surveying my land
following my path
welcoming my stillness
Being.
Expectant of the time ::
Excited for a glimpse ::
of perhaps
bear or owl or coyote
wandering through this small piece of His glory spilled so green in front of me.
To ponder and seek.
Not so much the seeking of the animal I hunt,
That would be a grateful gift,
But the seeking of
Him,
When my soul is laid bare in the peace of this place ::
my little corner of the trees,
Where joy comes,
Where I am nourished in His presence in the middle
of His natural cathedral
He makes me lie down in green pastures…He leads me beside still waters…
He restores my soul… He leads me in paths of righteousness… Psalm 23
and where I am refreshed in the midst
of
My life::::
the birds sweet song and the mud that sticks to my boots :: shaking it off
unencumbered
here in the woods::
where He always speaks to me gently
where I am not distracted by time and lists
where He seeks ::
me.
Oh, the gift of that.
He seeks me. …………..Remembering that…..
When the peace fills and the joy erupts and all is pointed at Him ::
Here
In the woods::
And
I am on my merry way, over the hummocks and through the hollows to my little spot in the tree::
to hang out with my God
(and wait for my bear…)
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Unbeknownst…
out of the quiet thicket,
at first glance unnoticed,
padding along too close to me,
the animal
…it comes prowling,
and I shudder
a little
and my eyes skip around to the darkness beneath a bush or the flutter unseen above me
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
1 Peter 5:8
And my guard is down::
When that anxious moment sometimes comes ripping through the birdsong, sticking like the mud to the bottom of my soul………..
So often it can happen when I am alone and feeling purposeful in Him,
it comes to intrude and knock me unsteady…
In the peace that reigns when I am working in His will,
An animal fierce tries to tail me
spitting fire and throwing me off my narrow path,
And I feel nervous,
Walking through the deep, silent woods towards the high place where I can finally rest::
In Him…
and my steps become more timid ::
…………. and I didn’t even know
and my thoughts are more distracted ::
……………….. and I didn’t even notice.
And robbed from my joy in Him, I quiver and falter, just
a little
until I realize
Until I remember
WHO I AM::
because
of
I AM.
And I remember this:
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil…. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit… Ephesians 6
And I think about who I am actually walking with::
I am walking with Jesus.
And I say it out loud and stir up the deafening silence:
“I belong to Jesus!”
Unafraid. Bold.
I say to the enemy, who is unwelcome here in this peaceful place:
“Depart from me, you schemer with your arrows of doubt and uncertainty and lies and folly and fear.”
I am walking on this path with HIM.
My Father.
My Physician.
My LORD.
“In His holy name, I command you to flee.”
And I stomp down my trail with my boots crushing that prowler’s desire for my demise. I raise my shield of faith and weapon of the Word of God,
that must stay on my lips…
for that is the only way…
And I’m not walking down that trail in the deep woods with an animal of destruction at my back.
I am walking through that soft, mossy, green, growing path with my Friend and Protector, Jesus Christ.
And the birds::
start singing again
And the Lord speaks, gently, as only He can:
“You are my child, I am your Father. I will never leave you nor forsake you. My Spirit is always close to you. Quiet yourself. Still yourself.
I am here. I am near you. I am the God of this creation. Walk on. Walk on with me. I am always protecting you. I am always loving you.
I AM.”
And the sunlight::
pours through the trees
and falls on my path ::
The narrow, blessed one that leads straight to Him.
He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler… He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler… you will not fear… the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness… When he calls to ME, I will answer him… I will rescue him….
Psalm 91
My friend in Christ, Karriem said, as I heard him preach from the book of Acts on a beautiful Sunday in June:
“You WANT the enemy to know your name… cuz when he knows your name, he knows who he’s messin’ with… you know… that needs to build you up… if the enemy is testing you… he needs to know you come with the power of Jesus Christ… [and you say] “In the name of Jesus, I know who my Father is…”
Friends::
Oh, I, we…
We are His…… (~smile)
Praying for you, today, that you find yourself walking with Him down the path that He has set for you before time began,
that you believe who you are in Him,
that you don’t believe the lies that can snare us in this world,
that you REST in the shadow of His wings….for He, and He alone, will make your path straight.
What joy in that!
You make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence there is fullness of JOY.
Psalm 16:11
Love, Brooke.
smelling:the:feathers 