April 17, 2013   Today's Photograph . . . . It Is A Gift  (Cliff S)

Bible Study Verse Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. (NIV 2011)    Thoughts The place: Wrangell, Alaska.  The vessel: The Navigator, piloted by my cousin, Rob.  I have been on several boats on the ocean, mostly scuba diving.  This time we (Rob, five friends, and the deck hand, Caleb) were on a fishing boat headed out for five days in a secret spot that only Rob and the halibut knew about, or so Rob had promised us.     The morning we were to head out dawned with a dense fog that severely limited our visibility.  It was that way until about 10:00 in the morning.  As we pulled out through the fog and into the open sea on the way to the secret spot, I had to put my complete faith in Rob's skill as a skipper.  I didn't know where the channel and underwater rocks were.  I didn't know how to utilize the depth finder or the GPS system.  I had never seen an oceanic navigational chart before.  And, there was absolutely nothing I could do to help Rob that would make our trip safer.  But, I had complete confidence in Rob's skills and judgment.  Therefore, I was at peace as we headed out, and was excited about the week's adventure that lay ahead.  By the way, the halibut were there.  (Cliff S) Action Point Jesus and the Apostles taught very clearly that there is nothing we can do to earn our salvation, that it is a gift from God.  I am so glad it is this way.     I can't imagine what I could do to make myself worthy of God's love and forgiveness.  And, could you imagine what it would be like if we had to earn our salvation?  We would never know for sure if we had worked enough.  We wouldn't know if our good deeds outweighed the bad.  We would never be able to be at peace with God during our life here on earth not knowing for sure if we were good enough to win His favor.     Praise God, that isn't the way it is.  Jesus said that if I believe in Him and have faith that He has forgiven me of my sins, that I am saved from an eternity of separation from God in a place called hell.  And, I can be at peace with God and can be sure of my salvation now because of the promise of His grace, not because of my works, but because of my faith!  I like being at peace, don't you?   Sportsmen's Tip of the Day Be sure to check the references of the guide with whom you are going to hunt of fish.  It doesn't always guarantee a good experience, but it will help to keep the guide honest in his representations to you if he knows that you're going to be verifying his claims.

April 16, 2013    Today's Photograph . . . . Mom Will Be Back (MQ)

Our hearts are heavy for the tragedy in Boston. Please join us in surrounding these victims and families with prayer. Only the healing presence of Christ will make miracles out of their pain and suffering as He can and will. God bless each of you.   Bible Study Verses Hebrews 5:13-14  Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. (NIV) Thoughts  The renewing of Spring: Buffalo calves are first to arrive in my area; not long after, the elk, deer, and antelope start giving birth to their young.  Those babies depend on their mother for nourishing milk and for protection from predators. As they mature they will rely less on their mother's milk and start to enjoy the food God has provided for them. They will become fleet of foot, able to avoid potential predators.  (Ron T)  Action Point  When I first became a believer in Jesus Christ, I was like a baby in my understanding. I think back to that time--amazing how much I did not know. Through time in God's word, fellowship with other Christians, and a good Bible-based church, my maturity level has and is continuing to increase. That's how it works in nature and that's how it works in our Christian walk with God. Sportsmen's Tip of the Day Every year I get calls from people saying they have found an orphaned fawn. Sometimes they will even bring the baby to my office. I explain that the mother will often leave her youngster bedded down when she goes off to feed. Please help spread the word: if you or someone you know comes across a fawn alone, just leave it be; mom will be back.

April 15, 2013    Today's Photograph . . . . The Rest Of The Herd Will Usually Follow .  .  .  (MQ)

Bible Study Verse Ezekiel 33:19 And if a wicked person turns away from their wickedness and does what is just and right, they will live by doing so. (NIV) Thoughts Trying to turn a herd of buffalo can be a tough job. When buffalo get it in their heads that they want to go a certain direction and you want them to go elsewhere, they usually end up going their way.  If by chance you can get ahead of them and turn the lead cow, the rest of the herd will usually follow. However, it is important to take a fast and trustworthy horse along with you.  (Ron T) Action Point If we are not on God's path, He wants us to turn, do a complete 180 degree pivot and get on His path. Through His forgiveness, none of the sins we committed while going the wrong way will be remembered. "None of the sins that person has committed will be remembered against them. They have done what is just and right; they will surely live," Ezekiel 33:16 (NIV).  As a matter of fact, the sins we committed are removed.  "As far as the East is from the West,  so far has He removed our transgressions from us," Psalms 103:12 (NIV). That's a long way!!!  I have heard people say that they can forgive but they won't forget. I might have even said it myself a time or two. I'm so glad that when God forgives my sins, He also forgets them. If we ask Him about the sins we have committed in the past, He will say, "What sins???" Sportsmen's Tip of the Day If in the future, you are planning a horseback ride, make sure to check your tack before you hit the trail. I have seen some pretty nasty horse wrecks caused by bad stirrup leathers or worn-out latigos. Replacement of bad parts before the ride can help keep horse and rider safe.

April 13, 2013    Today's Photograph . . . . They Adapt and Change (MQ)

Bible Study Verse Ephesians 5:28-29 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. (NKJV) Thoughts  Drought has been hitting Arizona for the last ten years now. Water tanks are dried up, reservoirs are low, and trees and wildlife are showing the effects. Last year a wild fire moved through an area called Mingus Mountain in northern AZ. A friend of mine was the base camp manager for the forest service firefighters' camp. Near the camp on the main highway, which had been closed, was a large, portable water trough that the helicopters used to retrieve water in order to drop on the fire.  As he approached the trough in the dimly lit morning he saw something unusual, a black mass near the trough. Blurry eyed and still a little sleepy he approached the trough and the black mass came into focus. It was actually two large bears standing on their rear feet with their front paws on the edge of the trough getting a much needed drink.  (Brett M)  Action Point  Wildlife is resourceful. When they are unable to meet their needs in the traditional ways, they adapt and change. We as humans are, also, very resourceful and adaptable. We have certain needs and we will typically make adaptations to meet those needs, often times in self-destructive ways. Many of us are married and have made a vow to seek certain needs only from our spouses. Most commonly it is sex that we seek from our spouse. But, what about the other needs that should only be found in our spouse.  Men are you meeting all of the needs of your wives? Do you love her "as your own body?" Neither spouse should have to go to a wayward trough to seek what they need. Sportsmen's Tip of the Day Old burned areas of the forest are great places to hunt. Increased sunlight and fresh vegetation are keys. Pay attention to your hunting area during wildfire season, note if and where an area may have burned and then scout that in future hunting trips.

April 12, 2013    Today's Photograph . . . . They Probably Are Not Going To Be Standing On Street Corners  (NPS)

Bible Study Verses Exodus 20:8-10 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. (NIV) Thoughts It happened to me during a scouting trip for deer. The day had drawn to a close and I was heading home. I decided to stop in a nearby town for a bite to eat. As I approached the intersection, I noticed a man standing on the side of the road with the usual "will work for food sign." This is when I sometimes have a crisis in my compassion. Trying to overcome it, I stopped and asked the man what kind of work he was willing to do. I knew I could not offer him any, since I didn't even live there. I figured if I received a legitimate offer of landscaping, roofing, etc., I would give him some money. Although fairly young and apparently healthy, he informed me that in fact he was not willing to work and was just there to get money from passersby.  (Brett M) Action Point I have been a Christian for some time and thought that I knew a little about the Bible. But, do you ever have one of those days when someone reads a verse to you that you have read a million times before and suddenly it has a whole new meaning!  That happened to me with the above mentioned scripture. Reading it since I was a child, I always heard the command, "Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy." It never dawned on me that it also said, "Six days you shall do all your work." This is commanding not only that I keep the Sabbath holy, but that I also work six days a week. I do not believe this to mean that I have to be in the office or at the fire station six days a week. It includes performing chores around the house, volunteering, etc. In II Thessalonians 3:10b Paul writes "The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat," (NIV). The important point here is "will not work." It does not include those who cannot work, only those who will not work.  If you like me have a crisis in your compassion, remember what God says. We need to help the many, many people right now that have been laid off from work, are willing, and are able to work, but cannot find it. They probably are not going to be standing on street corners, but are in your church or in your neighborhood. Sportsmen's Tip of the Day If unable to remove your entire big game animal from the field on the night you harvest, hang the savable portions in a tree at least fifty yards from the gut pile. These two precautions will help prevent meat loss from predation.

April 11, 2013    Today's Photograph . . . . We Should Never Have To Sin In Order To Fulfill God's Plan For Us  (NPS)

Bible Study Verses Genesis 27: 5-10 Rebekah was eavesdropping as Isaac spoke to his son Esau. As soon as Esau had gone off to the country to hunt game for his father, Rebekah spoke to her son Jacob. "I just overheard your father talking with your brother, Esau. He said, 'Bring me some game and fix me a hearty meal so that I can eat and bless you with God's blessing before I die.'  "Now, my son, listen to me. Do what I tell you. Go to the flock and get me two young goats. Pick the best; I'll prepare them into a hearty meal, the kind that your father loves. Then you'll take it to your father, he'll eat and bless you before he dies." (Message) Thoughts We split up from camp to go javelina hunting. Two of the guys walked out of camp to crest a ridge nearby. I drove a couple miles away where I had seen some fresh sign. No sooner had I gotten to my location when my radio squelched. "We see one! He's bedded down." I hurriedly made it back to my truck and sped back to their location. Arriving at their spot, they pointed to a black mass beneath a mesquite tree about a mile and a half away. "I saw it walk up and lay down, he hasn't moved since!" Glassing the area I could definitely see an animal there, but due to the distance I couldn't make much out. We began our stalk which would be closer to three miles to stay down wind, most of the while hiking in a wash and out of eyeshot of the sleeping pig. At a quarter mile away we climbed out of the wash and began to glass the area. Just in time to see the black mound under the mesquite tree rise from its bed, shoo away some flies with its long tail, moo, and begin chewing its cud. My Minnesota native friend had just been deceived by a cow. (Brett M) Action Point Rebekah was attempting to deceive Isaac in order to "help" God along with His promise that He would use Jacob to carry out His plan. Although her intentions may have been well meaning, she still planned to deceive her husband in order to carry out the plan. Although we may know God's plans, sometimes like Rebekah, we feel we need to assist God because they do not seem to be moving as timely or orderly as we think they should. The old saying, "the ends don't always justify the means," applies here. Remember, God does not contradict Himself. We should never have to sin in order to fulfill God's plan for us. Sportsmen's Tip of the Day Javelina typically travel in herds of 5 to 12. If you see just one, wait. There are likely others in the same area.

April 10, 2013    Today's Photograph . . . . We Should Do Everything We Do To The Best Of OUR Ability, But Do It For HIS Glory  (NWS)

Bible Study Verse Proverbs 12:27  The lazy do not roast any game, but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt. (NIV)   Thoughts The big ten-point stepped quietly out of the woods and began to walk slowly down the field-line. With great caution, he tested the wind and kept his head moving as he watched the open field carefully. Finally, he was broadside, a muzzleloader sounded off, and my brother had his biggest buck to date.  (Brian H) Action Point That big buck encounter didn't just happen. You see, I've left out some details in that story. I left out the hours we spent scouting and glassing that field. I didn't tell you about the time spent setting up a stand, clearing shooting lanes, trimming limbs, and figuring out prevailing wind directions. I didn't mention that we worked to figure out how to walk in to that stand so that we would remain undetected. The moral of this story is that it took hard work for this big buck encounter to happen. The Bible has something to say about laziness as well, look at Proverbs 12:27. Wow!!! That passage paints a great picture for all of us hunters. But, it's a picture that is a metaphor for life. My paraphrase would go something like this: "Do everything that you do in life to your best ability." Perhaps you wouldn't categorize yourself as lazy, but what about those remarks that goes like this: "For what I'm paid for this job, that's all that I'm going to do." How about this one: "Nobody knows if I finish my paperwork or not. Nobody's checked it, so why bother?" The correct attitude is that God gave us abilities and we should do everything that we do to the best of OUR ability, but do it for HIS glory. Whether hunting, working, or anything else, you won't roast your game unless you are diligent. Sportsmen's Tip of the Day When trimming limbs for shooting lanes, you don't always have a pole saw with you. Try tying a medium weight stick about a foot long to a length of rope. Toss the stick over the offending limb and then pull it down to your reach with the rope. We call that an "Arkansas Lasso." Happy Hunting!!!

April 9, 2013    Today's Photograph . . . . The Rainbow, God's Promise  (USDA.GOV)

Bible Study Verses Romans 4:20-21  He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. (NKJV) Thoughts  The thunderstorms were intense along the squall line as it entered AR. By the time the front had reached my home, it had dropped several tornadoes including one that stayed on the ground for a state record, 123 unbroken miles.  In the aftermath of destruction, homes and lives had been lost. Buildings had been reduced to crumpled piles of rubble, trees were twisted off like match sticks, and people were faced with rebuilding their lives piece by piece.  Yet, as the front moved away and calm began to settle, a rainbow appeared in the sky. In the middle of trials and troubles, there was God's promise. (Brian H) Action Point God never promised us smooth sailing. Life just gets tough sometimes. Jesus says in John 15:18,  "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you," (NKJV).  Sometimes we find ourselves stranded like a ship in a bottle. Try as we might, we can't push through the tough stuff of life. It's in those times that we must eventually come to the end of ourselves, fall on our knees, and simply take God at His word. I challenge you to find one single promise that God has made that He has not kept. You won't be able to find one. If God says it, you can take it to the bank, as they say. God's precious promises are made to us for our comfort, healing, peace, joy, and correction. In times of trouble, search for God's promises and believe them. He will make a way for you when there seems to be no other way. Friend, take God at His word - never doubt. Believe!  Sportsmen's Tip of the Day A reflective stick-on dot in the center of your tailgate and another on your camper or trailer will help you align things when backing to hitch up. You can also get mirrors that mount on the trailer that will give you a bird's eye view of the hitch and ball.

April 8, 2013    Today's Photograph . . . . Are You Laying Down Your Life For Your Friends   (MQ)

Bible Study Verse John 15:13  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (NIV) Thoughts It seems that those who share this love for the outdoors have an incredible bond. When someone begins to share with me about his or her last hunting trip or camping excursion, we have this immediate relationship through the outdoors. Some of these are men that very may put me in the ground one day. They may share our experiences together on a hunt, a bay fishing trip, or trying to trick an ole Tom within shotgun range at my own funeral one day! We know that Jesus developed these deeper relationships with not only His disciples, but with those he came into contact with at the market, at the drinking well, alongside the road, and even at "sinners" homes. Are you laying down your life for your friends?  (Glen D) Action Point What do you accomplish at camp? Are you intentional about your faith in Christ at camp or do you leave it at the church house? Next time you find yourself sitting around the campfire or playing cards on your next outing, ask those around you for some prayer requests. Then be bold, stop, and take the time to pray for those with you and what they had the courage to share. Prayer is one of our strongest weapons. Sportsmen's Tip of the Day Keep bottled water in your vehicle! You never know when you may need it if you break down, overheat, or someone just gets thirsty.

April 7, 2013    Today's Photograph . . . . God Does Some Of His Best Work In Our Lives In Times Of Difficulty (MQ)

Bible Study Verse Psalms 38:15 LORD, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God. (NIV) Thoughts Over the years, there is a phrase that has crept into my family's deer hunting vocabulary: "Prime Time." When my kids or I are swapping stories of our hunts, we'll often try to find out the time that someone sighted their deer. We have named the last half hour before dark as "prime time." It is the time that we wait for, the time that we most often see our deer, and the time that we might just get a glimpse of the elusive "big buck." During prime time, our senses are heightened. Personally, I stand up in my tree stand with my bow ready to be drawn. No noises are made! I wait and listen! Anything that moves in the woods during that last twilight has my full attention. It's the best time of the day for our hunts!  (Dave M) Action Point There are certain times in our lives where God can speak to us clearly. Unfortunately, these times are often accompanied by incredibly trying and difficult situations - loss of a job, loss of a loved one, or a broken relationship. As much as we may want to turn away from God during these times and try to dig ourselves out of whatever our hole is, don't! This is prime time!!! God does some of His best work in our lives in times of difficulty. Let me encourage you to trust and rely on God entirely. Listen to Him as He speaks to you. Pray that your spiritual senses will be heightened to what God desires to do with you during this time. It's "prime time!!!" Just listen and be obedient!!! Sportsmen's Tip of the Day Find a local food bank to donate your deer, elk, moose, or fish to. There are many folks out there right now who need a helping hand. Be the hand of Jesus to your community!

April 6, 2013

Today's Photograph . . . .There Are Times In Our Lives That Are Dark (Dave W)

Bible Study Verse Joshua 1:5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. (NIV)  Thoughts I purchased my first trail cam this fall, and I've loved the results of having it on my food plots.  I've been able to see deer at all times of the day.  I've got some twins who come in just about the same time every afternoon; I've got a spike that frequently comes in during the morning; and I've got some nice bucks that frequent the food plots at about 3:00am.  The part that I've enjoyed most though is being able to see the bucks that come in the middle of the night.  I've got some bruisers coming in that I never even knew were in the area.  The knowledge of their presence has increased my motivation to continue to hunt.  There are some mornings where I just don't feel like getting out of bed, but the fact that I've discovered that they are there propels me to get up and out there. (Dave M) Action Point God says that He is always with us.  We can never go to a place that He is not.  I can hike out in the bush, and He is there.  I can venture off into the middle of nowhere fishing, and He is still there.  I can hunt in the most remote area, and He is right by my side.  What a comfort it is to know that God is always with me.  There are times in our lives that are dark, and there are times where we wait on God for what seems like an eternity, but have faith. He is right there.  He never has left your side, nor will He ever.  Usually, the issue is not that he has left us; it's usually that we have walked away from Him.  Turn back; He's there! Sportsmen's Tip of the Day If you are using a trail cam, keep extra batteries in your backpack.  You don't want to get to your trail cam, have dead batteries, and not be able to immediately fix it.

April 5, 2013 Today's Photograph . . . . He Asked If He Could Use The Orange Worm   (Tom B)

Bible Study Verses I Corinthians 1:27-31 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him.  It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, Who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord." (NIV)   Thoughts  The bass club that I belonged to at our church had both anglers who had boats, and those who didn't. The anglers without boats would put their names into a hat before a tournament and the anglers with boats would draw names from the hat to see who would be their co-anglers. At one of our tournaments I drew a budding new angler . . . meaning he hadn't been indoctrinated yet on the fine art of the sport. He was fishing a plastic worm; so was I. We were trying different locations throughout the day, and every place we stopped he caught fish on the same worm. I can't say I did, even though I switched off trying different lengths, colors and styles. Finally, after the fish had really mangled the worm he was using, he had to switch off to a different worm. I had a 10 inch, bright florescent orange worm in my tackle box. I don't know why I carried it in my tackle box because I knew it wouldn't catch fish. He asked if he could use the orange worm. "Sure, why not, give it a try," I replied. Guess what - he caught fish with it, while I sat there frustrated.  (Tom B) Action Point  The Lord taught me a life lesson through my fishing partner . . . actually he taught me a couple of lessons. He gave me a douse of humility. I thought that I, the experienced bass angler, would be teaching him how to catch fish. It was the other way around; he was teaching me. It was really bad when he chose the cast-off orange plastic worm and caught fish. "God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong," I Corinthians 1:27b (NIV).    Paul, in Romans 12:3 says, "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you," (NIV).    The second lesson was he caught fish with only one worm. I believed you had to have the latest and greatest in fishing tackle. He had one worm. The same in my life, everyone's life, we only need one thing in our tackle box of life - Jesus Christ. "It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, Who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption," I Corinthians 1:30 (NIV). Sportsmen's Tip of the Day  Normally, choosing the right color in a plastic worm is governed by water color and what the bass may be feeding at that particular time of the year. But, sometimes a contrast in color can inspire reaction strikes. Good examples are worms with a chartreuse, pink, or yellow tails.

April 4, 2013    Today's Photograph . . . . Death For Believers In Christ Has Been Conquered Through His Blood  (MQ)

Bible Study Verses I Corinthians 15:56-57   The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (NIV) Thoughts  This morning I made a trip to our vet to put our dog, Riley, down. Over the last three weeks, she has really gone downhill.  For fourteen years, she has been a part of our family's daily life . . . sometimes cute, sometimes irritating, but always present. She has been as loyal as any dog could be. She found a way to cuddle next to someone who was sick with the flu or a cold. She sneakily meandered her way under our dinner table at every meal to clean up any scraps that might have fallen. When the sun shone through our windows at various times of the day, Riley could be found lying down in the little sliver of sunshine that found its way to the floor. After baths, she would run around the house like a little puppy just bursting with energy . . . barking, jumping, and antagonizing. When we would go out to our hunting property to work on food plots, she would run and run and run . . . fully exhausted by day's end, but content. (Dave M) Action Point Today our dog is a memory and her life no longer exists. Each of us knows that our days are numbered, and the only one who knows what that number is resides with our Heavenly Father. The past few days and the weeks leading up to Easter have certainly been a focus on both death and life. Christ died a brutal savage death to redeem us from our sins. But through His blood and death, we have life - eternal life.  It is only through accepting His gift of sacrifice though that we are made right in His eyes. It is not enough to acknowledge what He did. We have to believe fully and completely in Him and turn away from our own ways of doing things.  Death has visited our house today with the loss of our family companion and we are sad, but scripture says that death for believers in Christ has been conquered through His blood. Accept Christ as your savior today. Don't simply acknowledge Him...make a decision, and live for Him. As Paul said in Philippians 1:21, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain," (NIV). Sportsmen's Tip of the Day Know the breed of your dog and how much exercise he or she requires. A dog that gets exercise daily will be a happier and more content dog.

April 3, 2013    Today's Photograph . . . . What's In Your Life Tackle Box  (Tom B) Bible Study Verses Hebrews 5:7-9  During the days of Jesus' life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission. Son though He was, He learned obedience from what He suffered  and, once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him. (NIV) Thoughts What are the essentials in your tackle box? Years ago the "must have" tackle box for many anglers were the big plastic models that when opened cantilevered out to three different trays on each side with small compartments for different lures, weights, and hooks. Plus, there was lots of room in the bottom of box for larger items. I succumbed to one of those boxes. I still have it, but it's been relegated to storage now. If you had one of these big boxes, what items would be on your list that you had to have, no matter what type of fishing you do? You need hooks, probably a variety of styles and sizes. You need sinkers in different sizes and styles depending on what type of fishing you do. A line clipper or cutter of some sort is required. I always carried an extra spool of line in the bottom of the box. Items like floats, some anglers call them "bobbers", lures, and other special items all depend on what type of fishing you like. You could fill up that old box real quick.  (Tom B) Action Point What's in your life tackle box? There are the necessities: Hooks:  Salvation. "The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1 (NIV). Sinkers, line clippers and extra line:  Faith, Hope and Love. "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love,"  I Corinthians 13:13 (NIV). After you have these items, then you can start working on filling up the box. "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ," II Peter 1:5-8 (NIV). Sportsmen's Tip of the Day Check out both your fishing tackle box and the tackle box of your life this spring. Clean and service fishing reels; replace fishing line. Clean, rearrange, or throw out items that need to be replaced. In your life tackle box, throw out the broken and worn out items, sin. If you don't have "hooks" in your life tackle box, accept Jesus into your life. Then start adding the other items, and get out and do some fishing.

April 2, 2013    Today's Photograph . . . .  There Is No Peace For The Wicked (Jack M)

Bible Study Verses Romans 5:1-2   Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (ESV)   Thoughts Peace. The scene above pictures it well. A small stream flows gently through an early winter landscape. All seems in balance and under control. No trouble. No stress. No problems. No concerns. All seems to be at peace. (Jack M) Action Point Believers have peace with God. This is the most important kind of peace. Once peace is established with God through Christ, other areas of our lives may begin to fall into place as we follow God's instructions in ordering our lives. Then we may have emotional peace, peace in relationships, and more.  In every circumstance we may turn to Him and rely upon Him, knowing that eternity is settled and we are secure. This peace provides a solid foundation for life. The Bible contrasts the peace of the believer with the chaos of the lost person, the one who does not have Christ. It says "There is no peace," says the Lord, "for the wicked," Isaiah 48:22 (NIV).  We are told that Martin Luther came to personal faith and assurance of his salvation when he really understood this passage. Until these truths settled in upon him, he had nothing but torment of soul. Do you have peace with God through His Son, Jesus Christ? "Being justified" is another significant Bible truth. It means that the Judge of All has declared one right and without sin based upon the work of Jesus on the Cross. This can only be accomplished when one is saved. When we by faith receive the forgiveness of sin in Christ, God the Father justifies us. Receive Jesus as Lord. He is the King of Peace and the Prince of Peace. Sportsmen's Tip of the Day Be extremely careful in the winter months when fording streams or crossing lakes. Currents under the ice may cause weak spots where the warmer water stirred up by the current erodes the ice by melting it, thus causing thin, weak spots. Use a pole to test the ice ahead of where you step. It will also help to keep your balance on really slick ice.

April 1, 2013    Today's Photograph . . . . When God Blesses You, Bless Others   (Jack M)

Bible Study Verses Luke 12:18-20 "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry. ' " "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?" " Thoughts A cemetery that carries my family surname? I made it a point to stop, look around, and see if any names were familiar. They were not. So they must not have been close relatives. Though there are many spellings of my last name, these folks spelled it just like I do. It was a sobering reminder that I will have a place where my own name will be on the tomb stone. I must make sure I live so that God will prepare a place for me to join Him for eternity. (Jack M) Action Point Live with a view toward forever. That is what eternity will be. Forever! The word eternity may be defined as "an eon of eons." An eon is a really long time! Wow! The farmer in the story from the above passage thought he was doing quite well, thank you very much! But, God called him into account. God says he was a fool as he thought he was in control and in charge of his own destiny. In his mind he did not need God, or others. He had plenty and it went to his head.  Don't make the mistake of thinking this life and the time here on this earth is all there is. Eternity is real. Prepare to live with God forever by personal faith in His Son Jesus. After that issue is settled then live like a believer. Let the attitudes and actions of Christ characterize your lifestyle.  I love this epitaph from an actual tombstone. "Under the sod and under the trees lies the body of Jonathan Pease. He's not here, there's only the pod. Pease shelled out and went to God." What a funny way to say that here is a man of faith! What will be written on your tombstone?   Sportsmen's Tip of the Day When God blesses you, bless others. Make sure that "giving" is a part of your outdoor plans. Take someone into the outdoors who may not otherwise get that chance. Consider mentoring a young person whose folks are not interested in the outdoors. Pass on this great legacy. Give!

March 31, 2013    Today's Photograph . . . . How Many Times Have You Heard Someone Say That They Don't Believe A Loving God Would Condemn Anyone To An Eternity In Hell  (Raymond R)

Happy   Easter!!!   He's Alive!!! Bible Study Verses Matthew 28:1-7 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.' Now I have told you." (NIV) John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  (NIV) Thoughts It's Easter--the truest evidence of God's love for us that ever was or could be. I can hardly imagine the scene: a violent earthquake, an angel appearing, the stone being rolled away, being told to not be afraid. Don't be afraid . . .Yeah, uh huh . . . right. I would have been afraid. Look at the tough guy Roman guards (the Delta Force of their day) - they became like dead men! But, amazingly, these two women didn't faint or collapse in fear, as did the guards. They listened to the first post-crucifixion testimony given of Jesus' resurrection. They were told to go tell the disciples. The disciples were told to go tell the world. We've been told to share the good news.  Jesus has risen; Jesus has risen indeed! Praise God, He has risen! Because Jesus rose from the grave, we can have the hope of rising from the "grave" of our sins. We can have eternal life, and we can know that we will spend that eternity in Heaven with Jesus. Only believe! Now, how many times have you heard someone say that they don't believe that a loving God would condemn anyone to an eternity in hell? Well, guess what; they're right! God doesn't condemn us, we do that to ourselves by the choice of unbelief. Through Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, God has provided the way for us to avoid hell. Just as we would do anything to prevent our own children from experiencing pain, God went so far to prevent our winding up in hell as to send His only Son to die for us. Would I ask my son to die for me? No! Would I send my son to die for you? I don't think so! But God didn't hold anything back--He gave the ultimate sacrifice of His only Son so that we could be saved and be with Him forever. He truly is a loving God! He offered us both forgiveness and hope on the first Easter morning. But, as Jesus was given a choice to be obedient unto death, He has given us the choice to believe or not. Choose to believe. Thank you, Father!  (Cliff S) Action Point Believe in Jesus-today. Accept His gift of salvation. Pray and ask Jesus to come into your heart and to forgive you of your sins. Be assured of His gift of eternal life! If you prayed that prayer today, seek out other believers and find a Bible-teaching church where you can grow in your faith and in God's love. And, let us know here at Sportsmen's Devotional so that we can rejoice with you and pray for you. Sportsmen's Tip of the Day Listen and learn from experienced hunters and fishermen. There may come a day when you encounter a situation where someone else's experience or suggestion may keep you out of a tough situation.

March 30, 2013    Today's Photograph . . . . I Probably Would Have Gone To The Mountains - That's Where I Go To Escape (MQ)

Bible Study Verse Matthew 26:31 Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: " 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." (NIV) Thoughts It's the forgotten day, the day between Good Friday and Easter. Lost time, time that we don't know much about. Jesus was dead. Jesus was buried, and in a sealed tomb, no less. The disciples were scattered just as Jesus had predicted, just like a covey of quail on a wild covey rise.  I wonder where they went, what they did, what they thought. Did they go home? Did they hide? Did they go fishing? Did they say to themselves: Well, that was sure a waste of our time to follow this guy around for the last three years? We do know that they were scared - one of the few comments we have in scripture is that they had locked themselves in their homes for fear of reprisal. I'll tell you, I would have been scared; I would have run; I would have hid. I probably would have gone to the mountains - that's where I go to escape. I would love to have known what thoughts were going through the disciples' heads that day. They had to be thinking about all that Jesus had said. Probably, whenever they were back together, I think that they would have been sharing those thoughts with each other:  Hey, Peter, didn't Jesus talk about this--going to Jerusalem, being accused, tortured, led as a lamb to slaughter? And John, didn't He tell us about being condemned to death and being flogged and crucified?  But wait, Thomas, didn't He also say something about being raised from the dead, something about living again?  No, no, no, that simply can't happen. It's not possible, it's not logical, it's nonsensical. But there's more guys--don't you remember what Jesus said to us: "But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." What does that mean, "after I have risen?" Could it be true? Could Jesus be raised from the dead? Could He live again? Could He walk with us again? How could this be?  Then came Sunday . . .   (CS) Action Point Satan throws everything that he has at us in order to make us doubt - doubt our faith, doubt Jesus' words, and doubt our salvation. But remember, we know what happened on Sunday. Jesus won. Satan lost. Sportsmen's Tip of the Day When you're following your compass or GPS in the mountains, trust what it's telling you. It's probably right.