I started my hunting season with high hopes of tagging out the first morning. We had seen elk in our spot second season and there is almost always elk in there. I had no doubt I’d be bagging one the first day. Well, God had other plans.
I taped my toe to my other toe, had my ridged shoe insert in my winter boot and was ready to go. I knew it’d be slower going as I navigated that healing broken toe. The doctor had warned: You can hunt, but if you dislodge that bone you’ll be looking at surgery. I took what he said seriously, but we also needed to fill our freezer. So, off I went on my first morning hunt. It was cold, about 8 degrees, with real feel about 1. I’m no stranger to those temperatures hunting and I was hopeful I’d only have to experience it one time. He had other plans. I saw and heard nothing. The rest of the time hunting followed this pattern. It was into day 3 that I started believing I wouldn’t fill my tag, that this season would be like 2021. Where I hiked around for 9 days, hunting morning and evening, coming up with nothing. I mentioned to Jordan that I didn’t think I’d get anything and for some reason I thought this season was only 4 days! It was actually 5. Anyway, he made some calls and I called a friend to see if she would be on call for the kiddos as Jordan was going to go out with me the next morning. We headed out the next morning and found bulls but not cows. We headed home and about mid day got a call that someone found cows! They even offered to tell us where they were. Sometimes as hunters we’re not willing to share where our “spots” are. If you’re a hunter then you know what I’m talking about. So, we swore ourselves to secrecy and headed out. It was an awkward shot and I used way too many bullets to bring her down, which bothers me so much, but God provided the people to guide us to some cows and even a couple extra people to help us pack her straight up a mountain side. It was not an easy pack out but we are no strangers to packing out of hard spots. We were blessed by the works of faith by others and in the same way, we were demonstrating our faith by believing that God would provide. In our actions, even if our heart and mind thought we wouldn’t tag out, we still went out and looked. In that way our works showed we believed.
Having works to demonstrate our faith can come in a couple of avenues. Demonstrating our faith through caring for others. Not in a check the box kindof way, but in a genuine, I care for this person and want to take care of their needs. Another demonstration of our faith is when we actively trust that God will provide for us through His people. This is when we are on the receiving end of those demonstrations of faith. Yes, it takes faith to receive care from other people. Sometimes our pride of, I can do it myself sneaks into our hearts. Instead of being willing to accept those “works” from other people, we can sometimes think, I’m not in need, I don’t need help from them or, I’m waiting for God to help us. Not realizing it’s that image of people stranded on their house top during a flood and a boat and helicopter come by to save them and they refusing saying, “I’m waiting for God to save me!” Not realizing God is helping you through the use of His people. Do not turn down the help from other people, as this is God’s way of blessing you and in turn they also receive a blessing! Therefore, you are denying them a blessing by turning down their help. Whew! It can be so hard but I’m sure if you reminisce, as I have done, you can recall when you have not only been on the receiving end of help but also the blessing of the giver. God supplies us with exactly what we need when we need it. Wait on Him.
How have you received blessing or demonstrated your faith by caring for others and in turn receiving a blessing yourself?
Also, one final parting gift, there are some products I use that help me through strenuous physical activity. I don’t know about you but I don’t hike 4-6 miles straight up and back down mountains everyday. I’m pretty active but not that active. So, my body needs some extra help and the products I use are as follows: Aminowise - Muscle recovery powder, BLM - bones, ligaments and muscles supplement. I actually take this everyday, but up to twice a day during strenuous activity, Deep Relief roll-on - for those sore muscles after the fact, Cool Azul Sports Gel - another product for muscle recovery, and Thieves Vitality essential oil - this went in my hot water with honey to sip on, in the cold, while waiting for the elk. Boosts your immune response. Here is a link to those products: Hunting essentials
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