Drawing near to God with a loaded gun...

So one wouldn't think that sitting with a gun on your lap waiting to end an animal's life is really a time to spend with God. But for some reason, for me, it is. I enjoy the time being still, quiet, and just watching His creation. Besides deer the woods offers plenty to watch. Squirrels, crows, blue jays, woodpeckers, turkeys, and even the sun filtering through the trees to the fallen leaves on the ground. Fortunately we aren't trophy hunters, though my 14-point buck from 3 years ago is an added bonus, rather we hunt to fill our freezer.

So this year I had an incredibly fruitful season... on the first day! As I was contemplating it I was overwhelmed by the journey and God's love for me. So let's flash back to 6 years ago!

Deer Story. Part 1
November, 2006

So opening morning I'm sitting out in the woods before it gets light. It starts to get light alittle before 7am. Around 7:15 I see a small doe a long ways away. I don't shoot because it would have been a pot shot and our house was in the distance. So I'm sitting out there watching nature. As I do I start having a deep conversation with God. About how awesome He is and where He wants me in life etc. Also telling Him that He is the Potter and I am the clay. I will go and do whatever He asks of me. As I'm talking to Him I tell Him that I know that He is aware of the thoughts and the intents of my heart so I don't have to prove anything to Him. But I tell Him that if a deer comes through within the next 10 minutes I won't shoot at it. So I looked at my watch and it was 8:16a. Then 3 minutes later I hear something crashing through the woods behind me. There comes 2 bucks and a doe running into the woods. I was like "Whoa, cool God!" So they get to the point where I would have shot them... but I just keep watching. Then 10 feet past that point they stopped. Then the two 4-point bucks turn around and start to fight each other!! That was so completely awesome. This was all happening 30 yards away from me. The doe was standing broadside with her head behind a tree so she couldn't see me. The bucks got down on their knees and everything. Later in the week I was talking to a guy that has been an avid hunter for longer than I have been alive and he said he had never seen two buck fight before! So then I'm sitting there and watching them and I begin to question... now was it just within that 10 minute time frame that I wouldn't shoot or was it anything that I saw within that 10 minutes even if they were around me after that, I wouldn't shoot?? Hmmmmm.... Well I didn't have to worry about it because 9 minutes later at 8:25a they left. Then they ran to the other end of the woods and dad shot at them... AND MISSED. He had just got a new scope on his gun and he wasn't supposed to miss with it. So later he called me on my cell phone and told me that he had seen "Two doe and a 4-point buck." He asked if I saw them and I said "Yes, and they were actually two 4-point bucks and a doe". Then he asked why I didn't shoot... did the gun jam? Were they running? Were they too far away??? I had to answer no to each of those. So I told him that I would explain it to him later. So I did when we were walking to the house later in the morning. He accepted it.... but later in the day and later in the season it really torqued him. We didn't get ANY deer this year. That was the first time in many many many years. So the next day my mentor asked me why did God send the 3 deer that He did??? 2 dominate forces fighting over a weak force??? Hmmmmm... I have had some good contemplation and prayer about this. Especially after 2 people around me out of the blue that they had a dream with me in. I was not active in the dream.... just in the background. But in each situation there were 2 dominate forces fighting over a weaker force. I have been filling my journal with this. Things just don't happen by chance. So that is my deer story and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I had an awesome time of worship with God after they left the woods that morning.

Deer Story. Part 2
December, 2006


So on December 21st we got a phone call. Someone we know had gotten some deer and wanted to know if we wanted the meat. My parent's said yes. So several days later we packaged up ~40#'s of roast and chops that had already been boned out. All that needed to be done is the fat cut off, cut them in the right sizes and wrap for the freezer. God is good and faithful!! When I was out in the shed and we walked past the meat, dad said "Did you see the meat?". I said "Yes, see...". He stopped me.. "Don't even start". I said "Sorry, I did already.

See, God is faithful"!!!!

Deer Story. Part 3
November, 2012

So opening day of deer season this year found me out sitting in my stand contemplating that very time with God. It was the time that I went totally all in with God and pivotal on where I'm at now. Where am I at? Hunting potentially for my last time because I will be living in Uganda after this and who knows how long I will live there. Who knows if any of my furloughs will correspond with any hunting seasons after this. So mentally, I was just ready to enjoy this as if it is my last. So right at day break I shoot my first deer!! Amazing shot right through the center of both lung lobes. You couldn't ask for a better shot. We like to preserve the heart because my grandmother LOVES to eat them. So we finish hunting in the morning and process the deer before we are ready to head out for the afternoon hunt. It is just about the end of the day when two deer enter the woods. I shoot the first one. The second one goes for a bit and then stops behind a bunch of brush and a tree. All I can see is the area ahead of the shoulders. I shoot and my aim is true. Right through all of the vital blood supply in the neck. The previous deer I shot had made it a bit further and ran across the road. So we had to talk to the neighbors before we could go get her. After I dragged her out to the road and was waiting for the vehicle to come and pick us up, I had a little party with God. Here I am six years after going all in, having the time of my life hunting. Six years ago I let three deer walk by without firing a shot. Today, I'm in the middle of preparations to move almost 7,000 miles away to go serve in long term missions.....and I shoot three deer. Plus, the weather is INCREDIBLE!!! Sunny and warm (37F-45F). God loves me! I love Him. I'm super grateful for the time He gave me on Saturday. I don't know what the rest of the season will hold, but I know that now we have enough extra meat so I can make some jerky to take with me to Africa!!

May I also add, the hunting in our area is generally down and last year I didn't shoot any deer. 

So we may not know what our future holds, but why not trust God with it?! His plans are definitely the best plans. Even if people think you are crazy. There will also be hardships and struggles, but why not go through them with the one who is your greatest Advocate?!

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Reminder... 11 more days on the Imperishable Seed partnership challenge!! Check it out on You Tube... November Support Challenge  *warning... video at the end is a bit graphic for some... or so I have been told*