Bible Study Verse
Psalms 91:1
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. (NIV)

Thoughts
Being a biologist and hunter, I have studied the factors that control animal populations. Three are: food, water, and shelter. The deer population fluctuates according to the limiting factors available. In the wild, predation and hunting also have an effect on populations. This past November we hunted whitetail deer in southern Minnesota. Due to the extremely wet fall, most of the corn had not been harvested. There were vast fields of standing corn everywhere. With all the food and shelter, the deer were hard to find. Their normal visits to the small patches of timber for shelter were rare. They were very well hidden and extremely evasive in the large fields of standing corn.

Just as the corn provided shelter and protection for the deer, the above scripture offers us an assurance of God’s protection and care. Shade protects us from the sun’s harsh rays; God comes between us and anything that would cause us harm.
(Tom L)

Action Point
In order to rest in the shadow of the Almighty, we must dwell in the shelter of the Most High. We must choose God for our guardian by having a personal relationship with him. Being alone with God in prayer, worshiping him, and meditating on His Word will help us develop this close relationship.

Bible Study Verse
Luke 10:25-28
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
He answered: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind;’ and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” (NIV)

Thoughts
Ever been on a hunt when everything just seems to fall into place? Glassing up an animal, making the hike, then the stalk, and followed up by a perfect shot? Don’t you love it when that happens? Of course we do!How about when one of the pieces falls through? Missed shot. Blown stalk. Hey, that can happen to anyone. But how about when you spot a shooter buck on a far ridge and your body says, “I ain’t gonna make that hike.” The heart is there, but the body is weak or vice versa. It takes the heart, mind, and body working together to put the hike, stalk, and shot together. Leave one out, and well, you get the picture.
(Ruben C)

Action Point
There is a danger when we treat our relationship with God like cruising for cottontails along a farm field. You know, all you gotta do is see them, jump out, and shoot. Doesn’t take a lot of heart, just a sharp eye and a little fleet of foot. If we love the Lord with only our heart, we have only an emotional relationship. If we love him with only our mind, then we only have an intellectual knowledge of him. If we love him with only our strength, then we may have only a hard lined (legalistic?) relationship with him.Heart, soul, strength, and mind. There’s a reason God gives us that guidance men. Many of us can have a tendency to lean too far one way or another.Combine the traits so we can love God and our neighbors with true compassion, strengthened by our knowledge of the truth and His promises! That means we got to stay in the Word too!

Bible Study Verse
Isaiah 55:9
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (NIV)

Thoughts
I have a hiking companion, her name is Nala and she trusts me completely. In fact we spend a great deal of time together. This loved 10 yr old husky/chow mix rides with me in my truck quite frequently.When Nala was younger we drove into an enclosed automatic carwash. As the wash started, Nala became terrified. She howled, whined, jumped around, and shook as the loud machines and brushes encapsulated the vehicle. It was an entirely new experience for her and she didn’t know how to handle it. I tried calming her, but she just ignored my voice.But are we any different? Not at carwashes perhaps, but hospital stays, job changes and transfers, and all sorts of new experiences that trigger howling and whining in us. When our ‘Master’ gently tries to explain, we ignore him or are too terrified to make any sense of His voice.
(Marshall M)

Action Point
Lessons from God can be found in every part of our lives, including something as mundane as a carwash. Is your world wild and crazy right now?God’s greatest blessings often come costumed as disasters. You may doubt what I say and wonder how God can use divorce, disease, or even death? Simple - God’s smarter than we are.

Two years ago a six year old brought me something to help him write his name on. I began to write it and he grabbed my arm and said, “Hey pastor, how come you know how to spell my name?” He was awed that I knew how to spell his name, even went, and told his mother. He was amazed. You are not; you know the difference between the knowledge of a child and an adult. Can you then imagine the difference between human wisdom and God’s wisdom? What may be impossible for us is like spelling a child’s name to him. Before I forget, Nala still doesn’t like carwashes, but she has learned to trust and listen to my voice.

Bible Study Verse
Deuteromy 6:5-9
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (NIV)

Thoughts
Most outdoors people are more than willing to talk about their latest trip, discuss the pros and cons of the latest fishing or hunting equipment they have used, or the latest magazine article or TV show they have seen on their favorite sport. I knew a young man that would spend hours on the telephone talking to buddies about his latest trip afield or afloat. Even the professional anglers and guides love to talk about their latest catches. They may not share exactly where they caught the lunker, but they will gladly share the rest of the information.We are passionate about our sport and not bashful about sharing information.
(Tom B)

Action Point
Moses was pretty passionate about his love for the Lord, spreading information to whoever would listen or had eyes to see, “Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”Anglers and hunters proudly wear fishing and hunting equipment patches upon their shirts and jackets. You will find a line of folks waiting to receive a free hat or T- shirt if they know that a displayer at an outdoor show is giving them away. Our trucks and cars display the outdoor organization decal that we support.How about the same zeal for the Lord? Talk openly with others about what the Lord is doing in your life. Who knows, they may be going through the same thing. How many people call their friends and spend time on the phone talking about what the preacher or minister said on Sunday morning? The Sunday sermon isn’t relegated to one day.There are more and more Christian youth fishing and hunting organizations forming across the US. Get involved with one. They are great avenues for communication with youth, and they are fun. Start one within your own church.Don’t be bashful in talking with your own children about some of the “tuff” topics of growing up. Bring in how God can be part of the situation. Share your own life as you grew up. Your kids can see that mom or dad is really “real”. Get passionate about what you believe in-the saving love and grace of Jesus Christ!