Author: joingodscountry

I thank God often for the beauty of His Creation…I live and work in it everyday. It’s what the God’s Country Devotional is all about.
I’ve been in the hunting business for a long time. The fruit of my labor is to see the look on a hunter’s face after harvesting an animal.
I love to have a father and son in camp. Many of the youth hunters have never experienced success or even hunted before. The father is anxious…hoping the son sees and shoots an animal. The son is following in his father’s footsteps…he would love to make him proud. It is truly a rite of passage.
I was blessed to share in such an experience this spring in guiding a father and son to harvest a Turkey just seconds apart. They were exhilarated to earn the Cherokee Run brand.
We are in the “memory-making” business. We all should be in our personal lives. Invest in the lives of your children. Share life experiences with them. Make memories. The Bible says…”For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

It was my first deep-sea fishing trip. A friend and his father had booked an all-day trip on a party boat out of South Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I would soon find out the trip was no party.

Our destination was the Gulf stream to fish for grouper and red snapper. Having never been out on the open sea in a boat, my friend recommended I take some of those pills to keep you from getting sick. I prideful he said, “No thank you, I’ll be fine.“ Famous last words of a fool. Why do we men have such big egos?

The boat was no more than a mile from the marina, and I was giving it the ‘ol heave ho. I prayed that the Lord would calm the sea just as He did on Galilee. I finally understood how Gregory Peck must have felt strapped to the back of that white whale. I continued to pray, “Lord, get me to the nearest piece of dry land, do not pass go, do not collect $200.

So often we depend on God to bail us out and we blame him for our circumstances. Remember that he blessed us with a keen mind and spirit to make good decisions. By the way, the next time I went deep-sea fishing… I took those pills.

* Excerpt from God’s Country – A Devotional for the Outdoorsman. Order on Amazon or BookLocker.com

Continue reading “SEASICK IN SOUTH MYRTLE” →

I do pray on the way from the truck to my stand that something doesn’t get me in the dark. You know what I’m talking about. It’s an hour before day break. You’re walking up a hollow of dense hardwoods and a bobcat cries out nearby. You wet your pants and start praying, “Lord, just get me up in that Deerstand!“ We’ve all been there. It’s part of the excitement and thrill of the hunt.

As the sun slowly breaks the treeline, it is as if God turned ON a light switch. The once quiet forest comes alive. Birds begin singing, squirrels scratch around, and a mosquito is buzzing in your ear. The beauty and serenity of the moment humble me. God is never more real to me than at that time.

Regardless of the outcome of the hunt, spend some time with the Lord in prayer. Tell him what’s on your heart and mind. Whatever you might be doing in the outdoors, use the time to draw close to God. (Excerpt from God’s Country)

The coronavirus has certainly turned our lives upside down over the last month. Many people are isolated and hurting physically, mentally, and emotionally.
As a hunting outfitter, I find peace and solace in God’s Creation. I am awestruck by a glorious sunrise or sunset, majestic mountains, and starry nights. A doe and her fawn graze contently in a lush springtime meadow. The brilliant colors of a turkey gobbler shine as he struts like a king in the morning sun.
All these things are God the Father’s opinion that life will go on. They are evidence of His Almighty power and everlasting love. Viruses come and go, but the Lord never does. He is bigger than all that and will comfort us in the this difficult time. Step outside and take a deep breath… for this too shall pass.

Matthew 6:25-27
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

November is here and Thanksgiving is a few weeks away. Sitting in the woods, I watch a majestic gobbler in full strut. God’s wonderful Creation speaks to my heart…reminding me of God’s blessings and provision.

“For ALL good things come from God”. I am thankful for salvation, my beautiful wife and 3 children, loyal friends, shelter, to live in a free nation. Also…for simple blessings like a glorious sunrise, colorful flowers, and cool breeze on a hot summer day.

“Give thanks to God in ALL things.”

Today I found 2 of the largest species of Moths. What I find intriguing is while they are strikingly beautiful, their coloration and markings are not by chance.

God created many creatures with camouflage to not fall prey to predators. The distinct symmetrical circles on the wings are intended to look like the EYES of something much bigger than the moth. “Don’t mess with me” is the message to passers by.

Don’t miss the wonder of God’s Creation. There is a purpose for all that you see. God wonderfully made us with beauty and purpose as well.

My Southern charm didn’t work too well on this big black snake. Non-venomous they are but the bite doesn’t feel too good. I had the bright idea to sneak up to video “hiding” behind my phone (Seriously?…6-5 and 260 lbs hiding behind a phone???)

I crawled within 2 feet and he knocked the phone right out of my hand with a hard strike. We need to be cautious in life. So many beautiful temptations everyday. You know what they are. Play with fire…you’re gonna get burnt. Play with a snake and you’re gonna get bit!

The State bird of South Carolina is the Wren, a little brown bird that makes it’s home around your’s. I jumped in the Polaris Ranger and noticed a nest with 4 eggs in the dash. She was sitting tight and finally blew out of there. They are safe with me and along for the ride!

God’s Creation is so beautiful…even the little Wren. The tiny eggs are a symbol of new life. She will guard those eggs with her life. The Bible says consider the lilies of the field and the sparrow. If God loves the little things, how much more does He love us? More than you know.

What a beautiful find this was today. A Green Tree Frog is a wonder of God’s Creation. One of my favorites. They are quite friendly and gorgeous in color! Spend time in God’s Country and you find some real gems.

A horse is a magnificent and beautiful animal. While they are a powerful machine, they are quite sensitive and have feelings.

My daughter does English Horseback riding. Our pony Alice is an experienced jumper and loves it like a kid on a playground. She is a true Champion in some events.

Riding isn’t easy. It takes hours of consistent practice and repetition for the horse to become disciplined and respond to rider commands.

We too are a lot like wild, untrained horses. I want to do what I want to, when I want to. Our culture encourages independence…you don’t need anyone…it’s all about you.

God desires to be our trainer. He wants to strengthen and develop us to survive, perform, serve, and live life abundantly. We are Sheep in need of a Shepherd and a Horse in need of a Trainer. The journey is worth the effort.