Start Early
It was my first hunt in Montana's Crazy Mountains. My 'guide' and hunting partner was Doug Bingeman, the science teacher in Moore, Montana. I taught elementary school there. We decided to take my truck because I had a topper on it and had cut out a foam pad and carpet so that I could sleep in the back. It was mid-November, long after dark and bitterly cold as we opened the side windows of the topper and turned on the propane heater.
Doug had a high quality goose down sleeping bag. I had a JC Penney special that cost under $20. It didn't matter though, because even though the temperature was plummeting below zero, we had a heater... for about 5 minutes... Doug forgot to fill the propane tank. This mattered very little to him as he snuggled into his down bag and went to sleep. I, on the other hand, suffered miserably.
We were deep in the mountains, far from any town, and nothing would have been open where we could have gotten propane anyway. In fairness to Doug, I also have been the one who 'forgot' something important on a number of adventures over the years. Being properly prepared (and thus properly equipped) changes everything, doesn't it? Or perhaps I should put it this way- being UNPREPARED changes everything, doesn't it?
This is why every single morning when we rise, we should follow God's instructions closely. He says that we are to "Put on the full armor of God so that we can take our stand against the devil's schemes." When we first center our hearts and minds on Christ, the Holy Spirit prepares us to handle literally everything we will encounter during the day. Start early. Don't skip this time with God, and you will be blessed! -Pastor Brad
Written on November 17, 2025
Posted in Daily Devotions