Daily Devotional - God's Great Outdoors - Trail To Adventure

A SERVANTS HEART

Dean Hulce — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 08:30:28 +0000

Proverbs 17:2
A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully, and will share in the inheritance among brothers.

After nearly 40 years I've come to the realization that the life of a guide is not an easy life. Many people have told me that they would give anything to live the life I've lived. Ha! They have no idea.

It's coming up on the end of turkey season and it reminds me of all that years when I guided all season for turkeys. I was always sleep deprived for 3 months. Many times it rained most every day and yet we kept going. Often when guiding, I still work regular hours for my main job. No one looks at this parts of guiding.

The life of a guide, a good guide, is that of a servant. There is little financial reward and some weeks there is none, when you look at the costs. However, if you love what you do, it's well worth the energy expended.

The best guide and servant that ever lived was Jesus Himself. He left His life in heaven's paradise to give 100% for those of this world, those that despised and hated Him. His servant attitude was His sole reason for coming. Then His dying and rising again was to finish the job.

Mark 10:45 explains it.
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many"

There are amazing rewards for those that commit to being a servant. The writer of Proverbs wrote of it in the verse above. He wrote of the reward to the servant that shares in an inheritance as a child of the family because of his dedication and service.

Acts 10:38 says, "See how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth who went about doing good."

Jesus just got up every day and did good, no matter what. Even though He had a purpose and He was headed somewhere, Jesus allowed Himself to be interrupted by the needs of people. For years we've attempted to study the steps of Jesus. We need to study the unplanned stops of Jesus as well. The things that He stopped for, the things that interrupted His plans, where He would change His plan and help and serve somebody here and there.

Matthew 20:26
but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.

If we truly love others and want to live the life of a servant, other's needs must come before our own. The Lord rewards those with a servant's heart.

Help achieve the mission - GIVE today

GIVE

Click the button to sign up for Dean’s Daily Devotional. FREE and delivered daily.

LIFE IS FLEETING, MAKES YOURS COUNT

Dean Hulce — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 08:30:35 +0000

LIFE IS FLEETING, MAKE YOUR'S COUNT
Joel Raygor and Dean Hulce

Psalm 39:4
Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered - how fleeting my life is.

About 60 years ago, there was an old man named Billy McCall who would tell me hunting and trapping stories. Actually he would share some of what he did when he was younger. He had guns and more guns, probably well over one hundred. There were many lever action and bolt action rifles and he had a big collection of side by side shotguns too. They were all displayed upright in his custom built gun racks all around the walls of his living room and dining room. I could look but I couldn't touch.

Billy told me that in the 1930s during the great depression, when nobody had work or money, he would walk his three day trap line and each night he would start a fire, cook a meal, then wrap up in a blanket and sleep out in the Minnesota cold. Keep in mind, this was during the winter months when the pelts were prime. Sometimes he would catch a muskrat or a beaver, but he really was a fox trapper. He would get up to $20 for a nice red fox pelt. Today that might not sound like much but, in those same years my dad was working for a farmer for .25 cents per day. You do the math.

Billy didn't trust banks, so every time he got some fur money he bought another gun. He only bought upper end high quality guns, because he thought they would be more likely to hold their value. I recently did some searching and found that back in the 1930s the Parker side by side was selling for around $40 and the Winchester 94 lever actions for about the same.

In his old age Billy had a stroke and died, taking his stories with him. His guns were sold and his name has been forgotten by most.

God's word tells us that life is fleeting, a vapor. We're here one day and gone the next. Some people go through life without focus or ambition. Then there are those like Billy, gathering all they can for "someday" and "someday" eventually comes and everything they worked for was for naught.

There's an old saying that says, "You never a hearse pulling a trailer." All that we collect in life stays here when we someday leave. Psalm 49:17 says, "For when he dies he will take nothing with him; his splendor will not go with him."

In Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus tells us something that we should listen carefully to. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21)

Where are your treasures? Like Billy, are they in your rifles and shotguns, are they in your house, cars, or toys? Remember you cant that them with you. Invest in God's work here on earth and someday you will see the eternal benefits and rewards

Help achieve the mission - GIVE today

GIVE

Click the button to sign up for Dean’s Daily Devotional. FREE and delivered daily.

BE PREPARED TO GIVE AN ANSWER

Dean Hulce — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 08:30:11 +0000

Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth"

The big old oak tree I was leaning against was probably one hundred and fifty years old. If it could tell stories, I wonder where it would begin. Because my father was a local historian I had an idea of what that tree could say.

Looking back two hundred years, the first white settlers began moving into this area. Back then there were elk, buffalo, and Native Americans roaming the land. From the book 'Trails of a Paintbrush' I read that in the late 1840s, the Nicholas Brewer Family settled along the banks of the Root River, only a mile from where I sat. Ten years later the Nichols and Cotter Stagecoach Line began serving the area and its trail went right across the ridge, through the middle of our property. In 1862 the Dakota Sioux uprising occurred and at about the same time a Baptist and a Methodist church opened their doors, in the little village of High Forest, less than a mile from this very spot. Before there were churches, circuit-riding preachers would come through the area and share the gospel with locals. They were early Minnesota traveling evangelists.

Matthew 28:19-20
"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit 20 teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you [always, to the end of the age."

Most of us aren't now, or ever will be circuit-riding preachers, but we all could be, and should be, those that share a Gospel message at every opportunity... however and whenever possible.

Today God's word is still being spread from church pulpits, on billboards, on television, and by social media platforms like X, YouTube, and Facebook. But the scriptures tell us that you and I are asked to personally share the good news. Each of us is asked to give an answer when asked.

1 Peter 3:15: "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."

Be ready with an answer.

Help achieve the mission - GIVE today

GIVE

Click the button to sign up for Dean’s Daily Devotional. FREE and delivered daily.

EYE ON THE PRIZE - MICAH HULCE

Dean Hulce — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 08:30:11 +0000

Philippians 3:14
"I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

   Here in Utah, we're coming down off of the highs of turkey season. The weather is getting hotter, and my mind is beginning to shift from longbeards to whitetails. Season has only been over for a few days, but I've had some time to reflect on my hours in the field.

   I was fortunate enough to hunt in three states this spring. I kicked it off in Wisconsin, where the good Lord blessed me with a nice gobbler right off the bat. From that point on, my luck quickly began to run out. It felt like the turkeys started getting smarter, and I was getting dumber.

   I only had a few days to hunt in Michigan, and despite having some close calls, I ended up eating my tag. Utah was my final hunt of the year, where I ended up spending about 30 hours in the woods. I'll save you the suspense and just tell you that I didn't put any meat in the freezer, unless you count the ground turkey from Costco.

   On the last day of my hunt, I finally stopped and asked myself, "Why am I still doing this?" Every time I walked onto that public land, I knew what would happen ahead of time. I would call, the turkeys would gobble their way to about 50 yards, but never would come quite into sight. They followed this pattern religiously, and never seemed to slip up. It happened every single day. Despite all of that, there was something that kept driving me to wake up well before daylight, drive an hour to my hunting spot, and sit in the woods for hours on end. I had a goal. That goal was to walk out of the woods with a dead turkey in my hands. So no matter how tired I was, or how foolish those birds made me look, I knew I had to keep trying until I either accomplished my mission, or the season came to an end.

   In the verse above, we see that Paul had a very similar mindset, but for a much better purpose. If you ever want to feel better about your life, read through Paul's life in the New Testament. This man was beaten, shipwrecked, put in prison, and more. Yet even after all of that, he kept chasing after his goal, which was to lead souls to Jesus Christ. His mind was so focused on serving Christ, that none of the obstacles in his path seemed to bother him. You could say that he had his eyes on the prize.

   As Christians, the Bible doesn't say that we might go through hard times. It promises us that we will. We have two options when trials arise. We can either give up and walk away, or we can face them head on. The good news with the latter option is that we don't have to face it alone. If you are a born again Christian, then you have God Himself right by your side to help you get through the storm. If we want to make it through those trials, then we NEED to practice having Paul's mindset, and press on toward the goal. Trials won't last forever, but eternity will.

Romans 8:18 says, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us."

   We need to remember that the place that God is preparing for us right now is far greater than we can even comprehend. Someday we will be standing in heaven, praising Jesus, and we won't even be thinking about the suffering we went through on this earth. When you live with that mindset, it becomes a lot easier to walk through the storms of life.

So my encouragement to you would be to remember why it is that we are doing all of this. What is the end goal? For me, it's to get to heaven and bring as many people with me as possible. Keep that goal locked at the front of your brain, and press on.

   Even though my efforts to kill a turkey in Utah did not succeed, we have a much greater goal to work towards. And if we press on, we will reach this goal. Keep your eyes on the prize.

Help achieve the mission - GIVE today

GIVE

Click the button to sign up for Dean’s Daily Devotional. FREE and delivered daily.

HE’LL MAKE A WAY IN THE STORM

Dean Hulce — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 08:30:58 +0000

Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

When we drove up the valley leading to camp the weather was warm and beautiful. The temps were around 60 and the skies were clear. The mountain peaks above had some snow on them but the valley was bare.

3 of us had driven a 4 wheel drive pickup to camp and friends from Missouri were coming into camp in a minivan... what could go wrong?

We went to bed to a light snow starting to fall. We were excited for opening morning. Sometime after midnight we woke to the sound of rushing water. Upon inspection the water line feeding water to the cabin from a mountain spring uphill from our location, had frozen and blew out a connection. The temperatures had dropped to below zero and the new snow was a foot deep.

We fixed the pipe and decided to get ready for the hike up the mountain before daylight. I took 3 guys with me, but before we got a mile from camp they had all quit. The snow had made it hard to walk and the frigid temperatures and high elevation had made breathing tough. Two of us killed bull elk that morning, but it was extremely difficult to retrieve them.

By the end of the day somehow the guys had already given up and by the next morning we began breaking trail to get the minivan off the mountain through a foot of snow. Their dreams of a high mountain hunt had faded rapidly.

Just like this hunt had not gone as planned, sometimes we encounter surprises in life. God promises that whatever obstacles or tests we face, He will be with us through them. I must confess that there were moments of concern and trepidation on our Colorado Mountain trip.

Jesus tells us in John 16:33, "In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." He tells us that its not if, but when we will face storms in this world, but we can trust Him in the midst of the storm.

Sometimes when things seem to be going smoothest and the weather seems calmest that the storms of life hit hardest. We have a choice, we can quit and go into hiding, or we can turn to God in prayer and move forward with confidence that God is still in control. Quitting really isn't a good option as your troubles will continue whether you face them or not. Allow God to work though the situation is our only real option. Trust Him.

Psalm 121:7-8 tells us, "The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forever more".

God' word is full of promises that God will take care of His children. He is called "the way maker" because where there seems to be no way out of a situation, He will handle it.

When we left the mountain after the hunt, it didn't seem possible that that the mini van would make it. The snow was deeper than the ground clearance of the van. But we took the truck and broke trail... clearing a path for the others.

God is working on the obstacle that lay in your path. Trust that He will clear it out and get you through.

Help achieve the mission - GIVE today

GIVE

Click the button to sign up for Dean’s Daily Devotional. FREE and delivered daily.

WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING

Dean Hulce — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 08:30:38 +0000

Matthew 7:21-23
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'

My brother Dave was guiding two Archery elk hunters in Colorado when Richard stopped him and said, "I just heard a cow elk". Dave answered, "no that was just a bird". But Richard insisted that it was an elk. Dave let out a soft elk call and a bull screamed back. Within a minute or two they were standing over a big bull that Richard had shot.

This bird that can sound just like an elk is a common woodpecker called a "northern flicker." They have a large vocabulary, but one of their normal calls is a rising "mew" call that are frequently mistaken for the vocalizations of female elk.

Dave had been fooled by something that sounded like the real thing and it almost cost them a trophy elk.

This often happens in elk hunting... and even more often in teaching in today's churches. The Apostle Peter wrote his second letter for the purpose of revealing, resisting, and overcoming the infiltration of false teachers back in Jesus' day, into the church. Nothing has changed in over 2,000 years. We have false teachers in the church today. In the times that we are in we will see more and more.

Matthew 7:15
"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves."

In a world of distorted truths, the Bible warns people not to be deceived. This isn't just a call to stay informed... it's a life-or-death command to guard your hearts and soul from those who distort the gospel of Jesus Christ and so that you do not become what some call a "false-assured Christian" who is a person who believes they are a true Christian but in reality is not, because that believed a "false Gospel". According to Scripture they have false assurance of salvation. They are not truly saved.

Pay attention to the words from Matthew 7:15
"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves."

Help achieve the mission - GIVE today

GIVE

Click the button to sign up for Dean’s Daily Devotional. FREE and delivered daily.

Sons of Thunder

Dean Hulce — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 08:30:21 +0000

Mark 3:17
James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder).

I have a friend and turkey hunting partner that I love to hunt with. "Shortly" and I hunt similarly... save one thing. Shortly carries a call that he made called the U-BOAT. This call is a longbox that can make beautiful high pitched yelps, and LOUD calls as well. I rarely call as loud as the box call, or "Shorty", calls. It's bold and sharp.

Jesus name the brothers, James and John, the "sons of thunder", why? He certainly knew these men even though he had never personally met them before. Christ, as God, knows us all "while we were still in our mother's womb". So why did he name them by this name? I don't think that they were loud or trouble makers. There was never a sign of that.

There is one instance where Jesus was going to be traveling through Samaria and James and John had gone ahead to find a place to stay. Jesus and the disciples were turned away, because they were traveling to Jerusalem. James and John went to Christ and asked if they should, (Luke 9:54), "call down fire from heaven to destroy them". Jesus rebuked them for such thoughts.

Jesus said in Luke 19:10, "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."

Oh that we would all have the zeal of James and John, the sons of thunder. They were willing to kill a whole group of people because they felt Christ was slighted over a night's accommodations. We need to have this same zeal and be prepared to stand up for the name of Christ but do so in a way that communicates the love that Jesus has for the lost.

Romans 12:17-21
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

You don't have to be loud... but be bold and honest.

Help achieve the mission - GIVE today

GIVE

Click the button to sign up for Dean’s Daily Devotional. FREE and delivered daily.

PASS ON THE THIRST

Dean Hulce — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 08:30:44 +0000

Psalms 42:1-2
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

One of my earliest outdoor childhood memories was walking with my dad on a beautiful fall afternoon. My mom had dropped us off at a farm 3 miles from camp and my dad, my brother Dave and I walked back to camp. It was a long walk but it made for a great memory of following in my fathers footsteps.

From a very young age my dad taught me the things of the woods that have stayed with me all my life. Things like how to place my foot so I wouldn't snap twigs. How to read deer sign. Where to find squirrels, grouse and other small game in the fall. How to paddle a canoe... Without tipping it over.

My dad taught me a lot of great stuff that has shaped me as an outdoorsman. When I was little I believed he knew everything and that he was perfect. Latter in life I learned that both thoughts were not true. But considering where he had come from and how he was raised by his father, he did pretty well.

One of the best things that he instilled in me was a love for God. He set an example for me in reading the Word and being in God's house on Sunday. He taught me to have a "thirst" for God. Again he wasn't perfect, but he wanted to set an example of what God wanted for me. He wanted me to have a desire for God like I did for the woods. Like the deer that pants for water in Psalms 42:1, he wanted me to thirst for God.

We have a responsibility to pass on a thirst for God. If we believe that there is a God, then we need to teach the truth of what His Word says. It seems that each generation moves further and further away from this truth. We can't allow that to happen!

There's an old saying that goes, "hunting isn't a matter of life and death, it's much more important than that". Well a relationship with God and salvation is far more important than that. It's a matter of ETERNAL life and death. We need to instill in our children and grandchildren this urgency for God and His love.

In Psalm 63:1-2 it goes back to our thirst saying, "O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. 2 I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory."

I really like the part here that it says "my whole body longs for you". As an addict searching for drugs, our body should long for God, we should long to have his presence and long for his touch.

This is the passion that we HAVE TO BE passing on. If we allow it to skip one generation we've failed all future generations... Don't let that happen. Pass on the thirst.

Help achieve the mission - GIVE today

GIVE

Click the button to sign up for Dean’s Daily Devotional. FREE and delivered daily.

GOOD GUIDING, POOR FOLLOWING

Dean Hulce — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 08:30:51 +0000

Isaiah 42:16
And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.

Marty had taken big bull elk with the rifle before he bow hunted with us. We had heard the stories and seen the photos. He talked a good story. Now he was hunting with our guides on one of the top few elk properties in the world. Marty's guide returned after the first morning hunt and told me, "Marty won't kill a bull this week". When I asked why he said, "he won't be guided, he wants to lelearn not follow."

Over the next five days Marty and his guide would return after each hunt with the same stories, got close, but couldn't close the deal. Marty would walk off on his own, tried to lead the way, would not listen when setting up to call bulls.... It seemed hopeless. The last day Marty's guide returned and pulled me aside, telling me, "I've gotta show you something". With that he hooked up his video camera to the tv and showed me the morning's hunt. He set Marty up and started to call. Then the video showed Marty walking away. Shortly after he walked out of sight a trophy 6x6 bull elk walked right into the place that Marty had vacated. Needless to say... Marty went home without a bull.

So many of us go through life always wanting to be in control. Like Marty, the chances of success are slim when we attempt to take over for the one that knows best. So often our pride gets in the way of who we should be following and what is truly important

God is our ultimate guide that knows the beginning and the end. Who would we rather have to lead us? He has given us a guide book, a map of sorts in the Bible. All of the direction we need in life can be found in it's pages.

Where do you feel like the Lord is directing you in life? Are you sure of the path? There is no need for concern... He has provided the Bible. With God's Word as our road map we will never be lost. Following the counsel provided within its pages will continually bring us success.

A few days ago I spoke to a man that told me that he has read through three different translations of the Bible.... But he doubted it's authenticity and correctness of the translations. Then he next read the Book of Mormon and now he is reading the Quran. He is searching for the truth and a guide, but his heart doubts all he reads.

I explained to him that if he reads with the intention of being led by the Lord, he will see things he has never seen before and God will direct him in a successful life. When he again doubted God's word...
I gave him Joshua 1:8 to read. This is a promise from God himself.

"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Joshua 1:8)

If you want to be led through a successful life... follow the best leader. Allow Him and His Word to guide you.

Help achieve the mission - GIVE today

GIVE

Click the button to sign up for Dean’s Daily Devotional. FREE and delivered daily.

Truth in love

Dean Hulce — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 08:30:49 +0000

Ephesians 4:15
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

It had been years since I had fished trout on the small streams of Michigan when a friend asked if I would take him and his son trout fishing and show them how to do it. Trout, stream fishing isn't like sitting in a boat and casting or trolling. There are times when you have to speak up on thw places where the fish are... even belly crawling. Trout are extremely high strung and spooky. They are also spooked by heavy line or extra things on the line.

The first stream we stopped at my friend and his sun said that they would fish close to the bridge and I said I would go a hundred yards or so downstream and fish down from there. I walked 100 yards or so through the cedar swamp and then snuck carefully to the streams edge.

I only fished about 10 minutes and had a 5 fish limit of beautifully colored brook trout. Walked back up to see how thw other guys were doing. When I got there I found them walking downstream in the middle of the water and casting big spinners on heavy line. All the things that I knew were against what I knew would make them successful was what they were doing. And they hadn't caught a fish

I knew I had to correct them and I had a choice. I didn't want to embarrass them, but I had to gently correct them, if I wanted them to be successful. By the 3rd or 4th stream we had them beginning to catch fish.

Often we struggle between speaking the truth and loving. We can be truthful as Christians and do tremendous harm to someone that is hurting. We can also be loving and not want to hurt someone by being truthful about what God's word says about what is right and wrong. By loving without truth we can do as much harm as we would by being truthful without loving.

Ephesians 4:15 says to "speak the truth in love"... don't do one at the expense of the other.

In John 13:34 & 35 Jesus said, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Often we best show love by being truthful... we can allow someone to continue in bad habits or lifestyle, which is far from loving, or we can do what I dis.for.my fishing buddies and lovingly and honestly correct their wrong behavior.

Love is perfected in God's truth and real truth is perfected in Godly love. Share them both freely.... but equally.

Help achieve the mission - GIVE today

GIVE

Click the button to sign up for Dean’s Daily Devotional. FREE and delivered daily.

ITS NOT FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND

Dean Hulce — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 08:30:12 +0000

Matthew 26:36-46
Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

Each year in August we make a pilgrimage to Two Hats Ranch in Big Rapids Michigan for a very special hunts. Every year, 6 very special children come in and hunt deer. All of the children have faced some sort of special needs. Some of the children have struggled with life threatening illnesses. Watching all of these great kids each year has left me wondering, why do they struggle, when the most of the rest of us cruise through life with little struggle.

There is so much that happens in life we just can never explain; the death of a young person, handicapped children, natural disasters, etc...

We want to know the reasons why, but in our finite minds we have no way of understanding how these all fit together in a larger plan. And sometimes we have to realize that God's original plan was for a perfect spotless world... Then sin entered the picture. We live in a fallen sinful world and because of that, bad things will happen to good people.

All we can do is trust that God has control and loves us more than we can know. He has a plan that someday we will see in all its glory.

Psalm 33:11
The plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.

Willie Nelson wrote and sang a song called, "Not for me to understand" that speaks very well to this subject take a minute to listen to it... And realize that our God is in control and does have a plan for our lives.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xxatbm87dcQ

It might not be for us to understand, but we can know that God does understand and we can trust Him.

Help achieve the mission - GIVE today

GIVE

Click the button to sign up for Dean’s Daily Devotional. FREE and delivered daily.

Refreshed and Re-energized

Dean Hulce — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 08:30:41 +0000

Psalm 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God

Other than the occasional squirrel, often I've spent hours alone in the woods with few other distractions. My mind is alert and I'm listening for a twig snapping or the rustling of the leaves, but at the very same time, in all of the quiet, my mind is faced with the simple truth of my relationship with the Creator.

Many other hunters have shared how they've felt God's love and direction in those alone times in the timber. When there are issues to sort out or a need for a new perspective on life, there is no better place for you to be, than alone with God.

In 1 Kings chapter 19 we read the story of Elijah who flees from Jezebel in fear for his life, hides in a cave and is having a private pity party. God comes to him and reveals Himself not in the wind, an earthquake, or fire, but in silence. The scripture says God spoke in a "still small voice" asking Elijah why he was there. God ministers to him, pulls him out of his depression and directs him to appoint new leaders, including his successor Elisha.

God will refresh and re-energize us too, if we will just listen for His "still small voice". There is a verse in Isaiah that speaks of this.

Isaiah 40:31 "but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint".

Help achieve the mission - GIVE today

GIVE

Click the button to sign up for Dean’s Daily Devotional. FREE and delivered daily.

Perfect Timing

Dean Hulce — Fri, 29 May 2026 08:30:28 +0000

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Turkey season is winding down and I finally got out with a friend last week. We had two gobblers answering our calls for 30 minutes when suddenly they went silent. I quit calling myself and waited. I continually had the urge to call, but I held off. I sat, wondering where they had gone... then all of a sudden, there they were, they had snuck in and popped out at 30 yards in front of us.

There have been countless times a Tom has gobbled and then has gone silent. I ask myself, "Is he coming in? I wish he would gobble one more time and let me know where he is". That gobbler is probably thinking the same thing, "if she would only yelp one more time." Know that a turkey doesn't have to answer every call to still be coming your way. Even after years of hunting these birds, understanding their next move can be frustrating and nerve racking, but that's what makes it so much fun.

In a similar way, our minds have a difficult time understanding God's plan. At least that's true for me and I'm guessing it's true for you too. We all want to understand God's plan for the future and how things are going to work out. But, trusting God even when we don't understand His plan isn't easy.

Not every season in life will make sense while we are in it. There will be times when the path isn't certain, the answers are missing, and the timing doesn't feel right. But understanding and trusting are two different things. Faith means believing that God is good even when life feels uncertain. God knows the beginning and the end. He sees the full picture while we only see a small piece of it. We do not have to know every detail to be able to move forward. We only need to trust the One who is leading us. God's purpose and plans for each of us are far beyond what we can imagine. Trust that with God, it's perfect timing.

Help achieve the mission - GIVE today

GIVE

Click the button to sign up for Dean’s Daily Devotional. FREE and delivered daily.

THE RIGHT QUEST

Dean Hulce — Thu, 28 May 2026 08:30:58 +0000

Philippians 3:18-19
For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.

Hunting has changed in the last 50 years. When I was a kid hunting was about going to camp, time with family and friends and bring home meat for the family. Yes when we got a chance at a big buck we were excited and we would even get a photo taken with it. Back then no one concerned themselves with what a buck scored.

Today many hunters will do nearly anything to get a high scoring buck. Seems like every year we read about a TV hunting personality that has broken the law to put his name in the record book. A few years back there was one hunter that was buying big sets of antlers shooting a deer, then putting the bought antlers on the dead deer. All to look good to hunters and make money. I miss what hunting was.

Hunters have lost their jobs, their families, their friends and their dignity all for this quest. But hunting is just one example. Financial success (or the look of success) is another strong driving force to get people to break the rules to achieve their misguided goals.

In Paul's letter to the church in Philippi, he warns against setting our minds on earthly things. In Ecclesiastes 1, the writer tells how the quest for all earthly things is vanity. It has no lasting value.

So what does have value? The Apostle Paul ends his letter to the church in Philippi with these words.

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

So what is true, noble, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy? Only the things of our God.

Make sure your quest is directed towards Him and Him alone. All else is meaningless.

Help achieve the mission - GIVE today

GIVE

Click the button to sign up for Dean’s Daily Devotional. FREE and delivered daily.

OUTWARDLY WASTING AWAY

Dean Hulce — Wed, 27 May 2026 08:30:22 +0000

2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

The last couple of years, after two hip surgeries, back issues and some severe asthma, has had me longing for fall in the high country of the Rockies. Then, just yesterday, I received a text asking me to join a ministry on an elk hunt.

For the last 36 hours, I've been considering my age and condition. 38 years of guiding across North America and hunting about dozen or more, has given me a desire to continue. But as my body grows older and begins to wear out, God has given me the ability to take and share my past experiences and memories through Scriptural applications with others. As my body breaks down my heart (spiritual) grows stronger in him. Maybe it's because I can no longer rely on my own strength and abilities, but must rely on Him. Maybe it's because I've allowed Him to work in and through me more now as I grow older.

When our reliance on God grows we become closer to Him. When we grow closer He will begin to use us in far different roles. Our usefulness in the family of Christ builds and our life becomes more and more centered on what God has for us in life. And what God has for us is more service for Him, by reaching others. The Christian that isn't serving God daily and doing what they can to reach others for Him is wasting a life.

Yes, "outwardly we are wasting away" but praise God, "inwardly we are being renewed day by day." We have a promise that what is unseen (The things of God) are eternal and as our bodies decay and fall apart we have an amazing hope in what God has prepared for us.

As we grow closer to the time of entering our eternal home, the end doesn't seem so scary. We start to look forward to it. Remember what Paul wrote in Philippians 1:2 "For me to live is Christ, but to die is gain".

Paul knew that while here on earth his life was about serving Christ. He also knew that when he died it would be so much better. We all need that complete assurance.

Life is fleeting, praise God for His provision here and into eternity.

Help achieve the mission - GIVE today

GIVE

Click the button to sign up for Dean’s Daily Devotional. FREE and delivered daily.

THE RIGHT GUIDE

Dean Hulce — Tue, 26 May 2026 08:30:11 +0000

1 Corinthians 8:6
yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

Several years ago my brother and a friend booked a hunt in NW Colorado for elk and mule deer. It was a new lodge and the guys were excited to experience a new opportunity. The hunt ended up being a bust.

As the hunt went on the hunters got to know their guides. What they leaned was that the guides that were supposedly big game guides ended up being fishing guides. Neither of the hunters had an opportunity to harvest a quality animal and it was mostly because they had the wrong guide.

Matthew 7:15-16 tells us to be careful of those that want to guide us in the wrong direction.
15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits." (Matthew 7:15-16)

It is similar to using a compass. A good and true compass will always point you to magnetic north. However I have had compasses that would vary and swing in different directions. The compasses had been sitting in a drawer (probably on top of a piece of steel or another magnetic object) and had lost their ability to point to what is true. A bad compass, like a guide that is not true will bring us to the wrong places all the time, and like the case in Oregon, get us into trouble.

The true Guide can be counted on 100% of the time. There is never a reason not to follow Him and trust Him in anything. The false guides/prophets can never be trusted. They will never be looking out for your best interest, don't trust them. Our Lord will never lead you down the wrong path or into a place where you are not supposed to be. You can trust Him!

Jesus Christ is the guide we need to follow through life as we venture into new areas and grow in our familiar ones as well. He will never lead us where we shouldn't go, where we don't belong. We can always trust Him.

Our walk through life is far more important than a hunt... but we take the same steps. Find the best guide and follow where He leads. That guide for all of us is Jesus Christ.

Help achieve the mission - GIVE today

GIVE

Click the button to sign up for Dean’s Daily Devotional. FREE and delivered daily.

He is my Rock - Tim Jones

Dean Hulce — Fri, 22 May 2026 08:30:55 +0000

1 Samuel 2:2 “ There is none holy as the Lord; for there is none beside thee; neither is

there any rock like our God.”

The above rock formation is located on Populus Lake in Ontario, Canada. There are

many rock cliffs like this around the lake but each one is unique to itself. Each has its

own size and appearance. Some are smooth, some are jagged. Some are very high

and others not so tall. These rock formations have not changed in the 15 years that I

have been going to this area to fish.

1 Samuel 2:2 clearly describes God as our Rock. God is often referred to as a rock in

scripture, symbolizing strength, stability, and protection. These descriptions highlight

several key attributes of God. First is His unchangeable nature. Just as a rock remains

steadfast, God is constant and reliable. Second is a source of safety. A rock provides

shelter and refuge, representing God’s role as a protector in times of trouble. Thirdly,

He is a solid foundation. Rocks serve as a solid base for building, which illustrates how

God supports and strengthens those who trust in Him. Psalm 18:2 states “The LORD is

my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my rock in whom I take refuge.”

Our God is truly our Rock. He is steadfast. He is unmovable. He is our refuge and safe

place. No matter what we encounter in life, we have a firm foundation, a place of refuge,

and constant stability in our Lord and Savior. Are you resting in the Rock?

Psalm 62:6-7 “He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my defense; I shall not be

moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge is

in God.

Help achieve the mission - GIVE today

GIVE

Click the button to sign up for Dean’s Daily Devotional. FREE and delivered daily.

My God Will Supply Every Need

Dean Hulce — Thu, 21 May 2026 08:30:12 +0000

Luke 12:24
Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn and yet God feeds them. Oh how much more value are you than the birds!

Whitetail deer, just like other wild animals, adjust their diets to what is seasonally available and accessible, changing their feeding habits to survive every season. In just a few days we will once again plant our soybean and our brassicas food plots. During the summer months the new plants will provide high-protein foods to support healthy growth for the deer, especially for the lactating doe. During the fall the plots will also provide needed food to aid in putting on fat for the approaching winter. These food plots also act as a magnet, keeping the deer close by during the hunting season. During the sub-zero winter days when food has become scarce and only twigs, bark and dry leaves are available, the beets, turnips, and radishes of the brassicas food plot will give the herd extra energy to survive another bitter winter here in the northland.

Creation is a wonderful thing to behold. Our God has provided everything the deer needs to survive and flourish. In fact the Creator has a plan in place to meet the needs of every land animal, every bird of the air and every fish of the sea.

Our God has also provided each of us with more than we can ask or think. Often we get consumed by storing up provisions and worrying about tomorrow. We read in Matthew 6:31-33 "...do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?'... your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Philippians 4:19 "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

Help achieve the mission - GIVE today

GIVE

Click the button to sign up for Dean’s Daily Devotional. FREE and delivered daily.

RUN AWAY

Dean Hulce — Wed, 20 May 2026 08:30:52 +0000

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

One morning, several years ago, a friend texted me and told me he was turkey hunting and someone near him shot a turkey from the window of their vehicle. Not only is this illegal, it's extremely unsportsmanlike... It's called "road hunting", but it has nothing to do with hunting... It's poaching.

Two hours later, as I was walking back from a hunt, I watched four gobblers walk into the woods near my vehicle. I had been calling to these birds for two hours, with little success. I saw right where they went into the woods and a thought popped into my head, "I bet I could just drive past them and shoot one.". Now, I've never done that and don'tbelieve I ever would. But the temptation was there. What did I do? I got to my truck, unloaded my gun and put it totally out of reach. And sure enough, there was a really big gobbler right there where I thought they would be as I drove out.

Have you ever felt unworthy or undeserving because you have been tempted? I'm not talking about giving in to temptation, just because you were temped? Don't allow yourself to accept the lie that you are something less because you were temped. Even Christ had temptation come to Him (Matthew 4:1).

If we don't feel like we're ever being tempted one of two things is happening, either we have gotten so far from Christ that we no longer recognize sin as sin and we give in to temptation without thinking. Or, we don't have a relationship with Christ in the first place and we don't care. But make no mistake, if you are a child of God, you will be tempted.

The Bible says we need to flee temptation. In 1 Corinthians 16:13 Paul writes, "Be alert. Continue strong in the faith. Have courage, and be strong". To "be alert" means to know what tempts you so that you can stay away from it.

In order to make it easier to avoid temptation there two things you need to stay away from... tempting situations and tempting associations, meaning certain people.

Pastor, John Baker, says, "If you hang around the barber shop long enough, you're going to get a haircut." so avoid the places and people where you are being tempted.

If you are continually being tempted in a situation or by a person, flee. Don't stand there and fight it, RUN.

Remember in 1 Corinthians 10:13 included this, "And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."

It promises a "way out"... He will provide a door to escape. Find the door, don't walk through it, run through it!

Help achieve the mission - GIVE today

GIVE

Click the button to sign up for Dean’s Daily Devotional. FREE and delivered daily.

A God Of Second Chances - Joel Raygor

Dean Hulce — Tue, 19 May 2026 08:30:47 +0000

Nahum 1:7
The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him.

The morning of May 6th was clear and calm. A little before first light, my back was up against a big maple tree about forty yards into the timber.

Four days earlier, at this very spot, I had called a big tom into sixty yards. He saw my hen decoy, and decided he would just stay in the field and strut, looking big and handsome. In his mind, she would simply come to him. After thirty minutes of this hen playing hard to get, the big bird lost interest, tucked his wings, and walked away, never looking back.

This morning there would be no decoy, and my calling strategy would not be the same. A half hour before sunrise, I gave a few soft tree yelps followed by a flydown cackle. The tom gobbled from the same spot as he had a few days earlier. Instantly I responded with some aggressive cutting. The next time he gobbled I could tell he was much closer. Once again I gave an excited short series of cuts and yelps and then... I went silent. He was coming, but this time he would have to find the hen.

After a few minutes of silence, he gobbled, but all he got was more silence. About ten minutes went by, when he gobbled again. You could almost hear the panic in his gobble. The gun was on my knee when he crested the ridge at sixty yards. He thought he would see the hen and expected her to run to him. Instead he got nothing. After just minutes, that seemed like an hour, he finally decided he would come find this 'hot hen'. At thirty seven yards the jig was up.

Life doesn't always give us a second chance, but the good news is that our God is a God of second chances. Most of us mess up again and again, but, our God is patient. The bible shows God as a restorer who offers second chances, new beginnings, and abundant mercy to all of us when we repent and turn back to Him.

In Psalm 86:15 we read... "But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness."

Just as God is patient and forgiving, He wants His children to be patient with and forgiving of others. Our God is the God of second chances.

Help achieve the mission - GIVE today

GIVE

Click the button to sign up for Dean’s Daily Devotional. FREE and delivered daily.