FISHING....

I have had all these thoughts rattling around in my brain after a sermon I heard a few Sundays ago. I literally began to jot them down on some scratch paper so I wouldn't forget. They are still jumbled and maybe one day I will put them in proper order for a devotional or something...but until then here goes.

~We're called to be fishers of men. Those disciples had been doing what they knew best, fishing, all night long with no success. They know those waters, where the fish were at certain times of the day, etc. They continued using their tried and true methods, all to no avail. Along comes Jesus (whom they didn't recognize) with a new fangled idea to fish on the opposite side....results-overwhelming! Do we rebel at new ideas determined to do things the way we always have, thinking we know best?

~As a child when I fished with my Daddy, I would never touch the bait (unless it was artificial), never took the fish off the hook for fear of getting "finned" but loved the thrill of the catch even though many times the pursuit was quite boring and mundane. Aren't we like that with souls? We want the thrill of the catch but don't want to "get our hands dirty", don't want to get hurt (finned) in the process, and often lose interest in the pursuit of souls because it becomes boring and mundane. Do I just want the bragging rights of the catch and yet not willing to put forth the all nighters, early morning risings, hooks in my hands, sitting still waiting for the right opportunity, and the taking the fish off the hook?

~Fishing doesn't end with the catch. After we have made the catch, it requires taking the hook out of the mouth, bringing the fish home, cleaning it, and preparing it for a wonderful meal. We so often catch the soul, and then just leave it, not wanting to bring the fish "home", often tossing it back into the world's pond. I must follow through in the entire process of fishing...start to finish. It requires a willingness to disciple that soul, cleaning it up, considering it worthy of keeping, showing and teaching them how our Heavenly Father cuts away the nasty stuff to make them a pleasing aroma to the world.

~Fishing is not something you intuitively know how to do. Just as my Daddy taught me how to fish, we must be taught how to reach and teach those fish. It requires sitting at the Master's feet, listening to Him and doing things His way. Am I willing to sit? Am I willing to practice, casting and reeling it in over and over even when there are no nibbles on the other end of the line? Am I so in tune with the line that I can feel just a slight nudge and realize that another fish is ready to be reeled in?

Ok, I think that's it for now. I really want to be a fisher of men, a fisher of my grandchildren, of students, of neighbors. Do you? Pick up that net and cast it on the other side....results-overwhelming!

Each day my church has a devotional of the day...today's was great.

A spiritual legacy...that's what I want to leave. I don't want to be a whiner about what I had or didn't have in the past nor a lamenter about what I did or didn't do correctly with/for my own children. I know I did the best I could with the knowledge/experience I had. I want to move forward...gleaning from life's experiences and pressing onward to the prize set before me. Much has been inherited and invested into my life from/by my parents, Sunday School teachers, peers, youth workers, teachers, pastors, family, friends, etc. I want to multiply that investment and yield an even greater return on those, therefore leaving an even grander inheritance for my children and grandchildren. Read the devotional...hopefully it will speak to you.

Devotionals at CFBC

Sincere Faith (6) Posted: 17 May 2008 02:00 AM CDT “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” 2 Tim 3:14-15 (NIV) Make good on what your parents leave you. Financial prosperity may not travel through your family tree, yet sincere faith can. Consider what your parents have left you in the realm of faith. What did they model before you as a child? How did they impart sincere faith throughout your upbringing? Were they instrumental in developing your appetite for reading God’s Word? Did God use them to strengthen your prayer life and to fortify your faith in God? Whatever your parents have left you in the realm of faith, make good on it. Maximize what you have been given. Standing on their shoulders, your sincere faith can grow and even multiply through the relationships in your sphere of influence. Paul instructed Timothy to continue in what he had learned from the holy Scriptures. God’s Word is your best teacher. If your parents pointed you to God’s Word and demonstrated an abiding love for His Word, you are blessed. If your parents did not hand down that kind of passion for God’s Word, don’t allow their neglect to immobilize you. Commit to feeding your appetite for reading the Bible and choose to impart that lifestyle to others. What are you doing with what you have been given? Eliminate excuses and embrace daily spiritual disciplines that will enhance your walk with God and impact others for God’s glory. One of the most powerful investments in your day is the investment of time you allocate to reading the Bible. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

God knows the details

God knows all the details...He is a God of order....we've all heard it but I had never actually "seen" it.

I'm a huge Louie Giglio fan/supporter; I admire the way he can take God's word and make it alive, applicable, and keep it authentic. You have to watch this clip on God Tube! I think I will order the entire series. This will (should) give you chills!

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=152b5103d741aca61093


I was reminded as I daily fret over the details of my life, my kids' lives, and my grandchildren's lives that He is in charge....ordering every single detail simply because that is who He is! He is the I AM.

Enjoy! I would love to hear your response to this clip. Watch it now!!

MRI Survival

You would think that at age 53, one would not be afraid of too many things...especially knowing I survived raising one boy and two girls. I mean after all, I should be equipped to handle just about anything, right? However, about 10 years ago, I realized I am claustrophobic! Not the type that I freak out in elevators, or small rooms, but put me in an MRI machine near my face and head and add to that the knowledge that I cannot move or get up pretty much causes near hysteria. Today I had to have an MRI on my ankle/foot. (injured it 9 weeks ago) I was so fearful, that I made my sweet hubby take me in case I needed "drugs" which would require a driver to take me home. He kept reassuring me that I would be fine. YES!!! He was right! Granted they had to put me in a cage to keep me contained and I was able to chat the entire time with the technician. (actually the machine was inside this cage/barrier type thing). I did it; no drugs, no hysteria!

I realized we do the same thing to our Heavenly Father. We fret and worry over the unknown, the future all the while He keeps saying "You will be fine. You will see." I don't understand why when He has proven Himself over and over to me in the past, that I still don't completely trust Him for the future but yet when I look back, I always say, "YES! He was right!" Praise the Lord, He is patient and continues to love me through all the fretful times of my life....sometimes even 'caging me in' and causing me to be still and know that HE IS GOD!

The Blog Bug has bitten me, an over 50 wife, mom, Granna, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, and child of the King. My girls, Jaime, Emmalie, and Kristen are to blame. Life has taught me much thus far, with mutiple lessons yet to learn. We'll see how well this goes...exposing thoughts and feelings to an unknown world.