Gone Fishing

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Its been TWENTY-TWO years and I still remember very vividly the first sermon when I began attending Church. It was titled Life’s too short not to fish.  I was in Church and the Pastor was actually fishing on the screen, the water was very clear and not deep, as he was fishing for this elusive fish he was talking about being “fishers of men” as Jesus said. What does that mean and why is it important?

Matthew 4: 18-22   Jesus Calls His First Disciples 18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Jesus is not about scales, don’t get me wrong He loves fish, good food - but fishing on His terms is not about the hook, the bait, the reel in or the fish fry. It’s about creating Christ Followers. People who will go out in the world and seek out those in need of faith, help them understand it by talking about it or patterning it out for others to see.

From the time I first found my faith I came to believe that every person put on this earth serves a purpose. Sometimes, sadly, people might never know or seek out their true purpose in being here. For me, my Purpose has evolved over time and changed up according to things going on in my life at the time. I feel like there also have been multi-purposes for me too, a sideline purpose which might be short or very brief.  I’ve wondered many times why I am at a certain job or why this or that. The answers have not always come quicky or easily but they come and I have this “ah ha moment” where I figure it out.

Today I had an ah ha moment. My company recently vacated the big office / warehouse space we had for years. The rent just got to be so high it was not affordable. I’m not opposed to being at home but I’m not a fan of working from home. It’s just not my thing. I like the interaction. Heck, sometimes I even like the drive to and from. Granted my drive to this old office was a short 10 minutes a day so I was spoiled for that. After we moved our office, we were told there was only warehouse space in the  new place -  no office space which meant we were all going remote. My boss, knowing I was not a fan of working from home made an arrangement for me. Before I get to that and the purpose I want to say somethings about the blessings before this.

When I very first went remote it was the week before I was to go on vacation. Not a holiday vacation where I could dip my toes in the sand but I was going to take off to help out with my oldest two grandchildren while my daughter was giving birth to number three. It was on schedule to happen but we all know about babies – they come in their own sweet time. Well it turns out I went remote on Wednesday and my grandson was born on Friday. The blessing in all of this is that I went directly to my kids with my computer and set up. I remoted from their house.  The baby was not going to use his nursery for a good bit so we set up my desk in there. Several things made this so terrific for me… one because I was not at home. I was in a house full of people I love. We made an agreement with my grandchildren who are 6 & 3 that they could knock on my door and it I wasn’t horribly busy they could come in for a minute. Those little visits were such a delight. I LOVED it!! I was a fun distraction for my grands too so that was win-win. I went on vacation the following week and tried to help with the house things and watching the littles.  When I came back to work my boss told me he made an arrangement for me. One of our vendors who does lots of work for us had an extra office. He said I could use that. I said  YES!!

Now mind you this is a drive, about 30 minutes so much longer than my old commute. Also my car totally died and has major electrical issues so my sister is selling me her car which is a huge blessing but this one has a larger engine so it eats gas like nothing I’ve ever seen. Don’t get me wrong, I love the big engine – it goes when you push go… its just a gas hog. Anyway, I digress.

So I am here at my new place and the owner and I get along wonderfully. I’ve worked with him for a good while before coming over here. We got to talking one day and he mentioned that he believed in God, as the conversation went on he indicated that he didn’t go to Church. BOOM. My purpose in being here. Other than to keep me from being at home. After that conversation I knew that I knew that I knew… I’m supposed to witness to him. Now he isn’t the type that will stand here and let me “preach” and honestly that’s not my style. I do think thought that brief mentions in passing conversation will go far with him.

The hope is someday he will say – we need to find a church. That would be huge. I’ll pray for that. This is already a good man, he works hard and has provided a good stable home for his kids. He has lived through loosing a wife and having three teens to finish raising after she passed.

John 21: 4-13   NIV   4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. 6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. 7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.[c] 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

This talks about how Jesus brings abundance. This is the goal when fishing for actual fish and fishing for men. Bring them what you know is an abundance of good, joy, contentment, knowledge and peace. Oh I am not saying after you give your heart to Jesus that your life will be without issue, on the contrary. My favorite verse says you will indeed have trials. But it also says that these trials are testing of your faith they show you that having faith – that you can weather any storm as long as God is with you. He has your back. I can’t describe how that feels. I’m going to try though.

In my life I’ve experienced Loss, I’ve had hard times, I have had heartbreak, I’ve been in times of struggle physically, mentally and financially. During those times I’ve had to really press in to God and ask Him to be with me. Thankfully He is and always will be there, that’s how to describe it, He is always there – sigh of relief. This makes me think of a poem I have loved since I was a little girl. It has so much more meaning now that I found faith. It had good meaning before but now it just means so much more.

Footprints in the Sand

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each, I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints; other times there was only one.

During the low periods of my life I could see only one set of footprints, so I said, "You promised me, Lord, that you would walk with me always. Why, when I have needed you most, have you not been there for me?"

The Lord replied, "The times when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you."

He carried me. He has always carried me. I Am so thankful for that. Every day I am thankful for that.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Today – I say Thank You – for showing me another purpose to further Your kingdom. I also thank You so much for carrying me. I am so very grateful. In Jesus Name - AMEN