"STOP MENDING THE NETS…GET THE BOAT BACK INTO THE WATER"

Luke 5
1And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
2And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
3And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
4Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

THE SCRIPTURE REMINDS US IN ECCLESIASTES 3:1, THAT, “TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON, AND A TIME TO EVERY PURPOSE UNDER THE HEAVEN”.

THERE IS A SEASON, FOR MOST EVERYTHING IN THIS LIFE, AND AS MUCH AS WE WOULD PREFER TO STAY IN THE SEASON WE HAVE FOUND TO LOVE, WE KNOW, THAT EVENTUALLY, SUMMER WILL CHANGE INTO FALL.

AS JESUS WAS STANDING BY THE LAKE, BEING SURROUNDED BY THE MASSES OF PEOPLE WITH NEEDS, HE BECAME AWARE OF TWO SHIPS, THAT WERE ANCHORED BY THE SHORE, THE FISHERMAN WERE GONE OUT OF THEM, AND THEY WERE WASHING THEIR NETS.

THE MENDING & WASHING OF THE NETS WAS SOMETHING THAT HAD TO BE DONE FROM TIME TO TIME, BUT IT COULD NOT BECOME THE PRIMARY FOCUS. WHAT JESUS NOTICED, IS THAT THE SHIPS HAD BECOME IDLE.
TRAINING, EQUIPPING AND EMPOWERING ARE IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF REVIVAL, BUT IF WE NEVER GET OFF OF THE BEACH, WE WILL NEVER REACH THE POTENTIAL HARVEST THAT LAY BEFORE US.

IT IS IN THE BOAT, AND IN THE ENVIRONMENT THAT THE BOAT WAS MEANT TO BE IN, “THE DEEP” WHERE THE REAL REWARD LIES! THERE WAS NO REVENUE, NO HARVEST, NO ADDED VALUE IN BEING ANCHORED TO THE SHORE.

LEAVING THE DEEP, LEAVING THE SHIPS, SETTING UP ON SHORE, REMOVED THE FISHERMAN FROM THEIR VERY LIVELIHOOD, FROM THE VERY THING THAT SUSTAINED THEM.

WE MUST TAKE THE TIME TO REPAIR OUR BUILDINGS, UPDATE OUR DECOR , REFINE AND REVISIT OUR STRATEGIES, BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING, THE SHIP MUST REMAIN IN THE WATER! THE CHURCH CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE IT’S “FISHERS OF MEN”, STAYING ON SHORE FOR VERY LONG, MENDING THE NETS, FOR THE HARVEST IS TRULY GREAT!

MAY WE BE EVER MINDFUL OF THE COMMAND THAT JESUS GAVE TO SIMON, IN LUKE 5:4 “…Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.”

EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE BEEN THERE BEFORE, WE MUST LAUNCH OUR SHIPS AGAIN! IN OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD OF GOD, WE BELIEVE THAT “HIS” PURPOSE WILL BE FULFILLED, AND THAT OUR NETS WILL BE FILLED!
Luke 5:6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes…

My Daily Horror Scope

My Daily Horror Scope, yes, it is a play on words. For many people, posting and reading a "Daily Horoscope" is part of their daily routine.

Horoscope is defined as: An astrological forecast, as of a person's future, based on a diagram of the aspect of the planets and stars at a given moment. Taken from the Greek, meaning "hour or season".

But what about the New Testament believer? Should one partake in the reading and posting of horoscopes? While it may be hip, or the in thing, does it speak well of our testimony? In listening and reading of those who do follow a computer generated "life forecast", (as i would call it), many often end in "horror". Many people make rash daily decisions based on their sign, or the opinion of a Godless prophet.

Decisions concerning relationships, jobs, investments, and our future as Believers, should be done with The Counselor! For he holds all wisdom. Revelation 19:6 ...for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth!

The Chaldeans answered the king, and said, "There is not a man on earth who can tell the king's matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean." (Daniel 2:10)

We are strangers and pilgrims on this earth, but what an awesome life map we have been given, the Bible, coupled with the Spirit of God!

This is what the LORD says: "Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the sky, though the nations are terrified by them." (Jeremiah 10:2)

When God's people see signs, in the sky, it is a hope for us, for we know our redeemer is soon to come, and we will be caught up to meet him in the air!

Learning Contentment

Christmas Is officially over (in a Holiday sense), and the excitement & the thrill that we felt as we opened the carefully wrapped gifts, has quickly evaporated.  Man becomes easily disillusioned & disenchanted with things, and without the fullness of the Spirit of Christ, we are not content.  The Apostle Paul, "learned" contentment.  Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 
Contentment:  Satisfied, having ease of mind.  As believers, we're never to old to learn!

"A Recipient of God's Blessings"

While working the back 40 this past week (mowing my yard), i began to think about the Bible Study i was preparing, concerning being "A Recipient of God's Blessings". Mowing is good therapy for me, and a time where i can meditate, without a lot of interuptions. As i began to think about being blessed of God, i prayed God would show me through His Word, how people recieved blessings. Words like blessing and favor have become religeous household terms. They are tossed around so loosly, that many Church goers believe blessings from God, belong to them, often times without any investment on their part. Most of us desire the blessings of God, and long for them to be visible in our lives. I have seen many good people struggle throught life, dealing with one setback after another, while others seem to live a life where blessings and being blessed are a natural part of there lives. Sometimes we are looking for the explosive, the extra orinary, blessings to somehow fall from the sky! I too, like many others, have found a twenty dollar bill before on the ground when i really needed it, but as a rule, i do not believe that this is God's method of blessing His people. Throughout scripture, i read of The Lord blessing His creation, His people, their land and the efforts of people. But what i gleaned from most of the accounts relating to recieving or being blessed, is that most often the blessings from God, were recieved from other people, through relationships! Even non believers are blessed, by having relationships with God's people. In Genesis 30:27, Jacob makes his greedy Father in law, aware of his intentions to take his family and go his own way. Laban's response reveals to us how that he was a recipient of God's blessings, because of Jacob, and Jacob's God! "And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if i have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for i have learned by experience the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake." Has someone ever tried to bless you, and you rejected them because of who they were? Just because they are not believer, does not mean they were not sent by God to bless you! Your being a blessing to someone must start with a personal relationship. We have experienced the blessings of God, from people who have never attended a Church Service, but watched our relationship, and our giving to their family, and in return have been a great blessing to us in time of need. From the sacrifice on our part, in giving of our time, and resources, a relationship was established with extended family, and in our time of need, God allowed us to be blessed by them! We would have never received the financial support that has continued for a number of years, if we first had not made some sacrifices, given, and then built a relationship with the family. In 1Kings 15, we find that God allowed the reign of Abijah to continue, even with him committing all the sins of his father, even though his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, "nevertheless, for David's sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem...". David's relationship with God, allowed a future King to be blessed. Keep giving, keep building relationships, God will take care of you in time of need, you will be a "Recipient of God's Blessings"!

Balance Without Compromise

The ability to balance oneself, takes paitence, and practice. Have you have ever tried hopping on one foot? When you are unable to balance yourself, there is a tendancy to move rapidly in one direction or another, possibly injuring yourself, or causing damage to something nearby. Our first instinct when failing to balance ourselves, is to compromise the balancing act and reach for something nearby, to the right or to the left, righting ourselves, and hopefully steady ourselves without sustaining an injury. The balancing act of a believer is not always an easy task to undertake. We seemed to be pulled and influenced from all directions. I do not write as one who has it all figured, but understand by looking at the life of Jesus, that He understood balance. In the New Testament, it was Jesus, who taught us to pray, to fast, to seek the will of the Father, but He also taught us how to have a balanced life, and He was able to do it without compromising His mission. Jesus ministered to the masses, but more intimately, He impacted the lives of individuals! He was a guest at the house of Zacchhaeus in (Luke 19), and it did not sit well with those that were observing the ministry of Jesus. Jesus was eating dinner with a Sinner! But Jesus, had the ability to socialize, have dinner with Zacchaeus, and obviously minister to him in a way, that would change the heart of Zacchaeus, without compromising who He was or His mission. In Mark 2, Jesus is again seen eating with "publicans and sinners", and the scribes are appalled at his blatant disregard for proper religeous etiquette! What a great teacher Jesus was, who taught by example, and then reminded us, that while we are in the world, we are not of the world. We can reach our world without compromising truth! When you feel like you are losing your balance, steady yourself by "reaching for the rock and not the cactus" (an oriiginal thought lol), it's a lot less painful! When our unchurched friends and aquaintences leave the dinner table, they should have a unexplainable desire to compromise their positions, not cause us to compromise ours. We can reach our world, one person at a time, with God's help. Jesus' parting comment to Zacchaeus was that He came "to seek and to save that which was lost"(Luke 19:10) The Apostle Paul reminds of us of our obligation with balance, in I Corinthians 9:22 "To the weak, became i as weak, that i might gain the weak: i am made all things to all men, that i might by all means, save some. Go ahead and Hop!

It's Ok To Be Human

Many have the notion, that as a Spirit Filled Believer, it is expected of you to always remain on the mountain top, full of joy, peace, tranquility, totally free from the pressures of our Humanity. The Word of God is full of wonderful scriptures, parables and principles, that are there to help lift us up in times of difficulty. But i believe that many believers have been taught that they are not allowed to ever subject themselves to the human emotions that they begin to feel at certain times in their lives. God has placed within us, mechanism's that are beneficial to our survival as human beings. Yes we walk by faith and not by sight, yes we must believe that God can bring us out of our troubles, but when we find ourselves in times of difficulty, it is ok to be human! In St. John 11:33, we find Jesus, somewhere between the cemetary and Mary's home, and Mary runs to meet him. After he heard the distress in Mary's cry, her complaint, saw her tears, the Bible states that " He groaned in the spirit and was troubled". In verse 35" Jesus wept" Again, as Jesus approached the tomb of Lazarus, His friend, he "again groaning within himself cometh to the grave". His humanity was in pain, and he expressed that pain, not only within, but he let it flow out in a very public fashion as well. We are not super hero's! We all will experience the times and the season's of this life that has been allotted us. Laughter, tears, joy and sorrow will eventually come to all of our lives. Not everyone is a "Drama Queen", an over reactor, or weak, or a complainer. Sometimes we are just human beings, expressing our pain. It is the job of believers not to destroy, but as James penned, "...pray one for another, that ye may be healed" James 5:16

It Is Well With My Soul

It seems that no matter how old we get, there is a desire within most of us, to be at peace with those around us. We desire to love, and to be loved. We want to be understood, respected, to be liked, to fit in, and to have our aquaintences eventually become our friends. But while all of that looks good on paper, we realize at the end of the day, that not everybody likes us, or approves of our way of doing things. Our personalities may not be able to co-exist, we may not fit into their agenda. It is in those areas of our relationships, that we can become restless, and often do not have peace, become frustrated, even fearful, and waste the few days that we have on this earth, unfulfilled, because things are"not well". While things may not be exactly as we would like, and life may not be perfect, it is important that things be well with our soul! In Psalms 107, the Psalmist begins to describe the life of the Children of Israel. Verse 4 "They wandered in the the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in." Much like the Children of Israel, people are wandering, alone, having no place to call home. Verse 5 "Hungry and thirsty, their soul cried unot the Lord in time of trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses." People are hungry for relationships, they thirst for someone to hear them! Verse 9 "For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness." Thanks be to God, that he is unlike all others! Our soul can be at peace! We do not have to be afraid of, will he love me, understand me, listen to me, care for me, because he is like no other! 1John 4:18 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in Love." I am glad that he does not torment us, hold us at arm's length, and we are able to breathe a sigh of relief, and say, "it is well with my soul"