Skip to main content

Deep Water

The crowds wouldn't stop, they continually were drawn to the teaching and healing of this man. They pressed around him and seemed to find him wherever he went. Since Jesus was by a lake and saw the boats of the fisherman, it seemed a good idea to teach from the boat and maintain the audience on the shore. After he was done teaching, he said to Simon (one of the owners of the boat), "Let's push out to deep water to fish." Simon's response to Jesus was reluctant at best, "We've worked real hard all night and caught nothing, but because you ask, I'll try again." Off they went into the deep and there they put those same old nets down just like they had done so many times before. All at once, it was as if all the fish in the sea were captured because the nets began to break! They had to signal other boats to come and help! They filled two boats of fish, almost to the point of sinking! Who knew that such a thing could happen?

It's the last day of 2010, and in some ways I feel that I too must push out into deeper water. I have probably been reluctant because it's safer along the shore. Besides I think I have worked real hard on many things this year and have seemingly ended up with empty nets. Not every goal or hope ends at the year fulfilled. In some ways, things turn out the complete opposite of what I pray for. But once again I am reminded the outcome is not up to me. Jesus wants me to trust him, and just push on. Trust the deep waters, the uncertain times, because he's in the boat with me; I'm not alone. Let down those nets just one more time, let down my nets of self-control, and let His love and grace flow through me. . .

Happy New Year, 2011!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hummingbird Lessons

My eye caught a small round mound stuck upon a branch.  Looking closer, I found indeed it was the start of a hummingbird nest.  And yes, I now had the mother hummingbird buzzing around my head, reminding me that I was in her space.  I have been able to witness at least 3 other hummingbird families come to life, and I was always mesmerized by these "tiny vulnerabilities" becoming resilient birds in only a matter of five to six weeks.  The nest was right out my patio door, and I had the best view to watch them daily.  I was smiling. I had a hunch that babies would be coming soon, because our hummingbird feeder had been especially sucked dry only a few weeks earlier.  One day I found at least 4 hummingbirds at one time feeding, which is highly unusual because most times they come one at a time and don't seem to want to share the space.  If they would share, it was two only at a the bar and of course on opposite sides.  I was filling that feeder at le...
Post a Comment
Read more

Awe

  The thunder resounded with a loud clap! Certainly, it came as an afternoon surprise.  The expected rain seemed less than what was forecasted, but with the thunder came a bucket of heavy raindrops splashing against my kitchen window.  I wanted to take it all in, the fresh aroma of falling rain and the beauty of water drops hitting the leaves of my nasturtium and petunia hanging baskets.  Unfortunately, the rain cloud quickly fled, running away into the eastern sky.  But then the sun made its way onto the scene, and I was drawn to a thick band of rainbow colors shining up at me.  The western sky was magnificently orange, completely bound up tight with that solo color scheme.  I went outside to catch it all before it would disappear.  Creation again was causing me to pause in awe and wonder. . . Awe is that reverential wonder, that even includes fear and respect.  It is only a 3 letter word, but it takes bigger and grander words to define it....
Post a Comment
Read more

Complicated Relationship Living

Today is Mom's birthday.  If she were here,  we would be celebrating her 109th day of life.  I can't believe that it has already been 20 years since she said goodbye to earthly living.   I was much too young back then, at the age of 45, to lose my Mom.  You always long for at least one more conversation to ask the questions you didn't get a chance to do.  You often wished you would have had more talks, especially as you find yourself on a different side of life, other wise known as the senior years. As parents we always desire to keep our family ties together and close, but it doesn't always work out that way.  When our  parents were still living, and as they grew more elderly, they of course were the bond that brought my brothers and myself together.  As adult children, we each had a unique relationship to them, but I am realizing now, that we didn't necessarily have a tie with one another.  We were children of the nuclear family, ...
Post a Comment
Read more