I don't know much about fishing. I've only been fishing maybe once or twice in my life, when I was young, with my Dad and twin sister. It's not that I don't like fishing, its more that the opportunity and the desire never coincided since then! However, for some reason, while I was reading the boys Children's Bible to them one night, the part where Jesus says that He will make Peter and Andrew "fishers of men", caught my eye. More specifically, the part where Jesus tells them to throw out their nets even though they have caught NOTHING ALL NIGHT. Now, I don't know about you, but if I had been casting nets all night and had caught nothing but rocks and seaweed, not only would I just want to cry, I'd certainly not be anxious to try one last time, no matter who asked me to.
But under His request, they do what they had done all night. And lo and behold, a catch for the record books. A catch like none of them had ever seen in their lives.
When we are obedient to our Lord, He can do amazing things!
And sometimes, most times, if we are honest, when this happens, it humbles us. Peter asked Jesus to "depart from him" after the huge catch of fish was hauled into the sinking boats. He fell to his knees, acknowledging that he was a "sinful man" . He was staggered in the presence of a God who makes the impossible, possible. He was overwhelmed by his own unworthiness. I've felt that way so very many times myself.
And yet, He allows us to become "fishermen" for Him. God gives us the precious message of reconciliation, and asks us to cast out our nets with it. He lets us, weak and fallible as we are, be the ones to take His message to a lost and hurting world. Are we being faithful to do that? Are we drawing others in with His love and forgiveness? May we submit to His guidance, let us cast out our nets, and trust Him for the "catch".
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Friday, March 2, 2012
Matthew 19:26
If you haven't looked it up already, then let me tell you what the title of this blog refers to. Matthew 19:26 is a passage that most of us Christians know by heart although we may not know the address, "Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'"
I'll just come right out and say it! God did it! It seemed impossible to have this happen in one month, but in response to your prayers, many people listened and rose to the challenge and God got us to 50% supported!! I can not even begin to describe the whirlwind of a month February has been and it all belongs to God. We were amazed and blown away and our hearts were melted as one by one, our friends and even people we had not previously met, stepped up to the challenge placed before us, to be at 50% by the end of the month. Some of you reading this followed along with us, as we kept you updated on our progress. You watched that "$1000 a month" number drop and drop, as February rolled by.
We have been very touched by your love and generosity and so blessed by all of you who have been a part of God confirming to us that Echo Ranch is where He wants us to be!
It is not time to relax yet though. Amber and I still have an additional $1700/month that we need to have God raise before we can actually head back to Alaska. That amount would put us at 80% so that we can actually move to the Juneau area and be available for the year-round ministry of Echo Ranch. It is so crucial that we be able to be there full-time, so we can continue to minister to the staff of camp as well as participate in follow-up events for the campers.
So even as we rejoice in God meeting this challenge, keep praying that He will meet the next. We would like to be at 80% as close to early April as possible, as we will be driving up to Alaska this time and it will take a little longer to get there with the twins. Echo Ranch opens up in mid to late April and we need to be there for the Spring retreat season. So please, continue praying with us to meet this goal of an additional $1700 in new monthly partnerships and continue seeking if the Lord would have you join us in this ministry!
Again, thank you to all who have made it possible for us to get this far already, we love and appreciate you all!
Josh
I'll just come right out and say it! God did it! It seemed impossible to have this happen in one month, but in response to your prayers, many people listened and rose to the challenge and God got us to 50% supported!! I can not even begin to describe the whirlwind of a month February has been and it all belongs to God. We were amazed and blown away and our hearts were melted as one by one, our friends and even people we had not previously met, stepped up to the challenge placed before us, to be at 50% by the end of the month. Some of you reading this followed along with us, as we kept you updated on our progress. You watched that "$1000 a month" number drop and drop, as February rolled by.
We have been very touched by your love and generosity and so blessed by all of you who have been a part of God confirming to us that Echo Ranch is where He wants us to be!
It is not time to relax yet though. Amber and I still have an additional $1700/month that we need to have God raise before we can actually head back to Alaska. That amount would put us at 80% so that we can actually move to the Juneau area and be available for the year-round ministry of Echo Ranch. It is so crucial that we be able to be there full-time, so we can continue to minister to the staff of camp as well as participate in follow-up events for the campers.
So even as we rejoice in God meeting this challenge, keep praying that He will meet the next. We would like to be at 80% as close to early April as possible, as we will be driving up to Alaska this time and it will take a little longer to get there with the twins. Echo Ranch opens up in mid to late April and we need to be there for the Spring retreat season. So please, continue praying with us to meet this goal of an additional $1700 in new monthly partnerships and continue seeking if the Lord would have you join us in this ministry!
Again, thank you to all who have made it possible for us to get this far already, we love and appreciate you all!
Josh
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