by Sandra Julian Barker It's time for some joyful thoughts. Seeing a beautiful butterfly sitting on an equally beautiful flower -- now that's something that brings a smile to my face. This lovely little guy (or maybe it's a gal, who knows?) was busy around the butterfly bush in my backyard when I managed to snap a pic of him. He wasn't still for long, constantly flitting from one flower to the next, busy about the work God created him to do. What amazing color and design and delicate detail God fashioned in this unique butterfly.
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by Marjorie Wingert When Jesus first met his disciple, Simon Peter, Christ called him to obedience. Peter had just returned from an unsuccessful night of fishing. Imagine his surprise when Jesus climbed into his boat and asked him to row into shallow water. There, Jesus taught while the people listened from shore. Once Jesus finished speaking, He instructed Peter to go fishing. Peter was faced with a choice. Should he do what he had been asked? Or would he refuse? After all, Peter had just returned from fishing. He had been out all night and was tired with nothing to show for his labors. Peter may not have felt like doing what Jesus asked but Peter chose to trust and obey. by Donna Polverari Luke 5: Now, go out a little deeper and let your nets down to catch some fish. Do you ever feel like your efforts are failing no matter how hard you try, and it is not looking like there is any fruit or success on the horizon? In this scene, Peter is feeling defeated because he is a skilled fisherman, yet he can’t catch one lousy fish. Jesus tells him to go out deeper. He listened and the blessing for provision came. Jesus was showing him how much he needed his Lord and doing things his way in his own strength would not work. When Jesus said go out deeper, he wanted Peter’s full trust in their relationship. He would need to trust completely with his whole heart and be willing to change because the work would be done God’s way—not his. God had bigger, greater plans for Peter as a leader, and he would have to open his eyes to what was not working for him. It was all about complete surrender. God also encouraged me with another man’s story that needed to trust God and had the odds against him. Bo Eason, was a former NFL football player that played safety for the Houston Oilers. The eight-year boy had a dream to play in the NFL, and it was a nearly impossible dream. |