Happy Father’s Day Has there ever been a better time to go Fishing?
With the current state of madness in the world, one of the few places a person can escape to find peace is sitting on the water with a fishing pole in your hand. Fishing has always been my calm place. No matter how cold, hot, early or late, I love to go fishing. Catching fish is just a bonus, taking in the beauty of God’s creation is enough to go again!
As Father’s Day approaches, I remember who passed on his love for fishing to me. I was often hung up or trying to steal his good spot, but dad still took me with him. Dad is in heaven with Jesus today and mom gave me all of his fishing gear, so every time I go fishing fond memories of dad flood my mind. I also love to go fishing to spend time with my heavenly Father. Sometimes I go by myself and spend the day worshiping, speaking to, and soaking in His Mighty Presence.
On Father’s Day 2020, I dedicate this Blog Post to my dad, my Heavenly Father, and to all the other fathers that God has used to impact my life.
FISHING, THE WIND, & THE LIVE SCOPE
Wind is a very powerful force, especially when on water. If you disagree, next time there is a storm approaching, get in a boat and head out into the deep. You find out very quickly that you have very little control. Yet, even the wind and waves obeyed Jesus. Jesus slept in the storm, because the world He lives in has no storms. He is inviting us into His world and Kingdom daily.
There are two types of wind. Winds of adversity and the wind of The Holy Spirit. There is no more powerful source of strength and favor on earth than the wind of the Holy Spirit, yet most fail to realize He is available and free for you to use daily! How many of us position our sails to allow the Holy Spirit to take us where God desires us to go? Sadly, we often focus on adjusting our sails to seek our own glory, fame, and riches. We even take our oars and row against The Holy Spirit in search of our selfish desires.
It is hard for us to grasp, but sometimes The Holy Spirit takes us into the wilderness or through a valley to prepare us for greater things God has planned. At other times, the winds of adversity shows up that have nothing to do with The Holy Spirit, but when we call on Jesus Name, The Holy Spirit blows in and changes the situation and winds in your favor.
Whether you are walking with God through a trial or in His favor, the destination is intended to be the same place! God excels at making a way where there seems to be none. Satan leads us to cliffs, God transforms them to valleys, All we have to do is follow the Wind of The Holy Spirit as He guides us through the valley. Jesus commands us to speak to a mountain and it will fall into the sea. All it takes is faith. Watch as a mountain becomes a stepping stone in your life. Just keep walking forward following Jesus in faith.
A body of water, whether it is a sea, a lake or a river, is just a valley covered by water. Jesus invites us, as he invited Peter, to walk on water with Him., but Peter asked, Lord if it is you, let me come to you. Have you asked Jesus for a miracle like waling on water lately? Jesus said to ask in His Name and it SHALL.
How do we learn to set our sails so to capture God’s wind and favor? How can we continue in God’s favor? How can we honor and glorify Him instead of allowing the wake of our selfish boats to have a negative impact on those around us. How can we fish for men like Jesus commanded? Jesus used a Live Scope way before Garman invented the latest fishing toy. Jesus knows every move we make and why.
How often do you see those who God has given favor and talent, misuse it and change their course for their own selfish desires? The smallest of adjustment to your sails can have a drastic and significant impact on your final destination. The right guide or electronics can completely change your fishing ability. Just ask Peter, James, and John. Cast your nets on the other side, completely changed everything.
“God has highly favored you Solomon because of his love for Israel.” God gave Solomon favor for the people around him! A quote from the Queen of Sheba to Solomon. Yet Solomon, who was favored mightily by God, chose to realign his sails for his own desires at times.
Lately because COVID-19 cancelled many of my camps for the summer. I have fished more than usual. I have a small fishing scamp and a small trolling motor. I am very thankful for this boat and I know many would love to have this watercraft to go fishing. However on multiple occasions, I have found myself nearly in over my head. Finding yourself being thrown around by the wind or stranded without power in a big lake can be terrifying and dangerous.
Twice I have been rescued by bigger more powerful boats when my trolling motor or battery failed and I could no longer overcome the winds. I believe with all my heart God sent boats my way with gracious people that offered to pull me to safety. I have no problem admitting that in my desire to catch fish, I took too big of risk in my small boat adventuring onto large lakes knowing dangerous winds where waiting for me.
I could pray like Jabez for God to increase the size of my boat and my motor so that I could handle the waves and wind, but at this point, I am very thankful and happy with the scamp God has blessed me with. So I will continue to put my faith in God and trust that as long as I am seeking Him, He will always provide a way when danger arises. Why? Because He always has and He says He always will.
I don’t see God in the size of the boat He provided me. I see God in His faithfulness to take any boat, no matter the size, and still take that boat places only God can take it. How many times in the Bible did God use the least likely people to do extraordinary things?
Some people’s problem is their boat is too big and they don’t have the ability to control or power it. Some people don’t think they need God to make it through the stormy waters, they depend solely on their boat and their electronics. Often I can position my scamp in creeks or near docks or in shallow water to fish where a big boat cannot reach. Nothing is wrong with having a nice big powerful boat. Just imagine what God can do if you only give Him control of what He has given you.
We must realize that God has given us the perfect equipment to be a good fisherman. In a perfect world a Live Scope will show you exactly where the fish are. You can have the perfect size boat and motor to overcome the waves and wind. You can even have a GPS locking trolling motor that will automatically keep your boat positioned right above the fishing hole, no matter the wind and waves, giving you every chance possible to catch fish.
Do you have your sails set to catch the wind of the Holy Spirit or are you doing everything you can to chase your own dreams and pleasures?
Some think that if they set their sails to do God’s will over their own, they are giving up great things. This lie has been proven wrong over and over again. Choosing to follow Jesus brings an unconditional love, a pure joy, an uncommon peace, and unexplainable favor that is worth choosing over and over again. Even when going through, or should I say especially when going through, a storm, this decision will payoff time and time again as God sends someone or even an angel or an army of angels to rescue you and keep you safe. In the end only God’s Live Scope will matter.
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY TO YOU!