Yes, of course, there's that, the benign tumor that only seems to want to act up in seizures these days. But the laying-on of hands and prayer 6 weeks ago, in combination with starting a different medication have brought me back to the closest to normal I've been in a long time. Months of nausea, fuzzy head, and working so very hard to focus on the task in front of me to stay clear despite the blasting of music seizures providing jarring background music. It's actually silent now. How peaceful.
This economy is rather good at narrowing some choices for me:
- Trip to Paris? Not this week
- Spring wardrobe? Are you kidding?
- Groceries? Much more carefully than a year ago
Last night, I heard a speaker refer to the passage in Luke about the disciples fishing all night, catching nothing, but at Jesus' command throwing out their nets one more time, only to be so overloaded that their nets were breaking. One of his takeaways was, "God does give a rip about your finances." Like duh!
Jesus got into the boat with Peter. He couldn't miss how beaten down and exhausted these guys were after a night of working their hearts out for NOTHING. But he asked them to trust him. He wasn't really asking about the nets or the fish.
It was all about trust. Will I put my net down again? Well, WHO is asking the question?
Those of us who have done everything right, who had investments, paid our mortgages on time, kept our credit good--we're the ones who get no help from the government bailout. People I didn't know made decisions affecting the stock market which have affected my portfolio, and therefore, my life for a lot of years.
I was recently reminded not to look at what I used to have, but what I still do have. I think too many times, my resources are sitting like the fish in Peter's ocean, waiting for me to put my nets back in.
First, I have to recognize the full extent of what I have. That attitude of gratidude platitude has become worn out because being grateful works. Everything I need is in my ocean if I put my net down, or Jesus will provide what is missing. We've seen how well he provides!
Like Peter, how can I not be humbled by my own unworthiness to receive God's gifts? How also can I do anything but be awestruck and thankful when I see how generously he gives them?
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon (Peter), and asked him to put out a little from shore....When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."
Simon answered, "Master, we're worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."
When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break...
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken....
So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. Luke 5:1-11
Wow! What a deep drink from the well. I needed to hear that blog. How often we get so busy in our heads that we forget to listen? And how often do we think we have to fix it when we could turn it over to the One who is far more trustworthy than we could ever be? Furthermore, how important it is to put our nets down. We have what we already need. Wow! Thank you, E. I needed that!
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