I saw a man at the beach this morning, fishing in the ocean. He was up to his waist in the water and as each wave would break he would throw out his net. I watched him for quite some time...casting the net, casting the net, casting the net. I never saw him actually catch anything but there he stood with the waves crashing into him, faithfully throwing a net the size of a bed sheet into the ocean over and over again. I was struck by the simpilicity of his task and wondered what he must be thinking. Miles of beach stretched out on each side, ocean as far as you can see and he was the only one out fishing. Does he get discouraged? Does he think, "what's the point?" Is he constantly looking around and thinking "that spot looks better" or "maybe I could catch more over there?" I must admit, I would probably be thinking those things. As I watched him and wondered I sensed the Lord saying "fish where you are set". Just as this man was doing, faithfully fishing in the spot where he was set.
Today this is my prayer for our ministry, for Back2Back Mazatlan, that we will fish where we are set. With a new site and lots of unknowns it is easy to get distracted by all the possibilities. It is easy to be constantly looking around thinking "what about over there? or maybe there? should we rent that house? buy that property? are there more childrens homes? maybe that neighborhood would be better?" It is even easier to be thinking "we need bigger nets, better nets, more fisherman etc." But the Lord has laid this scene heavily on my heart, that we would fish where we are set, with what we have... just like that man at the beach. That we would use the nets and fishermen He has already provided. That we would get off the safety of the beach and into the surf and faithfully cast the nets, cast the nets, cast the nets. That while the 163 million orphans in the world can feel like an ocean to us, He has called us to go after these, here in Mazatlan, where He has set us.
Lord, lead our ministry to the place you have already set for us here in Mazatlan. Give us the courage and the faith to get into the surf and cast your nets and cast your nets and cast your nets until you tell us to move! May all the glory go to You, Amen!!
2 comments:
Blessings Lail family! Just want to encourage you - those fish are coming! Remember when Jesus told Simon to cast his net one more time in ths same spot he had fished all night long and didn't catch anything and how that time his net was so full it almost sunk the boat? The difference was God's timing and the faithful obedience of Simon. So keep fighting the good fight of faith!
Praying and trusting the Lord in his timing, also knowing that he has entrusted you with this net to catch all those little fish in need! Keep going strong!
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