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&
Brooksyne Weber
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Tuesday, April
18, 2023
Pond along Meadow View Road
(Photo by Ester, click to enlarge)
"A
Fishing Story
(Part 2)"
Message
summary:
Let us, like
the disciples
in today's
story, obey
the voice of
the Lord when
He speaks to
us.
Our attitude
should be,
"I'll follow
You anywhere,
wherever You
lead me,
whatever it
costs me, all
I want is
You".
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
“So they
went out and
got into the
boat, but that
night they
caught
nothing. Early
in the
morning, Jesus
stood on the
shore, but the
disciples did
not realize
that it was
Jesus. He
called out to
them,
'Friends,
haven’t you
any fish?'
'No', they
answered. He
said, 'Throw
your net on
the right side
of the boat
and you will
find some'.
When they did,
they were
unable to haul
the net in
because of the
large number
of fish" (John
21:3-6).
Today, cameras are everywhere. A study from 2020 wrote this, "It seems no matter where we go throughout the day, there’s a camera close by. While passing by a security camera may not shock many people, a new study finds the average person is being filmed more often than they think. From walking the dog to driving into work, researchers say Americans are being caught on security cameras at least 238 times every week." Most people have cell phones that include the ubiquitous phone camera. We’re accustomed to seeing scores of people at any large event snapping photos or videotaping.
Today, cameras are everywhere. A study from 2020 wrote this, "It seems no matter where we go throughout the day, there’s a camera close by. While passing by a security camera may not shock many people, a new study finds the average person is being filmed more often than they think. From walking the dog to driving into work, researchers say Americans are being caught on security cameras at least 238 times every week." Most people have cell phones that include the ubiquitous phone camera. We’re accustomed to seeing scores of people at any large event snapping photos or videotaping.
Fishermen
have long
enjoyed taking
photos of
their prized
fish catch. In
fact if you
google the
phrase “man
holding fish”
you will get
129,000,000
photos in the
image search!
The
photo to the
left shows our
friend Rick
Steudler
holding a
Palomino Trout
he caught in
Pine Creek in
northern
Pennsylvania.
When I ran
into him he
"just
happened" to
be carrying a
photo in his
front pocket
ready to
share!
I
enjoyed
fishing when I
was younger
but I need to
be reeling
them in pretty
regularly to
enjoy the
experience.
Problem is, I
was never very
good at
getting them
to bite so
it’s extremely
rare that I go
fishing. The
photo to the
right shows me
holding a
striped bass
caught in
Chesapeake
Bay. It really
is much larger
than it looks!Today
we continue
the fish story
we began in yesterday's
message
that took
place after
Christ's
resurrection
when some of
the disciples
went fishing.
The
disciples had
fished all
night and
caught
nothing. Anyone
who’s ever
been on a
fishing
expedition
knows the
frustration
that Peter and
the other six
disciples must
have felt in
our daily text
after fishing
all night and
catching
nothing.
Christ
saw
them from the
shore and
called out, 'Friends,
haven’t you
any fish?'
'No', they
answered. Of
course the
resurrected
Lord knew they
had a long,
dismal, and unproductive
night!
Jesus had some specific fishing advice for the disciples even though at this point they did not recognize it was Him calling out. “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” This advice didn’t make much sense. Surely they had plied the waters through the night and fished from both sides of the boat. I just wonder if Peter had recalled an earlier occasion when the Master had some fishing advice.*
But this time Peter didn’t hesitate, and catch fish they did! “It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn". Perhaps there was a count given after every fishing trip along with the poundage so that fish could be sold at the market. If only cameras were available at that time we could look at the photos of this fishing story as the grinning disciples snapped photos of each other and the bulging net with fish of all sizes, shapes, colors and patterns.
Let me issue a spiritual lesson and fresh challenge to our readers today. Let us, like these disciples, obey the voice of the Lord when He speaks to us, instead of arguing, “It didn’t work before!” or “That’s not what the experts in fishing recommend!” or any of hundreds of other excuses for disobedience.
Jesus had some specific fishing advice for the disciples even though at this point they did not recognize it was Him calling out. “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” This advice didn’t make much sense. Surely they had plied the waters through the night and fished from both sides of the boat. I just wonder if Peter had recalled an earlier occasion when the Master had some fishing advice.*
But this time Peter didn’t hesitate, and catch fish they did! “It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn". Perhaps there was a count given after every fishing trip along with the poundage so that fish could be sold at the market. If only cameras were available at that time we could look at the photos of this fishing story as the grinning disciples snapped photos of each other and the bulging net with fish of all sizes, shapes, colors and patterns.
Let me issue a spiritual lesson and fresh challenge to our readers today. Let us, like these disciples, obey the voice of the Lord when He speaks to us, instead of arguing, “It didn’t work before!” or “That’s not what the experts in fishing recommend!” or any of hundreds of other excuses for disobedience.
Rather,
our attitude
should be,
"I'll follow
You anywhere,
wherever You
lead me,
whatever it
costs me, all
I want is
You".
Stephen
and Brooksyne
Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, You
awakened me
one night with
the thought,
"Ponder anew
what the
Almighty can
do" from the
classic hymn,
"Praise to the
Lord, the
Almighty". A
strong sense
of Your Spirit
was upon me
and it brought
me to my knees
in prayer.
There are so
many ways that
You show us
what You can
do through
Your teaching,
Your healing,
Your
companionship,
Your
provision,
Your guidance,
and Your
everlasting
hope and
faithfulness.
I pray that
You would
revive the
hearts of our
readers today
as they ponder
anew Your
mighty works,
Your
miraculous
ways and
follow Your
leading in the
big and small
stuff of life.
Just as the
angel told
your servant
Mary, “Nothing
is impossible
with God” who
are we to
limit Your
power, wisdom
or provision.
Help us not to
limit Your
power by our
disobedient
attitude or
actions.
We want to
fully trust
You to guide
us
accordingly.
Amen.* Several years earlier during His earthly ministry Jesus had been teaching from Peter’s boat and when He had finished speaking, He said to Peter, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch” (v.4). (This account is found in Luke 5:1-11). Similar to today's post-resurrection account Peter and his friends had worked all night with no success. They were likely now weary from the long night and the morning of teaching. They didn’t want to go out again and Peter forthrightly expresses his feelings, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything". But he added, “But because you say so, I will let down the nets". Do you recall what happened next? “When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break! So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink".
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental
Resources
"Follow
You Anywhere"
Click
to listen on
YouTube
Calvary
Church closing
song from this
last Lord's
Day, includes
Pastor's
prayer.
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In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world.
To
donate
directly
online
click here.
(This will
open to a page
that
designates the
offering
to: STEPHEN
&
BROOKSYNE
WEBER -
700001-237376 SERVING
IN SPECIALIZED
CHAPLAINCY)
If
you desire you
can also
donate
directly
through PayPal
using this link.
This will open
to a page that
states
"Brooksyne
Weber". We
keep this
option
available due
to the
familiarity,
convenience,
for
international
supporters,
and for those
who may not
need an
official
receipt. You
can also set
up for
recurring
donations.
Thank
you,
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
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radioPermissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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