This past weekend, the Fender’s and the Lee’s met “at” vacation. No we did not “go” on vacation. We met “at” vacation. Vacation is my parents’ house down in Blounts Creek on Blounts Bay. It is always very nice to get away to their house. The food is delicious, the view is marvelous, and the company is spot on! It was a very nice weekend.

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Who wouldn’t want to go to vacation?

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Meet Sara – God has big plans for her!! I just know it.

Before getting there, we stopped along the way at Wal-Mart to pick up a fishing license for Justin and decided to buy all the kids fishing poles (what were we thinking?) After a few lessons in hook safety and casting how to’s… they were ready!

Now, my youngest, Sara, is 4. Sara is a lot like me in that she has a strong will and a dynamic personality….and she was determined to catch a fish! She spent most of the day Saturday throwing that hook into the water with no luck, but she was not deterred. Sunday morning after breakfast she was back at it again. Before long a rush of excitement entered the living room as it was exclaimed…”Sara caught a flounder!”…and off we went to check it out. And sure enough…there it was…but there was also the story…
Mommy! (said in her loudest voice), Uncle Jesse threw in the hook (insert “Sara hands” here along with the look..wink wink) and then gave it to me and I was trying to reel in the hook but it was STUCK! So, Uncle Jesse came to help me and when he checked – there was a fish on there! Uncle Jesse helped me get it in…it’s slimy and I don’t want to touch it…but I caught a flounder!” How exciting!!

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Sara, Uncle Jesse, and the flounder!

But what does this have to do with anything?
Well you see, after Jesus had been crucified and risen, He then appeared to His disciples leaving them with the Holy Spirit. He walked away and they got a little STUCK. Without Jesus walking side by side with them, they went back to what was familiar to them…fishing. Not being fishers of men but catching some flounder (ok so I don’t know what kind of fish but the Bible does say they went back to fishing). John 21:3 says: “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.”  I cannot help but get tickled here – why would they catch anything when they were suppose be to telling people about Jesus? So here is the lesson –  when we are not doing what God calls us to do – we will not be successful! We will get STUCK! But we can guarantee that He will always be close by to help us out when needed (just like Uncle Jesse). Let’s pick  it up in verse 5: 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. See?…when you follow Jesus’ instructions, the resultant blessing is abundant and there is a great story to tell!

Are you STUCK today? Are you trying to do things all on your own..even though you know that it is not in God’s will? Do you keep pulling harder even though you are getting no where? Well, stop and listen. Throw yourself in the other direction – as long as that is God’s direction too – and then be ready to share the story! Oh, the flounder that await!!

~Donna

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