From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Fri, Jan 19, 2024 at 6:05 AM

Subject: 1-19-24 THOUGHTS

1-19-24   THOUGHTS

From a prayer attributed to - Sir Frances Drake, the last verse...  “Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, to venture on wider seas where storms will show your mastery; where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars. We ask you to push back the horizons of our hopes; and to push into the future in strength, courage, hope, and love.”
There is much life and eternity in this morning’s reading.  A miracle is performed, amazement seizes a group of simple fishermen, an eternal call is given, the fishermen submit fully to the call,  they follow with their whole life!  Yeah, they kinda quit their jobs.   “FOLLOW” here is a powerfully intense word. It lingered beyond the day...   They willfully become slaves to a cause!  Their eternal purpose is defined and claimed.  The quality of their lives is blessed by a new world of purpose and power.  
Luke 5:1-11      Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret; 2  and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. 3  And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the people from the boat. 4  When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." 5  Simon answered and said, "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets." 6  When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; 7  so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. 8  But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, "Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" 9  For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken;  10  and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men." 11  When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.

My Prayer:
Lord, help us to see this simple story and find our own amazement.  May we diligently search out what it means to follow.  Give us of  Your  power, O God, to launch out into the deep, and bear much fruit.  Prune us as we need,  Father.  Work with us each day so that we will be pleasing children.   Continually remove our sin in the blood of our Savior.  Keep us from Satan’s distractions.  We praise You and exalt Your awesome name.  In Jesus’ name,       Amen.