“Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.” Luke 5:4-6
A story is told of a football coach on the sidelines of a very important game screaming to his players, “Give Willie the ball.” After several such calls without their response, he called time out.
As his players gathered around him, he asked, “Didn’t you hear me tell you to give Willie the ball?”
“Yes, coach, but Willie doesn’t want the ball.”
Challenges of the Christian Life
How many of us, when called to accept a challenge in our Christian life, often refuse, and so, never know the blessings of growing spiritually. When things seem too difficult, out of our comfort zone, we miss the opportunity of serving where the Lord wants us, or seeing His glory in uncharted waters and receiving the benefits He has there for us. It may mean that we serve Him where we are, but with a greater diligence and obedience to His Word. Not all are called to serve as missionaries in a foreign country, but to grow in our relationship with Him, to know and love Him more ~ to go deeper in fellowship with Him through His Word and His Spirit. It is in this relationship that we are prepared to serve Him wherever He places us.
When we think we have done all that needs to be done, our Lord promises that where He directs us He will be with us, having already planned the outcome.
Launching out into the deep is where we find exceeding abundantly more that we can ask or imagine by His power working in us (Ephesians 3:20).
Gracious Father, forgive us for settling for the minimal Christian life. Work in our hearts, by the power of your Holy Spirit to hear the call of our Lord Jesus to follow Him past the mundane things of this life, to deny self as we take up our own cross to find the deep things that are hidden in Him. Enable us to plunge into the depths of your love and find the blessings you have for us. Let nothing hold us back from full surrender to your call and your holy will. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
God's Grace ~ God's Glory! 
I hope y’all weathered the storm unscathed Fran—and always good to see your presence here!!! 🙂
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Julie, we weathered under the Lord’s hand of grace. Many trees are down in this area. People are still without power, some without insurance. Our tree service, who will eventually be here to take care of the huge old oak tree from our front yard that fell over the neighbor’s driveway between the street and her house, has been in the streets since Monday. We have never experienced anything like this. Hope you and your family are well.
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We were lucky in Carrollton– our son and daughter-n-law who are living in dad’s house in Atlanta had to come stay with us as a tree fell on the street behind them taking out a transformer — they finally got their power back on Thursday– let’s pray no more hurricanes this season!
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Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
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O Jesus help us to take the challenge
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Amen to your prayer. Lord, guide and prepare me; forgive my unbelief and help me to overcome it.
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AMEN! God is a God of “immeasurably more!” May we have the courage to keep in step with Him!
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I love this! Thank you for this beautiful exhortation! I pray He grants us courage to always step out in faith to do what He has called us to do!
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By His own calling and His grace, according to His own pleasure and our joy. Thank you Lynn.
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