Gone Fishing

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nk5mlyYMOBs&list=RDnk5mlyYMOBs&start_radio=1&t=0

Dear God ~ Cory Asbury feat. Anna Asbury

 Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass. ~ Psalm 37:5 AMPC

When I was 3 or 4, my grandpa took me fishing. He got my line ready and all I had to do was drop it in the water. In less than a minute, I caught a fish! My grandpa took off the fish, rebated my hook, and I dropped it back in the water. Then I caught another fish! My grandpa took the second fish off the hook, rebated it, and my line went back in the water. Then I caught a third fish. As the story goes, this cycle continued another five or six times. But then, when I didn’t catch anything—after about two minutes—I looked at my grandpa and said, “This is boring.”

 I certainly had it made at 3- or 4-years-old. My grandpa did all the work and all I had to do was wait for the fish to bite. God offers the same to us if we’ll let Him. Through Jesus, God has done the heavy lifting in our lives and offers us the opportunity to partner with Him, to share in the experience of the things He’s called us to do and enjoy watching His victorious outcome. Sadly, though, we’re convinced we need to “make it happen” and, as a result, we run ourselves ragged trying to do it ourselves.

In love, Father God looks at us and says, “There’s a better way, dear child.” Psalm 37:5 says we’re to roll each of our cares onto the Lord, then we’re to lean on and be confident in Him, and then He will bring it to pass. The world says, “To get anything done – and done right – you have to do it yourself.” The way of the world is heavy and downright exhausting. God’s way, however, gives us peace, rest, and a burdenless load.

 In life, you can try to do everything yourself – even try to make the fish bite. Or you can partner with God, allowing Him to bear the weight of the responsibility, and just enjoy the adventure He takes you on – even when you don’t catch any fish.

©Heather Potts 2021

Thank you, Teachers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eQd3K2Fxp4&list=RD7j0Pedpgiag&index=3

Only Jesus ~ Casting Crowns

Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will]. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18 AMPC

With the school year ending, I began thinking about all the girls learned this year. Then my thoughts turned to my own teachers, of which there were many. From Mr. Holba, my fifth-grade teacher, to Mr. Knaus, my senior-year high school English teacher, to Dr. Lipscomb and Dr. Stein, my two favorite Lit professors at USF. Clearly, I had more than four teachers, but these are the ones who’ve stood out over the years. It wasn’t because of the zoo in Mr. Holba’s class, or even the fruit and vegetable nicknames Dr. Stein had us choose for ourselves, the way those who were revolting the Christian church did in the time-periods we studied. It’s not about their titles, or even necessarily the lessons they taught. They stand out above the rest because of how they made me feel: special, smart, strong, able, important. They all challenged me to be the best version of myself. But my teachers didn’t stop at the completion of my BA. Over the years, I’ve had countless teachers with many titles: Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle, Aunt, Husband, Teacher, Leader, Brother, Pastor, Mentor, and Friend.

Today marks the last day of Teacher Appreciation Week at our girls’ school. To all the teachers we’ve had over the years: THANK YOU! You have and are making a difference! On the days you feel like pulling out your hair, just remember: for the child, it won’t be about passing the test, becoming the greatest artist, or even singing on-key. Years down the road, it will be about the days you were there, the way you cared, the way you smiled and always had a hug. It’ll be the way you were Jesus to that child.

We’re told to give thanks in all things. To all our teachers: Thank you!

©Heather Potts 2019