A Mother Story

The other day, I discovered a squirrel nest where facial board needed to be repaired.  I gently and carefully removed the contents, three adorably cute baby squirrels.  Just days before their eyes would open, I figured that I would now have to raise these siblings.  As work continued, the box I had placed the nesting squirrels in was left unattended.  Within minutes, the mother squirrel had returned, noticed the new board on the building, searched, found and rescued her little family.  I was amazed at the care this mother demonstrated.  She had obviously watched me playing with her babies, heard their desperate screams for understanding and rescue.  At just the right moment, she slipped in and carried each away to a new home. I was immediately reminded of the many sciptures that illustrate God's watchful eye on His children.  Many scriptures describe God just as a mother eagle or hen spreading His wings over us to protect and deliver us. 
"Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me.  For my sould takes refuge in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until destruction passes by."  Psalm 57:1
Coach/PJ

Throw Me Yonder

Often when I am fishing on the bank of a pond or lake, the fish I release back to the water will just lay at the edge.  I like to see how long it takes them to get back to the water. Usually one or two flips will get them back in the safety of their comfortable environment.  I do remember one fish that just didn’t seem to want to go back to the lake.  It literally just kept flipping the opposite direction.  Poor thing, I finally picked it up and tossed it back in the water.  Recently, it hit me…

Jesus was a fisher of men.  He challenged His followers and He charges us to be fishers of men.  We speak of dying to self a lot.  Here is a picture. Jesus calls us through His Spirit to be saved.  We turn from ourselves to Him in repentance and receive God’s forgiveness through grace.  But we often forget the cost of the turning.  It is much like that strange fish flipping the opposite direction.  We must in like manner say to Jesus, by faith, throw me yonder, far away from the shore, where I cannot flip back to my old life.  The obvious conclusion is death.  The picture ends there.  Following Christ does not result in a slow, painful death by asphyxiation. Jesus promised that to lose your life you will gain it.  He also promised a life abundant and eternal.    He has indeed made me alive to a whole new way.

Come out of the water!  The land is great!

Coach/PJ