1 Kings 2:1-9, 2 Sam 23:1-7, 1 Kings 2:10-12, 1 Chron 29:26-30,Psalm4-6, 8-9, 11

God blessed us with an bounty of fish, and in the process we were reminded of the importance of patience and wisdom! Day 1 we fished all day without one bite, but being persistent, patient, and heeding the advice of a wise fisherman and good friend, it paid off on day 2! We fished in the exact place as the day before. I know it seemed futile, but Bill, our good friend, lives on the lake during the fishing season, knows it well, and has never let us down. I really was praying too, as I could see Joel's impatience and frustration starting to build. He was starting to doubt the wisdom of his friend Bill, he thought the "stink bait" was no good, that we were not in the right spot, our trust in Bill was "sinking"...etc.etc. 


BTW, yes, we fish with stink bait, and yes it really, really does stink. Especially when my husband casts, and a lump of it flies off his hook, and in my hair! The things we do for love!


Right after Joel had talked to Bill for the ?? time, making sure it was the right spot, and telling Bill he was sure the stink bait was not working, I caught the first fish of the day..WooHoo! A nice 5 lb. channel cat, and after that it was on! Joel started catching fish, and all were keepers, really nice fish! We caught 9 catfish, it was so much fun! He no longer doubted the advice of his friend.
While I was sitting in that boat I was thinking about the story when the disciples went fishing, and Jesus told them where to cast their nets, and the story when Jesus walked on the water.

John 21:1-13

New King James Version (NKJV)

Breakfast by the Sea

21 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showedHimself: ² Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. ³ Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”

They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately^[a] got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. ⁴ But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. ⁵ Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?”

They answered Him, “No.”

⁶ And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.

Matthew 14:22-33

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Walks on the Water

²² Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. ²³ After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, ²⁴ and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
²⁵ Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
²⁷ But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
²⁹ “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
³² And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ³³ Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

The disciples heeded His wise advice and reaped the rewards! Peter had doubts and began sinking in the water.

 I think God speaks to us through many wise people and in different situations. Similar to David's instructions to Solomon, I think about the importance of imparting God's wisdom as parents to our children. The effect it has will be passed on from generation to generation. As parents, husbands, wives, mothers and fathers, etc. we have to be patient, faithful, and heed God's wisdom and listen carefully and obey His Word. We must keep our eyes wide open as the lessons can come from the most mundane things in our lives.  Even fishing with our hubby. :)

If we do this, He has promised to prosper us wherever we turn! 

1 Kings 2:1-4

New King James Version (NKJV)

David’s Instructions to Solomon

2 Now the days of David drew near that he should die, and he charged Solomon his son, saying: ² “I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man. ³ And keep the charge of the Lord your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn; ⁴ that the Lord may fulfill His word which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul,’ He said, ‘you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’

I also think about our faith, and how doubt and fear can keep us from becoming all God wants us to be. He wants the best for us, and if we don't fully trust in Him, we too will sink like Peter. 
David was all about faith, obedience, patience and listening to the wisdom God imparted to him through His Word. As he lived it, so too David wanted to impart the many blessings to his son Solomon and through the generations!


Oh how I yearn to be such a faithful servant like David,and to impart God's wisdom to my children and grandchildren..... It's never to late to start, and I know God is waiting patiently on me! :)


I praise Him and thank Him for giving me such special time with Joel, and for blessing us with the bonus of catching fish!
God is so good!