casting the nets

Dorathea's memory verse this week is 1 peter 5:7 "Cast your cares on Christ, for he cares for you".  I told her about what cast meant.  How fishermen cast their nets into the ocean to catch fish.  I don't know if she can understand what the verse means but time is a good teacher, if I can just plant it into her head it will be there when she can grasp it.  

I think yet again I am the one who needs the verse right now.  The Farmer simply isn't paying us enough to keep selling his harvest.  We either need to get a catch (huh, get a paycheck more like!) or cut the nets and count our losses.  I feel like our night of fishing has been long.  That like Peter, it was my idea, and I am left empty handed for my efforts, for my faith.  


Yet I can hear Jesus's voice in my head,
"Count your fish"


I fast forward to the end of the story,
Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.  John 21


I am eating the breakfast Jesus cooked for me and my family, counting the fish, amazed that my nets never tore. Looking at my provider in the face. 


I am provided for more than I need and all that I want
my big fish surround me, gifted children, beautiful things, a loving husband, I am so cared for, and he served me this dish with his own hands.  Those hands that provided for me make me look into those eyes that love me.


Counting the fish...
18. holding onto my favorite little girl hand as we hike
19. little chubby boy who rushes at his mommy head first to get a hug
20. Daddy who loves to carry his children on his back 
20. Flowers in my garden
21. love in my home
22. your reminder in my head as I grocery shop to "Take what I need, and that you will provide"
23. that I always have enough food
24. That my cup is always more than half full
25.  there is always enough to share 

Dorathea's last memory verse; "As for the rich in this world, charge them not to be proud and arrogant and contemptuous of others, nor to set their hopes on uncertain riches, but on God, Who richly and ceaselessly provides us with everything for [our] enjoyment.
    ¹⁸do good, be rich in good works, to be liberal and generous of heart, ready to share,
    ¹⁹In this way laying up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may grasp that which is life indeed." 1 timothy 6:18
26. That I have life that is life!
25. That you prepare all these things with your own hands just because you love me.