a current description of God's work in and through the life of my husband and me while serving HIM wherever HE leads...
Friday, June 26, 2009
Are You Being Fished???
Although it is obvious to many of you and has been for a number of years, there are many others who are just picking up on the fact that I am young, female, and single. How people have missed this fact until recently, I am not sure, but nonetheless, it is true. Apparently there are a number of men in Africa and on the ship that have totally noticed that I am single and that I am not a beauty queen but I don't look like a troll either. YIKES!
My male friends on the ship, use the term "fishing" to describe relationships. Girls are "fish" and guys are "fishermen." Are you fishing? Or are you being fished? Are some of the questions I am asked frequently. Although I am so honored to be fished, it is complicated. It gets really confusing when some "fishermen" come from cultures where it is perfectly acceptable to throw a net and catch a few fish at a time. It is also complicated when these "fishermen" claim to live under Biblical standards, but they don't apply these standards in their "fishing-practice." Oh, my goodness, it is really burns my biscuit to find out that many "fishermen" here just view "fishing" as a sport! It intensifies the situation when the "fishermen" use a lot of flattery and are skilled at catching fish, but their intentions are impure. Yikes, what's a "fish" (girl) to do? Pray for my head and heart as "fishermen" cast their hooks in my direction. I ain't near ready to nibble on any hooks, but it is complicated when I just smile at a "fisherman" and then he thinks I am on his hook. Sometimes, I cannot walk down the hallway without getting tangled up in the mess of "fishing-hooks" being cast all over this ship. All this fishing mess makes me want to swim alone in my own pond (my cabin) and not come out, but I cannot do what God has called me to do from my cabin! Next time you think of this "fish," could you pray for some still, peaceful, waters. And pray for that poor "fisherman" that God may have for me in the future; his "fishing" process is going to be a lot harder because this "fish" has retreated to deep waters!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
My dear litle fishy,
The ocean is vast, and there are plenty places for you to swim, even in the 'school' you currently swim with. Keep on being the 'fisher-of-wo/men' you are, finding souls for God's 'school'.
And when you have a moment check out this link and maybe even craft something to go with your 'fishing' situation. http://home.howstuffworks.com/beaded-bracelet5.htm
Momma Fish
In consideration of our phone conversation last evening, I was pleased to read this from Lysa T at Proverbs 31 and you might use it to process some of the things we discussed because I could not help but note disappointment being part of what we were discussing, and that on several fronts as I know you understand without me divulging more here:
Disappointment
24 Jun 2009
Lysa TerKeurst
"He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart." Ecclesiastes 5:20 (NIV)
The other day a friend asked me if I ever get disappointed.
I said "yes" and threw out a spiritually sound answer of how I process disappointment. It was an answer that would make most preachers proud.
And then the next day happened.
The day where a really big disappointment whacked me upside the head and sent my heart sinking. I'd been asked to speak at a really big event - one of the biggest of my life - and then things fell apart.
Invited- thrilled- excited- honored-included
turned into
Uninvited- bummed- sad- disillusioned- left out.
And while I still have soli d spiritual perspectives to hold on to, my flesh just needs a minute to say, "Bummer!"
Sometimes things that come our way are a major bummer.
But right when I wanted say, "bummer" a few more times, I spotted a bowl that's been sitting on my dining room table for weeks now. Brooke found some caterpillars a while back, put them in a bowl, and has been holding them hostage ever since. I mean she's been lovingly admiring them underneath a layer of cellophane.
Wouldn't you know that those caterpillars formed cocoons inside that unlikely environment. And then today, as I was muttering "bummer," I glanced across that bowl and sucked the word back down my throat.
The cocoons were empty.
Expecting glorious butterflies, I had to chuckle when I got right over the bowl and closely examined the product of my little girl's hopes for new life.
Moths.
I just had to chuckle. Yet another thing in my day that wasn't quite right.
Or was it?
When Brooke spotted the moths, she was beyond thrilled. Grabbing my hand, she led me outside, ripped off the plastic barrier, and watched the beauty of tiny wings beating- beating- beating and finally fluttering into flight.
As I watched Brooke's sheer delight with the rich evidence of life before her, she couldn't have cared less if it was a moth or butterfly. A creature that once only knew the dirt of the earth had just been given the gift of flight. Reaching- soaring-up- up- and away.
And with that, this simple creature pulled the corners of my mouth up into a smile.
Disappointment only stings as long as I let it.
Dear Lord, I freely offer up whatever has been a disappointment to me lately as a sacrifice of praise to You. I know You love me so much, that this disappointment is really Your way of protecting me, providing something better, or just part of the process of growing me more like You. So, for all three of those I praise You- praise You- and praise You again for the good that is wrapped in this disappointment. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Application Steps:
Ask God to help you find some Scripture verses to serve as anchors of truth as you process your disappointment. Write them on note cards and carry them with you. On the back of each note card start listing the good that is in your life. Focus on praying prayers of thanksgiving over the good.
Reflections:
How might God use even this disappoint for good in my life? Instead of asking God, "Why?" why not ask God, "Since this is my reality, what now? How can I glorify You through this, Lord?"
Power Verses:
Hebrews 13:15, "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name." (NIV)
Ephesians 4:2, "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." (NIV)
Mark 9:35, "…If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." (NIV)
Love you,
Mum
Hi Laura- Loved the picture of your daily view as well. Well you are quite a fish ...what a situation. Liked your moms comments and story about the moths. Kids are so free in how they live and I try to carry alot of that with me as I age. Yikes AGE. Anyway, I never swam in the typical pond of life and it doesn't bother me either. Wish I had some minnows though. SMILE.
Beware and alert and stay focused on what God has called to you to do.
Love you lots...ps love the pic of you in African dress so much I am paying for it at the library on color photo paper...from Facebook.
Aunt Joy
You are so funny Laura! you just make me smile. I would love to be there to watch this all play out. Will be praying for you! Love you and it was SOOO good to talk with you the other day!
Post a Comment