FRIDAY, August 1st, 2008

WE ARE LEAVING THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!

Let me talk with each of you really quickly: I am not really even sure if you are going to get this message because many of you have stopped coming on here within the last few days. I want to encourage you to get on and do your devotions before midnight. I truly think that the most profitable time for you to do your devotions is in the morning. Let me explain why... You have everything that you have just read fresh on your mind throughout the whole day. If you are just now doing it today for the first time and it is late right now, that is ok, but tomorrow... the day before we leave to go to the wilds, and Sunday before we get on the road, put your time with God FIRST!! Make God the first person you talk to each morning!! I really want you guys to stay faithful we will be finishing the book of John tomorrow... The Day before we go to the wilds!! Do your devotions early in the day tomorrow!!!

A Few Thoughts From Yesterday:
Michael: I love the way that you use cross reference with other scripture to make the point!! Great Job!!!!! That is so cool!
Jessica M: Wow!! In the morning!!! Sweet! I am so impressed!!! Are you having fun with all your company??
Cary: Type out an application too man!!! Think about how it applies to you specifically! Thanks for being so faithful!!!!
Josh Jeff and Josh: Thanks for spending those 2 hours with me yesterday. I had fun! I hope you guys can sell some cards today!!!
Marvino: Hey man! That is Koine Greek. Cool Huh!
Kervin: I am glad that you are going to the wilds!!! We missed you guys Wednesday Night??!?! What happened?? I could not pick people up because the little kids have the churchvan at their camp.
Tricia: TELL AMY TO GET ON HERE! :) I am so glad that you are able to go to thewilds with us!!!
Rachel: UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!! You are more excited about a CAT than the WILDS?!?!?!?!? What in the WORLD!!!
Mallory: HEY!!!! Im SO GLAD YOUR BACK ON!!!!! DID YOU HAVE A GREAT VACATION??

John 21

1 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself:
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 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.
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.
8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish.
9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”
11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.
12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord.
13 Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.
14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.

This is one of my top 3 favorite passages in the Gospel of John! Let me explain why. Once again, we see what Peter is like, and I love it! Let's start at the top and work our way through the passage.

Jesus shows himself to the disciples again, and here is how He does it: Several of Christs desciples are hanging out together, when Peter decides that He wants to go out and go fishing. The disciples decide to go fishing with Him and they catch no fish all night long.

A "man" (Jesus) shouts to them from the shore and asks them: "Have you caught any fish" they answer: "No". Then "the man" tells them to throw the net on the right side of the boat. They do what He said, and so many fish get in the net they literally CANNOT PULL THE NET IN THE BOAT!!!

This part is SO GREAT!!! While they are standing there, struggling to get the net in the boat... Peter thinks to himself... this is something that Jesus would have done. Then He looks up, realizes that it is Jesus on the shore and what does He do??? HE PLUNGES INTO THE WATER!!!!! Peter is so passionate about seeing Jesus again that He jumps into the water to swim to Him.

Are you that passionate about seeing Christ? Peter did not care about ANYTHING!! He didnt care about getting wet, getting dirty, getting laughed at, getting tired.... He DID NOT CARE!! Peter simply wanted to be with Jesus!!! What if we were so passionate about being with Christ. How can we be passionate about being with Christ?? Well I can think of several ways...

We can be excited to spend time in His word, we can be excited about having His word preached to us, we can be excited about worshiping Him at church, we can be excited about fellowshiping with his people, we can be excited about serving Him in different ministries... the list goes on!! What if we were as passionate about serving our Lord as Peter was??

Think about this as well... Who was it that tried to walk on the water?? Peter, but this time, He just jumped in and swam... think about this... He was not this perfect follower of Jesus, in fact, He had just denied Jesus a week or so before this. Although He did not have enough faith to run on the water to the shore where Jesus stood, He had enough faith to jump into the water and SWIM as hard as he could to get to Jesus... Take a moment and visualize this moment in your mind... It is both funny, and wonderful!!!

So the boat was about 110 yards from shore... Think about how funny this is: Peter jumps out to swim to Jesus, and the disciples say, hey lets paddle the boat to the shore... So they all went back to the shore... Peter just went in the water :) I LOVE HIS PASSION!!!!!!!!!!!!

They all get to the shore and they eat breakfast with Jesus. This moment must have reminded them of the last meal they ate together just before Jesus was crucified. What a wonderful breakfast on the shore of the beach!!

GET PASSIONATE ABOUT YOU LORD!!!! LOVE HIM LIKE PETER LOVED HIM!!! LIVE FOR HIM PASSIONATELY!!! YOU WON'T REGRET IT!

Love you all!!!!!! CALL EVERYONE AND TELL THEM TO DO THEIR DEVOTIONS!!!!!