Just a Jesus Follower

"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."
-- The Apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 11:1)

I was one of those non-conversational, shy, withdrawn, and lacking self-confidence, kind-of-girl. I had big faith, but little output. I kept my faith to myself. The main reason? The fear of rejection. Sure, I’d invite friends to church with me, but I’d leave the Jesus-talk to the minister. I knew the “Good News” of Jesus, but I was afraid to share it. I worried my friends would reject me because they thought I was a Jesus fanatic.

I overcame those fears when I got me out of my “first place” priority and moved God up to "Numero Uno"! That helped me understand my place in God’s family and allowed me to view the opinions of others with an eternal perspective. That eternal perspective of being a leader who others follow right on to eternity with me!

I’m quite in-your-face when it comes to my blogging. I know it. You don’t have to tell me. I don’t want to impress you, but I do want to impress upon my followers that FIRST PLACE priority. My point isn’t to get more followers. I am just a follower of Jesus. I am just a gal who found out where the living water is and I am trying to share it with others. I am not the source of it, Jesus is. Follow Him.

I just want to write and to share out of the abundance of the life-giving water He gives me every day. I lean on the well and even hang out at the well. I try not to wander too far off from it. I know my track record and I don’t like the feeling of being so thirsty, lacking hope and joy, when I meander away from the well. I will tell you a secret. I don’t know all of the 4,193 friends on my Facebook page. And, all of them don’t really know me. I pray they are following me because they met Jesus face to face in something I blogged about. I am so thankful for that because it is the reason I began blogging in the first place.

It’s time to let God get the glory from what we do and what we say. It is so worthless to rant and rave about things that don't matter in the light of eternity. It is so worthwhile to spread the Good News that has a pay-off of eternal proportions. It’s time to Follow Him so He can say about us: “Hey, you know her/him. She/he started this blog/social media ministry, and now I HAVE ____ followers. Well done good and faithful servant.”

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” (Matthew 4:19) We are meant to catch them and teach them to follow Him not us. It is important to get the message out there, but it shouldn’t be our focus. He is our focus, and our message just keeps getting clearer and clearer!

I'm a Fisher-Woman

When my Austin family asked what I wanted for my birthday, I didn’t hem-haw around like I usually do: “Your love is all the gift I want!” But this milestone year, I went in for the jugular: I asked for all 13 of us to be together!” And did they ever comply! Then they asked what the “grandchildren” could give me. Again, I didn’t hesitate. I asked for a “Fishers of Men” bracelet. My heart overflowed last year while at the Sea of Galilee. I was at the Sea of Galilee. I walked where Jesus walked and I was where Jesus called two brothers, Peter and Andrew, from their fishing business to follow Him and become "Fishers of Men".not just fishers of fish. (Matthew 4:18-20) “Fishers of Men” became a Christian term for those who desire to live their lives as devoted followers of Christ and who become "Fishers of Men", too.

I make many references to our family's love for fishing so I had several reasons for desiring that little bracelet: 1) It replicates the snap swivel used for tying the fishing line to the swivels; 2) It is commonly worn by those of us who have attended and served at an ACTS Retreat where “being fishers of men and women” is the underlying theme, and 3) It will continually remind me to strive to be a "fisher of men AND women".

A night of fishing and coming up with empty nets was a sad outcome for those fishermen, but that scene quickly changed when Jesus stepped up and saved the day for them. With His help they caught more fish than their nets could even hold. Peter and Andrew did as they were told; they cast their nets where Jesus directed them to and hauled in a boatload of fish. Their own natural ability wasn’t enough. They needed the Lord’s help to guide them, and with His help,.they caught a boatload!

That is the point for those of us who are passionate about being fishers of men, as well as being partners with God in our everyday walk of life. Sure God wants us to do our part and use the abilities He has given us to realize good outcomes for our efforts, but He also wants us to acknowledge our need for His help, even before we work really hard and come up empty. He wants us to call on him in whatever we are doing.

Maybe we’ve been striving for way too long to get the job done our way and on our own. What if we partnered up with God and took the time to consciously bring Him into our plans at our jobs, in our homes, and in our world? For example, if the children are acting up, ask Him for strength, grace, and patience. If facing a challenging issue at work, ask Him to inspire you and give you wisdom. We can trust that, indeed, “all things are possible” when we rely on Him. And, when we rely on Him, just imagine the boatload of wisdom, understanding, ideas, witty inventions, words to say to someone to encourage them, and everything else He gives us to have a boatload-of-blessing.

I plan on wearing my "Fishers of Men" bracelet every chance I get to remind me of His "call" to follow Him, and to purposely stretch out my faith "net" with this daily post to catch as many of those who are weary, hurting and longing for hope and rescue, and introduce them to the greatest Fisherman of them all. After all – He is right here on my fishing “boat” with me! What does YOUR "fishing" net look like?