Pongwe Beach Half a year in Africa already. Time has its way of sneaking up on you. Term 1 in our schools came to a close in April and I took the chance to take a breath and get away for a few days. I spent the morning of Easter Sunday sitting on a beach by the Indian Ocean and reflecting on where I was exactly 1 year ago. I spent that Easter Sunday sitting on the rocks at Cable Beach, just down the road from where I was living-- knowing that in a few weeks I wouldn't be living there anymore. Those last couple months in the Caribbean I wanted to soak in all the sunshine and the sounds of the sea. What drove me to the beach that day though was my thoughts about something I read. Bob Goff had tweeted, "When Jesus rose from the dead He didn't make a speech to the world, He made breakfast for His friends." I sat beside the water that day reading from the book of John and thinking about how Jesus sat by the sea preparing breakfast and waiting for his friends who were out fishing. He was just waiting until the time was right, then He called out to them.
The resurrection had happened. Jesus had shown Himself to them twice since then, but what now? These disciples retreated to the comfortable, to their fishing boat. They were doing things they knew how to do but were catching nothing. I could relate to them; I had been continuing to do the familiar but not finding fulfillment. I had security but knew there was something more for me than the life I had become used to living. Then morning came. The sun rose and Jesus was on the shore calling out to them. He told them where to fish, and because they obeyed, their nets were full. He already had the fire going and breakfast ready. He didn't need their help, but He asked them to contribute their fish anyway. This wasn't the first time some of these men heard Jesus calling to them from their fishing boats. Just a couple years earlier He had said to them, "Come with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I'll make you fishers of men." That day they had left their nets, their careers, their families and followed. At the end of John after that breakfast on the beach, Jesus asked Peter 3 times if he loved Jesus more than these-- enough to feed His lambs, enough to shepherd His sheep, enough to bring glory to God no matter the personal cost. Then He said to him "Follow me," and he did.
I want to love Jesus like that. He doesn't need my contribution, but He asks for it. He doesn't want me to settle for a career when He has for me a calling. He led me from my boat of security to the compounds of Lusaka, and He filled my net with people to love. My prayer is that in following Jesus I can love the people here well and bring glory to God. I'm forever grateful for the people who pray for me and those who make financial contributions to support my life here in Zambia. God called me here, and you are making it possible. I am so thankful!
The resurrection had happened. Jesus had shown Himself to them twice since then, but what now? These disciples retreated to the comfortable, to their fishing boat. They were doing things they knew how to do but were catching nothing. I could relate to them; I had been continuing to do the familiar but not finding fulfillment. I had security but knew there was something more for me than the life I had become used to living. Then morning came. The sun rose and Jesus was on the shore calling out to them. He told them where to fish, and because they obeyed, their nets were full. He already had the fire going and breakfast ready. He didn't need their help, but He asked them to contribute their fish anyway. This wasn't the first time some of these men heard Jesus calling to them from their fishing boats. Just a couple years earlier He had said to them, "Come with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I'll make you fishers of men." That day they had left their nets, their careers, their families and followed. At the end of John after that breakfast on the beach, Jesus asked Peter 3 times if he loved Jesus more than these-- enough to feed His lambs, enough to shepherd His sheep, enough to bring glory to God no matter the personal cost. Then He said to him "Follow me," and he did.
I want to love Jesus like that. He doesn't need my contribution, but He asks for it. He doesn't want me to settle for a career when He has for me a calling. He led me from my boat of security to the compounds of Lusaka, and He filled my net with people to love. My prayer is that in following Jesus I can love the people here well and bring glory to God. I'm forever grateful for the people who pray for me and those who make financial contributions to support my life here in Zambia. God called me here, and you are making it possible. I am so thankful!
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