From Patti: Guatemala Mission Team Countdown 8 or 15 Days

Preparation…More than Packing…Prepare your Heart…


“Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.’ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.’ Luke 5:10-11

Of all the decisions in the New Testament, one of the most far reaching is found in Luke Chapter 5 when Jesus calls his first followers. The decision those fishermen made that day on the shore of Galilee directly affects our lives. It was the beginning of a long chain of obedience. Would I be a follower of Jesus today if they had not answered his call that day? Would the message have ever gotten to me?

Jesus loved to use real life to teach great truth. The men caught so many fish, their boats began to sink. Christ certainly performed this miracle to demonstrate that he is the Lord of the universe, Lord of the lake, and Lord of the fish. The vivid reality of a boat full of flopping fish perfectly illustrated Jesus’ purpose in that afternoon of fishing: “Don’t be afraid for from now on you will catch men.” Not only was he demonstrating his great power and authority over all creation, but he was also calling them to a much higher calling than their careers as fishermen. Though they were successful as fishermen, they were about to move on to much greater significance. How many of us are trapped in jobs and lives that give us some degree of success…but we crave more significance? Success is of this world, significance is of the next. When Jesus calls us into his service, he calls us into that great transition from success to significance.

Working in the harvest on the mission fields of the world is a ministry of tremendous eternal significance. But it doesn’t happen without leaving something behind. We have to obey his call to move from success to significance. And that movement requires us to go out of our comfort zones. I’m so very thankful for those fishermen who made that profound decision that day to leave everything and follow Jesus They began a long chain of obedience that has stretched through the centuries to men and women. He calls us now to join that chain.

Prayer…Lord, I want significance out of my life as I follow you. Please help me see how I am to become part of the long chain of obedience to spread your message around the world. Show me what I need to let go of so that I can embrace this call on my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Question of the day….How do you say Hello in the local Mayan language?
Sakara

Information that is helpful…. Emergency numbers:
011 502 4236 8031 (with Tom all the time)
Tom Heaton’s cell 812 303 3382 (checks only once a day)