PICTURE THIS!

Imagine being out at sea and not catching any fish for several days on end. Picture yourself, your dad and your brother in a boat being tossed and buckled and still not bringing any fish in your nets. The sea is tossing your boat back and forth, up and down and you are not sure you will be able to keep it afloat.
Imagine coming to shore empty handed. Nothing to show for the efforts you’ve made. How sad and empty the feeling running in the pit of your stomach.
Then, someone is telling you to take the boat back out and try again. Would you go? Would you be willing to take the risk? Would you be able to accept on faith that he was asking you to trust him?
Jesus asked Peter and his brother Andrew and their father to do just that.
Though they were skeptical at first, they obeyed. They were unable to support the amount of fish they were bringing up in their nets. They had to call for backup. John, James, and theirfather Zebedee.
Matthew 4 :18-22 The Calling of the First Disciples
18As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 20At once they left their nets and followed him. 21Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Their nets were so full of fish that the nets were beginning to split and tear. Jesus went out to them and said,
"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers
of men.".Matthew 4:19

Our lesson in church today was about taking risks. There were
a few things that I wrote down that meant a lot to me.
1. Be willing to take risks.
As long as the risk is for Gods works.
2. Be able to decide if the risk is real.
Don’t take a risk just to say, “I did it”.
3. Be aware that when you are taking the risk that Jesus is
with you always.
4. Chasing a dream is a risk, and it will come with a price to pay. It will be worth it!
5. Don’t look for risks to take on your own…Look for the risk God is asking you to take.
(As our pastor said, “ Don’t go out and try to walk on Oyster Creek…”

Will you take a risk today? Have you accepted Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? Would you like somene to pray for you or with you? If you are able to understand this; Say this prayer; Jesus, I would like to invite you into my heart, I know that you are the only Son of God. You were sent to earth to teach us the way to Heaven. You were beaten and hung on a cross, sacrificing yourself for my sins. I choose to live for you. Amen