"You Otter Be In Maine"

I love the title of this blog today...it came from a notepad that we were given way back when we used to live in Maine...and I have just one page of it left...in my Bible, with a few scribbled notes and scripture references jotted down on the dog-eared piece of notepaper, which is now being used as a Bible bookmark.

What is interesting is that a couple of weeks ago in my morning devotions I was reading the prescribed scripture reading for the day in II Corinthians 8:1-9, and I kept on reading down through verses 10 and 11 as follows:

"And in this I give advice: it is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have..."

As I read those verses, I had to scratch my head and try to figure out, "Now, what was I desiring to do a year ago that I must now complete?"  Hmmm...I'm not sure...except that we had gone up to visit our son and family in Maine because he was in the beginning battle against the aggressive cancer that had just previously been diagnosed in his abdomen.  I know the desire of my heart at that time was to be with him and try to help him and his family in some way...but because we had major issues of our own here at home to deal with we weren't in any position to be of much help at that time.  Thank the Lord, Matthew successfully completed his course of chemotherapy and now, a year later, seems to be managing amazingly well, all things considered. He still has some residual issues, but we are trusting God for his complete healing.

But, back to the scripture reading for that day...here we are a year later, and we still have the desire to be closer to our kids in Maine and also one in New Hampshire.  A lot of things have changed in our circumstances here in the past year.  My dear father recently passed away, my mother-in-law has moved up to live with her other son and family, and my husband has just lost his job and had to take an early retirement (such as it is) to try to survive until (or if) he can find other appropriate employment.  I have a good job, but without any health insurance benefits, which, at our age, is crucial. 

So, anyway, a few days after reading those particular scripture verses and contemplating just what God was trying to say to us, I was turning in my Bible to find the new reading for that day, and this piece of paper fell out of my Bible that said, "You Otter Be In Maine".  I showed it to my husband, and we both laughed at the funny picture of the little otter in the corner of the page and said, "yeah, we otter be in Maine if we could figure out how to get there."  Well, then I looked at the words I had jotted down on that note at some point in time...(it's dated July 2, but without the year)  and it was a scripture reference and my scribbled note of that verse....yep, you guessed it...

2 Corinthians 8:10-11 "Do what you began and were desiring to do a year ago (complete the doing of it..."

There were a couple of other things written on there at different times as well..."June 17th: Matt. 5:33-37..."Let your yes be yes"...and a note "Divine counseling at night"...and "Little girl, get up!"  (I believe I was listening to T.D. Jakes on TV when I wrote that note).

So now...what does one do with such messages being put before them in such a strange way?  Well, if you are people like us, you start praying and asking God just what He is trying to tell you.  I don't believe in coincidences...I look for God literally in everything I do...especially when it happens in an unusual way.  Now, I don't want my family to panic, or my employers to get nervous, or friends to tell me I'm crazy...but I have to consider that there may be a message here for us...and I am the type of person who prefers to listen to what God may be saying.  Of course, there needs to be some corroborative action on His part to convince me further before I pack my bags and move...but I want to be ready for action..."ready to go...ready to stay...ready to do His will..."  (from an old hymn entitled, "Ready", written by A.C. Palmer back in the mide 1800's)

I guess what I am trying to say here is, don't be surprised if God moves us back to Maine in the near future. I don't know anything specific yet...and I am not even sure it would be smart at this age to move back into those long, frigid winters when I am already living where most of the population of Maine would probably prefer to be (at least in the winter)...but I am open to God's leading.  I am listening for His voice...and if I hear "you otter be in Maine" again, I may have to start packing...

What would you do?

Cast Your Net on the Other Side of the Boat

John 21: 5-6 "Then Jesus said to them, 'Children, have you any food?'  They answered Him, 'No.'  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."

What has catching fish got to do with anything that's going on in your life today?  Well, let's think about this story.  The disciples had just come through the devastating experience of seeing their Master crucified on the cross, leaving them with many doubts, fears and questions about their own future.  Then all of a sudden, they learn that He was not dead, but alive! 

This was amazing news...but also perplexing.  They weren't too sure just what all this meant for them and the purpose for their lives.  So they went back to doing what they were accustomed to doing...they went fishing.  They fished all night long, but they caught nothing.  When they were obviously tired, frustrated and ready to call it quits, who comes along but Jesus, standing on the shore and asking them if they had any food. The Bible says the disciples did not realize it was Jesus at this point. When they told him that they did not, He told them to cast their nets on the other side of the boat and they would find some fish.  I have a feeling their first thought was, "We've been out here all night long, and we've done everything we know how to do as professional fishermen, and the fish just aren't biting! We hate to disappoint this man, but we know this just isn't going to work...but we'll try it anyway..."  

Can you imagine their shock and amazement when their nets became so full of fish that they could not even pull them in...and then they realized Who it was standing on the shore giving them instructions.  Then they were so excited they couldn't wait to get to shore to see Him!  Simon Peter even jumped overboard and swam to shore he was so thrilled.

Now, how can we compare this story with our situation today?  I don't know about you, but I can see myself in these fishermen.  When things get difficult in life, and when I become frightened or discouraged I often want to throw up my hands and quit.  I can't see how anything good could possibly come out of such painful, stressful, frustrating, agonizing and horrendous situations that I may be facing. It is hard for me to "see the forest for the trees" when I am feeling lost and abandoned.  But Jesus comes along and calls to me from the edge of the forest..."Here is the way...walk ye in it..."   

"Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it...Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.'"  (Isaiah 30:21)

When we pay attention to the message that Christ is giving us, whether it be through reading the Bible, or through the wisdom of friends and loved ones, or Doctors and spiritual guides, we are often amazed at the peace that takes hold of our hearts and minds and we find the directions for which we had been searching so diligently. 

Thank you, Lord, for the peace that passes all understanding as I yield to Your Divine wisdom and guidance. Help me let go of my self-directed plans and ideas, and trust more completely in You.  I know I will stay on the right path that way... and maybe even catch some real "fish".