Tuesday, April 28, 2009

You're Not Alone


Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of Passage? His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN.



He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own. The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man!



Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm. We, too, are never alone.

Friday, April 24, 2009

A Message From Gracyn


Hi everybody it's Gracyn. I havent written in a while because I had to have my surgery. As you know it went really well. After surgery it hurt quite a bit but I feel much better now. I'm doing really good with my medicine and everything else. Thank you for praying that God would provide me the perfect heart and He sure did. I thank him that I am feeling so healthy and my biopsy went good. God has taken care of me and I might get to go home on Monday. Please keep praying. I am really happy to know I will be going home soon. Love, Gracyn

Daily Verse

A fool spurns his father's discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.

Proverbs 15:5 (New International Version)

Sportsmen's Devotional Friday


A Daily Study of God's Word for Christian Sportsmen April 24, 2009

Today's Photograph....A Good Day On The Water (Janet B)

Bible Study Verse
Proverbs 27:1-2
Don't boast about tomorrow, for you don't know what a day might bring. Let another praise you, and not your own mouth - a stranger, and not your own lips. (HCSB)

Thoughts
In the charter boat business, one day you might be a hero with full limits. The next day conditions change, the fish don't bite, and you struggle. You can spot a rookie guide from a mile away when he struts around the dock with a cooler full of fish and proclaims himself as the greatest. As usual on a tough day, he tucks his tail between his legs and mopes. The truth of the matter is, we all have great days, good days, average days, slow days, and downright poor days. The veteran guide knows this and keeps his cool and confidence when things are going good or when it is tough to get a bite. (Bink G)

Action Point
Proverbs was written as a practical guide to everyday living. The above scripture instructs us to be humble in our successes, because the next day the wind may be blowing 25 knots from the southwest or the fish may not be hungry. Nobody likes the clamor from the self-righteous. If you must boast, boast in the Lord, even if you only have a few fish to clean.


Sportsmen's Tip of the Day
When fishing conditions are tough, it is even more important to know your tides and moon phases. The fish may only bite for an hour that day, so you better be there when they feed

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Health


Remember to eat as natural as possible. Our bodies don't recognize or know how to break down the elaborate chemicals in modern foods. Copy and paste this link in your browser. It relates to artificial sweeteners.

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/;_ylt=AvL7kxbdgWbcsrLLjnLlkZ4azJV4?rn=3906861&cl=13088937&ch=4226723&src=news

Sportsmen's Devotional Wednesday


A Daily Study of God's Word for Christian Sportsmen April 22, 2009

Today's Photograph.... The Right Spot At The Right Time (Will D)

Bible Study Verse
Acts 9:1-2
Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord's followers. So he went to the high priest. He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them-both men and women-back to Jerusalem in chains. (NLT)

II Corinthians 10:3-4
We are human, but we don't wage war as humans do. We use God's mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. (NLT)

Thoughts
There are certain days of year when the weather, the tide, and the moon align creating perfect fishing conditions. Fishermen reap great harvests. However, angler's zeal to be in the right spot at the right time sometimes causes rifts among us - frustrations that lead to anger or conflict on the water. We might say words we regret.

Before Saul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he had no problem with anger. In fact, he used it well. he was "eager to kill". But God had a different purpose for Saul. When He met him, He changed him. Saul became Paul. A man driven with a spirit of hatred is replaced with a man of Holy Spirit led compassion. A drastic change only possible from a living God. Later, when Paul confronts problems within the Corinthian church, he does so with composure. His calculated, Christ led approach succeeds and ultimately leads to a Christian movement that consumes all of Rome. (Will D)

Action Point
As Christian hunters and fishermen we might be tested by circumstances on the water or in the field. How will we deal with the conflict? Like Saul of Tarsus or like Paul? A Christ led approach to tenuous situations can show others how Christ lives in us - quite possibly leading to a change in them.


Sportsmen's Tip of the Day
When fishing crowded areas, a good rule of thumb is to stay two to three casts away from the nearest boat

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Proverbs 29

29 A man hating sharp words and making his heart hard, will suddenly be broken and will not be made well again.

2 When the upright have power, the people are glad; when an evil man is ruler, grief comes on the people.

3 A man who is a lover of wisdom is a joy to his father: but he who goes in the company of loose women is a waster of wealth.

4 A king, by right rule, makes the land safe; but one full of desires makes it a waste.

5 A man who says smooth things to his neighbour is stretching out a net for his steps.

6 In the steps of an evil man there is a net for him, but the upright man gets away quickly and is glad.

7 The upright man gives attention to the cause of the poor: the evil-doer gives no thought to it.

8 Men of pride are the cause of violent acts in a town, but by wise men wrath is turned away.

9 If a wise man goes to law with a foolish man, he may be angry or laughing, but there will be no rest.

10 Men of blood are haters of the good man, and evil-doers go after his soul.

11 A foolish man lets out all his wrath, but a wise man keeps it back quietly.

12 If a ruler gives attention to false words, all his servants are evil-doers.

13 The poor man and his creditor come face to face: the Lord gives light to their eyes equally.

14 The king who is a true judge in the cause of the poor, will be safe for ever on the seat of his power.

15 The rod and sharp words give wisdom: but a child who is not guided is a cause of shame to his mother.

16 When evil men are in power, wrongdoing is increased; but the upright will have pleasure when they see their downfall.

17 Give your son training, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your soul.

18 Where there is no vision, the people are uncontrolled; but he who keeps the law will be happy.

19 A servant will not be trained by words; for though the sense of the words is clear to him, he will not give attention.

20 Have you seen a man who is quick with his tongue? There is more hope for a foolish man than for him.

21 If a servant is gently cared for from his early years, he will become a cause of sorrow in the end.

22 An angry man is the cause of fighting, and a man given to wrath does much wrong.

23 A man's pride will be the cause of his fall, but he who has a gentle spirit will get honour.

24 A man who takes part with a thief has hate for his soul; he is put under oath, but says nothing.

25 The fear of man is a cause of danger: but whoever puts his faith in the Lord will have a safe place on high.

26 The approval of a ruler is desired by great numbers: but the decision in a man's cause comes from the Lord.

27 An evil man is disgusting to the upright, and he who is upright is disgusting to evil-doers