On any weekend you will find Dale`s waterfront shack accommodation the lives and friendship of many so called locals. There is always time to bait a trot line, share fishing stories, talk turtling and share a brew, maybe 2,3, 4 or more.
Saturday was the big day, a semi-organized Cat Fishing Tournament. For a $10.00 entry fee you could enter in hopes of landing the biggest cat fish that would land you a portion of the pot; 50, 30, or 20 per cent!
Bright and early Saturday morning 80 fishermen and women prepared for the challenge at hand, with $800.00 enticing their efforts. You might be wondering in my sobriety, where do I fit into this picture?
Well, I`m definitely a local and have known and partied with most of these guys for a life time. I just play a different role now. However, once the flow of beer or language tolerance level is met, I often head home leaving my husband Rick to enjoy the moment. Yes, he can walk home or someone will drop him off.
What God put on my heart was out of my local hometown shack comfort zone. I was lead to pray for this first annual Cat Fishing Tournament. Really, God? When I arrived early Saturday morning, in obedience I approached my good old buddy, Reds and told him I`d like to pray for him.
As Red`s prepared to launch his fishing boat he allowed me the time to offer a prayer on his behalf. Thank you, God that was easier than I had anticipated; what a confidence builder!
On to the dock, fishermen and women waited for the 8:00 departure time, well its now or never, I had the perfect opportunity. I stood at the highest level of the floating dock and in my most confident God lead voice, I yelled out for every ones attention. Announcing my intention, I prayed to God for His blessing and safe return for all fishermen. Everyone seemed to graciously receive the blessing! I guess, Thank you, God!
I shared with Rick that I launched the confidence to pray today on Reds, he was the first fisherman that I met that morning. He seemed to be the only fisherman, in the right place at the right time to receive a personal prayer to God.
As the 2:00 finish time of the tournament approached there was a spirit of excitement at the shack. The time of truth was at hand, what fisherman or woman would claim the prize money. There was an air of secrecy as the fisherman kept tight lids on their cooler, not revealing their catch until official weigh-in.
With confidence, Red`s was the first fisherman to weigh-in. What a cat fish, that baby weighed in at 7 and a half pounds. I was so excited, I could hardly believe my eyes, really God! Of course no one besides Rick, knew of my prayer with Red`s, YET!
Cat fish made their way to the scales but none beat the first weight of Red`s catch. Red`s proudly collected the $400.00 pot. I congratulated him, reminding him of our special prayer. He announced to nearby friends that I had hooked him up with a prayer earlier this morning. I felt as if I had just received a God-Wink, acknowledging my obedience.
As I shared this amazing story with a chosen few, thought out the day, I most often heard, why didn`t you pray with me? That`s God`s job, I just listened to His lead as an obedient servant, hoping to encourage the power of prayer.
I pray this fishing tale will continue to spead around the picnic table at the shack for God`s glory. I wonder who will ask me to pray with them next year???????
Matthew 4:18-20 As 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 fisherman. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed HIM. Amen
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