Scripture: Psalms 77:14

The Power of God

Thank you for joining me for another week of miracles through A Miracle Every Day. I am praying that this week will be amazing for both of us as we talk about an unusual part of the story of Jesus and the Bible.

Just yesterday, my friend Monte dropped by my house bearing gifts! He brought Laurel and I a pail of newly picked blueberries, another pail of sweet blackberries, and a HUGE filet of freshly caught salmon! I love my friend, and I love living in a part of the world where fresh fruit and fresh fish are available! I can’t wait to grill up that filet and share it with some family and friends.

My friend Monte is a walking miracle. I have shared about him before, but if you missed that let me tell you a little about Monte’s story. I met Monte a long time ago when he asked me to do his wedding. I married Monte and Connie on a breath-taking hillside in Winthrop, Washington. I also baptized them on the same day! In far too short a time, Connie was diagnosed with cancer, and Monte struggled. Alcoholism almost took his life, BUT Jesus saved Monte in a dramatic way, and today he leads a recovery ministry for people who struggle with addiction. Monte was healed, whole and restored when Connie took her last breath, and Jesus gave her the miracle of eternity. Just after Connie passed, some nine years ago, Monte had a massive heart-attack and I was called to the hospital to say goodbye, but God had other plans. Many people prayed, and God did a miracle! Monte survived, pressed through the physical challenges and last night, was in my home, with a brand-new heart from a transplant…and he showed up with FISH!

This week, I want to talk with you about miracles and fish! This isn’t going to be a “fish story” filled with exaggerations and tall tales! No, it’s going to be a joyful journey as Jesus uses fish to catch our attention, teach us about life, do miracles AND show us that with God, “All things are possible!”

Psalm 77:14 says, “Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.” (Psalm 77:14, NIV) 

Has God done a miracle in your past? Remember it and thank Him! Is God doing a miracle in your life right now? Before you say no, pause for a moment. Are you breathing today? Has God provided food for you and shelter for your family? Has anyone dropped by and blessed you with the gift of presence and conversation? Has God answered a prayer? Life, food, people and answered prayer are all miracles. Thank Him!

Take a moment and just sit in God’s presence. Remember His goodness to you and thank Him for the miracle of connection that is happening as you sit and fellowship with Him.

It’s going to be a great day, and never forget my friend,

You are a miracle!

Scripture: Luke 5:4-5

Do what He tells you

Hello, my friend and welcome to another miracle day with Jesus! Every single day is filled with promise, hope and the potential for miracles because of Jesus. I hope you are already anticipating miracles for today. 

Close to my home is the city of Seattle, Washington. One of my favorite places in Seattle is the Pike Place Market. This market is filled with endless booths selling flowers, fruit, food, meat, produce, seafood, jewelry, and just about anything else you can imagine. The whole place is an assault on the senses because it is teeming with objects for sale and shoulder to shoulder people! 

My favorite location in Pike Place Market is the famous Pike Place FISH Market. Why do I like it? Because there are fish flying everywhere! Seriously, the workers there are all comedians (I love to laugh!) and instead of handing fish to each other – they throw them! If you aren’t watching, you would think you might just get hit, but the amazing thing about these fish sellers is that I have never seen them drop a single fish…ever! They are famous for their fun, their jokes and their accuracy. They have turned a slippery fish into an amazing experience for the whole family. 

In Luke 5, Jesus is walking by the Sea of Galilee and He comes upon some men who are washing their nets. Jesus borrows one of their boats and uses it as a make-shift teaching platform as He shares with the people about the miraculous Kingdom of God. Then, in a transformational moment, this is what happens: 

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” (Luke 5:4-5, NIV) 

Peter had every reason to challenge the instruction of Jesus. He had experience as a life-long fisherman, he had an excuse because they had been fishing all night and he had firsthand proof—the boat was empty! But, because of who Jesus was, Peter made a miracle-making decision, “Because you say so, I will let down the nets.” 

My friend, obedience and trust opens the doors to miracles. Peter decides to let down the nets, solely based on obeying and trusting Jesus, and look what happens… 

What is Jesus asking you to do, in the depth of your heart, right now? Does it seem impossible to accomplish or even dream about? You will never know the depth of the miracle unless you take a step of faith and lower the nets. 

Years ago, I had the privilege of visiting the location where Mother Teresa was laid to rest. Spelled out in flowers on the top of her tomb were words that I will never forget: 

“Do whatever He tells you to do.” 

This is your opportunity. Do whatever He tells you to do and never forget… 

You are a miracle!

Scriptures: Luke 5:5-8, Luke 5:10-11

Just Before the Miracle

Let’s take a moment and talk to Jesus. 

Jesus, You are good. You are loving and kind, forgiving and empowering. You alone hold the keys of life and death and You are the God of all miracles. Lord, help us today to see Your love, even in a story about fish! Thank You for all that You have done and are doing. Amen. 

Yesterday we talked about Simon Peter and the miraculous catch of fish. In truth, we only told half the story so we’d better finish it today. Jesus told Simon Peter to push out into deeper water and lower his nets. Even though Simon Peter had other reasonable options, this was his response: 

Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” (Luke 5:5-8, NIV) Simon Peter got his miracle and his first response, after it happens, is to disqualify himself from any future connections or miracles! My friend, we often experience the miracles of God’s grace, His mercy and His power, and then we immediately are taken captive by shame. I want to remind you, salvation comes from Jesus, shame comes from the devil. 

This is what I love about this fish story! Jesus doesn’t see Simon Peter as a failure, or a broken sinner. No, Jesus sees Simon Peter as a man who has unlimited potential and can accomplish great things for the Kingdom of God. My friend, Jesus sees you the same way. And there is more! Instead of criticizing Simon Peter, or chastising him for past failures, Jesus offers Peter a change of life purpose and passion. 

“Then Jesus said to Simon, ’Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.’ 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.” (Luke 5:10-11, NIV) Jesus has a plan and a purpose for your future, no matter what has happened in your past. In Jesus, there is forgiveness for the past and hope for the future. And there is more! Jesus can take your story and use it to reach other people. 

As I close today, I would love to ask you two questions, “Have you disqualified yourself because of your past? You don’t have to because when you ask for forgiveness, Jesus can wash you as white as snow through his mercy and grace. Second question, “Who is Jesus asking you to share your Jesus story with?” 

My friend, if you use the same courage and faith in Jesus that it took for Peter to let down his nets, you may find that the person you share with will experience the miracle of salvation just like you did! Be a fisher of people today. Leave everything behind and follow the purpose of God in your life today and never forget… 

You are a miracle! 

Scripture: Jonah 1:4

Run to God

I read a fish story from the NBC Boston News that took my breath away for an instant and almost took Michael Packard’s breath away permanently!

Michael was diving in about 45 feet of water when “I just felt this truck hit me and everything just went dark,” he said…At first he thought he’d been eaten by a white shark — the feared sharks have become fixtures off the coast of Cape Cod in the summer — then he realized it didn’t have teeth: “I said, ‘I’m in the mouth of a whale!’”

Packard had been faced with an immediate struggle in the hard, shaking mouth of the whale, as his breathing regulator came out of his mouth, and he had to find it. Then, as the seconds ticked by, Packard thought, “This is how I’m going to die. In the mouth of a whale.” He didn’t know if he would be swallowed or suffocated, he said, and he thought about his 12 and 16 year-old sons, wife, mother and family. “I just was struggling but I knew this was this massive creature, there was no way I was going to bust myself out of there,” Packard recalled.

Then, suddenly, Packard saw light, felt the whale shaking its head and was thrown out of the water.” He reported, “I was just lying on the surface floating, and saw his tail, and he went back down, and I was like, ‘Oh my god, I got out of that, I survived,’” he said.

Michael Packard was swallowed by a whale, spent 30-40 seconds inside the whale, and then the whale spit him out back into the water! The ordeal left him with some minor injuries like a dislocated knee and some soft tissue damage, but he is already out of the hospital and doing fine. For Michael, being alive today is a miracle, but if this hadn’t happened in 2021 where the technology exists to prove that it really occurred, who knows if people would believe his story?

This true story made me think about Jonah, the biblical prophet who ran away from God because He didn’t want to be obedient to the call to go “fish for people” in the town of Nineveh. In spite of Jonah’s disobedience and running, God sends a “great fish” to bring him back to His purpose and plan. My friend, the fish was not punishment, the fish actually saved Jonah’s life! If you want to read the whole story, check out the biblical book of Jonah! (Jonah 1-4 NIV) My friend, are you running from God today? Don’t! Instead of running FROM God, run TO God! Instead of needing rescuing, be a rescuer! Run to His saving grace, and allow your miracle to be the sharing of how others can experience the same kind of salvation that both you and Jonah were shown by Jesus!

A good friend of mine once shared this wisdom with me, “The best answer to running from God is simply to stop.” When we stop running, God can use us to bring great revival to great cities. He can use you and never forget…

You are a miracle!

Scripture: Matthew 17:24-27

Fishing Fun

Even though I have been talking with you about Jesus and fish all week, truth be told, I am not much of a fisherman. I have had the privilege of fishing up in Alaska a few times but when a professional guide drives the boat, baits your hook, lets out the line, snags the fish and then hands you the rod to reel it in…I’m not sure that qualifies as actually fishing!

Let me share with you a short fish story from the biblical book of Matthew that includes real fishing!

After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” “Yes, he does,” he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?” “From others,” Peter answered. “Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him.“But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.” (Matthew 17:24-27, NIV) 

This is what struck me from the story. I love this line, that happens before Peter was even able to ask his question, “Jesus was the first to speak”. My friend, how many times do I allow Jesus to speak first? I often come with my list of needs and wants and I never even pause. I wonder how different my encounters with Jesus would be if I simply came to listen and allow Him to speak first?

I also noticed that Jesus tells Peter to go and “throw out his line.” Peter was a commercial fisherman. They used nets, not lines! Do you get it? Peter was being told to go and do some recreational fishing. Jesus was telling Peter to go and have some fun! Peter fished all the time, but Jesus knew that Peter needed to have a seat, have some fun and then experience a miracle!

My friend, when was the last time you had some fun? Have you ever thought that having fun was a way to experience a miracle? We often think that finding a miracle is serious business, and sometimes it is, but I love that Jesus does a miracle while His friend is enjoying himself. Jesus loves both joy and miracles!

Jesus is teaching me to slow down, let Him speak, have some fun, and expect a miracle. I hope that what He is teaching me is an encouragement to you today. Let’s pray…

Lord, slow us down so we can let You speak to our hearts. Help us to expect the unexpected and experience joy as we continue to wait for Your miracles. God, if You can put a coin in a fish’s mouth, You can certainly make a miracle for us. Keep us believing and expecting today, in Jesus’s name. Amen.

Never forget my friend…

You are a miracle!

Scriptures: Psalms 22:6, John 6:8-9, Matthew 14:20

Hand Over the Fish!

Thank you again for joining me on this spiritual journey of hope and miracles. 

I have had the privilege of taking groups of people to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, in the Holy Land of Israel. On our last trip, we were in Jerusalem when the war began on October 7th, 2023, and we had to make our way home through the country of Jordan. 

Would you take a moment right now and as the Bible tells us to do in Psalm 122, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem?” (Psalm 22:6 NIV) Pray for ALL those who have been affected by the war and ask God to bring peace to the whole region. Thank you. 

Before we left the country, we did get to spend a morning on a boat on the Sea of Galilee. I love those moments. 

We go to the middle of the lake, turn off the motors, read scripture, and worship. The lake is calm, and the surrounding hills whisper the stories of Jesus, the miracle of the feeding of the 5000, the restoration of Peter, the calming of the storm and the amazement of the disciples when Jesus walks on water. 

I love the miracle of the feeding of the 5000, and this little section from the book of John 6 speaks to my heart every time: 

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” (John 6:8-9, NIV) 

Jesus whispered to me that morning on the boat on the Sea of Galilee. God is in control. God loves to multiply. Multiplication requires trust. Multiplication requires sacrifice. Multiplication is God’s work, not ours. 

My friend, have you allowed God full control of your life or are you holding back an area of it to manage yourself? Release your control in exchange for His, and in doing so, you will allow His multiplying power to show up in your story. Trust Him. Take a step of faith and sacrifice whatever He asks for you to surrender. Leave the multiplying to Him and watch the miracle happen! 

This is the result of a little boy surrendering His bread and two little fish…They all ate and were satisfied. (Matthew 14:20, NIV) If you want to be satisfied today, hand over the fish! And never forget… 

You are a miracle! 

Scriptures: John 21:3-9, Numbers 6:24-26

The Scent of Restoration

Thanks for spending a week with me as I have been telling fish stories! I promise you that not a word was exaggerated and that every “tale” came straight from the perfect and truthful words of scripture. The Bible tells us another story about Peter. Peter denies Jesus, before the crucifixion, sees Jesus die on the cross, and in his grief goes back to his career as a commercial fisherman. Let the words paint a picture for you right now: 

“I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. (John 21:3-9, NIV) 

My friend, can you smell it? The scent of the lake. The burning charcoal. The smell of freshly grilled fish and bread. The scent of restoration? 

In the moments that follow, Jesus is going to put all of the pieces of Peter’s broken life back together. He is going to take Peter’s failure and denial, bury it in forgiveness, and invite his dear friend to breakfast. 

Unlike Jonah, Peter didn’t try and swim away from Jesus as he could have. No, he swam toward Jesus, looking for a new start and a continued purpose as a “fisher of people.” 

I spent too much time trying to run from God. I was as slippery as a fish (or so I thought) and avoided Jesus because I thought I was just too broken to be put back together. 

Today, I am so grateful for His invitation to “Come, and have breakfast.” 

Would you join me today as we sit with Him, listen for His voice, experience His provision and accept His calling to share our story with others who need Him? I promise you, if you accept the invitation, the company is amazing, His provision is more than enough and His acceptance is all you need. 

Thanks for fishing with me this past week. It’s been an honor to throw a line in the water together. 

As you go, please accept this blessing from God, Himself: 

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace”. (Numbers 6:24-26, NIV) 

And never forget my friend… 

You are a miracle!