My dad liked fishing. My daddy, Ted Shuman is with Jesus forever now. While he was on this earth, he really like to fish. I guess he just got stuck fishing with me sometimes since I was the youngest of his nine kids. He would load up his gear and we would go out on a pond or a lake somewhere not too far from home. I would tend to get in trouble because I was scared of the fog or weeds or the frogs that jumped. Watching daddy clean the fish and fry them in a hot pan was fun. He would show me how the bones lay so as to get them out just right or how to scale a fish so you could actually eat it. I learned a lot from him just by being with him. He was especially good at showing me how to wash your hands after to get that fishy smell off. That powdered soap was super strong!
Anyway... This post is coming to you because of a dream I had sometime in March of 2020. In the dream, my dad and I went fishing. We caught a lot of fish. There were big long fish and skinny short fish...fish in all sizes, shapes and colors. I found it interesting that in the dream we enjoyed the fishing and being together and discussing the kinds of fish with all the colors on them. Funny thing is that when we got home to clean the fish, we didn't really clean them. Somehow, the skins all came off the fish and dad said they were ready and we put them into this big aquarium just to enjoy them. Have you every seen fish with no skins? These fish were naked! They were all fine and healthy and swimming around and swimming altogether!! You could not distinguish the types of fish anymore because the skins were gone! That was the end of my dream.
OK.... so what does this mean? To tell you the truth, I don't actually know. But what I do know is this.... my Daddy loves fishing and I love to be with my Dad. I had a sense of joy to be fishing with Dad. This is a new season of fishing and catching fish of all sizes, shapes and colors. In the end... the size, shape and color are not important as all these fish will swim together and share a space happily.
Does this not make you think of the times we are in? That perhaps God the Father is asking us to go fishing with him? I felt a new call to Fish for Men of all sizes, shapes and colors. God's true heart is for everyone to know Him. The boundaries of nationality or culture are not important. The question is, "Do you know Jesus?". That actually can be the question that starts a fishing adventure. Or as my friend Judy asks, "What is one thing you want Jesus to do for you today?". I am learning that fishing is not as easy as you might think. That must be why my earthly daddy didn't want to take me sometimes. My screaming in fright at the frogs jumping scared the fish making it harder to catch them! The bait for fishing is pretty important too. Would you want to eat bitter worms? No...you want sweet tasting worms.
How has this dream changed me? Well.... I am excited to go fishing with my Daddy again. It has been awhile since I have felt that excitement. Next, I have noticed that I care less about what kind of fish I might catch and am more concerned that I at least catch one/some! Skin color and size or age are unimportant now. And, if I am going to bother with fishing, I might as well realize that I will not catch every fish. Sometimes fish come and eat all the bait and swim away full! Sometimes, that might actually be the point of fishing.... so the fish get a taste of sweet worms and want to come back for more!! Are your worms sweet??? I have found that I can be a very bitter person... too concerned about my own problems. I am not sweet at all!!
So.... are you ready? Ready to go fishing?
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
Saturday, February 1, 2020
Grace Notes
Dear Friends, Family, Prayer Warriors,
Psalms 25: 4,5
"Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you."
Family Update
Hi! How are you?
We are so honored to be in touch with you. Thank you for taking a moment to read this update.
As I look over the last year, the most impacting lesson for me has been to understand and know the ways of the Lord. God has moved in many wonderful ways:
1. Samantha and Marcia graduated from Belhaven University
2. Abigail graduated from High School
3. Jacob spent three months in Japan. And, Michelle went with him for about three weeks.
4. Marcia moved to Nashville, TN and took a nursing position at Vanderbilt University.
5. My assignment at Nissan changed; enabling me to get off night shift, work with Japanese personnel, and production floor management.
6. Finally, and most special of all, Jude Isaac Hamlin (son of Wes and Samantha Hamlin) had their first baby; making Michelle and I grandparents for the first time.
7. To top it all off, we welcomed a mini-schnauzer into the family (Freddie).
Truly, it has been a blessed year!
Catch the Fire Ministries - Toronto
Please pray for Abigail as she steps out to attend a 5 month ministry program in Toronto, Canada.
She will leave March 2nd and travel to the school. She will study in Toronto and even participate in local and international mission outreach.
Pray as she prepares for the move and engages in this new endeavor. We are confident in the Lord that God will continue to bless and move in her life!
Reign of Grace
Even though this ministry has been in somewhat of an incubating stage, we believe God for its birthing. What an exciting time to be a part of God's Kingdom purposes in the world. These are the days of Grace. God's wonderful gift of grace is met to be shared with all.
Two scriptures reflecting the mission:
1. Matthew 28: 18-20. The great commission!
2. Hebrews 10:23-25. The great assembly of the saints! (stir up and encourage)
3. II Corinthians 5:17-19. The great ministry of reconciliation.
Two nations of interest:
1. Japan. Through Nissan, I continue to connect with Japanese. This work has also allowed me to keep somewhat fluent in the language; even though I haven't been to Japan 1for0 years (Mark). I am sensing something in my heart for this great nation.
2. Ireland. It's funny for me to speak of this nation. In the last about one month, I have had two or three vivid dreams involving Ireland. I don't know clearly what these dreams mean. Yet, I sense something spiritually significant to these dreams and to this nation. It's almost like I need to go there and get something. Anyway, If any of you have any insight into these dreams, please feel free to message me or something. We believe God has something beautiful in this/for this great nation.
The Reign of Grace. May it shine on you every day as Christ's return draws near!
We appreciate you very much and would love to hear from you.
Blessings
Mark & Michelle Gulland
Psalms 25: 4,5
"Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you."
Family Update
Hi! How are you?
We are so honored to be in touch with you. Thank you for taking a moment to read this update.
As I look over the last year, the most impacting lesson for me has been to understand and know the ways of the Lord. God has moved in many wonderful ways:
1. Samantha and Marcia graduated from Belhaven University
2. Abigail graduated from High School
3. Jacob spent three months in Japan. And, Michelle went with him for about three weeks.
4. Marcia moved to Nashville, TN and took a nursing position at Vanderbilt University.
5. My assignment at Nissan changed; enabling me to get off night shift, work with Japanese personnel, and production floor management.
6. Finally, and most special of all, Jude Isaac Hamlin (son of Wes and Samantha Hamlin) had their first baby; making Michelle and I grandparents for the first time.
7. To top it all off, we welcomed a mini-schnauzer into the family (Freddie).
Truly, it has been a blessed year!
Catch the Fire Ministries - Toronto
Please pray for Abigail as she steps out to attend a 5 month ministry program in Toronto, Canada.
She will leave March 2nd and travel to the school. She will study in Toronto and even participate in local and international mission outreach.
Pray as she prepares for the move and engages in this new endeavor. We are confident in the Lord that God will continue to bless and move in her life!
Reign of Grace
Even though this ministry has been in somewhat of an incubating stage, we believe God for its birthing. What an exciting time to be a part of God's Kingdom purposes in the world. These are the days of Grace. God's wonderful gift of grace is met to be shared with all.
Two scriptures reflecting the mission:
1. Matthew 28: 18-20. The great commission!
2. Hebrews 10:23-25. The great assembly of the saints! (stir up and encourage)
3. II Corinthians 5:17-19. The great ministry of reconciliation.
Two nations of interest:
1. Japan. Through Nissan, I continue to connect with Japanese. This work has also allowed me to keep somewhat fluent in the language; even though I haven't been to Japan 1for0 years (Mark). I am sensing something in my heart for this great nation.
2. Ireland. It's funny for me to speak of this nation. In the last about one month, I have had two or three vivid dreams involving Ireland. I don't know clearly what these dreams mean. Yet, I sense something spiritually significant to these dreams and to this nation. It's almost like I need to go there and get something. Anyway, If any of you have any insight into these dreams, please feel free to message me or something. We believe God has something beautiful in this/for this great nation.
The Reign of Grace. May it shine on you every day as Christ's return draws near!
We appreciate you very much and would love to hear from you.
Blessings
Mark & Michelle Gulland
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