Reeling In the Big Ones

This was my very first fish ever...a beautiful Lake Trout from a glacier lake in Wyoming! I vaguely remember going fishing as a little girl...not enjoying what I was doing because I never caught anything.

But no more! I love to fish! This fish was caught using a down-rigger with a husky "Rainbow" Rapala lure. My lovely companion is my cousin's daughter, Tasha.

(Click on pic to see the big fish)

Below is the second fish I caught...another lovely Lake Trout. I caught this one with a husky "Firetiger" Rapala lure...trolling close to shore. Pulling in to a little cove (To visit the ladies room) I hooked this one reeling in my line as we approached the dock. Later, this fish was cut up into four fillets, marinated in Zesty Italian salad dressing, grilled to perfection on a charcoal grill...served with fresh cut lemons. I leave the rest to your imaginations. My beautiful companion is my daughter, Kayla.

(Click on pic to see the big fish)

And last, but not least, I caught the fish below while trolling close to shore. Again, I used the now famous Firetiger lure, a.k.a., "The Triple L" (Lucky Lori Lure). This one has yet to be filleted and cooked...and rests frozen in a vacuum sealed package.

(Click on pic to see the big fish)

Honorable mentions: I also caught three pretty Rainbow Trout on hooks baited with worms (Small catches in comparison to the above, hence no pics). Indeed, the fishing was very good!

"Thank you!" to all who accompanied me to the lake: Mike, Nan, Tasha, Mother, Kayla, Staci, Al, Bernice, Don, Rose, and Bill. Your company was better medicine than what the doctor prescribed!

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PS. Thanks Jim for showing me where God lives and literally being my right arm as you taught me how to fish...despite my disability! Because of you I've gained a deep respect and new appreciation for the lowly, slimy, wiggly earthworm.

(Where God lives...)

Got Fruit?

I recently had a conversation with a friend about the fruit of the Spirit. We discussed the misconception that as we mature in Christ we acquire the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control along the way.

Furthermore, the number of ‘fruits’ we manifest reveal our spiritual maturity in Christ, the goal being: we will eventually acquire all the fruits of the Spirit. Not so, according to Paul the Apostle.

While reading Galatians 5:22-23 I discovered that Paul said, "The fruit of the Spirit is..." not fruits. He’s not talking about an apple tree, a pear tree, a banana tree...different kinds of fruit bearing plants which bring forth fruit after their own kind. He’s talking about one fruit tree, i.e., the Holy Spirit, bearing one kind of fruit with many characteristics. As an apple is individual in its color and appearance, crunchy and sweet in its taste, possesses a stem and seeds (All of which are characteristics of the same fruit), such is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is one Spirit with many characteristics - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control - bearing 'fruit' in the life of one who is filled with It.

And like the apple is an apple - proven by its many individual characteristics – such is the Holy Spirit. An apple tastes, looks, and feels like an apple...not a banana. One who has the Spirit will manifest the fruit (Characteristics) thereof!

If we truly have the Holy Spirit living in us...comforting us and illuminating Truth to us...we will exhibit love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in our repertoire of virtues on a regular basis. We do not acquire each 'fruit' as we mature in knowledge of Jesus Christ or do good works. As a recipient of the Savior's divine grace (Through the atonement on the cross) the Holy Spirit will dwell in us and manifest Its presence through...fruit.

Such is what Paul is saying in Galatians:

"So I advise you to live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict. But when you are directed by the Holy Spirit, you are no longer subject to the law.
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, He will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there. If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives."

Again, I ask...

Got fruit?