Gooood Morning!!! Day 1... Here we go!!! I can't tell you how much I've been looking forward to this study with you... and for a very long time! If you haven't introduced yourself please go ahead and say hello! At any time through the study please feel free to send in your prayer requests. As you join in the discussion remember... we're all in this thing together! It's not about answering “right”... or answering “best.” It's about seeking God and enjoying, learning from, and applying what we find! Some days you may just want to add a line... or won't be able to join in at all... that's ok! Other days you may have more! Wonderful! Make sure as best you can, to catch up when possible. There is SO MUCH to be unpacked in this study! Ok? Ok. Enough with the business. :)

Peter.

Know what I love about this guy?

He was kind of a mess. A common fisherman. A husband. A payer-of-bills. A friend. A loud-mouth talker. A man with a temper. A man who loved. A man who was loved in return.

A man who met Jesus.

A man who was immediately made perfect, complete, whole, and successful.

Or not.

After his many mistakes, failures, and lessons learned, then, surely then.... he could have gained attention and glory for what he had become, right?

Nope.

Got your Bible? Check out Acts 4:13.

I love this. Just an ordinary man. Yet he'd been with Jesus.

Very often, even (and especially) in Christian circles we come to think that we should be a perfect vessel through which God can work. But we're not. That's not what He asks. Ever.

God asks us to be clay. It is only when we become clay... that God Himself can shape us into a vessel for His perfect use. He fashions us lovingly, carefully, and completely. He's got it under control.

What a relief!

I'm going to ask something of you. So please “listen” carefully. :) We're here to study GOD. Sounds obvious, right? Well. Please take a moment and remember. Please realize that the chance to change, to be molded... to be saved... to be ordinary people through whom an extraordinary God is revealed is offered to us. TODAY. It's not a trick. It's not a sometimes-treat. It's a promise. When we seek Him, we will find Him. Please spend some time on your knees today before your God. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you. We'll keep our studies short and simple. But let's commit to applying them. Not matter where you are... where you stand... will you take one step... each day... toward God?

Let's take a look at the first encounter of our ordinary fisherman... with His extraordinary God.

Please read Mark 1:16-17. Check out the first three words in verse 17. We usually hear about becoming “fishers of men.” (Don't worry... we'll go there too!) But for today... Jesus' first two words to Simon.

Follow me.

Where? He didn't know. It wasn't the primary matter of importance. The man in front of Him was.What about you today, are you in? Will you follow? We don't have to go ahead. We don't have to know where. Will you find a slip of paper and write those 2 words on them? Follow me. Hold onto it. Keep it in your purse, on your fridge... close at hand. Those words will change us. Forever. Don't believe me? That's ok. Just you wait and see....

Please read Proverbs 20:24

For discussion: What does this verse mean? What do you personally know about Jesus that makes you want to follow Him? (Feel free to write more than once if you'd like in response to others!)

Can't wait to hear from you. I'm praying for you today.

Love, Mary