Fishing with Jesus

Stephanie’s encounter with Heaven:

“What does Heaven have for me today?”

I stepped into Heaven today and automatically felt what seemed like a warm blanket was put around my shoulders, like. I have on a long white dress and now this light brown covering around me. I am walking in a land that reminds me of a place out in the middle of nowhere South Carolina or Louisiana. I see beautiful moss hanging off huge trees in the distance surrounding this territory and I realize: I am walking through a field. I see a house, in the distance and off to the left, that reminds me of the house in the movie The Shack. I see small birds and bees flying about and flowers everywhere around the property. There is a porch that looks so inviting, yet I am some distance away. I realize I am not going to that house, as I had believed, but I am going past the house toward the water that I see. I believe it is a lake. There is a lot of green moss on the ground around the water’s edge.

 Why has Heaven brought me here? I see someone coming in a small boat towards me. I can hear the motor of the boat. It’s Jesus. He came ashore, got out of the boat, grabbed me and hugged me. Hi Jesus. Thank you. Why have you brought me here?

Jesus replied, “I want us to go fishing.”

I answered, “Ok. I will go fishing with you!”

There is a bench on the water’s edge, and I have a knowing to sit down there. Jesus is standing to my left, fishing pole in hand and now He has handed me my fishing pole. I know to cast it in the water. He is standing on the shore; I feel his gentleness and His joy! Thank you, Jesus, for bringing me here. What would you like for me to learn?

 Jesus explained, “I want to be at peace with you. There is where we can. You see, I can cast this line as far out as I need to, you can too. But is there peace when you reel it back in and there is nothing on the end?”

I asked, “Don’t we just cast it out again?”

Jesus answered, “Why would there be peace at casting it out over and over?”

I responded, “Isn’t it because there is an expectancy to do that? You typically don’t catch a fish after your first or even second throw?” (I realized we have been conditioned to not believe we will have an answer right away.) 

Jesus elucidated, “It would seem that way, wouldn’t it? But what if you did catch something every time? Would your expectation be different?”

I replied, “Hmmm…I think so. But I’ve been conditioned to expect it to fail every once in a while.”

 Jesus inquired, “What if it doesn’t have to? What if EVERY TIME you cast your line out, you received?”

I answered, “Wow. That would be fantastic! How can I apply this to my life, Jesus? What is the right question to ask you?”

Jesus said, “Cast your line out in peace. Do everything in peace and it will glorify me to give you something every time.”

I asked, “How do I do that, cast my line out in peace? I don’t want to miss this.”

He came over to where I am sitting and took my hand and gently stood me up.

Jesus explained, “See yourself stepping into me. Cast your line out then.”

I spoke, “Ok Jesus, I step into you, and I cast my line out…while in you.”

I could feel him around me, overshadowing me. I could sense something was about to change.

I cast my line out really far. I begin to reel it in and realized the weight and the pull on the line. I had caught something! I was reeling and pulling and reeling and pulling and suddenly, there was a treasure chest at the end of my line. I pulled it up out of the water. The anticipation was so strong as I opened it.

A burst of light as a giant ball was there so I picked it up and I was so excited that the only thing I knew to do was thrust it inside of me. Then, I was able to see a crown in the bottom of the chest as well as some bags of money. I picked up the crown and put it on my head. I could sense Jesus’ joy and laughter as I dug through the chest.

I suddenly understood what He was saying to me. I want to go fishing with you. Most who go fishing find serenity and peace in the quiet of casting their line. This was a casting of my cares, my desires, and my needs. His desire was for me to do this WITH Him, in Him and through Him.

The invitation to step into Him is a constant. Join me! Cast your line (things weighing on your mind or your heart, any need) out with me, IN HIM, and receive your prize at the end of your line! He said it glorifies HIM!!