It has been said that each time a child is born, the world lights up with new possibilities. I believe God has a very special plan for your life! I have told my children and now you dear grandsons that you should cooperate with God’s plan for your life. I learned this the hard way and did not allow God to direct my life as early as I should have. But, when I began to cooperate with His plan for my life, things went very well! By understanding the futility of my solitary effort, and by the failure to plan my own life, I experienced sinful misdirection,
I realized by Grace I could not completely chart my own course. His Spirit began to dwell in me and flow in such a way, the impossible became possible! Signs, wonders, miracles, that are said to confound wise men of this world, appeared to me in understandable everyday ways! I was so grateful for these amazing things, I spoke my heart to God: take my life and let it be, consecrate it Lord to thee!
It has been said that each time a child is born, the world lights up with new possibilities. I believe God has a very special plan for your life! I have told my children and now you dear grandsons that you should cooperate with God’s plan for your life. I learned this the hard way and did not allow God to direct my life as early as I should have. But, when I began to cooperate with His plan for my life, things went very well! By understanding the futility of my solitary effort, and by the failure to plan my own life, I experienced sinful misdirection,
I realized by Grace I could not completely chart my own course. His Spirit began to dwell in me and flow in such a way, the impossible became possible! Signs, wonders, miracles, that are said to confound wise men of this world, appeared to me in understandable everyday ways! I was so grateful for these amazing things, I spoke my heart to God: take my life and let it be, consecrate it Lord to thee!
I realized by Grace I could not completely chart my own course. His Spirit began to dwell in me and flow in such a way, the impossible became possible! Signs, wonders, miracles, that are said to confound wise men of this world, appeared to me in understandable everyday ways! I was so grateful for these amazing things, I spoke my heart to God: take my life and let it be, consecrate it Lord to thee!
It has been said that each time a child is born, the world lights up with new possibilities. I believe God has a very special plan for your life! I have told my children and now you dear grandsons that you should cooperate with God’s plan for your life. I learned this the hard way and did not allow God to direct my life as early as I should have. But, when I began to cooperate with His plan for my life, things went very well! By understanding the futility of my solitary effort, and by the failure to plan my own life, I experienced sinful misdirection,
I realized by Grace I could not completely chart my own course. His Spirit began to dwell in me and flow in such a way, the impossible became possible! Signs, wonders, miracles, that are said to confound wise men of this world, appeared to me in understandable everyday ways! I was so grateful for these amazing things, I spoke my heart to God: take my life and let it be, consecrate it Lord to thee!
The Importance of Family
The word of God assures us that faith, hope and love is provision more than enough to nurture our spirit, soul and body. This nourishment can flow into a person, so that anyone who believes in Him can be completely happy, celebrate life and dance with the Trinity. Now, Samuel and Silas, I will at times refer to Him in capital letters. Him is Jesus! And, the Trinity I also referred to is the whole of God. I Believe God stepped out of the Trinity in the form of Jesus to come to earth so we could learn about the great spirit of love. When Jesus left the earth, like all men do, he asked another part of the Trinity called the Holy Spirit to come and always be with us to comfort us and keep us close to Him. It is this Holy Spirit that helps me write these stories about fishermen, so that you can always be close to me too!
By giving to others, and offering whatever talent, passion and self expression we can imagine we can fish with God, the Son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit. One day when you are old enough to read this book, I will have answered a call from God to just be there for you. By leaving some books and paintings I can be there for people for a long time to come! Through the stories of my books, I can share my joy with others for the great outdoors, fishing and making friends who also appreciate the natural beauty of the special planet that God created for us.
To thank God for my blessed life I have enjoyed on this planet, I draw the creatures he gave us dominion over! Stories about animals helped me sleep when I was a boy and animals are so amazing I want to study and draw them! I learned to fish as a very young boy and often spent time indoors drawing the animals I saw outdoors when I went fishing with my grandfather.
There is a story in the Bible: Matthew 17:27 that made me think a lot about why fishing has been such a treasure in my life. The story is about Jesus and his friend Peter. Peter was a fisherman and learned more about life than just fishing because of his friend Jesus! Jesus was God so he could make anything possible; he could bring about miracles. He never produced a miracle to show off or be famous, in the way a magician entertains and seeks reward. Jesus produced miracles to help average people in need things like food, good health or happiness!
Samuel, when Jesus and his friend Peter and the other close friends of Jesus were preparing to do good work on our beautiful planet, they needed money, just like us. They were required, like us to pay taxes and pay off their debt. So one day Jesus told Peter to cast a line and catch a fish. Jesus promised Peter the fish would have a gold coin in its mouth! This was one of the miracles Jesus produced while he was on earth. His miracles are still happening on earth, because of the Holy Spirit he sends from God his father to people who truly love Him! But, in the story of the fish with the gold coin in it’s mouth, the money was used by Peter to pay taxes for his friends who were doing God’s work. Now I told you that ordinary people can do extraordinary things when they believe in the power of Jesus to feed them, heal them and make them happy. It is true son, I will never lie to you. I tell you the truth that Jesus put something more precious than gold in the mouth of the first fish I caught when I was a young boy. I got great happiness from fishing and from fishing with friends! My reward has never tarnished or dimmed. In my memory I see and dream about my early catches and times with my grandfather, uncle, father, brother and friends. Are you ready to read about some of those times? OK then, let’s go fishing and enjoy our seasons in nature!
It has been said that each time a child is born, the world lights up with new possibilities. I believe God has a very special plan for your life! I have told my children and now you dear grandsons that you should cooperate with God’s plan for your life. I learned this the hard way and did not allow God to direct my life as early as I should have. But, when I began to cooperate with His plan for my life, things went very well! By understanding the futility of my solitary effort, and by the failure to plan my own life, I experienced sinful misdirection,
I realized by Grace I could not completely chart my own course. His Spirit began to dwell in me and flow in such a way, the impossible became possible! Signs, wonders, miracles, that are said to confound wise men of this world, appeared to me in understandable everyday ways! I was so grateful for these amazing things, I spoke my heart to God: take my life and let it be, consecrate it Lord to thee!
Foreword
In the past four years I have been blessed to know Terry as a professor, adviser, mentor, and friend. He has an incredible passion for creating with deep appreciation of nature and admirable dedication to his students and those around him.
Out of the Mouth of the First Fish is a collection of Terry’s real life experiences intertwined with spiritual and inspirational messages stemming from his own innate beliefs. As an experienced fisherman and talented artist, Terry combines all his talents and passions to create relatable and encouraging stories that remind the reader to reflect on their own lives, experiences, and spiritual gifts.
~ Erica
Out of the Mouth of the First Fish is a collection of Terry’s real life experiences intertwined with spiritual and inspirational messages stemming from his own innate beliefs. As an experienced fisherman and talented artist, Terry combines all his talents and passions to create relatable and encouraging stories that remind the reader to reflect on their own lives, experiences, and spiritual gifts.
~ Erica