We return home from Portugal on Tuesday, March 14th and will publish our final post from Portugal about that time.
Here are the events from this past week. Friday, February 24th the Vila Real Elders Quorum held a Valentines pizza dinner & dance activity.
SCRIPTURE POWER
When Jesus called Peter, James and John it was not when their fishing nets were empty but when their nets were full of fishes.
Israel's largest freshwater lake, Lake Tiberias, is also known as the Sea of Tiberias, Lake of Gennesaret, Lake Kinneret, and the Sea of Galilee. The lake is about 13 miles long and 8 miles wide but only 140’ deep. “After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.” (John 6:1)
Luke states: “And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.” (Luke 5:1-11)
Apparently, Peter was not sure what his responsibility was after the Savior’s resurrection as he went back to the Sea of Galilee to go fishing. This is the same place he was called 3 years earlier when he “forsook all, and followed him.” Once again they didn’t catch any fish until they followed Jesus’s instruction.
John states: “After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.” (John 21: 1-19)
Peter was reminded 3 times that the most important thing was to follow Jesus and feed his sheep.
President Dallin H. Oaks said: “ We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families.” (“Good, Better, Best”, Ensign, Nov. 2007)
Elder Richard G. Scott said: “We knew that we would be tested here.. Part of that testing
here is to have so many seemingly interesting things to do that we can forget the main
purposes for being here... Be wise and don’t let good things crowd out those that are
essential.
Study the things you do in your discretionary time, that time you are free to control.
Do you find that it is centered in those things that are of highest priority and of greatest
importance? Or do you unconsciously, consistently fill it with trivia and activities that are
not of enduring value nor help you accomplish the purpose for which you came to earth?
... After this life, you will be restored to that which you have here allowed yourself to
become.
Whether you intend to or not, when you live as though the Savior and His teachings
are only one of many other important priorities in your life, you are clearly on the road to
disappointment and likely on the path to tragedy.” (‘Jesus Christ, Our Redeemer’,
Ensign, May 1997, pg.53)
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