A Fish out of Water

Growing up, I loved the story “A Fish out of water”, where the fish would keep out growing the containers it was put in – from a fish bowl to a vase, to a bath tub to a pond. It’s a great analogy I think of how we think that we can contain God in our lives, but that He, like the fish, is uncontainable and His plans for us are just as uncontainable. His plans for us embrace our whole life not segments of it.

Christine Caine has recently launched a magazine for women called “Propel”. It aims to encourage women to “see themselves as an intricate part of God’s plan in all spheres of life.” I love what she wrote about it – “Propel exists to help create an interconnected life in Christ, who affirms and acknowledges every woman’s gifts, passions and leadership potential for glory of His Kingdom.”

God is part of my every minute, everyday life! He’s there as I mother my boys, there as I manage my container fleet, there as I pursue my hobbies, there as I serve in church. God does not view our lives in compartments of sacred versus secular. He sees our lives as a whole, and He has a plan for our whole lives, not just our spiritual life. He has as much interest in our work life, family life, hobbies and dreams as He does in our “sacred” life. He has called us into many of these and has plans for us in them. Eric Liddell, Olympic runner who was the inspiration for the movie the Chariots of Fire, said this “God made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure. “Eric was called to the Olympic Field and not the missionary field. And it was on the Olympic Track he found his mission.

God is in all aspects of our lives and is ready to encounter us outside of Sunday and our quiet times. When one is at work God is there, at play – God is there. Our faith is to be found interwoven in all aspects of our lives.

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence?” (Psalm 139:7)

 “May the favour of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us – yes, establish the work of our hands (Psalm 90:17).