Fishers of Men - Reflections after launch

As I reflect on the launch of the Fishers of Men Collection this past weekend, I'm extremely grateful for the support that has been shown and the people that were involved in bringing it together.

The hope is that it inspires you to take more action in your everyday life. Whether that's a simple smile, a flower, or buying someone's lunch or coffee. Maybe you think it doesn't really matter, but I promise you, it does. We're slowly losing more and more of human connection in the vast world of distractions we live in. Constantly on the go, on our phones, living life on fast forward, never stopping to slow down and see the blessings God has placed in our lives.

One of those blessings being the people around us. The ones in our circle and the ones that aren't. The ones we really get along with and the ones we think are the opposite of us. I know what you're thinking… Yes, they are blessings too.

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to go out and connect with some pretty cool people. We gave away gift cards and flowers with Bible verses attached. We had conversations with and prayed for people that were out and about - some of them very fortunate, and others less fortunate. You know what they all had in common? When we asked if we could pray for them, they almost always responded by asking for prayer for someone else.

How is it that in both scenarios - seasons of abundance and seasons of loss - the one thing we long for is our community of friends and family to be healthy and taken care of? How is it that our whole lives we strive for a better job, more money, cooler car, a bigger house, and in the pursuit of those things, miss out on what we were made for? I'm not saying those things are bad. A new job can change a life. More money can change a life. What I'm saying is, we can't miss out on what God has for us because of our pursuit of those things.

I'll be honest with you, it is incredibly awkward and scary walking up to a stranger to hand them a flower or a gift card. Some people said no, and that stings a little. But the joy on the faces of those that received it? That made every "no" worth it.

We met a guy named Davis. We stopped and chatted for a bit, eventually asking if we could pray for him. He asked us to pray for his father and for his own mental and spiritual life to be stronger. As we prayed for him, he started crying. I don't have words to describe a moment like that. 

I needed this weekend just as much as anyone we connected with and prayed for. It forced me outside of my bubble, outside of the world I live in and tend to get stuck in. What it showed me is that everyone is needing a little love in the world we're living in right now. It's about time we start sharing the gift Jesus has given us.

We were made to be like the Shepherd. To be the ones who leave the 99 to pursue the one.

We were made to be fishers of men. To cast our nets into the world, catching those that get curious and sharing the Good News with them.

Jesus told us we were the light of the world. That our job was to shine our light in the dark places and share the joy that God has blessed us with.

Is it scary and uncomfortable sometimes? Absolutely. But on the other side is a joy that is unmatched and an impact that will last.

If I learned anything this past weekend, it's that the simplest thing - a smile, a compliment, a flower - can change a day. Those little things get us to pause, to look up, to notice that life is a blessing and that the people in our lives are a large portion of it.

The 99 is on a mission to create a movement of people willing to be the shepherd, the fisher, and the light that the world so desperately needs right now. If you feel the call, shop the newest Fishers of Men Collection while you're here.

To God be the glory.