“Are y’all going to be home for a few minutes? I’ve got flowers for Ms. Mary.” “Great come on.” As I hung up the phone I thought, “How sweet of Jason. I can’t wait to see how Mary reacts to the flowers…she has told me so many times, don’t waste your money on flowers!”

The expression on Mary’s face was priceless when she saw Jason and he said, “Happy Valentines, I brought you some flowers.” Friends are a priceless gift. When a friend creatively expresses thoughtfulness, it touches your heart. The bouquet of flour was so cool!

Ya know Jesus is like that. One of my favorite stories is found in John 21. The story starts with Peter, Thomas and several of the disciples fishing all night and catching nothing. They went fishing because they didn’t know what else to do. Even though they had seen…even touched & talked with Jesus since He had been resurrected, everything was different now. They were scared…felt alone & lost. Jesus knew this. Jesus was thinking about them. On that dark morning across the water they hear, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” Jesus called them “Friends.” The men who He was entrusting to build His Church…men who would suffer & die for the Kingdom of Christ, he called them “Friends.”

Then the voice said, ““Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Jesus knew that these professional fishermen had not caught a fish and did what only Jesus can do…He gave them an “I Love You” Valentine of Fish. Notice the nature of the Valentine & how it was wrapped. It was timely, personal, and wrapped in I Love You Friend. This was not a life & death storm but a raw time of aloneness….and there was Jesus being Jesus.

Then Jesus invited them to come to shore where He had prepared a warm fire and fresh cooked fish for His hungry friends.

Have you been fishing all night with nothing on your stringer? Are you floating aimlessly on the big water…feeling alone? Are you hungry for something of substance? Stop and listen. Jesus is calling to you, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” He has everything you need…” IF” you come to Him. He is the Peace…the Hope…the Strength…He is Enough!

Jesus promises “All” who come in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Have you had enough of the world’s broken promises & anxiety? Jesus is calling.