Catch of the Day

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description

Put into action the characteristics needed to be a great fisherman, and see how they can also make you into a great fisher of men. Fishermen don’t rely on luck in order to catch fish—they put their skills, knowledge, and experience into play every time they cast their line. Likewise, righteous and godly living doesn’t come naturally but requires study, commitment, and a lot of practice. In Catch of the Day, Jimmy Houston combines both his love of fishing and his love of God in this unique fisherman’s 365-day devotional. Each day features Scripture and a thought for meditation that applies insights from the art of fishing to daily spiritual growth, as well as fishing tip from a pro. Anyone who loves God’s creation, combined with the excitement of the catch, will truly enjoy this guide of spiritual lessons for life.

Transcript of Catch of the Day

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4 i m m y H o u s t o n

A N U A R Y 1

G E N E S I S 1 : 1

In the beginning God created the sky and the earth.

I t ’ s a lway s e x c i t i n g to begin something new like a new job, new house, new marriage, or a new family. New projects excite and energize me. I’m always excited about beginning a new tournament season where all the fishermen start out again

at zero. I can’t wait for the start of Major League

Baseball or the first game of Oklahoma University football or basketball.

One tradition I started more than thirty-five years ago was to begin each January 1 and read the Bible through in a year. Now, I’ve completely read the Bible through more than thirty times, in addition to my other Bible reading and study. Start your very own tradition today. Five, ten, twenty years from

now, you’ll be amazed at what God wants to tell you on a daily basis.

than thirty-five years ago was to begin each January 1 and read the Bible through in a year. Now, I’ve completely read the Bible through more than thirty times, in addition to my other Bible reading and study. Start your very own tradition today. Five, ten, twenty years from

TIPUse the cold winter

months to clean and organize all

your tackle to get ready for that great

spring fishin’.

at zero. I can’t wait for the start of Major League

Baseball or the first game of Oklahoma University football or basketball.

One tradition I started more than thirty-five years ago was to than thirty-five years ago was to than thirty-five years ago was to Use the cold winter

Baseball or the first game of Oklahoma University football or basketball.

One tradition I started more than thirty-five years ago was to

Oklahoma University football or basketball.

than thirty-five years ago was to TIP

Use the cold winter

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C a t c h o f t h e D a y 5

A N U A R Y 2

G E N E S I S 1 : 2 7

So God created human beings in his image.

G o d co u l d have made us look like anything He wanted. We could have looked like the space aliens we see on Star Trek or Men in Black. We could have looked like frogs, or fish, or anything else God chose. But He chose to pattern us after Himself. We are patterned after God—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We are not God, we are not perfect, but we are patterned to be that way.

The next time you have a pity party about how you look or feel, think about what God could have made you look like and how He could have made you feel. Then look in that mirror and smile. Look inside yourself and laugh; God patterned you and me after Himself!

He could have made you feel. Then look in that

TIPSpool on new line at the start of every year and every four to six weeks during

fishin’ season.

year and every four

TIPSpool on new line at the start of every year and every four

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6 i m m y H o u s t o n

A N U A R Y 3

P R O V E R B S 1 0 : 2

Riches gotten by doing wrong have no value,but right living will save you from death.

Fi s h i n g to u r n a m e n ts have brought out the very best and very worst in fishermen. While tournaments are incredibly fair and honest, cheating does creep in sometimes. Blatant cheating is usually discovered quickly, and cheaters

are disqualified, generally banned for life. Unintentional rule breaking is punished by penalties, such as a weight penalty or loss of your

catch for that day.The most damaging cheaters

are the ones who bend the rules for their own benefit and ill-gotten gain. These anglers are bending or breaking the rules with almost no chance of ever being caught. But those gains will never last.

Opportunities for ill-gotten gain come into our lives all the time. While we may never be caught, our very life may depend on how we handle these temptations to cheat.

are the ones who bend the rules for their own benefit and ill-gotten gain. These anglers are bending or breaking the rules with almost no chance of ever being caught. But those gains will never last.

TIPBass are not very

aggressive in cold water. Use

slow-moving baits and be patient.

are disqualified, generally banned for life. Unintentional rule breaking is punished by penalties, such as a weight penalty or loss of your

catch for that day.

are the ones who bend the rules

catch for that day.

are the ones who bend the rules Bass are not very

are disqualified, generally banned for

catch for that day.TIP

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C a t c h o f t h e D a y 7

A N U A R Y 4

L U K E 1 2 : 3 4

Your heart will be where your treasure is.

Ev e ry f i s h e r m a n has a favorite bait. For me, it’s a Booyah spinnerbait for bass and a Road Runner for crappie. Single baits, but within each bait category is a wide variety of colors, sizes, and even different types of materials. I treasure these baits because I can have success in just about every situation.

If our treasure is Jesus, we have a God we can rely on in all of life’s situations. If our thoughts are on Jesus, we become a better friend, coworker, husband, or wife. We also become more a likable, friendlier person even to strangers!

coworker, husband, or wife. We also

TIPSlow rolling a white spinnerbait with a large Oklahoma

blade works great for lethargic

wintertime bass.

Runner for crappie. Single baits, but

TIP

Runner for crappie. Single baits, but Runner for crappie. Single baits, but

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8 i m m y H o u s t o n

A N U A R Y 5

P S A L M 3 1 : 2 4

All you who put your hope in the LORD

be strong and brave.

B et t e r f i s h e r m e n do not hope for success or rely on luck in order to catch fish. They pin their hopes on facts, skills, knowledge, and experience.

The more of these we have, the more fish we catch and the more consistent we become.

Similarly, the more we know and experience about Jesus, the better we will be at becoming the kind of person we want to be and God wants us to be. This doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time to become a great fisherman. So be strong; it also takes time for God to mold us into the person we will become. The great part is that

God allows us the opportunity to become better every day we stay close to Him.

the kind of person we want to be and God wants us to be. This doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time to become a great fisherman. So be strong; it also takes time for God to mold us into the person we will become. The great part is that

God allows us the opportunity to become better

TIPPork trailers on jigs and

spinnerbaits work better than

soft plastics in cold water.

The more of these we have, the more fish we catch and the more consistent we become.

know and experience about Jesus, the better we will be at becoming the kind of person we want to the better we will be at becoming the kind of person we want to

TIPPork trailers

The more of these we have, the more

know and experience about Jesus, the better we will be at becoming know and experience about Jesus, the better we will be at becoming TIP

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C a t c h o f t h e D a y 9

A N U A R Y 6

M A T T H E W 2 8 : 2 0

“I will be with you always, even until the end of this age.”

Fi s h i n g i s a s p o rt most enjoyed with someone else. Sure, we can fish alone and have fun, but it is always more enjoyable with a friend or another member of your family. My closest fishin’ partner is my wife, Chris. My most memorable days fishin’ are not great tournament victories, but days spent with her or fishin’ with my kids or grandkids.

God never intended for us to be alone. That’s why He sent Jesus. That is why when we are saved, God places His Holy Spirit in us. No matter how isolated or alone we may feel at times, Jesus is always there. All we need to do is call on Him.

God places His Holy Spirit in us. No matter how

TIPVertical jig your Road

Runners during the winter months to

catch more crappie.

partner is my wife, Chris. My most

great tournament victories, but days TIP

Vertical jig your Road TIP

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1 0 i m m y H o u s t o n

A N U A R Y 7

P R O V E R B S 1 0 : 2 2

The LORD’s blessing brings wealth,and no sorrow comes with it.

Th e ot h e r d ay, I asked a guy in another boat, “I wonder what the poor people are doing today?” He answered, “They’re fishing.”

Fishing is one of those blessings from God that makes us rich, no matter what our bank

account says. Too often, though, we dwell on the sorrows the devil throws at us rather than the blessings we have. This is exactly what the devil wants; he’s working to ruin our day and our life.

As Christians and children of God, we cannot accept that. Today, write down ten or fifteen of the blessings God has placed in your life. Before you get halfway done,

the devil will be hard-pressed to have a chance to ruin your day. By the way, this little trick will work again tomorrow.

at us rather than the blessings we have. This is exactly what the devil wants; he’s working to ruin our day and our life.

God, we cannot accept that. Today, write down ten or fifteen of the blessings God has placed in your life. Before you get halfway done,

TIPLighter line is more manageable in cold conditions and will get you more bites.

Fishing is one of those blessings from God that makes us rich, no matter what our bank

account says. Too often, though, we dwell on the sorrows the devil throws at us rather than the blessings we have. This is exactly what the devil wants; he’s working to ruin our day TIP

Lighter line is more

makes us rich, no matter what our bank

TIP

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