"The Fishing Tournament and the River Vision" -Susan O'Marra -03-11-13

I found myself sitting on a huge boulder by the side of a swift running river next to Jesus. He is also sitting on a boulder near mine and we are enjoying the day. The sun is bright and it is morning. I look down at the water as it swirls around the rocks that are along the edges and it swiftly laps at the base of my boulder. I feel so relaxed here just listening to the sounds of the river's water and it feels like a dream. I leaned back on my rock and watched the glimmering water as it sped past us. Then I began to hear faint voices. I turned to see where the voices were coming from. They were faint, but clear. I then noticed that down the river from where we were sitting was a basin type part of the river that opened up to a wider part of the river. Men had come to the basin area with their fishing boats. They had fancy fishing boats and some had big motors on them. Their boats were brilliantly painted with vivid sparkling colors. There were a few smaller boats and most had 2 men in them, some had 3. I noticed then that they were having a fishing tournament. I could hear them occasionally calling to one another. The men in the nearest boat were the ones that I heard talking. I could not understand their words as they were too far to hear clearly, but I could tell they were excited.

All of a sudden, I could now see them closer. The men had really fancy electronic equipment in their boat. They had instruments that read the water for signs of fish, and they had many fishing poles all ready to go. One man was putting a lure on a final pole. While the other man was steering the boat closer to the shallows in the basin area. The other men in the other boats were also busy getting themselves in position too. I saw a man onshore, who began to call to the men in the boats. He was telling them their tournament times and leadership positions in the tournament. He had a clipboard in his hand and was keeping track of their catches. There was a tower erected not far from the man on the shoreline, and this was where they recorded the catches and measured the fish that were brought in. The fish were hung up and then measured, photographed and then thrown into buckets off by the side. The fish were sloshing around in the buckets wildly. People were gathering to the shoreline as the day progressed, and because they also heard the voices of the tournament, and they came to watch the progress of the fishermen.

All of a sudden I could see even closer into the boat that was closest to us, and the 2 men were now busy getting their poles ready and into position to throw them into the water. One man had a brilliant green lure that sparkled with little fuzzy things on the ends to cover up the hooks. He stood up and threw that pole into the water and then set it in a holder on the side of the boat. He reached out and got a second pole and put some kind of smaller bait fish on it, and also smeared some paste stuff on it, and then he also set that one up and threw it in. He set it on the holder next to him too. He sat down to watch the 2 poles. The other man played with his instruments and was trying to see if he could see where the fish were. He finally got bored with that and got his pole ready and he put a fly on it and began to swish it in the air back and forth to land it on the water, and then he would pull it back. He did this over and over. I looked out farther to the other boats, and the other boats were all fishing with their various poles and things too. Some caught fish here and there, and a few were bigger fish. When they caught a big fish they would shout and stand up in their boat to let the others know what they caught. I thought to myself, "they should be quiet or they will scare the fish away." Then they sat down and hurriedly got their poles ready for another try.

I noticed that a bigger crowd formed by the opposite shore now and more boats entered the waters. Soon, more fishermen were boating all around the basin and out into the mouth of the river where it went out even further. The men who were working as directors along the shore also added more staff as the spectators grew. The tower got bigger and the charts were set up so that all of the crowd could see the results as the fish came in during the day. Soon, vendors began to come and sold water and drinks and food to the crowds who watched the fishing tournament. It became more like a holiday event than a quiet fishing tournament. But the fishermen who were in the boats also noticed that the crowds were increasing and they loved the attention, so they began to come to shore every time they got a big fish just so it could be recorded and weighed for all the crowds to see. This caused traffic congestion in the river, and boats began to get confused as to who was going out and who was coming in, and arguments began to erupt among the boaters as to who was next, and to who was supposed to be in the next position. They even began to argue over which part of the river they were to fish in.

The crowds began to take sides and began to cheer on some of their favorite fishermen, or they would boo some of those who didn't get such a big fish. They began to yell insults at the ones that were not so fortunate. They sat on their chairs and stood by the river side, and some people even tried to tell the fishermen in their boats how to fish. Some were challenging their methods and making the fishermen in the boats upset. A few fights erupted and the shore workers had to bring order among the spectators. Jesus only watched all of this with interest but He said nothing. As the day wore on, the fishing slowed down and not much came in as the day got later. Some of the crowd got disinterested when the catches were not coming in fast enough to keep them interested, so they began to leave one by one. When the fishermen in the boats saw that the crowds were thinning they began to do things in the boats to get noticed. One man tied red strips of cloth to his boat to make it more noticeable and when the wind caught it, it looked like the strips of cloth were flying like kites. One boy took pictures of it with his camera. Another boater began to give demonstrations to some of the closer shoreline onlookers from where he was just off of the shoreline, and the people began to flock to where he was. Another man hung his fish that he had caught up on a string line tied crosswise in his boat instead of being put in his catch well, and the fish were hanging where they could be visible so the onlookers could see their trophies before they got to shore to be measured. The fish were wriggling helplessly, but the fisherman was smiling as the people watched.

Then I saw Jesus stand up on his boulder, so I also stood up. I was getting tired of watching the fishermen anyways. He walked down the shoreline to another spot that was more quiet and had fewer bigger boulders, but it was a more sandier spot and the waters were quieter. Jesus stood looking along the shoreline with his eyes till He caught sight of something. I followed His gaze and then I saw a man who had waders on and a net in his hand. He didn't have a fishing pole though, just a net. His waders were green and he was a tall man, with a checkered flannel shirt on under his waders. He carefully waded out into the river and stood in the slowly moving waters. He smiled at the water and ran his hands through the waters briefly as if to test the current. Then he lifted his face to heaven and began to sing. I was amazed. This man was singing as he stood there with his net in his hand. He sang softly but clearly and his voice carried over the waters. He was singing songs to the Lord. He had his eyes closed and I saw that he did not falter in the water at all. He then opened his eyes and sang a little louder, as he watched the waters around him for signs of fish.

I knew that the fishing tournament was still going on, but we could not see it anymore. But every once in awhile you could hear a shout from one of the fisherman that caught a fish or had won the crowds approval. I looked at Jesus and He was watching the man that was singing, and Jesus was smiling and tears were in His eyes. He was moved by the man's songs. I could feel the Lord's approval and His love for this man. I noticed that the river water began to stir and bubble here and there. There looked like little eddy's were forming all around the man who was singing. The man smiled but kept singing and then I noticed that fish were gathering to the man. They heard the songs that he was singing to the Lord. The sound carried his songs in the water. The vibrations from his voice were carried in the air and in the water. The fish were coming to see what the sound was that they felt, because they were drawn to the vibrations in his voice.. Soon the water all around the man was moving and bubbling, and churning as fish began to flop and jump and swim past him eagerly. He laughed and lowered his net into the water. The fish were so excited by the vibrations from his singing that they swam  and leaped into the net easily. He just scooped them up and made for the shoreline where He had baskets and containers waiting for the catches.

The Lord then turned to me and said, "No amount of equipment, or lures, or fancy gear, or fishing programs like these tournaments you watched today will enhance or hasten a catch. You may catch some, but they will not be the bigger ones that men compete for. No amount of competition, or showmanship, or popularity will increase the effectiveness of fishing, nor will it make you a better fisherman. Men think that they have to perform to produce something that will attract the world. But all they really do is attract themselves and their own kind. The key to real fishing is love. My Love is what draws men to Me. My Glory and My Presence will gather around anyone that loves and honors Me, even as they love and honor Me before men. When you sincerely love Me with your heart, and sing My praises before men, then the true fishing can begin! When I am lifted up before men, then I will draw all men unto Myself. It is time to fish for men with My Presence. As you release the measure of love that I have placed within you, and as you speak of Me wherever you go, then My voice will be heard within yours, and men will be drawn to you. You do not need men's programs, costly tournaments, contests to draw the biggest crowds, the latest fads, or fancy gear. You only need Me. I will teach you to fish for men, and I will do it when you have learned to love sincerely. When you learn to love Me and love each other with the same measure of love, then you can walk down into My River and begin to harvest for the souls of men. I know where the fish are. I hide them from the showmen, and the sportsmen, and the religious competitors. But I do reveal them to the ones that love Me with all their hearts."

"My Healing River is now flowing within your nation again. I am going to bring forth a great harvest within your borders, but it must be brought in right. I do not want preaching or singing shows and outward boastings, and wrestling's for prominence anymore. I want men and women that love My Shores and that love My River, and that love My Fish that I have held in reserve for them. I will put My net into your hands. I will tell you where to stand along My River. I will tell you when to wade out into the deep. I will tell you when to open your hearts to Me and when you do, I will open My Catch to you, and you can bring them in safely, to be tended by faithful women and men. I will not entrust that which is precious to Me, to the proud and selfish and greedy anymore. I am going to clear away all of those things from My Rivers shore! I will not allow My fish to be displayed, and measured to be trophies for other men's gain! No! My Harvest Songs of Love and Faith shall now begin to be sung again! I am ushering in a new day and it shall be a mighty sign, for all that come in will know that it is Me that drew them, and that brought them safely to shore. My Fishermen shall line my banks and they shall wade out into the masses, and they shall humbly give thanks, and when they sing My Harvest Love Songs, I shall flood the River with the throngs, and all of My fish will come safely in to be cared for and tended again. My Love and My Presence shall beckon them in. Watch, for My signs are everywhere, and I am calling My Fishers to My Shores, and the fishing shall quickly begin to pour."

-Then the vision ended.


John 12:31 Now the judgment (crisis) of this world is coming on [sentence is now being passed on this world]. Now the ruler (evil genius, prince) of this world shall be cast out (expelled). 32 And I, if and when I am lifted up from the earth [on the cross], will draw and attract all men [Gentiles as well as Jews] to Myself.


John 6:44 No one is able to come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me attracts and draws him and gives him the desire to come to Me, and [then] I will raise him up [from the dead] at the last day.


Matthew 13:47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind.


John 21:1 AFTER THIS, Jesus let Himself be seen and revealed [Himself] again to the disciples, at the Sea of Tiberias. And He did it in this way: 2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas, called the Twin, and Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, also the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples. 3 Simon Peter said to them, I am going fishing! They said to him, And we are coming with you! So they went out and got into the boat, and throughout that night they caught nothing. 4 Morning was already breaking when Jesus came to the beach and stood there. However, the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 So Jesus said to them, Boys (children), you do not have any meat (fish), do you? [Have you caught anything to eat along with your bread?] They answered Him, No! 6 And He said to them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat and you will find [some]. So they cast the net, and now they were not able to haul it in for such a big catch (mass, quantity) of fish [was in it]. 7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, It is the Lord! Simon Peter, hearing him say that it was the Lord, put (girded) on his upper garment (his fisherman's coat, his outer tunic)--for he was stripped [for work]--and sprang into the sea. 8 And the other disciples came in the small boat, for they were not far from shore, only some hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish. 9 When they got out on land (the beach), they saw a fire of coals there and fish lying on it [cooking], and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, Bring some of the fish which you have just caught. 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net to land, full of large fish, 153 of them; and [though] there were so many of them, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, Come [and] have breakfast. But none of the disciples ventured or dared to ask Him, Who are You? because they [well] knew that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so also [with] the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus revealed Himself (appeared, was manifest) to the disciples after He had risen from the dead. 15 When they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these [others do--with reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father]? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You [that I have deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. He said to him, Feed My lambs. 16 Again He said to him the second time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father]? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You [that I have a deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. He said to him, Shepherd (tend) My sheep. 17  He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with a deep, instinctive, personal affection for Me, as for a close friend]? Peter was grieved (was saddened and hurt) that He should ask him the third time, Do you love Me? And he said to Him, Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You [that I have a deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. Jesus said to him, Feed My sheep.


Matthew 4:19 And He said to them, Come after Me [as disciples--letting Me be your Guide], follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men!


Mark 1:17 And Jesus said to them, Come after Me and be My disciples, and I will make you to become fishers of men.