Someone got an owee!

It is no surprise to many of you that my husband and I like to go biking.  Yes he is faster and has more endurance than I do, but we love to spend time together tooling around.  Sometimes he even let's me pretend that I can go faster than him!

After a steaming hot ride to Rockford, Mi. we found a nice shady place to rest before we began our trek back. I opted to go around the grassy area and my husband rode straight through the grass. As I turned the corner, I noticed that the man sitting at the bench was smirking in my husbands direction. Focusing my gaze towards my husband , I saw a man clad in biking gear, lying on the grass with 1 foot up in the air , his bike was on top of him and a kind man  rushing to his side. Instantly I knew what had occurred.

Fall over!

Fall over occurs when we are not doing the right thing. We are clipped into our pedals when we ride. This means that to put your foot down onto the ground you must twist your foot and unclip the shoe from the pedal. Sometimes when we do this it is easy to forget the other foot. This is unfortunate especially when you come to a complete stop, because if you begin to lean in the opposite direction it is very difficult to quickly get your other foot out!  Usually it ends up being a rather embarrassing situation! Thus the owee!

My poor husband landed on the roots of the tree!  He has the fall over marks to prove it!

What I learned

Sometimes we try to pick and choose the things that we want to follow Jesus in. When we do this we are like my poor husband who did only doing 1 thing. When we follow only some of His commands we too may experience fall over. 

There is only one way to avoid spiritual fall over... Follow his commands.

• Following His commands results in a blessing of Increase!

Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the LORD promised on oath to your ancestors. Deut. 8:1

• Following His commands results in Success.

"Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Joshua 1:7

• Following His commands results Love.

Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. John 14:23

May you experience the richness of following after Jesus and be protected from falling over!

Cycling Withdrawals

My name is Jann and I am addicted to cycling!  It has been 11 days since my last ride. We have been on vacation and there was no bike available.  Today I am getting back on my bike for the first time. 


These questions keep running through my mind

• Will she remember me?
• Will I know how to shift gears?
• Will I be able to quickly click out of my peddles?
• How far will I be able to go?

I am slightly worried that I just won't measure up!

These concerns are real, however, I am going to ride today and I expect that it will be what it has always been, wonderful.

Have you ever had these thoughts about your relationship with God? 

• Maybe it has been awhile since you prayed  and the lingering thought, "How do I start?" keeps replaying in your head,
• It has been a long time since you have opened and read your bible and you are nervous that you won't know how to read it, apply it or make sense out of it.
• Deep inside you want to speak with God but are embarrassed that it has been so long, maybe He won't remember you.

One of my favorite things about God is that he continually says to us, "return to me"

O Israel," says the LORD, "if you wanted to return to me,  Jeremiah 4:1

Like the Father welcoming the prodigal son home, God wants us to come to Him, no matter how long it has been.

When we have been far off from God He tells us that "He will be found by us".

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. ¹⁴ I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” Jeremiah 29:11-14

Today is the day that we can experience the love and embrace of Jesus no matter how long it has been. Take the first step and return to Him.

Father, Thank for your kindness in receiving us no matter how long it has been.I confess to you that I am more concerned about my feelings than in spending time with you. I know that you are reaching out your hand to me and beckoning me to be with you. Help me to come to you no matter how I feel and remember that you are loving, kind and righteous.  Jann

Never leave home without it!

Cycling not only requires a great bike but it also requires the necessary equipment -your cycling armor!

When I get ready to ride I get dressed in my padded bike shorts, cycling jersey complete with its 3 back pouches and light efficient socks.

Next it is important that you have firm bike shoes, protective helmet, padded biking gloves, odometer, mirror, bike pump, water, sunglasses and a bike pack to carry an extra tube and other supplies.  

Travelling without any of these items is out of the question! They are essentials to a successful and prepared bike adventure.

Scripture tells us that we also have some essentials for our Christian adventures.

...Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.              Ephesians 6:10-17 (NIV)

• The Belt of truth is like the Odometer. It tells us the truth about the ride.
• The Breastplate of righteousness is like our Jersey and bike shorts. They cover us and protect us from harm.
• The Gospel of peace is like bike shoes that prepare us to go forward.
• The Shield of faith is like sunglasses. They shield us from distortions.
• The Helmet of salvation is like our bike helmet. It surrounds us and protects us from a sure demise without it.
• The Sword of the Spirit is like the web program-Map my ride. It gives us direction and guidance regarding our rides and everything pertaining to our success.

I would never go cycling without these things! Why would I consider going out without my spiritual protection???

Let’s do life with the Full armor of God! Put it on!

Father help me to remember to not only put on your armor but to use it daily! Thank you for using cycling to remind me of my need to be prepared using what you have given to me.  Jann 

Joy in the victories!

I went for a bike ride tonight. The sun was going down and the temperature had dipped a bit. It felt great to be outside and riding. Then I saw IT! The hill that seemed to go on forever. I knew that it was going to take work and persistence to get to the top. I began to peddle harder to get the momentum that I needed and then I realized that I would not make it at the intensity level that I was tackling it at. I changed gears and it was better. That lasted for a little while and then I needed to gear down again and again until I was able to keep moving without hyperventilating. Just in the nick of time I saw a driveway of a business that had a long flat entrance. It was my oasis in the midst of the never ending mountain! I peddled into this driveway and got my second wind! As I reentered the mountainous road I was more determined than ever to make it to the top. I had speed and oxygen on my side and eventually I made it to the top.

Now I know that you are laughing at me and that's okay because I am proud that I did not give up! I am proud that I did not fall over! When I got to the top I screamed, "Yes, I did it!" I was glad that No one heard me! I enjoyed the victory all the way down the hill.

Little victories are crucial to making big ones.

That is why I think that Scripture tells us to be faithful in little things.

His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' Matthew 25:21

Little by little, victory by victory we become more and more into the image of Jesus!

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18

What little victory can you be thankful for today?

How is God transforming you?

Where do you need a second wind?

Father,

Thank you for using the ride today to remind me of the little victories. It is only through your power and strength that we can have victory over sin. I give you all the Glory and Honor that is due your name. May I be transformed into ReFlecting you more and more through these little victories.

Jann