Yes, if I can get back to the pace I was going before my heart cath I will be done with my ride in three weeks. I have truly enjoyed the ride and the challenge of it. I have also enjoyed writng the blog about the ride. I just wish I could convey to those who follow the blog, the opportunity NLM has in purchasing this lodge in Canada. It would give us such a chance to impact the lives of so many more youth than we can right now. The facilities in themselves are so far superior and would give us so many opportunities to share the Word of God. But we desperately need the help of God's people to help us make it happen. We ask you to look at our website - northernlightministries.org to see pictures of the lodge we are hoping to buy and you can also help financially through the website. Would you also please tell others about this challenge and see if others could help.
Today I rode 32.7 miles at an average of 20.5 mph. I am starting to build my speed back up again and hoping next week to put more miles and more speed together.
Thinking about Psalm 34:8 again. The first line says, "Taste and see that the Lord is good." Psalm 100:5 says "For the Lord is good." Psalm 118:1 says, "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good." For the Christian, that is where it begins. We should realize and know that the Lord is good. If it were not for that we would not have salvation, would not have eternal life, would not have heaven to look forward to, and He gives us so much more. So when we think or talk about the Lord we can start with the fact that the Lord is good. That is why we can be so sure that what Romans 8:28 is true, "All things work together for good." Who does Paul say that about? - To those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose. He wants our love and He wants our thanks. How are we doing in givng Him what we should? Taste, see, that the Lord is good. Why? Because He is and I am sure of it.
Have a great Lord's Day. Enjoy your time in God's house. Talk to you on Monday!
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Friday, May 4, 2012
Day 50 - Into Louisiana we go
It been a long time coming but on the map, we are finally through Texas and into Louisiana. We end the day straight north of Shreveport. I rode today 31.1 miles in 1 hour and 40 minutes for an average of 18.6 mph. In Shreveport it was 89 degrees and sunny. I know there is no real difference between east Texas and west Louisiana but it just feels good to feel like progress is being made. Can't help but think about how we should work hard to make progress in our spiritual lives as well. He does not want us to be a baby for long. We are to grow in the Lord and to grow up to maturity. The amazing thing about it is that it does not matter how young or old you are physically. He wants us to grow and continue to grow spiritually.
That is what makes the verse we started to look at last night so important. Psalm 34:8 says, "Taste and see that the Lord is good." So many get a taste of how good the Lord is. But they never progress beyond just a taste. Those people have an idea and not always a good idea of how good the Lord is. But the Lord wants His to move from getting a "taste" to another place of "seeing" that He is good. Another way of putting it, we have to open our eyes up. He wants us to be very aware of how good He is. Look around you and see how loving, caring, gracious, and merciful the Lord is. You can see it in creation as well as in the little fingers of a newborn baby as well as the many ways He shows Himself to us. Scripture tells us He is good, but God does not want to hear it in His Word. He wants us to get a taste and experience how good He is. Then He wants us to open our eyes up to how good He really is.
Talk to you tomorrow.
That is what makes the verse we started to look at last night so important. Psalm 34:8 says, "Taste and see that the Lord is good." So many get a taste of how good the Lord is. But they never progress beyond just a taste. Those people have an idea and not always a good idea of how good the Lord is. But the Lord wants His to move from getting a "taste" to another place of "seeing" that He is good. Another way of putting it, we have to open our eyes up. He wants us to be very aware of how good He is. Look around you and see how loving, caring, gracious, and merciful the Lord is. You can see it in creation as well as in the little fingers of a newborn baby as well as the many ways He shows Himself to us. Scripture tells us He is good, but God does not want to hear it in His Word. He wants us to get a taste and experience how good He is. Then He wants us to open our eyes up to how good He really is.
Talk to you tomorrow.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Day 49 - One last night in Texas
Well, on the map, we have one last night in Texas and then will finally be in Louisiana. Today I rode 35.4 miles in 1 hour and 53 minutes for an average of 18.7 mph and end the day at just over 20 miles west of the Loisiana State line. With all that has gone on it seems like for ever since we first entered west Texas on the map.
Yesterday was the last portion of Scripture that I wanted to think about in John 15. So tonight I would like to Look at one verse, Psalm 34 and verse 8, "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him." The first thing the Psalmist says is to taste --- that the Lord is good. Remember when you were young and you were pursuaded to taste something that you just knew would not "taste" good. You might try and stick your tongue out and get the smallest amount of the mixture on your tongue as you could. That is what so many people try and do with the Lord - get the smallest taste they possibly can on the tip of their heart. The amazing thing is that you do not need a big gulp to find out the Lord is good.
Then, that is where so christians stop and are satisfied with that. They got a little taste of how good the Lord is and do not want to go any further. The thing though is that with a taste a decsion needs to be made. Does He taste good to you or not. Too many taste with a mind that is already made up. I can hear them now, "See, I told you I was not going to like Him. I knew He would not be good to me." So they move away from the table and don't want to ever taste Him again. Some even try to spit the taste out without ever swallowing. Then they can not understand how you can like that stuff that comes with knowing Him (getting a good taste of Him). Far too many then, never even get a taste. Want to know if someone has tasted that the Lord is good; ask them how He tasted.
Talk to you tomorrow!
Yesterday was the last portion of Scripture that I wanted to think about in John 15. So tonight I would like to Look at one verse, Psalm 34 and verse 8, "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him." The first thing the Psalmist says is to taste --- that the Lord is good. Remember when you were young and you were pursuaded to taste something that you just knew would not "taste" good. You might try and stick your tongue out and get the smallest amount of the mixture on your tongue as you could. That is what so many people try and do with the Lord - get the smallest taste they possibly can on the tip of their heart. The amazing thing is that you do not need a big gulp to find out the Lord is good.
Then, that is where so christians stop and are satisfied with that. They got a little taste of how good the Lord is and do not want to go any further. The thing though is that with a taste a decsion needs to be made. Does He taste good to you or not. Too many taste with a mind that is already made up. I can hear them now, "See, I told you I was not going to like Him. I knew He would not be good to me." So they move away from the table and don't want to ever taste Him again. Some even try to spit the taste out without ever swallowing. Then they can not understand how you can like that stuff that comes with knowing Him (getting a good taste of Him). Far too many then, never even get a taste. Want to know if someone has tasted that the Lord is good; ask them how He tasted.
Talk to you tomorrow!
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Day 48 - Hanging in There
Today, I tried to push myself a little more and came out of it not feeling like I had done that well. I did go 33.1 miles in 1 hour and 42 minutes for an average of 19.4 mph. In eastern Texas today it was in the high 80's and very sunny. On the map we are just northeast of Longview and Lord willing will make the state line tomorrow. For the ride I went over 1500 miles and plan on being done by the end of the month.
The last verse in John 15 that I really want to look at is verse 17, "These things I command you, so that you will love one another." It is amazing that in 14:31 Jesus says, "But I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father." Just as Jesus did as the Father commanded Him we are to do the things that Jesus commanded us to do. Jesus did it so that the world would know that He loved the Father. We are to follow His commandments, "so that you will love one another." In verse 10, Jesus promised us that if we keep His commandments we will abide in His love. In verse 12, He tells us what His commandment is, "that you love one another as I have loved you." Remember He says, "as I have loved you." He also tells us in verse 16 that we are to go, and bear fruit, fruit that will last. So we are to love one another, go, and bear fruit. The result then is that we will love one another.
Check out our website at northernlightministries.org and see pictures of the lodge we are hoping to buy, but we truly need your help. Please consider being a part of our program of 8,000 people donating $100.00 each by June 1st. Please help us with this.
Talk with you tomorrow.
The last verse in John 15 that I really want to look at is verse 17, "These things I command you, so that you will love one another." It is amazing that in 14:31 Jesus says, "But I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father." Just as Jesus did as the Father commanded Him we are to do the things that Jesus commanded us to do. Jesus did it so that the world would know that He loved the Father. We are to follow His commandments, "so that you will love one another." In verse 10, Jesus promised us that if we keep His commandments we will abide in His love. In verse 12, He tells us what His commandment is, "that you love one another as I have loved you." Remember He says, "as I have loved you." He also tells us in verse 16 that we are to go, and bear fruit, fruit that will last. So we are to love one another, go, and bear fruit. The result then is that we will love one another.
Check out our website at northernlightministries.org and see pictures of the lodge we are hoping to buy, but we truly need your help. Please consider being a part of our program of 8,000 people donating $100.00 each by June 1st. Please help us with this.
Talk with you tomorrow.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Day 47 - A Little More
Each day I seem to be a little stronger. Today I went 32 miles in 1 hour and 50 minutes for an average of 17.3 mph. I guess it might take me a little longer to get the average speed back up there. I am just thankful to be back on the bike seat. I just keep thinking that with each day the goal becomes more in sight.
In John 15:16, Jesus ends the verse by saying this, "so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, He may give it to you." There are some that believe this is some magic formula for God giving us whatever we need. Then, there are those who say if we just add the words "in Jesus name," to the end of our request, then God is automatically responsible to give us what we want. But all of this is based, not on some magical formula or words spoken, but on us having a bond with our Lord so strongly, that what we are asking for, is what His will is for us. In other words we are praying for what He already has planned for us. See, when He chooses and appoints us to go, to bear fruit and fruit that will last we are following Him and have such a close relationship with Him that when we pray, we are praying for the things we know He wants for us.
In just a small way it is like a spouse who knows us so well that they know what we want or knows what is on our mind. They know because they know us that well. In the same way, God already knows us that well and He wants us to abide in Him, remain in Him, be so close to Him that We know Him that well too. When we are doing what we have been chosen and appointed to do, we are doing the actions that bring us to that point in our relationship with Him. The question is, "Is our relationship with Him that close?" That is a question we all need to answer.
Take a look at our website and look at the pictures of the lodge we are hoping to purchase this year.
northernlightministries.org
Talk to you tomorrow.
In John 15:16, Jesus ends the verse by saying this, "so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, He may give it to you." There are some that believe this is some magic formula for God giving us whatever we need. Then, there are those who say if we just add the words "in Jesus name," to the end of our request, then God is automatically responsible to give us what we want. But all of this is based, not on some magical formula or words spoken, but on us having a bond with our Lord so strongly, that what we are asking for, is what His will is for us. In other words we are praying for what He already has planned for us. See, when He chooses and appoints us to go, to bear fruit and fruit that will last we are following Him and have such a close relationship with Him that when we pray, we are praying for the things we know He wants for us.
In just a small way it is like a spouse who knows us so well that they know what we want or knows what is on our mind. They know because they know us that well. In the same way, God already knows us that well and He wants us to abide in Him, remain in Him, be so close to Him that We know Him that well too. When we are doing what we have been chosen and appointed to do, we are doing the actions that bring us to that point in our relationship with Him. The question is, "Is our relationship with Him that close?" That is a question we all need to answer.
Take a look at our website and look at the pictures of the lodge we are hoping to purchase this year.
northernlightministries.org
Talk to you tomorrow.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Day 46 - Feeling Better
Well, week 8 started with a time of being able to give my ride more than I have been able to for the last week and 1/2. I am starting to feel better and am so thankful to God that I am able to get back on the bike rolling again. Today, I put in 29.2 miles in 1 hour and 36 minutes averaging 18.2 mph. I hope each day this week to increase my mileage and average speeds so I will be back to where I was two weeks ago. On the map, I will be out of Texas by the end of the week, Lord willing. So there is progress being made.
I continue to think about John 15 and that amazing verse 15. See we have been chosen and appointed to go, but not just go but go and bear fruit. Then Jesus gives us a description of the kind of fruit He wants us to bear. He desires that we bear fruit that will last or "should abide," or remain. What He is really saying is that the fruit we bear should stand the test of time.. It reminds me of the parable of the soils in Matthew 13. There, He describes 4 types of soil that the seed (the Word of God) will land on. Of the four, only one of them produces fruit and yields. The fruit that abides is fruit that yields. All the other soils never sprout, or if they do they never get to the point of producing any fruit with definitely no yielding. In each soil though, it always revolves around what was done with the Word of God. The first soil does not understand it. The second soil receives it with an emotional response. The third soil just hears the Word but the cares of the world choke it out. t is only the fourth that hears the Word, understands it and indeed bears fruit and yields. You and I as Christians are chosen; we are appointed, to go and bear fruit, and your fruit should abide.
Check out our website - northernlightministries.org
Talk to you tomorrow.
I continue to think about John 15 and that amazing verse 15. See we have been chosen and appointed to go, but not just go but go and bear fruit. Then Jesus gives us a description of the kind of fruit He wants us to bear. He desires that we bear fruit that will last or "should abide," or remain. What He is really saying is that the fruit we bear should stand the test of time.. It reminds me of the parable of the soils in Matthew 13. There, He describes 4 types of soil that the seed (the Word of God) will land on. Of the four, only one of them produces fruit and yields. The fruit that abides is fruit that yields. All the other soils never sprout, or if they do they never get to the point of producing any fruit with definitely no yielding. In each soil though, it always revolves around what was done with the Word of God. The first soil does not understand it. The second soil receives it with an emotional response. The third soil just hears the Word but the cares of the world choke it out. t is only the fourth that hears the Word, understands it and indeed bears fruit and yields. You and I as Christians are chosen; we are appointed, to go and bear fruit, and your fruit should abide.
Check out our website - northernlightministries.org
Talk to you tomorrow.
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