Day 26 - God's creation is so magnificent

Yesterday, I would have ridden past the scenic Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Today, I would have ridden past the Carlsbad Caverns National Park. That is one place Lyle and I would have had to stop and see. That has always been on my "Bucket List." Even the description of it in my tour book that I use is amazing the enormousy (Is that a word?) of the caverns is amazing. It is also amazing how they describe it was all formed. I choose to give God all the credit for it. Today was another good ride. I think I am finding a comfortable speed that I am not pushing to hard. Yet one that gets me there. I rode 41.5 miles in 2 hours and 15 minutes for a speed of 18.5 mph. The Carlsbad Caverns not only would have been neat to see, but the day was another beautiful day. By the time we stop tomorrow, I will be about 25 miles short of 1000 miles for the trip and just a short ride from re-entering Texas for the jaunt to the Dallas area. I have looked forward to that because I have a great deal of extended family in thait area ano that you will bear mored it would mean sleeping on a real bed for a night or two instead of in the van or tent. It will also mean I am a little beyond half way to the goal. I wish I could say that same thing in the fund raising department. I could really use your help to sponsor me for so much a mile that I ride. Check out our website for more information on me and our ministry and the opportunity we have.
I have enjoyed our study in John 15. Jesus makes a great statement to close verse 5, "Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit. That is where the Lord wants us all to get - bearing much fruit. He has already said that a branch that bears fruit, so proving to be a genuine follower, He prunes so that it will bear more fruit. If you are bearing fruit for the Lord in your life, be ready for there may come a little nipping here or there, or even a lopping off of something. Why? So that you can bear "more fruit." Many of us may be in the midst of that time in our life where we can say, "Hey I am growing in the Lord. I am trying so very hard to produce fruit. But I am closer now to the Lord than I have ever been. Well, enjoy your time of bearing more fruit than what you once did - that is great. But wait - the Lord has even more for you to do or to work on in your life, because He wants you to bear "much fruit." If you thought you felt good about bearing more fruit, think about bearing even more fruit to the point of bearing "much fruit." Wow! That is one of those walk on water kind of experiences. But, that doesn't just happen. No it comes with going down only one path. The path is abiding with Jesus and He with us. You know, abiding, staying, remaining, living, staying true, in your life for the Lord. It means "just doing it," or "to keep on keeping on." The thing is that the Lord not only wants that for us, but we should want to accomplish that for Him and know we do that through Him. But that means in the good and the bad. That means at the start of the ride or when we are almost done and we hurt, are hot and sweaty, we abide with Him and He with us. That also means that it is not one sided - The Lord always giving to us and we just take and take and take. Just some thoughts from the seat of my bike. Talk to you tomorrow.