Day 33 - just that much closer to Dallas

Today was going to be a busy day so I did not have time to ride as far as I would have liked but I got in 32.2 miles in 1 hour and 35 minutes for an average of 20.2mph. Tomorrow, Lord willing I will go over 1200 miles for the trip. I have been asked why I keep mentioning getting to Dallas. Well, I have a great deal of relatives there. My dear Aunt Peg, Uncle Chuck and Aunt Ruth and many cousins all live in that general vicinity. It would be good to see them and I am sure they would offer Lyle and me a place to lay my head for a night. It was a partly cloudy day today in west Texas with a high in the low 80's. Just right for today's ride.
I continue to think through John 15. After the warning of verse 6 and the promise of verse 7, Jesus makes this statement in verse 8, "By this is my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples." One of the greatest things we can do on this Earth is to honor, exalt; to glorify our Lord and Savior and His Father. Think of what 1Corinthians 10:31 says, "Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God. And one of the best ways we can do that is by bearing much fruit. We already discussed bearing fruit and bearing more fruit and bearing much fruit but isn't it amazing that Jesus says that the Father is glorified by bearing much fruit. Not by bearing fruit or even more fruit, but by bearing much fruit.
There is a second benefit He let's us know about there. You prove yourself to be a disciple. The question is, "doesn't He already know?" Of course He does. He knows His sheep better than anything else. So, it isn't for Him to know who His disciples are; it is for each of us. See, that is one of those assurance verses. To bear much fruit is what disciples do. Disciples bear fruit. They desire to bear more and then even much fruit. Disciples strive to do that in their lives. In other disciples themselves with bearing fruit or more fruit. Their desire is to bear much fruit. So they prove to themselves of of being a true disciple. They prove and can assure to themselves they are disciples. That isn't referring to perfection, or doing just external works without the internal fruit that comes from knowing Him. You know, things like love, joy, and peace.
Look at our website and learn more about Northern Light Ministries at northernlightministries.org and please pray about how you help with our purchase of a lodge in Canada so we could impact many more lives for Christ. Talk to you tomorrow.