If you have been following my blog, you know that my last posting was last Thursday. Last Friday morning I rode 37.8 miles in 2 hours and 2 minutes for an average of 18.5 mph. That brought me on the map, just through Dallas, Texas and just over 1,400 miles for the trip. After I rode that day, I took care of some errands and driving home from one of them, I began to have some chest discomfort that kept getting stronger. I ended up going to the ER and ended up being admitted in the hospital where they could make sure I was okay, to wait for a heart cath on Monday. On Monday, I had that heart cath and had a long run in my heart that was 80% blocked and took 2 long stents to open it up. It is now Tuesday of the following week and the doctor has said I can begin to ride on Friday. My original plan was to be into Louisiana by now and much closer to my goal of the Atlantic Ocean. That is what I call a setback. But, you know what, life has setbacks. Things don't always go smoothly. Even the most Godly man or woman goes through trials or tribulations. That is not as if it is unfair; it is just life. We all have them. No one is unique in that way. We all have times when we have to get back up on the bike seat and keep pedaling. This is one of those times in my life. I want to finish the ride strong. I just am thankful, because this heart thing could have been so much worse. And yet here I am, and ready to climb on the bike seat again this Friday.
None of this has kept me from thinking about John 15. Verse14 says, "You are my friends, if you do what I command you." There is a question we all must ask ourselves, "How do I look at the Lord?" Matthew 25: 14 - 30 presents the parable of the talents. Three people are discussed. Two of them give their best with what God has given them. One of them does not. It is interesting that the one who did not use his one talent but buried it in the ground says this about the Master, "Master, I knew you to be a hard man..." How do you look at the Lord? There are many in the world who see Him as harsh or unloving or uncaring. The question is, "How could a good God or loving God allow that bad thing to happen. He must not be loving or caring or good." Yet Psalm 34:8 says, "Taste and see that the Lord is good." He is good, but some only get a taste; some get to the point where they actually see it. The verse finishes with saying, "Blessed in the man who takes refuge in Him." See, that is what a relationship with the Lord is all about." I seem to be in great shape for a man my age. Yet I have what my heart doctor calls agressive heart disease. But He has given me and done so much for me. The Lord is not a hard master. Even more He is my friend. I want to do what he commands, not because I am afraid of Him; but because we are friends. Are you a friend of Jesus?
Please check out our website - northernlightministries.org
Talk to you tomorrow!
No comments:
Post a Comment