My tires were aired, my chain was lubed and the panniers were bulging. Packing was definitely the biggest challenge. Four women preparing for a five day, two hundred fifty-seven mile ride across the state of Missouri were limited to mascara, toothbrush, T-shirt dress and Chacos. I’ll admit I was a little worried. I had never been to the Katy Trail, though I had researched it extensively and compiled a detailed agenda, which included bed and breakfast reservations as well as dinner plans. I had spent four months meticulously planning the trip. To conserve space I placed my items into …
Be The One
Standing in the crowd of third graders, I was shorter than anyone but I was fast. Two of my classmates had been chosen to be team captains and now they were choosing their friends, the athletes and the popular kids. I desperately hoped they chose me. I wanted to be the one. Mark 9:23, “All things are possible to the one who believes.” HCSB I still want to be the one. I want to be the one who believes. I want to be the one God uses, the one He chooses. God apparently doesn’t choose based on ability, looks or …
Believe It or Not
Limp as a ragdoll and unable to move, I sat in my recliner and planned a bicycle ride. Myasthenia gravis robbed my strength and I was barely able to walk. Yet I believed God promised me one year of Sabbath rest, my personal Jubilee. So I planned a faith ride. On July 10, after exactly one year of severe physical limitations, I straddled my road bike, clipped in my shoes and pedaled seven miles. Are you believing God for things you can accomplish with sufficient effort and discipline? Or are you believing a big God who can do the impossible? …
Mind Control
Alice was bored and sleepy when she followed the white rabbit through a portal and traveled to strange places. We all have our rabbit holes, though not in Wonderland. Have you ever sat down to “check Facebook” or watch TV and suddenly hours have passed? Mindless activities can waste our time and influence our mind. It all started because she was bored and sleepy. Be alert! How I believe affects how I think and how I think affects how I believe. I must be intentional about the places my mind wanders. 1 Corinthians 2:16, “But we have the mind …
Battle Plan
About the same time I was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, my friend was battling addiction. I sent her scriptures and stood in the gap and prayed, but it was too late. She was in a firestorm and under intense attack. Her only option was duck and cover. Life is a battlefield. If you are not armed, you will be harmed. Prepare in advance. 1 Peter 5:8, “Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.” HCSB Recognize the enemy of our soul is seeking to destroy us. He …
Clean Up That Spill
Remember the skeletal anatomy song? “The knee bone’s connected to the ankle bone, the ankle bone’s connected to the foot bone…” In my case the foot bone is often connected to the mouth bone. My mind tends to race and my mouth tends to run. Unfortunately my filter malfunctions and words often spill out inappropriately. Calling me opinionated would be an understatement. Matthew 12:34, “For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.” HCSB As our beliefs affect our thoughts, our thoughts also affect our speech. Sometimes we treat the symptoms without dealing with the underlying cause. My mouth …
Talk What You Know
We tend to remember exactly where we were and what we were doing whenever a tragic event occurred. I clearly recall reddish dust on my hands and knees from the elementary school playground where my world forever changed. I was seven years old and lost a tooth. Literally, my tooth fell out then I lost it on the playground. I recruited my fellow second graders to join my search so I would not miss a visit from the tooth fairy. That’s when Angela showed up. She always was the smartest one in the class. She casually broke the news to …