It Didn't Change a Thing!

Motorcycle Story from our Vacation of 4,092 miles to Upper Peninsula of MI and back to FL.

What most people remember about our trip last year is how I could not see anything straight ahead because of Ken’s helmet head, SO THIS YEAR, I decided I would re-position myself to be able to see straight ahead.

I shifted my upper body to the right, resting my elbow on the speaker and was able to see what was ahead! I could still see what was behind in the rear view mirror. So I could see behind and ahead! BUT I also became very aware that no matter how much more I could see, I was still a passenger. I could SEE, BUT I was not in control.

I realized quickly that I was perfectly content with that position. I liked being able to see what was behind and what is ahead, but was SO GLAD I did not have the full responsibility to keep the bike up and getting us to our destination! I was perfectly content on the back of the bike with Ken as my driver!

Some women really struggle with staying under the authority or leadership of their husbands. Many people in general want to run their own lives and only use God when they need Him. Our trip went well, because I sat, contently, in my place. I was able to enjoy all the benefits of the trip without any of the responsibilities of driving or even filling it up with gas. Ken took that responsibility for me. AND Ken was blessed to have me along!

A Shelter in the Time of Storm

[A MOTORCYCLE STORY - from our Recent Vacation of 4,092 miles]

On Monday, July 18, we left the Hudson family reunion in Port Huron, MI and headed NORTH to be with our sons and grandchildren in the Upper Peninsula. Just south of Bay City, on M15

Ken knew a storm was brewing in the near distance. He was watching the clouds and sensing the wind as it became cooler and stronger. THEN he noticed the corn stalks bending deeper as the wind increased and he knew we needed shelter – it looked like a strong storm front was coming thru. There were no gas stations or stores in sight.

Ken pulled into a driveway leading to a barn. His plan was to get the bike to the side of the barn that would get the least wind and rain. But he quickly saw that it was impossible to get to the other side of the barn. He told me to quickly get the rain gear on. Ken turned the knob to the little barn door, and found it UNLOCKED. He quickly told me to come in. We finished getting our rain gear on inside this machinery barn and listened to the strong wind and the pouring rain.

Ken knew we needed to move our bike….as he watched our bike get less and less steady on the dirt driveway. SO, we headed out into the rain to move the bike to the grass instead of the water soaked dirt. Then back into the barn, where we waited another 30 minutes for the rain and wind to wane down.

When Ken thought it was safe, we carefully got back on our bike, and road by the farm house….but NO ONE WAS HOME, so we were unable to thank them for the use of their barn. I prayed that God would bless them, whoever they were, for the needed shelter their barn provided for us.

BUT I thank God most of all for a wise husband who was looking out for us, and protecting us from harm.

So much like our Heavenly Father who is a Shelter in the time of Storm.

The Little Bird

While taking a casual stroll in our yard, I saw a little bird on the ground...and as I walked towards it....it did not fly away. Then I heard the loud chirping of parent birds as they were squalking something to the little bird, to each other or to me.......I didn't know WHAT they were saying, but the tone of their voice let me know the subject was the little bird on the ground.

I called to my husband. He gently walked towards the bird, but the bird kept backing away until it was at the brink of the Lake! The bird realized that it could not compete with the water, so started hopping back in my husband's direction. Gently my husband reached down for him and he quietly nestled into his cupped hands.

It was not clear if the bird had fallen out of the nest (actually looked too big for that), failed his flying test, or if he had actually been picked on by the others whose intent was to evict him. He looked rather picked over. Although the cause of his being on the ground was not clear, it was clear that his parents would no longer be in charge of his care, no matter how they may be squalking above us.

A Friend of ours, very compassionate with nature, came over and began feeding the little bird "smart water" thru a straw. The bird received the nurishment with NO problem. His beak opened wide, and often, to receive the love gift my friend offered to his little helpless self.

Our little friend now resides at our friend's home, where he will be well cared for until he can once again enjoy his FREEDOM, as God intended for him to have.

No matter what it was that prevented this bird from his safe place and compromised his future of living a healthy life.....GOD INTERVENED on his behalf....and love was applied so this bird can live to fulfill his God designed purpose.

I pray that my eyes will be as watchful and eager to help needy people, as I was to see the need in this little bird. I would not have known to offer the bird "smart water" and very likely he would have died under my care. But GOD doesnt ask us to do anything HE has not qualified us for. God provided by bringing a caring friend to my house.

I trust that none of us will walk by a hurting bird, or a hurting person....without doing for them, as God has equipped us. For some it will be a smile, a loving touch...providing them a safe home for a while, or leading them into Freedom.....but please just don't walk by.

NEW SHOES

Out of desperation, my husband and I set out to find shoes to replace the worn out black flats. We found NOTHING in town. No one keeps "wide" in stock. They all said they would have to order them. Well I can order them, but I wanted to find a pair that I could try on to be relatively sure they would indeed fit. So we went to the next town and searched their mall.

I am not much for shopping...and after looking and finding nothing in WIDE, I was getting discouraged. THEN we went into the next store! and there were several pairs to choose from that were WIDE! I tried to do the happy dance, but I know that even though the shoes SEEM to fit in the store, they do not always fit when you put some miles on them. I tried on several as Ken went around the store bringing me pair after pair to try on. We finally decided to buy two pair...that way, one of them hopefully will be indeed comfortable under actual long wear.

So we were smiling on the way out of the store, packages in hand....mission accomplished!

NOW for the test of actual wear.

I must say, both have been very disappointing. Both hurt my feet alot at this time. They LOOK nice, but oh my feet are hurting.Every chance I get, I slip them off. I am hoping that in time, the shoes will conform to my feet. I do not want my feet to conform to the shoe or I will have serious problems with my feet. So the battle is on....who will win?

I have dedicated these shoes to God and to His service. He knows I needed them, and HE knows how I sought for them. He knows I tried them on and they seemed to fit. He knows we did our best....so I am leaving the rest up to HIM.

As my whole self continues daily to conform to HIM, and not this world. So I pray my feet will break in the shoe and not the shoe to break down my foot.My feet belong to my LORD, my shoes belong to the Lord....and I long to serve HIM with all that I am. My feet will lead me to many places where HE and I will share the gospel. So even though it may hurt for a while....I will continue to move my feet, one shoe in front of the other, as long as HE gives me breath.

Sermon in Shoes

There was a Sunday school song that rings in my head from time to time, it says: "Do you know O Christian, you're a sermon in Shoes? Do you know O Christian you're a sermon in shoes? Jesus counts upon you to spread the Gospel news, so walk it and talk it a Sermon in Shoes" Another says "Preach it and teach it". There may be plenty more, but you get the idea.

I am not a big shoe person, like some. I am content if I have one pair of tennis shoes, one black flat, one pair of heels, and one pair of sandals. WELL....my black flats (and I have no idea how very old they are) totally tell apart on Palm Sunday. My husband and I were setting up the chairs in the Clubhouse for the concert with ROCK THE SILENCE, when the bottom of my entire shoe loosened and detached from the top! Now, I don't view myself as a prideful person, but Ken and I were the hosts that evening so I had to change my shoes! I ended up putting on sandals with my dress . I felt alittle uncomfortable with that, but most likely NO ONE looked at my shoes. They came for a wonderful concert!

One thing I have kept for a future devotional is four pairs of my mom's shoes. My goal is never to "fill her shoes" but my goal is to have a zest for my LORD and HIS Word like she did and to share what HE has done in my life, every time an opportunity comes my way.

These black shoes have been MANY places, and I believe God has been honored every inch of their travel. They have served me well, and I am grateful for them. But more importantly I trust that my life has been an attractive Sermon in Shoes. I trust that when people are around me, they sense JESUS, not me. I trust that people will sense a sweet spirit, a joyful spirit and not a bitter, angry spirit.

Soon I will have to go shopping for new black flats that once again will take me many places that right now I don't have planned. BUT I know my LORD will guide my steps. I desire to GO where HE leads.

There is a hymn that says: All the way my savior leads me; What have I to ask beside? Can I doubt His tender mercy, who thru life has been my guide? Heavenly peace, divinest comfort, Here by faith in Him to dwell! For I KNOW whate're befall me, Jesus doeth all things well!

OR the precious song: Precious Lord take my hand, Lead me on, help me stand. I am tired, I am weak, I am wor. Thro the storms, thro the night, Lead me on to the light. Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home!

I plan to wear my next pair of shoes out too.........for my LORD!

Coffee Break

My body has been FEELING alot of stress lately. I am not sure if I have more stress than usual and that is WHY I am feeling it, or if maybe I am just getting more in tune with the signals my body sends me. But for whatever the reason, I have been aware that my BODY has been feeling stress. So amid the preparations of various lessons etc....I do try to take care of myself.

Today the mailperson brought ne a BLAIR catalog. I love catalogs. They are no brainers, there is hardly anything to read, just visual enjoyment as I look at the colors, the fashions, and the prices. It doesn't matter if I ever buy anything. I cannot seem to keep my mind on Lesson preparations UNTIL the catalog has been looked at from cover to cover.

SO I poured me a cup of coffee, and settled into a recliner with my Blair catalog. I opened the catalog and then slowly brought the coffee cup to my lips. ........what a SHOCK! The coffee was cold! The coffee maker had turned off a few hours ago apparently! There was no refreshment in cold coffee....and certainly NOT the way I had envisioned my nice catalog break!

I slowly got up from my recliner and put the coffee cup in the microwave. Yes, things do not always go as we plan them, or envision them...............but they do happen. I DID have my break and I DID enjoy the catalog, and I even enjoyed a cup of hot coffee. But it did not happen the first time. I was determined to have my break, and it was worth it. It even sparked me to share this with you!

Some things are just worth making it possible, even if you have try and try again.

Now I need to get back to work!

He stood alone in the Bean Field!

In 2 Samuel 23 is an account of David's 3 MIGHTY MEN. We have to laugh because chapter 22 says his whole army was a group of losers, people with problems. But it is the third Mighty Man that captured my attention.

The Israelites were in the bean field (not sure what stage they were in, but commentators think it was harvest time). They had planted the lentils, and taken care of them so they could have food for their families. BUT the enemy advances in their direction! The Israelites all RUN....except one man! He stands in the middle of the bean field prepared to die rather than relinquish his bean field to the enemy. He is not about to feed the enemy without a fight. The Bible says that he completely struck down the enemies all by himself. Now that is impossible! Sounds like a fable, unless you are familiar with GOD. NOTHING is impossible with God....all GOD needed was ONE able and willing body to work thru!

There are alot of people who have been told they are not worth very much- "You won't amount to a hill of beans". These labels cause people to feel unworthy of being protected, unworthy of experiencing anything good in their life. BUT there is a wonderful divine purpose for EVERY life.

Jesus stood in the middle of OUR bean field, our life....and gave HIS life for us. He died that we might live! He rose again, so that we might have abundant life here and forever!

Jesus is the ONLY ONE who could do that, and He willingly stood in our place.

Don't give the enemy any ground in your life. Jesus paid for us with His blood.

Offer your harvest to HIM, and He will feed a nation with your fruit.

HUG