So little, So painful!

Ken and I had planned to take a rather short motorcycle ride this last week to visit with Charlie and Patsy at Anna Maria Island where they were having a family gathering. We were eager to meet Charlie’s 95 year old mom, and also his sister Kathy whom we have prayed so much for in recent times. Patsy’s brother was there too. [Charlie’s sister and Patsy’s brother are married- kinda neat, hey?] So in anticipation of riding only a couple of hours, I thought about my hair issue and made a decision. I put my hair up near the top of my head so when I took it down, it would have ‘body’ instead of flat.

For the first hour, all was fine...but shortly after that my head began to ache. I found myself moving the helmet around in hopes that it would soothe the pain quickly intensifying at the top of my head. I have never wanted Ken to speed before….but I was tempted to tell him to go alittle faster. I was MIGHTY happy when we arrived. Without hesitation, I took off my helmet and took my hair down immediately. There, in my hand, I held the irritant: A small black stretchy hair bob.

They come in a package of about 50 and cost very little. They have a purpose indeed, but to be under a helmet is not one of them. Who would have ever dreamed that little thing could cause such pain.

We are all aware of how much pain sin can cause in our lives and in our families. It doesn’t’ have to be a big one. A wrong look, or an unwise word...can cause alot of pain in a relationship in a marriage, in a family.....or in a church. We all need to be careful with what we THINK, say and do.

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!

Grace Gusher

Title: Grace Gusher
During our motorcycle trip that was 4,613 miles, we did stop occasionally. One place we stopped, was at the beautiful Niagara Falls. We had stopped there for our honeymoon, so it was nice to be there again 37 years later. We rode in a boat that took us close to the Falls. Everyone on the boat wore plastic covers because we ALL got very wet from the mist coming from the falls.100,000 cubic feet of water per second flows over the falls during the tourist season. That's like pouring 83 swimming pools full of water over the falls every second. Now that's an overflow!

Of course I think of a HIGHER lesson for God showing us such beauty. God’s grace is similar to Niagara Falls. Our salvation thru the blood of Jesus streams out of God’s rich grace. God's grace doesn't trickle down like a leaky water spigot; it cascades like the Niagara Falls.
Like the immense water in the Niagara Falls, there's enough overflow of God’s grace for everyone ... from the most wretched sinner to the most honorable of leaders.
There's enough grace through Christ to cover all those times you doubt, all those times you disobey, all those times you miss God's will.

Romans 5:20
“Where sin increased, grace increased all the more.”
Hymn: Grace Greater than Our Sin


HYMN: Grace Greater than Our Sin

Lyrics: Julia H. Johnston
Music: Daniel B. Towner


Marvelous Grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.

Refrain:
Grace, Grace, God's Grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, Grace, God's Grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin!

His Voice

Our Vacation Vignette
Title: “His Voice”I hesitate to share this experience with you because it is very personal and very holy. Last week I shared with you my personal fight with horrific fear the first two days of our 4, 613 mile motorcycle trip. The fear was overcome by claiming scripture over my life.
The next day was an amazing day. We started this day in Griffin, GA.. The LORD spoke to me, on the back our motorcycle, as clearly as friends speak to each other. He told me to pray for every Church along the way. I began to pray for every church we passed. As I prayed the LORD gave me more insight, having me pray for specific situations in various Churches. After a couple of hours of this, it dawned on me HOW MANY Churches God has planted all over America. It seemed I would barely get a prayer started, and another Church would appear.
Then God closed my assignment with His Word from 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

GATOR Encounter!

My husband and I TRY and take Monday as OUR day. It is our day of TOGETHERNESS. You might call it: OUR DATE DAY. We like to jump on our motorcycle and head somewhere just to be together and enjoy FLorida. Well yesterday's date had some EXCITEMENT.

On our way back from our DATE DAY (the beach in Fort Pierce), we had a scary encounter. As we were traveling along at the speed limit (on our motorcycle) Ken pointed ahead. There was a HUGE alligator starting to cross the road in front of us. His HUGE head and front "legs" were already past the white line into our lane. So we slowed down. We could not cross to the left lane because that is where he was heading.......we could not run INTO him....and we could not go behind him as a huge part of him was still off the shoulder. So we slowed down in our right lane and contemplated what to do.

IN THE MEANTIME, a semi truck driver had come up behind us, in our lane, did not notice that we slowed down....and didnt see the alligator (which was probably no threat to him, as it was to our bike). He was barreling down on us. I mean he was VERY close.

The truck driver FINALLY did SEE us and he went over to the farthest extent of the right lane to avoid us.

Apparently the alligator SAW the truck, opened his mouth wide and did a U-turn back off the road, so we were able to go over to the left lane and let the truck barrel through.

It was THEN he saw the alligator and figured it out. He then slowed down as he too probably realized what could have happened.

When we were side by side, we (Ken and I on our motorcycle, and the truck driver) all smiled and held out hearts as we each understood the danger we had all been in.

GOD PROTECTED US and we thank HIM.

Other than that, it was a GREAT day of togetherness.