I Like To Ride My Bike With God

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This is Josh doing the happy dance and singing our favorite song!

100 Mile Bike Ride

Day one getting ready for the first 38 miles!


Day one entering our first out of three tunnels
Peace Out

First night of worship Second day ~ Need Break!


Coming out of the third tunnel We just finished 100 miles!!!! Actually it was 106!

That’s what 10 amazing people and I just completed.

I need to first give God all the praises and glory. He gave us beautiful weather. The forecast was not looking so dry for us but God came through in a big way and gave us great weather conditions.

Day one…. 38 miles.
Day two… 36 miles.
Day three …29 miles.
(Plus a few extra miles for food!)

You may be thinking that’s crazy. I was too! But what I got out of this event is so much bigger than I could have imagined. I witnessed a TEAM of people encouraging and supporting one another; through the pain and the sweat I heard laughter and singing. Although it was physically and mentally challenging the spiritual part of me felt God’s presents everywhere, our surroundings were filled with his beauty.

I knew I was coming to our check points when I saw Josh (speedy gonzales) off his bike doing the happy dance! Josh brought excitement to our team.

Sarah (getter done) is fast. She was right with Josh except on the second day when she decided to ride with me for a while to be my support. I knew she wanted to just getter done but she stayed with me. Sarah taught me that sometimes doing the right thing isn’t always what you want but what you can do for others.

Ondreea (kicks) showed me patience. She had two flat tires. She may have been the last one to come in but she persevered. You know I never heard her complain.

Then we have Sam (stick shift) who showed me that if something’s broke just fix it! He rode over 100 miles with his gears broke. Do you know how many times you have to change gears? Sam found a stick to help keep his gears in place.

Michelle (the rock) brought laughter. Put her together with Stephanie (machine) and you got yourself a comedy show. “Where’s the seat”? “Under his butt I imagine”! I guess you had to be there!

All the leaders received nick names too! Doug (fearless leader) Ann (mom) Lisa (gumby) Aaron (pokey) me (hilltoper) A very special thank you to Doug and Ann who planned and organized this amazing adventure! Thank you for everything you did for us!

I’m ready for next year!

Family Fun in the Dells

We spent the night in Wisconsin Dells at The Copa Cabana Resort and the next day we went to Noah's Ark, compliments of very special family members! We had a great time! Thanks Cheryl & Mark!

Father's Day

We were all smiles on father day, getting dad soaked! As I look at the pictures and remember the fun we had I got to thinking about our relationship that we have with each other.

Have you ever wondered what your relationship should be like with your child? In the bible God has some very specific instruction for both the parent and the child.

Ephesians 6:1-4 Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first of the Ten Commandments that ends with a promise. And this is the promise: if you honor your father and mother, “you will live a long life, full of blessing.” And now a word to you fathers. Don’t make your children angry by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction approved by the Lord.

Sometimes I had to learn this the hard way… but you can’t parent correctly without being in the word and living the word. Here is some scripture that will help guide you.

Deuteronomy 11:18-19 So commit yourselves completely to these words of mine. Tie them around your hands as a reminder, and wear them on your forehead. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are away on a journey, when you are lying down and when you are getting up again.

Proverbs 22:6 Teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it.

Exodus 10:2 You will be able to tell wonderful stories to your children and grandchildren about the marvelous things I am doing among the Egyptians to prove that I am LORD.

The best way to teach our children God’s ways is to continually live them out ourselves.

Blessings to you!

New Beginnings

Today marks the day of a new beginning for me. I ended a chapter in my life to begin a new one. Have you ever wanted to start something new and wondered “How do I get a new start?” I believe its starts with the desire to want to change but it’s something we can’t do on our own. It says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 Those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun! That’s amazing… When you believe in Christ you are re-created as people. You have a new life. A new beginning! And it doesn’t stop there; it says in scripture that God gives us many opportunities to begin anew. Lamentations 3:23 Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. God meets us right where we are. We don’t have to wait until we’re perfect that just won’t happen. We don’t have to feel bad about the choices we made yesterday. He loves us and He’s waiting for us to come to Him. One of my favorite verses in the bible is Philippians 1:6 I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again. When we allow God to work in our heart; a transformation occurs deep within us and all around us.

I recently went to a one day seminar with a good friend. On the way there I was telling her that this day marks the day of a new beginning for me. I resigned from my job at the church because God has a bigger plan for me, a plan to go out and reach the lost people in our community. 1 Peter 4:10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. I really felt I could not do that sitting behind a desk. I had some reservations about it until God so gently reminded me where he wants me. Our first speaker was Kay and she was from Texas. I was convicted of a lot of things that day but one thing that will always stand out is the way Kay laid her hands on me that day and prayed. She did not know me personally and our only word exchanged was a polite hello.

This is some of what I remember from that prayer:

Heavenly Father how great you are…
Today is the day of a new beginning for Tara…
Lord you are going to use her and she will see people through your eyes.You are preparing her to go out and cultivate the land…

Now that just sent shivers down my spine and I began to cry.
Right there I knew that was God letting me know what I needed to hear.

I was sharing in church last week that is took me a long time to figure out my “gift”. I really thought that I had made such a mess of my life that I could never be worth anything. But as I grew in my walk with the Lord I began to understand what God’s grace and forgiveness meant for me. Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. If today is the day that marks a new beginning for you, I would encourage you to contact me or seek a pastor or someone you know can help you. God Loves You!

Be Blessed!

MY HANDS

My Hands

A few days ago I went on a 20 mile bike ride with some of the teens from our youth group (which we have a new name; Ignite Youth Ministries). As we were biking a chain fell off one of the bikes and got stuck. I attempted to fix it until Doug came along and rescued me. I looked at my hands and saw a lot of grease from the chain but had to ignore it until I was home to wash it off.

When I returned home I soaked my hands in warm soapy water. I took a good look at my hands. The grease tainted the creases in my hands and was not coming off as easily as I had wished.

As I gazed at my hands I was reminded of two things:

1. The grease reminded me of my sin. It’s black, it’s dirty and it’s hard to get off. So many times in my life I have failed God. My heart was black; and temptation stuck to me like the grease on my hands. I scrubbed and scrubbed but the grease would not come off completely. Will I ever be able to stop sinning?

Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Sin will always be there like the grease that was stuck to my hands and just like washing my hands with soap and water to keep them clean during the day; I need to be consistent in prayer, read my bible, go to church, participate in Godly activities, and to be persistent in my walk with Christ.

2. My second thought I had was what my hands have done for me. As a baby I grasped the blanket my mom had wrapped around me and held her fingers for comfort. As a child I held my fathers hand as he held mine along the way. I touched my dad’s mustache in surprise! I remember using my hands to talk on my dad’s CB in his truck. As a teen I used my hands to dry the tears off my face after losing my best friend. At eighteen I used my hands to hold my son Nicholas for the first time. At twenty I placed my hands in my husbands to show my love and commitment to him. I used my hands to love, nurture, bath, feed and care for my three children. I used my hands to say goodbye to my son Jonathan. I have used my hands to softly touch a loved one on the back to reassure them that it’s going to be ok. I have used my hands to write a letter to someone who needed to hear about hope. I have used my hands to dial the phone to get in touch with an old friend.


We use our hands all the time….

To pray
To lift our hands to the Lord
To worship
To clap our hands
To take pictures
To hold a warm cup of tea
To shake hands with someone you just met
To hold the leash as you walk your dog
To send an e-mail
To give a high -5
To read a good book like the BIBLE
To fix something
To gently touch
To create art

Sometimes we choose to use are hands for bad…

To hurt
To hit
To push
To bring a “drink” to our mouth
To take a puff off a cigarette
To use drugs
To break
To kill
To rape

Who may ascend the hill of the LORD ?
Who may stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to an idol
or swear by what is false.
He will receive blessing from the LORD
and vindication from God his Savior.
Psalms 24:3-5

So take a good long look at your hands and ask yourself
"How do I use my hands?"

Please take the time to share your comment or testimony by clicking on the comment link below. Thank you!

Family

The pictures above were taken this summer at our house. We had a very nice visit with our family.

Ethan the Baker!

Dawson in his Cub Scout uniform.

My sister and I saw Hollywood Sings at the Fireside Theater.


My favorite picture of my mother and me.

The kids riding the 4 wheeler at Grandpa's house!

Cesar

On March 3rd we had a new addition come into our home. His name is Cesar!!! We love him!! He has a lot of friends already.

Skate City

We had to much fun roller skating with the youth group and our families! Great exercise too! Dawson amazed me... he is really good, just like his mom! He actually put on rollerblades. Ethan and Caysie were buddies that day and Fayth is fitting right in with her new group of friends.