BIKE RIDING WITH DADDY

What an awesome, mighty, all loving, all caring, totally consuming GOD, full of grace and mercy on the inside of me.  He has shown me time after time that He has EVERYTHING in the palm of HIS hands, and that NOTHING is too big for HIM to handle.  Daily I say to myself, "Thank GOD there is REALLY a GOD, cause what would I do without HIM". It looks like so many things are fading away, but what GOD shows me is that HE is never going anywhere and no thing can take HIS place (Romans 8:26-30). What a good piece of understanding that is to me.  Recently, on a day after a rain, where puddles were still visible, but the sun made it a perfect day to be outside, I was running errands.  Taking a few shortcuts to avoid the headaches of traffic, I found myself in a neighborhood where there was very little traffic.  Children were playing outside,  riding bikes, playing basketball and dads were washing their cars, moms were talking to other moms, probably planning play dates or sharing work stories, you know, the suburbs.  And because there was no traffic, kids can ride their bikes in the streets safely.  Well I came around the corner onto this street and I saw what I called a 'feel good picture' of how GOD shows HIS love and CARE for me.  The Bible tells me this also, but I love, love, love it when GOD gives me an example that stays in my sights well past the time that it happened.  There I was driving about 20 mph and as I came around the corner, there was a little girl on her bike, she looked to be about 6 or 7 years old, no training wheels, and dad on his motorcycle with little jr. on the back.  Jr. looked to be about 3 years old maybe, and he was holding on to dad tight, as you could see dads shirt being pulled indicating so.  It was the type of motorcycle you had to lean forward on,  so I couldn't see dad's face and little jr. was leaning forward onto dad and his little legs on each side.  Dad was doing probably 5 mph or less cause the little girl was side by side.  I slowed to a virtual 0 mph and stayed behind them and watched.  I heard a voice inside of me telling me to do so and just observe this sight for a while.  The little girl was pedaling very fast and with what looked like all her might.  She was really doing a good job and it looked like dad was giving her suggestions or instructions riding side by side.  I kept my distance far enough behind them to observe them and yet not make them feel any pressure to hurry or move out of the way. I don't know which part of this scene moved me more; the effort of the pedaling little girl, or jr. holding on to dad so tight and looking a little behind him, or dad's slow, methodical, instructive,  drive side by side to the little girl.  He probably was giving her bike riding instructions, which could have included what to do when a car is approaching.  It was all rather touching and just when my eyes were starting to well up at this sight, the little girl went through a small puddle of water, and I could see dad giving her some instructions, probably telling her how fun it is  to go through puddles, but to hold on and keep pedaling.  Soon they came up to a small hill or incline, and she had to work hard to get up it, she did so  pedaling harder and harder, and dad right beside her giving her instructions and confidence.  He must have been so proud of all the hard work she did.  Such a good job on that big street, with dad so close by and little brother watching and cheering big sister on.  He'll remember that event for a lifetime as he grows.  My mind was thinking all sorts of things as I observed this scene.  I was thinking that this could be the first time she rode her bike without training wheels.  Maybe the 1st time on the big street instead of the driveway or the yard.  Maybe the1st time with dad and brother and dad's motorcycle.  How cool!!  Maybe 1st race between her and dad and she won!! Maybe her 1st water puddle and she made it!! Her 1st hill. Her 1st chance to go fast.  Whatever it was, GOD wanted me to see that this is how HE is towards me.  HE is right beside me in the challenge.  HE is giving me instructions and directions and confidence in all things that may cause fear.  Telling me that I can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens me (Phil.4:13),  BECAUSE GREATER IS HE who is in me than he who is in this world (1John 4:4)  I have already won the victory,  GRACE has said so.  I watched this scene and replayed it over and over in my brain as I asked GOD what do I need to learn from this.  It came as clear as a piece of glass! You will encounter all sorts of things as you live down here.  This is NOT perfection,  that is reserved for HEAVEN only.   Down here things will happen; people will turn, events will occur, obstacles are on the journey,  but I am right beside you at all times.   Through all times, seasons, events ,happenings, good, bad, indifferent, hot, cold, happy, sad, high, low, mountains, valleys, WHATEVER,  GOD tells me HE IS always there!!  This scene helped me remember that and it also reminded me of a poem someone penned called Footprints.  In it, GOD tells of how HE is the ONE carrying me in the hard, difficult times. I re-read that poem and it is as if GOD is saying "remember this in the hard times".  So at the top of the hill I saw that the way was clear, so I slowly passed this scene (on the left) and I got a brief moment to look into  dad's eyes and give a slight smile.  If I could tell him, I would have said,  he is an awesome dad or caregiver. I let my smile speak for me and this was it.  I was reminded that when the disciples were in the boat, and a storm came, and it was 3:00 in the a.m., that Jesus came walking in (Matt.14:24-33).  He didn't stop the storm, (although HE had stopped the storm by speaking peace to it), this one  HE walked into it and told Peter to come to HIM in it. What is important to me, is that HE came in the middle of the storm, and not moved by it, began to talk in it.  As a result, Peter was able to move in this storm,  whereas before JESUS came, the disciples were fighting waves and fear.  When Peter took his eyes off JESUS, the waves and the fear overcame him and he began to sink.  JESUS questioned his faith as a result of Peter moving his eyes off of JESUS.  Sometimes, things happen and they cause us to take our eyes off of JESUS or take our attention away.  Like the water puddle and the hill that could have taken the little girl's attention away, if dad wasn't there to help her keep her focus.  For me, it happens daily, that my attention is taken in a direction I don't choose, and that is the time fear tries to seep in.  JESUS always gives me instruction or a song, a word picture, a person, something or some situation to bring me back to HIS guidance.  I am grateful to be loved and guided that way.  Even in the silence of GOD, HE comforts.  HE has everything in the grip of HIS hands. HE may or may not stop the storm.  But HE will be there in the midst of it, many times when everyone else has left,  for whatever reason.  I am thankful to GOD especially in these times.  I have heard HIM say to me " I have not brought you this far to let you go.  I have plans for you, and they are good plans (Jer. 29:11)".  Looking over this life that is now over 5 decades old (wow!!), and what I have encountered and survived, it had to be GOD seeing me through.  It had to be, cause my own strength  has long since left me.  I have not been in my own strength or power for quite some time.   But through CHRIST alone,  I can do all things.  If you knew me,  I mean REALLY knew me, and all this life has brought to me, you would probably ask,  how are you even alive or sane?  It is enough to make you think or believe that something HIGHER is in charge.  You would probably say under your breath, "she aint all that, she has to have something bigger in her corner".  Just the family issues alone were enough to make me speak in another language.(lol)  However, greater is HE who is in me than he who  is in the world.  I trust you GOD, cause YOU know it all, (about me)  and YOU still care!! Nothing can separate YOUR great love from me.  Yes JESUS loves me,  this I know,  for the BIBLE tells me so.  Thank you JESUS!!!  JESUS is LORD!!!  GOD bless America!  Romans 8: 35-39..