Crayon Ready by Deena McDaniel Positively Beautiful Blog

Bike, Bike Baby by Deena McDaniel Positively Beautiful Weekly Blog 2/21/2020

We truly are blessed to be living by Hollywood Beach. Daily, and I mean every day at 5am my husband is at the beach walking his 5 miles before sunup. When on the rare occasion I’m up that early I’ll join him after his walk for the morning sunrise. However, if I try to walk with him I’d have to use my rollerblades. And that’s usually how I join him if it’s a late evening stroll. About 6 years ago for my birthday we decided instead of a party and gifts we’d buy all of us bikes! And that we did. No walking for me!

For several years we did have family times of beach biking, but as the kids got older and as the bikes began to acquire wear and tear the newness slowly faded. Our bikes are beautifully stored in the shed. I miss my bike days. Endless repairs of flat tires and loose chains occurred.  Finally I decided that I’m just done with the experience.   Until now. I looked at a new bike and wondered if someone might have a bike in their shed they’d outgrown and wanted to sell. Most folks will buy fitness equipment and never use it. You probably could name at least 3 fitness things in your home that are the biggest dust collectors.

I posted on using social media for a grand reason! Why not throw it out there that I was looking for a couple of adult bikes? Ah yes and I knew there’s a big chance that I’d see the bike for sale somewhere for a cost I wasn’t prepared to pour out. But why not explore? I did. Soon, I found most people are quite proud of their used bicycles. I needed to wait.

And right out of nowhere, a message came to me on social media. “Do you still want a bike? I have one.” I was so excited because it was exactly what I’d wanted. God had taken my request to the next level. Someone on my social media, who I casually know, told me they had a bike! AND in further investigation, it was $1. They’d said they hadn’t been on a ride in a very long time and come get it! YEAH! All I could think was “You have not because you ask not.” I’d really been asking the Lord for favor. Hey, bikes are lots of money! So suddenly the perfect bike was placed in my path. A drive over and we grabbed the bike off the porch. My friend said that the overnight shift they’d worked ended at 3 am, so pardon if they’d not meet me at the door, but come get it!

My husband parked his truck and stepped out and loaded the bike in the back. I thanked my friend on messenger. In 5 minutes I received a message back. “Funny thing,” they wrote, “my neighbor just texted me that a guy just stole my bike!” We all laughed. This beautiful bike has a new home and has fun written all over it!  One of the main reasons I wanted a bike because my friend Jim from Missouri, who is a big bike rider is coming to visit! We’re almost set… one down and one to go.

Blessed beyond measure, I began thinking of how the Lord is blessing me over and over. Do you pray without ceasing? I pray about just about everything all day. I found myself praying right now for that sad lonely guy across the room from me in this coffee shop I’m sitting in right now. What’s his story? Maybe he’s just tired? Maybe he’s homeless? Maybe goes on forever. But prayers are effectual. James tells us “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." James 5:16b.  He speaks of effectual fervent prayer. The Greek word is energo, very similar to the word energy.  Are our prayers lackluster or are they passionate, persistent, electric! There’s nothing wrong with “Jesus help!” But investigate your motives?

Create confidence in your prayers. Pray scripture back to God. “Your word says….” Yes and Amen. Even today I stopped a friend of mine, Mellissa, to pray for her right there on the gym floor. She’s recovering from a car wreck and needed comfort, wisdom and peace. I radically prayed! James even gives us an example of fervent righteous prayers. “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.”-James 5:17-18 Who wouldn’t want that type of force in your prayers?

Prayer is talking to God. I can’t help to chat with him all day long! I’m not trying to be holy, it’s a habit. Your will, your way Lord. In his will, we are given what we ask for with a heart with pure motives. “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

This babe is beach-bound with her brand-new bike! Years ago when I did ride, I’d use that time to yes… pray. There’s nothing wrong with talking to God all day every day. Even pushing peddles, with a breeze in your face and the ocean roaring God calls us to pray. James, Elisha and me… we are just people and God is always ready to hear your cry for help, praise for favor and repentance for salvation. Peddle on my pal… bike bike baby A1A Beachfront Avenue!