God’s Bicycle Testimony
All that can be said is that “God is Good, Good, Good..” Amen. Here is something I titled God’s Bicycle Testimony. A testimony of God’s work.. I pray this encourages any readers to seek to hear His voice and most importantly, to be a doer of the word that we hear. In Jesus name, amen.
For many months I have been praying and waiting for whey protein powder to go on sale. Since it is a staple food item for me, it’s bought in bulk. It was realized last week that I’m getting down to my last couple of pounds (again), so I reminded the Lord. :)
A few days ago while riding my (His) bicycle to Church, the Lord guided me to a man standing on the opposite side of the road with a bicycle. “Go talk to that man.” I rode over and asked what he was up to. He said he was traveling north to find work (homeless). After a short discussion about his confusion of which direction to go, I invited him to come along for a ride to Church. He accepted. While we were on the way, I noticed that the man had a 1/2 flat rear tire. I decided to help him by using an air compressor at a gas station after Church.
Before and after Church, the man was talking a lot about his 2 ex-wives, the last being 14yrs ago. He was very bitter. He revealed that they both committed adultery. Outside of his travel plans, it was pretty much the only thing he discussed. His heart was obviously scarred.
After Church, we rode to the gas station. I asked, “What are your other needs besides air?” He said he was good on everything. (He had water, 2 bags of food, and received another bag of food at the Church). He said all he really needed was his bicycle tire fixed. We looked at it and the tube was blowing out. He said that it’s holding air for around a day of riding and that he would be ok with just getting some air. As I grabbed the quarters out of my pocket to place them in the air machine, the Lord pressed in, “Is that all you can do? The need won’t be met tomorrow.” I decided to run home and get a wrench to swap a tire off of my bike. All during this event, in the back of my mind was that still small voice, “Give him the bicycle.” I quenched Him with my own reasoning.. “Replacing the tire will meet his need.” bla bla bla *sigh*
Upon returning with the wrench, we realized a swap wouldn’t work because it was the back tire. Oops! Imagine that! My own understandings fail, once again. There was a difference in the sprocket/gears.. they were not interchangeable. Then again, “Give him the bicycle that I have blessed you with. Don’t worry, have I not been faithful in taking care of your needs?” Ugh.. I bow, “Yes Lord.” So I gave him God’s bicycle. The man was obviously thankful.
As I was taking personal items off of the bike, he continued to talk about his ex’s. The Lord laid the word ‘unforgiveness’ on my heart and ‘7×70’. When we were ready to depart, I asked, “Do you recall a verse that mentions 7×70 in the bible?” He did not. I explained that it’s about forgiveness. We discussed how unforgiveness ushers in bitterness, stress, depression, anger, and other things of this world and compared it to God’s way of forgiveness, which ushers in peace, contentment, love, kindness, etc. He had that look.. praise God, seed dropped. After we were finished discussing this, we prayed. During the discussion about 7 times 70, there was a song in my head..
At the moment I began to depart on his bicycle, I was singing: ~7 times 70 times, there’s healing in the air tonight~ Just as I pressed down on the pedal for the first crank, I look down:
My eyes immediately fixate on a 7 at the same time the word seven was rolling off my lips.. confirmation.
As always, God doesn’t stop there. Later in the day, I receive notice of a sale for protein powder. I’ve been ordering protein powder for around 5yrs, always keeping eyes out for sales. This was 20% lower than the lowest sale price that I have come across in 5yrs. Thank you Lord..
This evening, I learned of another branching out from this event (the homeless man’s bicycle that I had). God is Good! Good! Good! When this originally happened, the bicycle was offered to a neighbor. He was very thankful because he was needing new pedals for another bike. As I was talking to him tonight – “I hope you don’t mind.. but I gave that bicycle to my neighbor. For a long time, he has been talking about how he would love to have 2 bicycles so him and the wife could go for rides together. I gave him that bike and his wife is using mine. You should have seen them leave together for a ride the other day, they had smiles stretched from ear to ear.”
Lord, I’m sorry that I almost grudgingly and selfishly held onto that bicycle. Thanks for keeping on me.. and thanks for the lesson..
1 Peter 4:9-10 Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man has received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Hey Joseph, I love how God just kind of shows up in your day and you bring it to a living stream of flowing righteousness on your computer. I’ve been listening to videos recently of God’s healings and miracles, but sometimes its nice just to read something I can relate to better, something down to earth that could have happened to any believer who has been imbibing on the drink of our God as you have and do and will continue to do.
I think it all worked out very well, even your delay in obeying…it makes for a great testimony free of self advertising. God works all things out, even our delays are factored in sometimes, to give Him glory. Love it! mark
Good morning brother Mark.. Sometimes I wonder how many times God is showing up in our day, and we aren’t paying attention because things of the world are taking our attention. He’s always speaking.. sadly, we’re not always in tune like Jesus. I can only pray we are all continually molded into seeing Him in all thing, in all circumstances.. as it is written, all things work together for the good for thos who love God and are called according to His purpose. That’s my goal. Open the eyes of our hearts Lord.. I don’t want to blink.
Yes, the delay in obeying… I was talking to a brother last night about this.. Another blessing from this event is the purification process.. growth in my walk. Learning lessons of obedience, recognizing self-reasoning, learning more on hearing His voice, etc. It’s just how God works. Spiritual pride usually wants to look at others, what they are doing wrong, how others can improve, etc. God works “all things” together for the good, us included.. His grace spider-webs out.. He just needs a vessel who is willing to let the water flow, unhindered.. I pray I can fully remove the self-created dams in my life that stop His flow..
Good to hear from you Mark.. Be blessed brother. Keep on keepin’ on.
Hi again Joseph. I usually wait a tad when I feel God asking me give something. It seems it is always Him, but I just want to be sure it is Him. The longer you wait the more the voice is confirmed as long as you are willing to obey. If you are down on yourself (not sure if you are) for waiting you are at the same time not being up on Jesus, and this is the important thing to grasp, His hand in yours, and His nature in yours. Focus on Him who waited a tad in Gethsemane before being sure. Mark
Thanks so much for your encouragement.
When I look back over my walk with the Lord, there were many many times when the selfish-reasoning stopped Him from working through me, and I have witnessed the results of such. Anguished comes to mind. Then in the same examination, I witness evidence of Him flowing.. He just needs a willing vessel. To see Him work is just miraculous.. just awesome.
Thus… I hate the selfish-reasoning that comes up. Not to a point where I’m down on myself, because we both know who the condemner is.. When I see what happens through obedience, and can see what happens through disobedience.. It’s a “duh” moment. Why would I ever reason such things out again? But I do! lol. I hate it! lol – This came to mind: John 12:24-25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
At the end of the day tho, I smile and have the joy of the Lord. Praising God that I’m not walking as I once walked.. and that I am purified more through this event. Hallelujah!