Heat came early to Texas in May, and June isn’t any better.
Can you believe half the year is gone already? This year has been interesting, to say the least. Between high gas prices nationwide and record-breaking heat here in Texas, it has turned into a short riding season for me; with a temperature heat index above 100°, I quickly decided that riding in Texas heat just isn’t my cup of tea. I have experienced riding in Texas heat before, and it’s just not fun. In fact, It put me in bed for 3 days recovering from it, and it took me a while to build up my confidence in riding in the Texas summer months. I never want to feel that feeling ever again… feeling lethargic, head feeling like it’s swelling in my helmet… NOPE! Texas summer weather this time of year is so unpredictable as well. One minute, you’re leaving home in mildly cool temperatures with no humidity, and the next minute, hell has come to visit, and what felt like a ride sent from heaven in an instant turns into satan’s ride into hell.

There is a Time for Everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace – Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

There’s A Time to Ride and A Time to Let go of needing to Ride – LaShaun Jackson

Does this scripture not send a cool breeze over your Spirit? Does this scripture not satisfy your need to “ride just to say you took a ride.”? Now, don’t get me wrong… There is always a reason to ride, but does it mean you should ride just because you can? I tell you the Truth, this scripture blessed me and confirmed that now was as good as any time to get our home in order and ready for the next move of God that I want to see in my life. Taking a break from riding, spending time inside our home cleansing, and purging 18 years of “Stuff” was a great way of letting go of things that no longer served us. Plus, my husband would be out of town visiting our daughter and new second grandbaby, so now would be a great time to throw out things he might object to letting go of.

Seriously! That scripture released me from feeling guilty about not riding… LOOK AT GOD! Sending me a WORD to help me Let Go of the guilt of not riding my bike. Sure! You can hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! All you want, wear a cooling vest, limit your riding gear (which is not safe, by the way) in my opinion, etc., etc. But I love how God sends a WORD of comforting confirmation that There’s A Time for Everything… including Riding and not riding. So, I’m not riding because of the heat here in Texas, but how does one make the most of the time they now have on their hands?

Summer Cleansing!

When cleansing and maintaining our living space, many of us cringe at the thought of house cleaning vs. riding our bikes on the open road. But the heat in Texas made hunkering down and settling into a long summer house cleaning spree very appealing. Cleansing our home took me down appreciation lane because as I went through every room in our house, cleaning baseboards and walls, I remembered when I prayed for the things I now have. It was humbling and allowed me to practice humility; not that I’m arrogant, but I wanted to make sure God knew that I was thankful for all the blessings I was coming across in our home. I think sometimes we take our homes for granted. We live daily in them, complain about them, and neglect them as we move through the many different seasons of living and raising families in our homes. But give very little time and attention to how our home has provided for us.

Our home has given us a place to celebrate our Children’s graduations, becoming engaged and married. A floor for our grandbabies to crawl across and a room for our daughter to re-enlist in the military. A living room for our Son to decide on serving his country, A bedroom for the Spirit of God to inspire me to write my first song, which ends up becoming a 12-track Cd Project. The home where I would study to become a pastry chef, leave every morning at 5:30am to drive downtown for 5 years to become the 1st college graduate in my family at 50. The home that held my vision board on its wall had a picture of my Can-Am spyder I believed God for, which I now have. The house where I received my prayer language and learned how to press into prayer and stand truly on the WORD of God for Everything.

So, wind sisters if it’s hot in your neck of the woods, consider letting go of the need to ride for a spell and spend some time cleansing your home and thanking God for all the things you prayed for that you now have. Purge the things that are no longer are serving you or haven’t been used over the years. As you dust and clean walls, windows, baseboards, and mop floors, thank God for your dwelling filled with all your prayers, wishes, hopes, dreams, and memories you created with your family, and at the end of your long day of cleansing your home. Thank God for the pillows that cradle your head at night; how blessed are we that we have a place to rest our heads after a day of cleaning or Riding? How fortunate are we to ride the open road and return to a clean, clutter-free home? That we made it home safe and sound to our families, this sanctuary – our safe haven we call home…Let us Pray!

Father God,
I praise You for this fresh revelation concerning my home. Letting go of my ride for a moment to spend time cleaning my house has made me aware of how blessed I am and how faithful you are and have been throughout the many seasons of my life spent in our home.

Father God, please forgive me for the times I have complained and neglected our home and taken it for granted. Thank you, Father God, for all that I have and all that I have been given. Thank you for providing this dwelling place we call home. Continue to bless and keep us as we leave this home to ride the good ride of faith on the open road and return to its safety, to rest our heads at the end of the day.

Father God, Bless our home that it may be forever changed by your love and keep it safe from fire, floods, wind, invasion, and theft. Father God, let our home be a safe place to restore and refresh our weary souls after a long ride on the open road and a welcome mat for those who need Your love.

Father God, let our home be a legacy of love drifting down into the furthest generations of our family and a blessing to all who walk through our front door.
In Jesus’ Name I Pray,
Amen.

If this post ministered to you or encourage you in any way, please share with your fellow Wind Sisters.

May the Joy of the Lord instantly become your strength to encourage you to overcome any fears that you might experience. Remember, in our daring to be brave, when we throw caution to the wind, casting our cares in Faith upon Him through the ride. Peace, love, and joy are set loose in the atmosphere, and it permits other riders to do the same. Allowing us to all rejoice in knowing we have triumphant victory in Riding the Good Ride of Faith.