Issue link: https://cp.revolio.com/i/1504291
8 | WheelsOfGrace.com | #68 ARE YOU READY? We were just getting ready to go to sleep when the phone call came. The City of Leesburg was calling, and they were letting us know that our two tents that had been set up for this year's Leesburg Bikefest (Florida) had been twisted and destroyed by a freak tornado/windstorm that hit after everyone had set up for the beginning of the bike event. I thought it was a prank call until I got the picture that they texted me. Our stuff had exploded across the parking lot, and we were sitting there in shock. We got dressed and drove back to our location at the corner of 5th and Main and were greeted by the destruction. What made it all the worse was that before we left, I felt God tell me to pray for the tent and so for the first time in our seven-year existence we laid hands on the tent and prayed for God's protection. The result was not what I had in mind. Have you ever had that experience? Prayed that God would protect and then something bad happened and you were left hanging your head asking God, "Why?" In spite of it all, we got to work. Cleaned up the location and somewhere around 1am we had found most of our scattered things and got it all put away for the night and we made the necessary calls to get our spare tent brought up the next morning and we hoped, beyond all hope, that God was going to protect us once again. We knew it was spiritual warfare, we knew that Satan did not want us at Leesburg and yet we also knew that God had called us to shine a light into the darkness. The next morning dawned, and we began the process of setting up once again and we knew that God was up to something and that there was someone we needed to speak with during this bike event. So, we prayed, we hunkered down, we got sweaty, we went to work. Then we noticed police officers on the rooftops, it looked like snipers and we thought, "what is going on?" Then we heard the sound of motorcycles. A club had decided to make an appearance and many rode in with their cuts, the club, and their support clubs. It was a site to behold, and they all rode in directly across from where we were located. I found myself thinking, "God?" Then I remembered the song, "I surrender all," and knew that no matter what life threw our way we were sold out to God. Every moment, every day, all that we had was given to Him. We were in God's hands and as a result, there would be no fear. Andrew Murray wrote in his book, "Absolute Surrender": "By your grace I desire to do your will in everything, every moment of every day. Lord God, not a word upon my tongue but for your glory. Not a movement of my temper but for your glory. Not an affection of love or hate in my heart but for your glory and according to your blessed will." Jim Elliot, a missionary who lost his life in trying to reach a primitive tribe in South American wrote, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." The weekend at Leesburg Bikefest 2023 served as a reminder of just "how" much I really wanted to surrender to God. I found myself thinking, "Do I just want to serve God when it is safe to do so?" "Do I just want to send a few bucks here and there to support others who are sacrificing in faith to serve God?' "Am I really ready to die for Him, to surrender all to Him?" "Do I just want to serve God when God ACTS like I think He should act?" Or am I willing to surrender all in the hopes that one may be saved? I found myself going back to the mission that runs my life. Isaiah 61:1-2, "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the broken hearted and to proclaim that captives will be released, and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord's favor has come, and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies." As each one of us moves forward day by day it is my prayer that we start the day with a surrender of our lives, of our wills, into His hands so that one may know of Him. It is our call to carry light into the darkness, to reach up and grab hold of the boney fingers of Satan and break them off of God's people one finger at a time. May you be empowered with His Spirit and may the peace that passes all understanding surround your heart, mind, and soul. Peace out, Doc. ARE YOU READY? 8 | WheelsOfGrace.com | #68 www.BikersAgainstTrafficking.org