Prayer Request
I'm going to share a prayer request that I sent to some family and friends. So who ever passes this page in time, please feel free to send up a word of prayer for me. I am definitely excited to be going on this journy, but anxious at the same time.
I am beginning to understand why it is meanful to share prayer requests with fellow believers. If we're being honest with our requests, it gives a glimpse into what's on one's heart. If I had to share prayer requests it would be some of the following.
1. The time spent on RAGBRAI - see copied email below.
2. The ability to care for my retired guide who is aging and we're now shifting the care for him to make comfort more of a priority than fixing things. Remembing the first day I was matched with him and to lay awake listening to his labored breathing, is tugging at my heart.
3. A God-centered relationship with my boyfriend.
4. And that I would willingly and whole heartly give me life and surrender to God.
So here's a bit about the adventure I'm going to take in soon. Thanks for taking the time to read and pray.
Hi everyone:
I hope this email finds you all well. I’m sending this to quite a mix of people, but all of whom I have come to know, appreciate, and cherish. Beginning next Friday, I’ll be embarking on a personal journey that is fairly significant in my life. And I wanted to share a bit about it and to also ask for your prayers as I start this journey.
Some of you know that I have been training in earnest for a bike tour called RAGBRAI (short for the Register’s Annual Bike Ride Across Iowa). Go to http://www.ragbrai.com if you want to know more. It is the largest, longest, and oldest running American bike tour, sort of like the Tour de France. This year’s route will take me 471 miles over 6 days with the Adaptive Sports Iowa Group and 10,000 other cyclists. This all began with a Facebook challenge with a close friend who completed it last year. I didn’t realize what I was signing up for, but it has been amazing to see God’s faithfulness in this whole journey.
Some of you also know that over the past four years, I’ve been on what could be called an even tougher journey to live a healthy lifestyle, losing weight, improving my health, finding and pursuing after God, and just learning how God created me to contribute and impact the lives of people near and far. Since beginning this challenge in January, I have continually seen God working through the circumstances that have occurred over the past few months leading up to the start of the tour. Most notably has been his provision in providing two experienced cyclists who have been incredibly gracious and patient in introducing me to the sport and helping me train as my pilot on the tandem (a.k.a. “a bike built for two”). But also experiencing the testing of my faith when it looked like I would have to give up this goal due to a pre-existing heart condition which has now been mostly resolved and is considered to be benign.
So for those of you who pray, I wanted to ask for prayers for three specific areas associated with this ride.
1. Reflecting on God in my life: While this is a huge accomplishment in my own life, my greatest hope is that God would be the primary focus in this journey from both the perspective of me being able to recognize His hand in allowing me to do this and also knowing that I can only do this ride because of Him and His strength and not of my own.
2. Sharing God with others: I imagine that, when we’re not groaning from the pains of a days worth of riding, there will be a significant amount of time to get to know the other cyclists who are on the route and in the evenings over the seven days. It is my hope and prayer that as the opportunity presents itself, God would give me the right words and actions that clearly point to the work He’s done in my life and the hope He offers others. Also, knowing that I have some areas that God is still working in my heart, I pray for patience, humbleness, kindness, and gentleness in relating to others even if there’s pain or discomfort on the route.
3. Safety for my pilot and team: This ride is definitely something to be respected. While every precaution has been taken in preparing for this ride, my prayer is that God would keep me, my pilot, his family who is also doing RAGBRAI, and my team safe as we ride each day. I haven’t met my pilot yet, but am sure I’ll get to know him and his family since we’ll be attached to a bike over 470 miles!
I’m hoping to post pictures and status updates to Facebook, but will probably compile something when I get back. Here is where we’re going to be each day.
July 22 – Sioux Center to Cherokee (Ride Total: 54 miles)
July 23 – Cherokee to Lake View (Ride Total: 62 miles)
July 24 – Lake View to Webster City (Ride Total: 81 miles)
July 25 – Webster City to Marshalltown (Ride Total: 77 miles)
July 26 – Marshalltown to Cedar Rapids (Ride Total: 85 miles)
July 27 – Cedar Rapids to Anamosa (Ride Total: 43 miles)
July 28 – Anamosa to Clinton (Ride Total: 70 miles)
I apologize for the long email. My biggest hope is pretty much encapsulated in a quote that was shared with me by my boyfriend Dezman, “We don’t remember days, we remember moments.” I pray that this experience will have moments that are God-centered, joyous, memorable, and continue to shape me as a person for many days to come.
I am beginning to understand why it is meanful to share prayer requests with fellow believers. If we're being honest with our requests, it gives a glimpse into what's on one's heart. If I had to share prayer requests it would be some of the following.
1. The time spent on RAGBRAI - see copied email below.
2. The ability to care for my retired guide who is aging and we're now shifting the care for him to make comfort more of a priority than fixing things. Remembing the first day I was matched with him and to lay awake listening to his labored breathing, is tugging at my heart.
3. A God-centered relationship with my boyfriend.
4. And that I would willingly and whole heartly give me life and surrender to God.
So here's a bit about the adventure I'm going to take in soon. Thanks for taking the time to read and pray.
Hi everyone:
I hope this email finds you all well. I’m sending this to quite a mix of people, but all of whom I have come to know, appreciate, and cherish. Beginning next Friday, I’ll be embarking on a personal journey that is fairly significant in my life. And I wanted to share a bit about it and to also ask for your prayers as I start this journey.
Some of you know that I have been training in earnest for a bike tour called RAGBRAI (short for the Register’s Annual Bike Ride Across Iowa). Go to http://www.ragbrai.com if you want to know more. It is the largest, longest, and oldest running American bike tour, sort of like the Tour de France. This year’s route will take me 471 miles over 6 days with the Adaptive Sports Iowa Group and 10,000 other cyclists. This all began with a Facebook challenge with a close friend who completed it last year. I didn’t realize what I was signing up for, but it has been amazing to see God’s faithfulness in this whole journey.
Some of you also know that over the past four years, I’ve been on what could be called an even tougher journey to live a healthy lifestyle, losing weight, improving my health, finding and pursuing after God, and just learning how God created me to contribute and impact the lives of people near and far. Since beginning this challenge in January, I have continually seen God working through the circumstances that have occurred over the past few months leading up to the start of the tour. Most notably has been his provision in providing two experienced cyclists who have been incredibly gracious and patient in introducing me to the sport and helping me train as my pilot on the tandem (a.k.a. “a bike built for two”). But also experiencing the testing of my faith when it looked like I would have to give up this goal due to a pre-existing heart condition which has now been mostly resolved and is considered to be benign.
So for those of you who pray, I wanted to ask for prayers for three specific areas associated with this ride.
1. Reflecting on God in my life: While this is a huge accomplishment in my own life, my greatest hope is that God would be the primary focus in this journey from both the perspective of me being able to recognize His hand in allowing me to do this and also knowing that I can only do this ride because of Him and His strength and not of my own.
2. Sharing God with others: I imagine that, when we’re not groaning from the pains of a days worth of riding, there will be a significant amount of time to get to know the other cyclists who are on the route and in the evenings over the seven days. It is my hope and prayer that as the opportunity presents itself, God would give me the right words and actions that clearly point to the work He’s done in my life and the hope He offers others. Also, knowing that I have some areas that God is still working in my heart, I pray for patience, humbleness, kindness, and gentleness in relating to others even if there’s pain or discomfort on the route.
3. Safety for my pilot and team: This ride is definitely something to be respected. While every precaution has been taken in preparing for this ride, my prayer is that God would keep me, my pilot, his family who is also doing RAGBRAI, and my team safe as we ride each day. I haven’t met my pilot yet, but am sure I’ll get to know him and his family since we’ll be attached to a bike over 470 miles!
I’m hoping to post pictures and status updates to Facebook, but will probably compile something when I get back. Here is where we’re going to be each day.
July 22 – Sioux Center to Cherokee (Ride Total: 54 miles)
July 23 – Cherokee to Lake View (Ride Total: 62 miles)
July 24 – Lake View to Webster City (Ride Total: 81 miles)
July 25 – Webster City to Marshalltown (Ride Total: 77 miles)
July 26 – Marshalltown to Cedar Rapids (Ride Total: 85 miles)
July 27 – Cedar Rapids to Anamosa (Ride Total: 43 miles)
July 28 – Anamosa to Clinton (Ride Total: 70 miles)
I apologize for the long email. My biggest hope is pretty much encapsulated in a quote that was shared with me by my boyfriend Dezman, “We don’t remember days, we remember moments.” I pray that this experience will have moments that are God-centered, joyous, memorable, and continue to shape me as a person for many days to come.
Denna! Wow, so cool that you're sharing this with the blog-readers of the world! I will keep you in my prayers and please remember that you continue to be such an amazing source of encouragement to many of us. Keep living life on the edge! God tends to get really personal when we're on the edge. I will be praying that you encounter amazing and unforgettable moments along your journey. Really liked Dezman's quote at the end there. Cheers!
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