January 2023

Ever-precious greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! It is my great honor and privilege to share my heart with you once again. Debbie is a walker. Yes, she does have an exemplary walk in the Spirit. I have lived with her up close for eight months now as her husband, and I am smitten more than ever by her devotion to Christ Jesus our Lord. It was her love for the Lord that was my original weakness for her. I always desired a godly woman, but Debbie has excelled them all; she is truly Proverbs 31 personified.

When I say that she is a walker, indeed it is twofold. Lamb-like in her devotion to Christ, yes, but she also loves to walk daily in the neighborhood. She loves the fresh air and to chat with the neighbors in our development. Sometimes, we go to the beach or the park. I, on the other hand, am not a walker – with the Lord, yes, but in the flesh my knees are a bit wobbly.

The other day, we had a short break in our daily schedules, which as a rule, are generally hectic in nature. It was 60 degrees outside and sunny; just a beautiful, spring-like day. We both looked at each other and said, “Let’s go to the beach!” We jumped in my truck and went down to the Spring Lake boardwalk. The waves were beautiful, and the surfers were everywhere. I, having been a surfer in days gone by, love to watch the fellas surf. So, I sat on the boardwalk bench meandering through my bible, having some prayer time, and generally hanging out with the Lord, while Debbie went for her walk. Debbie is a walker.

She chimed, “Honey, I’ll be back in about an hour.” I said, “Okay, go enjoy yourself.” I just sat there and enjoyed myself in the Lord. About an hour later, she came back and she sat down next to me. I said, “Honey, I wish I had a bike so I could go with you when you walk. We then fellowshipped for a little while as we were heading home to be about our Father’s business.

The evening passed like any other evening – a nice, quiet, home-cooked meal (for which I nightly bow my head in worship), and then off for a good night’s sleep. Rest is a part of work – he who rests well, works well. I always get up earlier than Debbie, and as is my habit of 31 years, I have my quiet time with the Lord early. After my devotions, one of my chores is to take out the garbage. I packed it all up, threw it in the back of my pick-up, and drove over to the dumpster area. There are two areas there – one with actual dumpsters (where we put recyclables and garbage), and another area where people put stuff that is still good, but they don’t want.

Providentially, as I pulled up, there on its kickstand looking right at me was a beautiful, almost new bicycle. It still had the nubs on its tires from lack of use! My heart leaped inside of me as did the Baptist in the womb! I looked at it with crazy joy! It was in the area where people throw things away that they don’t want, even though they’re still good. I thought to myself, “Somebody must have parked it here.” I looked all around and realized, indeed, the Lord had done just that! The Lord immediately brought to my mind my statement to Debbie from the day before when I told her, “I wish I had a bike so I could go with you when you walk.”

I then looked up, by faith, and exuberantly I praised the Lord of Heaven and Earth from whom all blessings flow! He said every beast of the forest is mine and the bicycles on a thousand hills! Okay, I’m paraphrasing, but you get the picture. ? I thought to myself, “How good is the Lord that He meets me, providing me a bike to ride with my Debbie while she walks.”

Debbie is a walker – and now, I am a rider. How wonderful is our God and King that He should hear the desire of my heart and grant it in such a peculiarly wonderful way? It was far from a need; only the simple desire of my heart to spend more time with my wife doing what she loves. I was dumbfounded at His grace and rejoiced all the day in His goodness!

It is written, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)

I threw my new bike in the back of my truck and couldn’t wait to show Debbie! I pulled up to our home and got it out of the back of the truck. Then, I started riding it around the parking lot in front of our home. Zooming around like a little kid in the joy of the Lord! I called her on the phone and said, “Honey, look out the window.” As she looked out the window, there I was parading around on my new bike in the parking lot. She saw a 65-year old kid as she swung open the window and rejoiced with me. Of course, I immediately ran inside and reiterated the whole testimony. She indeed had remembered me saying such on the bench at the beach, and she, being well aware of the goodness of God, was not surprised at her Lord.

As if that is not enough, I then called Brother Brian who works at a bicycle shop. I have been encouraging and discipling him in the Lord as the Lord allows. I said, “Hey Brian, can you tune this bike up for me?” He said, “Sure thing. Bring it in tomorrow, and I’ll fix her up!” Next morning, I was there first thing as he came running out to meet me with great joy. I shared the whole testimony with him as he walked me inside his shop. I was explaining to him that I would need a light for the bike and a tune-up. I said, “Isn’t this a great bike?” But he said, “This is a girl’s bike, bro!” My countenance immediately fell to the floor. He then said, “This is not your bike, Philip, as he turned around pointing to another one sitting there, while saying, “That is your bike!” He was pointing to a beautiful, almost brand-new, grown man’s bike. I said, “What are you talking about?” He said, “I got this bike for you a long time ago; have it, as from the Lord!” I was flabbergasted, and I could not keep my smiles in single file. Then, he said about the bike I brought, “We’ll fix this one up for Debbie.” What?!! Again, I just bowed my head and worshiped.

Let us observe – in a 24-hour period, God gave me two bikes and gave Debbie one, right? That’s three right? I got two, and she got one, but still, we only have two bikes. All I can say is that’s God’s math; heavenly arithmetic, as it were. He multiplies His blessings way beyond what we ask or imagine! It’s in the Book.

In this new year, let us believe the God of all grace, that He is indeed not only able, but more than willing to bless us beyond what we can ask or think. He is our Heavenly Father – He has declared it so, not us. His desire, innately for our good, is beyond our imagination. He rejoices in our faithfulness as we are daily about His business. All these things simply because Debbie is a walker, and by grace now, like me. .

“A RIDER TOO!”

JOYFULLY IN JESUS,

LOVE, PHILIP