Family Bike Rides!

Grandipop you'd be proud of your great-grandson and our biking family. Your legacy shines on - all the way to New Zealand :)

A couple weeks ago Andrew won an auction on TradeMe for a good second-hand toddler bikeseat then fixed up his old Diamondback. The four of us can now all set out on bike rides together. We've managed this style of edenzadventure three times now.

First trip was to pick veggies at our community garden plot. We stopped for ice-cream cones on the route home and let the kids play around on McDonald's gymnasium.

Second trip was on a Sunday. With afternoon naps behind us and tea and biscuits in a backpack we headed uphill (all the way!!) to the Auckland Botanical Gardens where we listened to "Elvis in the Park". A thousand or so people were there enjoying the festivities and listening to a selection of different men impersonate Elvis. Even the current reigning world champ from England had turned up for the show! Thankfully we didn't have to worry about parking and we even left with the kids hearing still intact. The downhill ride home was bliss!

Third trip was this last Sunday. Summer is amiably giving way to the boisterous autumn weather. We rode a foot/cycle path around a portion of the (vast) Manukau Harbour bayline in the posher suburb of Wattle Downs just south of Manurewa. A trail Kirstie and I strollered the kids along a number of times. Tide was out and the wind danced busily round us. Zeke and Tazara pointed out every bird and dog as well as calling back and forth to each other a couple times. Tazara took up singing now and then when she wasn't crying from helmet-hate. She rides emotions just like her Mama :).

I'm so thankful for these delightful gulps of summer fun with my young family! I've put a request in for a couple more rays of summer sun before doors close and fireplaces are lit.

Eden as Judge, Jury and Executioner

"Judge not that ye be not judged. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you." Matt7:1-2

This verse serves as a sobering warning. I have often evaluated myself, others, and especially Andrew, in the following way. I look at them or something they're doing/have done and I think "Is this good or is this bad?" And then my thoughts either praise or condemn them accordingly. Recently my thinking pattern has changed to "This person is a sinner. This person is God's son/daughter. Is there grace enough to cover this sin/annoyance/offense?" Usually I laugh to myself as I say yes because the matter is so small and insignificant. Other times the answer is no in which case I need to ask God for the grace and probably talk to the person.

This might seem like a minor change in thought process but it's deeply rooted and has/is making a big difference for me. I feel a lot more free with greater peace and contentment. I'm less affected by the good and bad of those around me. I am more focused on the Cross and how myself and others are covered in the blood of the Lamb.

I find quite a lot of my thought patterns, feelings, and reactions, become diseased without me being aware of how off base they are. Once I see it I can repent and ask God to train me in the right way to respond, think, feel. Studying God's Word at Grace Theological College has been really good for helping me see how my own sin is contributing to the pains and hurts I struggle with.

I Corinthians 10:13 is so encouraging: "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide a way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it (some translations say 'so that you will be trained by it'."

For me this battle with being judgmental has been slow going and frustrating but I'm so excited that God is faithful to point out my pride and show me the way of humility. This sin doesn't have a hold on me like it used to!

Thank you God for healing and making new and allowing us to change by your power and goodness! Help us to love you with our thoughts, words and actions.

Another thing about people with judgmental tendencies - we often set a high standard for ourself and are either self-righteously happy/proud because we (think we) live up to this standard or we are distraught that we've failed. Either way we're looking to our own effort and works to save us rather than Christ's righteousness which has covered both the good and the bad.

In Christ Alone.
Eden :)