Stage 15 Bourg-en-Bresse / Culoz

It is hard to believe next Sunday we arrive in Paris, but today we have a few more hills to ride over.  Today the race stays in the department Ain (01).


Lord, today we have the blessing of watching the beauty of the department of Ain here on the eastern border where it lies between Lion and Geneva.  Lord, thank you for the beauty of your creation we will enjoy the scenes of the Jura Mountains.  Lord, we can see this beauty, but you can see the beauty in the hearts of those who love and adore you.
 Lord, bless our brothers and sisters in Christ here in Ain, we pray for their growth in You.  We pray that they have the freedom to share their faith in You with others.  We pray for their children that as they grow up they will stay true to their faith.  Lord, thank you for their faithfulness  and for their love for You.  Deepen that love as they serve you.  We pray in the name of Jesus our Savior.  Amen

Stage 14 Montélimar / Villars-les-Dombes Parc des Oiseaux

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40: 31

Yesterdays stage finished in Villars-les-Dombes Parc des Oiseaux that is known for its bird sanctuary.  At times in our personal and public lives we become weary and this verse is there to remind us and to refresh us.  God is working and he is personally working in our lives for our good.  I am not sure how God will work good from the events in Nice but we know from past history God is working and He will use these actions, tears and sorrows for our good.  There is a race to be won, run it in his strength and he will lift us up. 

Father, we are weary and our strength is beginning to wane.  Renew our strength and let us mount up on eagles wings and let us soar. 
We pray in the name of Jesus.  Amen. 

Praying for Ain

I Samuel 2:2 There is none holy as the Lord, for there is none besides Thee; neither is there any rock like our God.

Father, El Elyon(the most High God) there is none holy as you and there is none besides Thee; Lord you are our rock.  Father, we pray for the department of Ain and we pray that as they see the out cropping that  they will be reminded of You and seek after you.  Lord, we pray they will hear your word and do as it says so that they will be a building their house on a rock.  We pray for the salvation of the souls in Ain.  We pray in the name of Jesus.  Amen

Praying for Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Over the next 8 days we will be praying for the Region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.  This region is a new region that was created in 2016 by the fusing the two older regions Auvergne and the Rhône-Alpes. It is made up of 12 departments.  

Ain, Allier, Ardeche, Cantal, Drome, Haute- Loire, Haute-Savoie, Isere, Loire, Puy-de-Drome, Rhone, Savoie are the twelve departments.  We have prayed through this area of France in the pass, but it is good that we lift them up before the Father at this time.  


Heavenly Father, 
We humbly bow before you as we pray for the people of the Region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.  Lord many people call this region home, but many people come to visit and enjoy the beauty of Your creation.  Lord, we know that You have revealed yourself to us through nature, so we are without excuse. Lord we consider our need for you and see that our need is great.  Father we yield ourselves to you, for we desire to be instrument for Your Glory.  Father, we pray that as people come to see the beauty of your creation they will see You revealed through Creation and see their own personal need of You in their lives and yield to Your purpose in their lives as Father, Lord, and Savior.  Thank you for presenting Your glory to us through nature.  We pray in the name of Jesus. 
Amen.

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,[g] in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 

Praying for AIN, 01

Ain, 01

Father,
We pray for the department of Ain located in north-west of the Rhone-Alps region of south-east France. Lord this part of France may be economically poor, but it is rich in beauty.  Lord we pray that this Department of France will become spiritually rich because the know you as their personal Savior.  Father we pray for the churches in this area and ask that their love and light will shine so that men and women and little children of Ain in the beautiful Jura Mountains will be rich in your heavenly blessings.  
We pray all these things in the name of Jesus.  
Amen

Étage 8 Station des Rousses > Morzine-Avoriaz

Saturday's race was very exciting, and I look forward to the race up the mountains today.  The Frenchman, Sylvain Chavanel, poured out his heart yesterday as he flew up the hills.  He has had to great stage wins and I am sure the country is very proud of him.

 Lord, bless Sylvain today.  May he see your blessing on his life and stop to praise your name.  We thank you for his life and we know that you love him.  Be with all the riders as they grind their way up the mountains.  We praise you and thank you for all the blessings in our lives.  We humbly pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

These next few days in the alps are wonderful.  The crowds are enthusiastic and so fun to watch.  I hurt for every riders as the push through the pain to defeat the mountains and each other, and pray as they fly through the descent. Today will be the first of the category 1 climbs.  I hope you enjoy seeing God's extraordinary handiwork as we go up into the mountain tops.

Along today's route we will be passing just south of Institut Biblique de Genève in Genène and just north of Bonneville, France where Jon and Agnès Hegner are serving as missionaries for Team France.  Please keep them in your prayers today. 

Ain France (1)

In the Department of Ain you will be able to find  the village of Ferney-Voltaire.  The philosopher Voltaire made this his retirement home at the age of 65.  Through his writings and words Voltaire influenced the minds and hearts of Europe.  As a humanist Voltaire question the need for God and made his personal choice of not needing God very public.  Sadly many people in France have followed his belief and example.  To me Voltaire is one of those turning points in history for the nation of France.  If  I were to go to this village I know my heart would break knowing the eternal direction he influenced many to choose.

Father God,
How do we as the believers of Christ influence the Voltaires of our world today. How do we publicly pronounce the Truth in a day where the world view believes truth is relevant.  My heart is broken when I see humanity has rejected the only Way, Truth, and Life that we could ever have.  I sadly fear as a society we have listen to those who scream there is no God more than to those who proclaim the Gospel of Christ.  Lord forgive us, for we have surely failed to influence others in seeing their need for your hope.  I know I have not persuaded them I have let them turn away and reject you forever.  Please forgive me.  Bring people into my life and let me see their eternal destination and help me to be an influence in their choose of choosing You.  Lord, I desire for the lost to find Jesus as their Way. 
I pray in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. 
Amen