Stage 17 Digne-les-Bains / Pra-Loup

As we kneel in prayer this morning the race moves up into the high alps.  Today will be a day of digging deep as they move higher and higher.  Pray as they go.  Today we ride through and up in the Region of Provence-Alpes- Cote d'Azur,  in the fourth department.

Father today we ride in the Alps, so the views of the peaks and down into the valleys  will be beautiful.  Father, we ask once more for your hand to be on the land of France.  We ask for the gospel message to find souls who are ready to receive and believe. Lord, we ask for the boldness of the gospel.  Breakdown every wall that stands against You.  We pray all of this in the name of Jesus.  Amen

Stage 15 Mende / Valence

This Sunday the Tour rode through the southern parts of France from Mende to Valence.  From the region of Languedoc-Rousillon to Rhone Alpes.  Tomorrow they will be riding in to  Gap.  Today was the last day for the sprinters till the the ride into Paris.  It was a fight for the line and I hope your favorite crossed the line in good time.

Father we continue to pray for the southern region of France.  Today we pray for the mothers and wives as they raise their children as they teach them to love You.  Lord, please bring strength and blessing to each mom as the work hard each day to give to their kids a good life.  Lead them to You.  We pray in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Stage 14 Rodez / Mende

Yesterday the tour moved on to the Languedoc-Roussillon region ending in the 48th department Lozere landing on an air strip on top of a hill.  This area of France reminds me of Sardinia but with more green.  I love the rocks and the interesting shapes they are created in.  God is so varied in His Creation.

Father,
Each day we see beauty, but the beauty of your creation changes from day to day as the tour rides through France.  Thank you for all your handiwork in this region of France.  Lord, as we go we pray for those who are proclaiming your name today.  Give them boldness and grace as they tell others your wonders and grace through their lives, words and actions.   Father, thank you for using us to be your hands and feet.  We pray this because we desire for the people of France to look at your beauty and know and believe that you are the creator and that you love them and desire to redeem us all and welcome us into your Family as Children of God.  Thank you for the redeeming works of Jesus Christ we all would be lost without your beauty of grace.  We pray all these things in the name of Jesus for the Salvation of France.  Amwn

Stage 13 Muret / Rodez

On Friday the tour pedaled their way through the Midi Pyrenees region beginning in the 31st department of Haute-Garonne and ending in the 12th department Aveyron. Pray that the younger generations will question why so many do not believe in God the Father.  Let them ask the hard question about a creator, and a God who is in control and has a active role in their everyday life.  Pray that the Holy Spirit will be actively working and that we as the Body of Christ will be doing our part as well.  Lord, let us go and as we are going tell others the good news.

Father, we pray that the younger generations will be open to the gospel and as the summer continues and VBS and summer camps are held we pray that many of the children and teenagers will come to know Christ as their personal Savior.  Bring many opportunities for children to hear the gospel in this region of France and encourage the Church to continue to be faithful in going and sharing with the love of Christ.  We pray in the name of Jesus our Savior.  Amen.



Mission Timothée 

Stage 12 Lannemezaan /Plateau de Beille

The Tour has been through this area and I am a bit late with this prayer, but as they move on through France keep the Pyrenees and people who live there in your prayers.  The days in the mountains  are always exciting and unpredictable things go on as the teams ride over each mountain on the stage.

Lord,
we pray for all the people who live in and on these beautiful green hills called the Pyrenees.  Lord, even through they live in a beautiful location, life can be ugly and bring pain and hardship along with beauty and grace.  Lord, we pray that as people struggle to climb up life's mountain they will look to You for wisdom, strength, guidance and redemption so that they will be blessed by You for generations to come.  Father pour your blessings over the Pyrenees.  In the name of Jesus we pray.  Amen

Stage 11 Pau / Cauterets - Vallee de Saint-Savin

The people will be here crowding around the summits as they wait for the arrival of the riders who will master their bodies and their minds.    We cheer them on as they dig deep to demand more out of each stroke.  Lord, thank you for the joy these stages bring to our lives. 

Lord, we thank you for the people on these mountains.  We thank you for their excitement and their joy as they cheer on their favorites.  Thank you for those strong enough to ride in the tour this year.  We pray that each person will have the opportunity to learn about Jesus and how he endured all for each one of us.  He chose to obey the Father and climb to the top of Calvary and sacrifice everything for each of us.  We thank you, Jesus, for your love and your sacrifice for our salvation.  We stand here today and cheer for your return, so that all will know you as King of King and Lord of Lord.  We pray in the name of Jesus our King.  Amen

Team Sky

Team Sky
31. Chris Froome
32. Peter Kennaugh
33. Leopold König
34. Wout Poels
35. Richie Porte
36. Nicolas Roche
37. Luke Rowe
38. Ian Stannard
39. Geraint Thomas

The British powerhouse called Team Sky rides with yellow on the back of Chris Froome as they take on the first HC climb of this Tour.  Team Sky seems to be built around the task of getting Froome up and over each mountain in the Pyrenees and than in the Alps. 

Father,

Thank you for being our shepherd, one who leads us by the still waters and up on the mountains and down in the valleys.  Father, I pray that Team sky will look to You as their shepherd.  I pray that as they cycle over the mountains that they will look to you for their help.  Father, soften hearts to be willing to follow You.  We pray in the name of Jesus.  Amen

Stage 10 Tarbes / La Pierre-Saint-Martin

Today is the first of the Pyrenees, so we will enjoy the climbs and the strategies that come with the slopes and the valleys.  Each team comes with different strengths and weaknesses, but they all have the same goal to make it over the mountains to the finish line in the least amount of time.  The sprinters will pop off the back as the climbers will their bodies to go faster and faster. 

Lord, we watch as they move through your handiwork.  Up hills, around the bends, and down into the valleys below protect them as they go.  Lord, help us all to slow down and enjoy the beauty around us each day.  Thank you for what you have created.  As we see your creation we praise you as our creator.  Father thank you for the beauty we see this stage and the stages to come. 

We pray in the name of Jesus our Creator. 

Amen.   

Bretagne – Séché Environnement

A professional cycling team based in Rennes, France began in 2005 and in 2013 Seche Environment stepped in as a sponsor.  Year 2014 was their first appearance in the Tour de France as a wildcard.  Here they are again once more pedaling their way to Paris. Looking for a stage victory, or just time out front in a break away.

Bretagne – Séché Environnement
201. Eduardo Sepúlveda
202. Frederic Brun
203. Anthony Delaplace
204. Pierrick Fedrigo
205. Brice Feillu
206. Armindo Fonseca
207. Arnaud Gerard
208. Pierre-Luc Perichon
209. Florian Vachon

Every year we have new riders and new teams and returning riders and returning teams.  So as new teams return to this platform it will be a joy to watch them ride through these next two weeks.  As a team they are 21 out of 22, so over the the next stages they will be able to climb their way into a higher team standing.  

Father, we pray for this team as they make their mark in the cycling world.  Lord, we thank you for teams that come and try their best in the Tour.  Father thank you for those who do their best in all they do.  Lord, give them the strength, courage, and mental fortitude to complete the tour safely and at their best finish, but most of all Lord that they will take that same will and desire to do their best into their relationship with you.  Lord, We pray that they will seek after you.  We pray all these things in the name of Jesus our Savior.  Amen 

Rest Day, Pau

Pau France

I Corinthians 12: 9 a
And He said to me,  " My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."

Lord, our lives wear us down and even at our best we are weak, but yet you promise us that your grace is enough for all our needs.  Lord your strength is greatest when we are weak, because then we know it has been done by you and only you.  Lord, I pray that we rely on you each and every moment of our day.   We pray in the name of Jesus.  Amen

BMC Racing Team

BMC Racing Team
61. Tejay van Garderen
62. Damiano Caruso
63. Rohan Dennis
64. Daniel Oss
65. Manuel Quinziato
66. Samuel Sánchez
67. Michael Schar
68. Greg van Avermaet
69. Danilo Wyss




A well oiled machine, staying in harmony as they give everything they've got till they drop off or finish.  BMC came in with the minimum of 5 riders with one second less than Team Sky decreasing Tejay Van Garderen's time behind the yellow jersey. worn by Chris Froome of Sky.  Congratulations to Team BMC for their team work over this last week in the tour.  We look forward to more team work in the stages to come.

It will be interesting to see how BMC battle the Pyrenees and the others racing for the same prize.

Lord, we pray that the Holy Spirit  will be able to guide, comfort, convict, teach  help them understand the love of God in their lives. Work inn the lives of the BMC team, from their sponsors, every rider, doctor, mechanic, cook  and any one else that works for BMC.  Thank you Father for working in our lives.  We pray all this in the name of Jesus.  Amen.  

Stage 9 Vannes / Plumelec

We stay in Brittany today for the Team Time Trial TTT.  Today is one of my favorite stages in the tour.  Cycling is a team sport were everyone has a role, and today it takes the total time of the best 5 riders in the team.  I enjoy watching them work together as hard as they can to reach the finish line.  Today time gaps will grow for some of the GCs and maybe some will decrease their time deficits. Everyday brings new challenges not only on the tour but in our daily lives and it takes a team working as hard as we can to make it to the finish line.  God has put together a team call the body of Christ.  He created us to work together as a unit to reach the finish line.  Today pray for the body of Christ in Brittany.

Dear Father, We pray for the body of Christ in Brittany.  We pray that their faith will be strengthened and that their love for each other and for You will grown  Lord, send your Holy Spirit to start a revival fire in their hearts and use each local church to preach the gospel so that the people of France will call you Lord.  We pray all these things in the name of Jesus Amen.

Stage 8 Rennes / Mur de Bretagne

Department 35 Ille-et-Vilaine

Department 22

Today we raced in the region of Brittany and watched the crowds as they gathered along the roadside.  Cycling is loved by the people of Brittany from the local races to the national and international races.  Pray for the people along the road today.

Father we pray for the people of Brittany.  We pray that they will love you with all their heart and soul and mind.  Lord, we pray for a growth of love in our hearts for our brothers and sisters in Christ and for those who need you as their Father.  We pray  for all these things in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Matthew 22: 37-38
And He said to him, "'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' 38"This is the great and foremost commandment.…

AG2R La Mondiale

AG2R La Mondiale  
11. Jean-Christophe Peraud
12. Romain Bardet
13. Jan Bakelants
14. Mikael Cherel
15. Ben Gastauer
16. Damien Gaudin
17. Christophe Riblon
18. Johan Vansummeren
19. Alexis Vuillermoz

Father we pray that the members of AG2R will except your gift of grace. In the name of Jesus.  Amen

Stage 7 Livarot / Fougeres

Department of 14 Calvados will be the department the race departs from for 190.5 Km today. This department is one of the most visited department due to the sea side and history. also  This department is know for their apples and the cider they make.

 Bearing fruit takes effort and planning.  It makes me thing of John 15 when Jesus speaks of being the vine and we are the branches and how he ask us to bear fruit.  Let us pray that the churches in Calvados will be fruit bearing churches and believers and that they will abide in Christ so that the world will believe in Him.

 










Father,
 we thank you for our brothers and sisters in Department Calvados (14) here in the region of Lower Normandy.  We pray that they will abide in you so that they will bear fruit as they remain in You.  Father we pray that they will stay faithful preaching your word, loving one another and sharing your love and grace.  Lord, open hearts to receive your love, mercy and grace here in Calvados.
 We pray all these things in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

MTN - Qhubeka

MTN – Qhubeka
211. Edvald Boasson Hagen
212. Stephen Cummings
213. Tyler Farrar
214. Jacques J. v. Rensburg
 215. Reinardt J. v. Rensburg
216. Merhawi Kudus
217. Louis Meintjes
218. Serge Pauwels
219. Daniel Teklehaimanot

Today we see Team Qhubeka out front in the break away.  This new team from Africa is making their presents know in the cycling world.  Daniel Teklehaimanot earned the polka-dot jersey in the Criterium du Dauphine, and today he will be earning a few king of the mountain points.  It will be exciting to watch them in the Pyrenees and in the Alps.  Pray for their safety and for their success.

Father, thank you for this new team in the cycling world. We pray for them as they move through France, keep them safe and give them strength and endurance on these long three week.  We pray that each member of this team will come to know you as their personal savior.  We pray that they will glorify you as Lord of their lives and King of their days.  We pray all these things in the name of Jesus.  Amen

Stage 6 Abbeville / Le Havre

GLORY be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will towards men. We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.


O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us. For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord; thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen. 

FDJ

FDJ
21. Thibaut Pinot
22. William Bonnet
23. Sébastien Chavanel
24. Arnaud Démare
25. Alexandre Geniez
26. Matthieu Ladagnous
27. Steve Morabito
28. Jérémy Roy
29. Benoit Vaugrenard

FDJ is a French team sponsored by the French national lottery named   Francaise des Jeux. In the crash on Monday FDJ lost William Bonnet when he fractured his C2.  He has gone through surgery and the reports are saying he is doing well. Tuesday on the cobbles Thibaut Pinot had difficulty with his bike and lost valuable time against the other GC so this year we have not seen the 4 leaf clover out front in the break away like they have done in the past tours.  Pray for FDJ as they roll along.  

Father we Pray for Team FDJ.  We pray for the healing of William Bonnet and than for the safety and well being of the rest of the team.  Lord, we pray for all the support personnel and family that travel with the Team.  Lord, we pray that as the rain comes down or the sun shines give wisdom for the events that unfold on the road or at the hotels.  Lord, we pray that the team does not rely on good luck but on You.  We pray all these things in the name of Jesus.  Amen. 

Stage 5 Arras / Amiens Metropole

Department 62 Pas-de-Calais will be our focus here in stage 5 located in the region for Nord-Pas-de Calais.  This region of France was battled over in WWI and WWII.  Here you will find many reminders of those who died for freedom. In the city of Arras from the 10th century men have dug cellars to harvest large stones of calk and lime stones to build the important buildings in this area.  These cellars called Les Boves are connected together by tunnels, the citizens in the past have used them for shelter for themselves and for plants, food, and wine.

Dear Father, we pray for the department of Pas-de-Calais and the people who live in this area of France.  We pray that they will come see you as David did as their shelter.
 Psalm 91:1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  Lord we pray that the people of Pas-de-Calais will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. We pray all these things in the name of Jesus.  Amen 

Orica Green EDGE

Orica GreenEDGE
101. Simon Gerrans
102. Michael Albasini
103. Luke Durbridge
104. Daryl Impey
105. Michael Matthews
106. Svein Tuft
107. Pieter Weening
108. Adam Yates
109. Simon Yates

Orica GreenEdge  comes from Australia, and over the last two days they have lost two of their team members.  Their hopes for their GC rider Simon Gerrans have been broken, but these opportunities open the doors for the younger riders to shine with their skills on the bike.  Let us pray for Orica GreenEdge today. 

Lord, we trust you in all things.  We trust you to encourage these riders to face today and with all the challenges the next 3 weeks will bring.  Lord, Thank you for caring about our individual hopes and dreams.  Thank you for caring about our relationships with you and with other people.  Lord, help this team maintain good relationships throughout the tour as they lay down their own dreams and race for the team.  We pray for their team managers and directors as they lead their team to Paris.  We pray all these things in name of Jesus. Amen.