All Things are Possible!
(¡Todas las cosas son posibles!)

I had no clue what was going to happen after I bought those bikes...


My pastor stood there, Weeping before the congregation. He was deeply moved by what happened the night before.

"Last night, I had a dream--I believe it was a vision... I dreamt I was standing here before you..." He started crying again. "God is so good.... I dreamt I was standing here
before you today, telling you...what I'm about to ask you..."

A dear saint on the front row walked up to him and handed him some tissues.

"Thank you.... you-all are such a great congregation. I thank and praise God for you, every day..."

"We love you, Pastor!" someone shouted.

"I love you, too... Last night, I woke up in the middle of the night. That's been happening a lot lately, but this time, something was different. I started praying, like I
always do--but this time I fell right back to sleep. God showed me a vision...I was standing here... crying like I am now...I was asking to take pledges--you know I hate to ask
for money--but 'God knows', and we're going to follow His direction. We're going to collect money to buy a bunch of bikes....100 of them...and we're going to give them away, to
the poorest of the poor...Dear Lord..."

He really started weeping. Several saints went up, laid hands on him and prayed for him.

Then, something miraculous--absolutely wonderful--happened.

One-by-one, families stood up, came forward and pledged to buy a bike. Some said two. Some said five. Ten! Soon, the funds for more than 100 bikes were laid on the altar.
Not long after that, we were all weeping, then soon dancing and leaping and praising God!

+++

Everything was set.

We handed out bright-yellow flyers in the neighborhood two weeks prior, and followed up one week before the event. Because the Park is in a primarily spanish-speaking area, we printed the flyers in both spanish and english.

We were expecting a great turnout!

It was raining the night before the "Big Bike Giveaway" ("Regalo de Bici Grande"); but somehow we got the tent and stage set up. We were so excited, we could hardly sleep.
Just like little kids!

God gave us a stunning Saturday sunrise. Steam from rain puddles rose up like light fog into the auburn-painted sky.

God was smiling: this was His day.

After we gathered in a circle to pray in the wet grass, we connected the sound equipment and tested it; while others set up chairs and tables for snacks and food.

While helping, I had a flashback to when I was a kid. I grew up in this neighborhood--many years ago. I remembered riding my own bike in this park. I remembered racing my brothers down the hill over there--

Then I felt a gentle tapping on my leg. A small girl in a print dress with tiny flowers--she was about 6 or 7 years old--looked up at my name tag, then asked, "¿Senor Timoteo,
dónde están las bicis?"

An older boy who was with her translated for me, "Senor-Mr. Timoteo, where are the bikes!?"

I laughed. "They will be here soon!"

The PraiseGodAlways Group started singing "All Things are Possible!" The little girl reacted by jumping to the music!

Then, dozens of entire families gathered there in the park. Wow!

My Pastor grabbed a microphone, "This is the moment we've all been waiting for!" Then right on queue, a huge truck pulled up on the street near the park. The sound of the air
brakes mixed with the sounds of delightful screams!

We rolled up the flaps on the side of the truck. Soon, 120 brand-new bikes sparkled in the sun!

Part of the song echoed:
"...You fill my life with greater joy, Yes, I delight myself in You
"And I will praise You with a new song, my soul will bless You Lord..."

After the bikes were given away, my Pastor invited the people to receive Christ.

Dozens came forward, thankful, crying, repenting.

The little girl propped up a pretty pink Princess bike, smiling. I knelt down and asked her (translated) "Do you want Jesus in your heart?"

"¡Si, Senor Timoteo, si!" she said, excited, as she knelt down, and kissed the ground.

Just thankful!

Then--the chorus:
"When I am weak, You make me strong, When I’m poor, I know I’m rich,
"For in the power of Your Name,
All things are possible!"

--bro. tim pickl
Friday November 2, 2007 A.D.

also see:  http://www.faithwriters.com/wc-article-level1-previous.php?id=19310

Return to Tim Pickl's Poetry Page