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The atmosphere was super charged with engines revving, loud clapping, laughter, hoots and hollers ringing in the air. All this noise, along with shouts of encouragement, made for everyone having fun.
Everyone but me.
When our kids were very young my husband purchased himself a jeep. A boy toy for sure. At the time, we were a one car family and needed an extra vehicle for his commute to work, and it was what he wanted.
Once we moved to Washington and he made some new friends at work, friends that liked to go four-wheeling in the mud. I never really understood why anyone would want to do such a thing, it did not sound fun to me. I mean, I had ridden in the jeep on the normal roads and it was exactly smooth, so why in the world would one want to go “off-road”? My husband however convinced me that it would be great fun – an adventure that we would all remember.
Our kids were little at the time, and being we had recently moved to a new state, we didn’t have anyone to watch them. So of course, they had to go with us. I tried to make the case, he would have much more fun and adventure on his own, but he wanted us to join in.
We met up with this group of individuals and spent part of the morning searching for rough terrain and big mud holes to go through. For the most part it was enjoyable, until they found “IT”! A gigantic deep mud hole.
I was skeptical to say the least as I watched vehicle after vehicle navigate this rather large hole filled with muddy water. At first, they started at the edges of the whole, with 2 wheels in the watery hole and 2 on the ground we could see. As I watched, I wondered just how deep it really was…. Let me just say, deeper than anyone thought.
I sat in the front passenger seat dreading the inevitable, when it would be our turn. The kids and my husband were having a blast. Again, me, not so much. Silently I watched as jeep and four-wheelers alike were taking on a huge mud filled adventure. I was gripping the roll bar above my head with one hand and the bar in front of me with the other. I was holding on for dear life and we weren’t even moving yet.
Then, it was our turn. The kids were screaming and clapping excitedly. I was half screaming half praying at the time. We hit the mud hole, and promptly got stuck. As the jeep went down into the middle of the muddy hole and attempted to come out the other side, we got stuck. Water got into the engine and was also coming in to cover the front floor board and I was not happy. The kids thought it was awesome. I was frantic as I thought what it would take to keep us mostly clean and dry.
We ended up eventually driving out of the mud hole, but needing a tow back into town. Not only had water gotten into the engine and it didn’t want to start, but the u joints in the rear wheels broke and there was no way we were driving anywhere. It was a miracle we got out of the hole, as the others had.
While mediating on Isaiah 43:18 this week, I felt the Lord prompt me about not getting stuck. He reminded me of the story I just shared above, and the message was clear: “Don’t get stuck dwelling on the things of the past, because when you do, your life becomes stalled, stuck, with no forward momentum.” The enemy makes it all too easy for us to get stuck in the past, but God does not want us to get stuck period.
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I have known people, and maybe you have too, who are living in the present, at the same time living in the past. It doesn’t matter whether the times are good or bad, they are in the past. When we stay focused on what’s behind we have a hard time seeing what’s ahead.
We should not get stuck dwelling on the past difficulties, failures, and hard things.
And
We should not get stuck dwelling on the good ole days, victories, and successes.
These both can be a hindrance to us and cause us to get stuck in a place where we begin to get bogged down, flooded and overloaded.
Last week Patrick Weseman left a comment on my thoughts about “Moving Forward and not looking backwards so we don’t miss what was to come. He said: “I always tell myself God put eyes where they are and it is because He wants to look forward and not backward.”
Moms think we should have eyes in the front, the back and even the sides of our heads to keep an eye on our kids at all times. But Patrick made a very good point. God put our eyes in the front for a reason. There comes a time when we must stop looking back. We must stop dwelling on the past. We must get “unstuck” and begin to look for the new miracles ahead. Dwelling on past problems and difficulties doesn’t necessarily solve anything. It just creates a hindrance to what God wants to do in the present. The new miracles will be nothing compared to the ones that came before. Oh no, they will be so much better.
Father God, we come to you in the precious name of Your Son Jesus, and we ask that you help us get unstuck. Please show us any area of our life where we are living in the past (good/bad) and then bring us out of the mud and help us to keep our eyes forward on what You are doing now, and what is to come. We don’t want to miss anything you are doing. Amen.
Welcome to the ALL NEW: I’ve been Featured portion of #TuneInThursday
I am enjoying this new addition and viewing all your posts, just know I am stopping by each week, just not always commenting. It is so difficult to to pick just a few to highlight each week. I hope you are enjoying this new addition too.
Please make sure to visit the post before yours and share some comment love as well as one other post of your choice. In Order to be featured you must follow rule #2 below.
This week there was No clear winner for the Top Clicked Post, so instead I am featuring the 4 who tied with the most clicks:
Carlie shares her story of how she found peace when she was plagued by fear and feelings of abnormal.
Maree Dee shares her 10 steps to unconditional love. Check it out and decide which one is your favorite, and which is the hardest for oyu to do.
This next post is found on Nicole Kauffman’s sight, but features Sarah Geringer’s post. If you find yourself or someone you love in an unequally yoked marriage, Sarah has some great advise on persevering.
Finally, our last post which tied for the most clicks was Heaven is a Place …… by Boma over on her website: The April Journal . Sorry, she didn’t have a picture, but her titled drew several of you in.
Again Welcome and Thank you for joining me for #TuneInThursday it is an honor to have you here!
I have had a few people ask for a badge/button to display on your blogs. I would absolutely be honored if you would display it, or link back here in some way. Thank you!
Now let’s get this party started, feel free to link 1-3 posts:
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Do you wonder if God still speaks today? Do you wonder if He would ever speak to you personally? Do you long to hear the voice of God in your life?
Have your read other books on hearing from God, but long for hands on practical application? or are you looking for ways to move you forward hearing from God?
If you answered YES to any of those questions, then I have exactly what you need. I now have an online e-course designed to equip you in understanding that God still speaks today, and He longs to speak directly to you, through His word, and others. He longs to encourage you, strengthen you and comfort you. The training on this site, is fully based on Scripture, and taken from my training manual Releasing God’s heart through Hearing His Voice.
God is speaking, Can you Hear Him?
d2htrainging.com membership site is open, I invite you to check it out today, and develop a deeper relationship with the Lord, as you learn to hear Him speak to your heart.
Looking for other Great Inspirational Parties. Click Here to see where I Link-Up weekly.
Several Submissions have been featured at Blessed Transgressions, an Online Magazine:
Balancing the Warrior & the Princess We’re Called to Be
Trusting God When it Seems Illogical
Will You Sit with Me? (Jesus is Calling.)
My Post “Climb Every Mountain” was featured in the August monthly link-up at : Life on Intention Link-up Party
My Posts: “Will You Sit with Me?” & New Mercies Everyday & Wait for it were featured here:
My Posts: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year & And So Do We! & Know Your Why were featured here:
My Post: The Power of your Story was featured here:
My Post “What’s in a Name?” was featured here:
My Post: “The Journey through Change” was featured here:
Again, I have been know to link to the following Inspirational Parties:
Hi Debbie! I enjoyed your story so much–I would be just like you! No thank you to the dirt and wild adventure. But it does make for a good story now! Thanks for the feature this week. Blessings to you!
Hi Sarah, I am so glad you would be joining me gripping the roll bar and silently screaming. LOL It sure does make for a great story, one I actually had forgotten until God reminded me. You are most welcome for the feature, thanks for linking up such great posts.
I could just barely make myself read your story about going down into that water hole. So scary! But . . . with four sons of my own, I know it’s one of those things they can’t resist!
LOL Oh Michele, I am so sorry, that you had a hard time continuing the story, I know the hole was deep and so not fun, but I am glad you endured reading the rest of the words, I guess I did a good job of drawing you in with the story that you had to see how it ended. 🙂 and yes, I can only imagine how much experience you have had with 4 boys
Debbie, Thank you for featuring my post,”Ten Steps to Loving Unconditionally.” I am so honored this post resonated with you. I hope others find it helpful too. I will be back a little later to read and comment.
Maree- you are most welcome for the feature. It was a great post. Sorry, I haven’t commented sooner, its been a crazy busy week. 🙂
Appreciate you hosting the party every week, Debbie! Hope you had a lovely Valentine’s Day. As for the dirt – looks like fun, but no thank you. 🙂 x
Jas, I completely agree with you about the dirt LOL and yes, I had a good Valentine’s Day, definitely a different one, than most years, but still good. I appreciate you being here each week with your amazing recipes.
Debbie, what a great message today! I didn’t know you lived in Wa!
Do you still? I live in King County, about an hour from Seattle.
Thanks for the link-up!
Rachel, Yes we still live in WA!!! … down in the Lacey/Olympia area. Maybe we will get the opportunity to connect face to face sometime. 🙂 that would be great.
Great story, and a great message! So true that getting stuck in the past “breaks down” our ability to move forward and do what God wants us to do. I appreciate your insight and the way you’re building community here. Thanks Debbie!
Thank you Jessica! I really enjoy the community here as I hope everyone else does too. Thank you for your grace-filled words about my post and insights. I am goad to have you here.
Glad to know last week’s post caught the interest of many. May we be found ready and waiting when Jesus comes back.
Thanks for the feature, Debbie. Sorry the men got you that scared; but see what wonderful lesson you’ve learnt (and shared) by that experience.
Thanks for sharing. Blessings to you.
Boma, you are most welcome, and yes, we must be found ready! Ehh.. they boys thought is was funny, and looking back, it kinda was, but in the moment, not so much… yet, it was a good lesson and a funny story to tell others about now.
That would not have been my idea of fun either. lol. It’s amazing how we can differ so much in our definitions of fun with those we love. I’m glad you were able to get a spiritual lesson out of it though, even now. Some things stick with us!
Lisa, it’s good to know, I am not the only one that wouldn’t have enjoyed the four-wheeling either… you know the boys tried to tell me otherwise lol Yes, you are right, at least I got a good story and an even better spiritual lesson from it. 🙂
Thank you for being so supportive of other bloggers. I think parties are the best social media strategy around!! Thank you for hosting. I linked my Meatless Meals Collection, my Donut Collection and healthy Polish Paczki for Fat Tuesday. I hope you enjoy them! Have a happy week! #OverTheMoon #WWBlogHop #ThursdayFavoriteThings
You are most welcome Marilyn and thanks for noticing the support I try to offer to other bloggers. I love the recipes, I am especially looking forward to checking out the donut collection one.
Dear Debbie,
Oh what a fun story to share! I am so glad that God rescues us from those muddy places where we feel we might be stuck forever! I am so thankful that He does want us to keep moving forward! Blessings to you!
Hi Bettie – I too am very grateful God rescues from the muddy deep holes in our life. Blessings to you as well.
Wow, thanks for the shout out, pretty amazing. It is something I believe.
Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have an amazing weekend.
You are most welcome Patrick. You had some very wise words and insights in your comment last week. I was glad to give you the shoutout 🙂 My weekend was great – hope yours was as well. I wonder what adventure you went on..??? I am sure I will read about it in an upcoming blog post soon enough
Oh boy getting stuck is so easy to do. Thank you for the reminder how important it is to keep moving forward. Debbie, I am so proud of you for being a trooper and riding in the jeep.
Thanks Maree – being a trooper made for a very loooong day. LOL oh but the memories we made were worth it. You are most welcome for the reminder to keep moving forward… I needed it as well. Blessings dear one
This is so good! Forgetting what is behind and pressing forward is so important! Do you still live in Washington? I live in Vancouver!
Thank you Elizabeth! and yes, I still live in WA – in the Lacey/Olympia area…. Vancouver is not so far away…. our family lives in OR and my son in the Beaverton/Hillsboro area…. maybe we will have the opportunity to connect face to face sometime in the near future. I think it would be great.