Monday, June 9, 2008

Pushing through!


We’re back home from our couples retreat! Whew, it was a lot of work but so worth it. We had a great time. Of course like all spiritual events, the weeks and days before, leading up to it, were extremely stressful. If there was anything that could have gone wrong it did. By the time my husband and I got in the car on Friday, our hour and a half drive became a three hour drive after many stops and miscommunications between us. Goodness sakes were we irritated with each other by that time! Just ripe for the spiritual pluckin.

Thankfully we pushed through. When we arrived in beautiful Lake Tahoe, it was only a matter of minutes before we felt a peace wash over us both. No doubt like anything that the Lord is doing in our lives for good, there is still an enemy of our souls that takes pleasure in putting potholes in our path to Him.

Have you learned to push through those stressful times? Have you noticed that on the one Sunday when you plan on getting your family to church on time your husband can’t find his socks, the children are arguing over who sits where in the car and your youngest takes the opportunity to paint pretty colors in ink on her church clothes? We have had more than our share of those moments and I have learned that the more attack we receive, the more important it is for us to push through and attend. The hard times have now become confirmation that God has something for me on the other side of the trial. It is up to me to not quit, but instead to dig in, hold fast, hang on and push through.

We had a blessed time this weekend, and for those of you who gave us such wonderful practical joke ideas (Chelle!), you may be disappointed but we decided to give our old friends a few days of peace. We told them that we wanted them to have a good time and not have to be looking over their shoulders or sleeping with one eye open.

Hmmm….maybe we’ve grown up after all.



**I took the picture above yesterday morning before we left. Can you imagine if I had told my husband to turn the car around and head back home on Friday afternoon? I would have missed this.**

13 comments:

Beth Cotell said...

So glad you had a wonderful time and that view is gorgeous! How could you feel anything but the peace and love of God looking at that beautiful view?

Sheryl said...

What a great story and a beautiful picture. I have been "pressing through" a lot of things right now. But I figure the more satan is after me the more of a threat I must be. If he's scared of me I consider that a good thing.

So glad you and your husband had a great weekend. And you pressed through to God's blessing.

Love,
Sheryl

Jess said...

OH MY GOODNESS!
Look at that place!! WOW.
Glad you all made it up there and 'pushed through'. Sounds like an AWESOME weekend.

~Jessica

Mari said...

I'm so glad you pushed through and got to experience the weekend. I've sure had those kinds of experiences too and I'm sure it's because Satan doesn't want us to do what we are working on.
The picture is beautiful - looks like a post card!

Chelle' said...

I'm both encouraged and convicted by this post. I am the person on those frustrating Sunday mornings that gets so ticked (particularly at my husband) that sends the clan on ahead without me.

The feeling becomes, "You are treating us like this but are going to head to church and act like a wonderful man of God... I sure don't want to have to watch that."

WRONG of me I know. And this post confirms that those mornings are meant to keep us from experiencing God together!! I will choose better next time!

As I said, I'm also encouraged. What a wonderful testimony of the faithfulness of God to reveal Himself to those who've purposed to find and hear from Him. And even to have revealed Himself in nature... God is so good.

Welcome home friend. I can'at wait to hear more about your weekend.

Cheri said...

I'm glad the weekend turned out so well and to be such a blessing.
What a beautiful setting. God's creation is just breath taking!

Amy said...

That photo is absolutely gorgeous. You story, however is the best! I love how you put into words, just what I need to hear. Thanks for the inspiration - this is going to be a difficult week!

connorcolesmom said...

We love Lake TAhoe
That is where we went for our honeymoon and then we went back again 2 yrs later to ski
It is beautiful
I am so glad you had fun and pushed through!
Love ya
Kim

Tricia said...

Sounds like you had a wonderful time! And that picture is absolutely gorgeous, I want to go there!

Thanks for the reminder that when times are hard, there is a reason, and we need to push through until we get there; I needed to hear that!

Paula V said...

Pressing on, yes indeed, that's what we are called to do.

What a beautiful photo...that looks like either a butterfly bush or a lilac bush. The water and mountain are breath taking but being a flower girl (notice my blog haha) I had to notice the flower first.
Paula

Kim@Seasons of My Heart said...

What a great post, and one we can ALL relate too!

I'm so glad you had a wonderful time...and the picture you took...oh my.... :-)

Kim~

AlaneM said...

Oh, I so relate! We get in more fights on Sunday mornings!!

Glad you had a great time.

Anonymous said...

I love Lake Tahoe! What a blessing to be able to have a retreat with your hubby there!

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