Stuck in the Mud

A couple of weeks ago when I got to work, I parked my car in the usual parking spot. This spot happened to be at the edge of the parking lot where the pavement ends and there was a lot of mud. It had been warm and the melting of the snow had caused the dirt to be very soft & muddy.

As I pulled my car up to the edge of the parking lot my front wheel slipped over the pavement and sunk into the soft ground. Immediately the front wheel wedged itself in the ground. I then tried to force it out of the mud and make it go forward by turning my steering wheel left and then right but every maneuver I attempted only spun the wheels causing them to sink deeper in the mud.  Finally after trying a couple of times I stopped and said, “Lord I need to get out of this mud.”

The clock was ticking away so at this point I finally had to stop working with the trapped car and go inside and get ready for work. Now it was in God’s hands. While I was inside I mentioned what happened to me to some of the men I work with. They volunteered; “We can help you to push the car out of the mud” so about six of us went outside to try to push the car.

During this time I began to pray that God would help us to push the car out of the mud successfully. When we got there and examined how deep the car had sunk in the mud we realized there was no way we’d be able to push it out.  But true to character God revealed to us a better plan.  He is never too late!

At that time a pick-up truck with a heavy front bumper pulled into the parking lot and one of the men I work with knew the owner of the truck. The Good Samaritan hooked up my vehicle to his front bumper and quickly pulled me out of the mud.

Isn’t that like Christians sometimes? We know God loves us and will help us. Often when we get into trouble we try to get out of the mess ourselves, but we simply spin our wheels and sink deeper and deeper into the mud. After we stop and think about it, then we realize God has the answer. He will get us out of the mud, all we have to do is ask!  It reminds me of the old hymn, “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.”

So next time you’re in trouble due to your own making or someone else’s, ask God to help you no matter how big the trouble. You know what God will do when we ask? He will send his deliverance truck, hook you up, and pull you right out of the mud.

Ray and Vicky Mancini

“Assurance For The New Year”

Middle Creek Lake in Lancaster County, PA

This sample training post was written by Stephen C. Weber of Daily Encouragement Net and friend of the Mancini’s.

“The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness’” (Jeremiah 31:3). “God has said, never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:5,8).

As we begin 2009 I want to share a special message of hope and assurance.  I consider the various burdens and uncertainties so many of you are dealing with. In some cases Brooksyne and I can visualize who you are and the situations you struggle with. As we get to know you and you share your lives with us we will be even more aware

At creation God established the annual unit of time (Genesis 1:14). The passing of years is a great time to do some reflecting as well as looking ahead to the next phase in our life’s journey. We each look back to milestones this past year and for some they’re more significant than others. In my case this was the year my Mom ended her earthly journey so that’s a major passage for me as well. Generationally I realize am the next to go.

Some of you look ahead to 2009 with a temporal optimism; in your life things are going well and you feel secure.  Your health’s good, job seems secure, life is good for you. But others face the new year with a great sense of uncertainty.  You may be dealing with a health issue, a job transition or some other form of distress. Today’s message is for both.

Settle deep in your spirit that our one and only certain source of hope is Jesus Christ. He alone is an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. This is expressed so well in the great hymn “The Solid Rock” in the line, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”

Three realities regarding the world:
* The “world” hates us.
* The “world” abandons us.
* The “world” is constantly changing its views and values.

Three verses that express three, unchangeable truths concerning God that contrast to these realities:
* He loves us with an everlasting love.
* He will never leave us.
* He is always the same.

As we ground our faith in these truths we can, regardless of our temporal condition, experience the hope, peace and assurance that is at the very core of living an abundant life.

The song “Jesus Will Still Be There” that has a very fitting theme for beginning a new year. We are reminded of a most certain reality; that Jesus will still be there.  His love will never change, no matter what changes around us.   As we end one year and move into another He is a never-changing Presence in our lives.  We can absolutely rely upon Him!

Hear the song here.  Video

Email us