April 1, 2025 • 20 mins
After a much-needed hiatus brought on by unexpected hardships, we've returned to share how life's curveballs have strengthened our faith and perspective. The past months brought a series of challenges—my youngest son's truck accident, Greg in a car crash a month later, and the loss of a dear friend—that tested our resilience but ultimately deepened our relationship with God.
When examining the crash site weeks after my son's accident, we discovered something remarkable: a cross pattern etched into the tree trunk exactly where the vehicle had impacted. This powerful symbol, visible in the photo we've shared on our website, served as a striking reminder of divine protection, especially given the severity of the crash and the miracle that no one was injured. These moments of divine intervention remind us that even in our darkest times, God's presence never wavers.
Romans 5:3-5 tells us that "suffering produces perseverance, character and hope"—a truth we've experienced firsthand. We've learned that abandoning victim mentality is crucial for spiritual growth. Instead of asking "why me?" we now ask "what can I learn from this?" This shift transforms obstacles into opportunities, helping us build resilience and deepen our faith. Through our church community, Bible study groups, and strengthened prayer life, we've found the support systems essential for navigating difficult seasons.
We're excited to announce that Debbie has completed her first Bible study guide, "Crossing Over," designed for Christians seeking a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. Next week, we'll dive deeper into what a personal relationship with Jesus looks like and how it transforms lives. Visit our website at debbieandgreggold.com to see the miraculous cross in the tree and download Debbie's new Bible study. Join us as we continue exploring how faith sustains us through life's unexpected journeys.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello everyone, Thank you for joining us today.
Greg and I are back with ourseason two Finally.
Yeah right, it's been a whileand we are beyond grateful for
that.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
It's been way too long yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
So we ended up having to take a pause in our
podcasting, as the past monthshave been a season of curveballs
for us.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
It's been crazy.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Yeah, several unexpected events or several
unexpected changes of eventsthat have happened and they're
not really happy.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Yeah, not the best, and joyous, yeah, like we did
not win the lottery, yeah, so soit was one of loss and
destruction and it's beendifficult.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Maybe you've been in seasons such as this.
I know it's hard, it can feelhopeless and it can distract us
from our daily responsibilities,which is what I've been feeling
a lot for the last probablyfour to six months.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Yeah, I mean tough times can stop your motivation
for certain stuff, you know,because I mean you're focused on
the tough times.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Yeah, so you get distracted with what's going on
instead of trying to moveforward.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Yeah, you're not focusing on the things that you
were focused on before.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Yeah, it's like a diversion.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Yeah, no, yeah, completely it is.
It's like I took a wrong turn,kind of thing, Even though you
tried not, or you didn't take awrong turn, or just life hit you
with that.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Yeah, yeah, so, anyway.
So, in dealing with all thesedifferent things that have been
going on, I really just wanted Ithink we were reminded that we
really need to follow God moreso in our lives and really be
more focused on that.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
We want to share that opportunity with you all and,
yeah see where that takes youand if it can help you as we
navigate life together.
All right.
Well, through our challenges,we're reminded of two things God
doesn't give us more than wecan handle, and that our
struggles make us stronger.
(02:03):
I think this is so true because, I mean, I was thinking of this
one saying A scripture sayingit's not a scripture, but it's
just a quote.
Hard times create strong menSuggests that facing adversity
and challenges can lead topersonal growth, resilience,
ultimately making individualsstronger.
(02:23):
And there's this quote by theauthor G Michael Hoff.
It's a quote hard times createstrong men.
Strong men create good times.
Good times create weak men andweak men create hard times.
So I mean going through stuff,I mean everything is a lesson in
life.
I believe, and like when you,when struggles happen, you can
(02:46):
take a lot to learn from themand it's how you view them.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
So right, you could say, oh, poor, pitiful me,
versus wow, I'm going to growfrom this experience, I'm going
to get back up.
Yeah, I getcha, yeah, sowonderful.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Yeah, and in the Bible, in the book of Romans 5,
3 through 5, says we glory inour suffering because we know
that the suffering producesperseverance, character and hope
.
Just like I said, basicallyyeah exactly and different.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Yeah, yeah, it does, if we allow it to.
It will give us perseverance,it will give us character, it
will give us hope.
There's been so many times inmy life in the past where, once
I've embraced that whole idea,I've seen how I've grown, I've
seen how I have become adifferent person, a better
person in many ways, um able tobring something bigger and
(03:36):
better to the table the nexttime I was faced with something
of adversity so yeah, I mean,I've been through a lot too and,
like, I think I learned frommistakes and I think about it,
and you know past experiencesthat are good and bad, so and I
reflect on it.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
So but, um, it's always a learning lesson for me.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
I think so yeah, that's a great way to look at it
, yeah, sure always a learningexperience, so yeah, so, um, I
think what we've been saying isthat God uses our tribulations
wonderfully in his life, right,he knows how much that we can
take and that's what he's goingto give us, and he carefully
measures that the tribulationsthat he gives us.
(04:19):
And you know he's not going togive us more than we can handle.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
And you know he knows us intimately and he will give
us exactly what we can, at thelevel we are, to help us be
stronger and better as a person.
And I think that we should justreally try, like we're talking
about, we should embrace ourstruggles and our stresses,
because they will help us togrow and to make us better
(04:47):
humans, better person yeah,better people to make us better
humans, better person, yeah,yeah better people, I think.
For some of those that arehaving a hard time embracing
this idea, I would just want toencourage you to pray about
erasing the victim mentality,because that comes from the
(05:09):
enemy, and embrace the obstaclesthat God gives us.
And I would just say you know,I know you love me and carefully
measure every trial and have aloving purpose to accomplish in
every tribulation, lord, andthat I won't seek trials and
search out tribulations, but Iwon't despise them or lose hope
(05:34):
when they do come my way and Iwould trust that in every
circumstance.
And so that's a prayer that youcan maybe embrace or write that
down and take that into yourlife.
Struggles do make us strongerand we do learn from them, and
there's no doubt about that.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
And going along with, like the erasing the victim
mentality.
I think, like a victimmentality, it just promotes
weakness, you know Cause?
It's like saying like oh, Ican't do this, can't do that, oh
, I'm stuck with this, stuckwith that.
It's like you can make a changewith your life.
You can make a change with thisRight.
So I mean, cause you're incontrol, so I don't think like
anything's out of your reach,and that's what the victim
(06:11):
mentality is like.
Oh, I can't do this, causethat's just blaming stuff.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
Oh, I'm you know, getting you know.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
I'm not doing my work because uh, da, da, da, da da,
you know, just blaming I'm beingbullied at school, and so you
know.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
I guess you know life is over for me, um, or it'll
never get better.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Never get better yeah .
Speaker 1 (06:34):
You've got to say God is giving me this for a reason
and I'm going to figure out howto get through it.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Embrace it.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
yeah, and he will guide my process in that.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
There we go, Talking about struggles, I mean recently
to catch up.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
Oh, Heavenly Father.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Oh boy, we've had stuff.
Oh my gosh, what was it?
I don't remember the exact date, but um I was.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
you're talking about the truck wreck.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
That was November 1st , november 1st, that's right
November 1st of last year I'mout shooting pool with a couple
of friends and I told, uh, mylittle brother who was going out
to go see a friend or whatnot.
I'm like be safe, beresponsible and be home in a
reasonable time.
That didn't end up reallyhappening, but let me go back.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
So what's?
Speaker 2 (07:27):
up.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Dad and I were out of town.
Right, we were just like anhour and a half away, not too
far, but um, and and chase askedto take your truck and it was
my fault for saying, yes, tryingto be the nice brother, you
know, the cool brother, the nicebrother, whatever.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
I was like, yeah, sure, sure go, and didn't really
think much of it.
And then my friends are like,hey, come play pool with us down
at this dive bar.
So we're like, okay, we'replaying pool, having fun,
there's like live music andstuff.
And I remember the exact phonecall you gave me at 11.48 pm.
I remember the time.
I remember the time and youjust said your truck is totaled
(08:10):
and I've never felt a feelinglike that before.
And Chase, he was in a wreckThankfully he's okay, no
injuries at all and hehydroplaned and smacked a tree
in the truck and ultimately thetruck ended up being totaled and
it was a complete loss.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
Talk a little bit about what your truck meant to
me, because this was a real lossfor you, honey.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Oh, I mean it was my first vehicle when I was 16
years old and I put lots ofmoney into that thing.
I mean from I remember lookingat it and just thinking, oh,
it's looks like a normal Tacoma,and then looking at it in its
final stage you know I stageevery time I'd hop in that thing
I'd be so proud.
It's funny there's this exactTacoma that looks just like mine
(08:58):
at church, at City Reach Church, but it has a six-inch lift kit
and bigger tires, which isfunny because that's exactly
what I was going to do with mytruck if I still had it Same
wheels I have on there, sametires.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
Like it looks identical.
I mean you added new rims, newtires, bumper, headlights and
these were all like birthdaygifts or Christmas gifts or
things you saved up for.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
I invested in that thing, so you had a new exhaust
right I think oh, I had probablysix different setups on there.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
Yeah.
The bumper on there.
Yeah, bumper, that big boltthing.
Oh my, my speakers, mysubwoofer, yeah, yeah, like you
can only get three people inthere because there was a big
speaker that took up uh-huh.
Big speaker in the back.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Yeah, I mean, yeah, it was just, it was so
personalized and it meant a lotto me so um learning.
I mean, I learned something youknow when your parents tell you
to do something, do it so andlisten to them, cause they know
the best.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
So and what does that relate to Uh?
Speaker 2 (09:57):
listening to you guys saying, oh, he needs to stay at
home tonight.
He needs to stay at home.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
You know we're going out.
Chase was supposed to bestaying at home.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
He was supposed to be staying at home.
I said, yeah, go for it.
And that was my fault.
So, and I said, yeah, go for it, and that was my fault, right,
you were the babysitter.
Yeah, I was, that's right.
And then that happened onNovember 1st.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
Okay, but let me tell you.
So there were.
You know it's crazy.
I get a call in the middle.
It's like 11 o'clock at nightor something and we're down an
hour and a half away or so.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
Yeah, what was your experience?
We were at Wars Fest with oursupper club group and we were at
a house New Braunfels NewBraunfels, that's it Like an
hour 20 minutes away.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Yeah, something like that.
And so we're back from thefestival.
It's like 10-something.
We start a fire and we'resitting on the river, something
you know.
We start a fire, we're sittingon the river, oh nice, yeah, it
was beautiful and my phone rings, and I don't usually answer
unless it says the name rightright, yeah, and I went.
I have to answer this and I Ianswered and it was the uh lake
(11:01):
travis fire department oh yeahyour son has been in a wreck wow
yeah I'm so glad you answeredholy cow I know it was crazy
like what if you didn't answer?
Speaker 2 (11:11):
I mean they'd probably call you back or they'd
probably try a different number.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Yeah, but I mean, that was God speaking to me,
right?
Speaker 2 (11:16):
there, you just had to pick up.
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
No, it was a no brainer and it was crazy and so
anyway, then the other thingabout that was like I, Like I
could not go.
I saw the truck.
We had to go do the truck andget everything out and go to the
salvage place.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
That was a mess.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
It was horrible and then I couldn't go to the crash
site.
I knew where it was and it tookme about two weeks.
I went to church that oneSunday and I I um left church
and I was kind of bold andfeeling good and I was like I'm
going to go check out where thecrash took place because he had
hit a tree.
And I get to the area where itwas I knew the area but I didn't
(11:56):
know the tree.
And I get to the area and Icouldn't find the tree.
And so I pull over on a sideroad and I pull up the picture
of the tree that he hit that Igot from the Lake Travis fire
marshal and I narrowed into itand I went oh my gosh, there's a
(12:20):
cross on the tree right in themiddle.
It's like in the trunk rightabout center of the trunk, from
the top to the bottom.
It's about center, right there.
And I went oh, I mean, that wasa divine intervention right
there.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Because the amount of damage that the truck took.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
If there was a passenger in the passenger seat,
in the front seat, we possiblywould have been going to a
funeral.
I mean, the glove box was likeliterally sideways, it was
crushed in.
There was no room for legs.
There was a huge, like just ahuge dent of the tree in the
passenger seat.
Both airbags deployed.
I mean the back seat was a hugedent of the tree in the
passenger seat, both airbagsdeployed.
(12:59):
I mean the back seat was a mess, all the glass was broken.
You know it was just a justplastic, was ever it was just.
It looked like a bomb went offon the inside.
Basically, like I got up to it,I opened the door.
You couldn't even open some ofthe doors because it was like so
bent in because of the metal.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
I don't think we could open any.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Maybe a crack on that one, I don't know you could
pull it a little, but the metalwas just so bad like it was.
It was a very bad wreck and wegot so fortunate that he had no
he had no injuries besides beingbruised.
I mean, yeah, from the airbagand stuff.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
That was it um but anyways, I have um loaded or
downloaded a picture of the treewith the cross on it on our
website, which is atdebbieandgreggoldcom.
Encourage you to check it outBecause, seriously, how does a
cross get etched into a treeunless God is not present?
Speaker 2 (13:46):
With a wreck that bad and zero injuries at all.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
Totally insane.
Just another miracle.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
And he was going pretty fast, I believe too.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
Because I mean if you hydroplane, you have to be
going fast.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
You have to be going fast and also to hit a tree of
this size.
It was a big dent, that was abig tree.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
It really wasn't a big tree it wasn't.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
No, really, look at it, it's not that big.
He had to be going fast.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
Anyway, we're not going to tell on our son.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Okay, I guess my son, but I mean, ah it's, it's a
miracle that everyone's okay andhe didn't hit another car
praise god, yeah, so so that wasnovember 1st.
Yes, december 1st, december 1stmoving forward, me and my
friends.
Two of my friends were out late, um, and we're driving back
from wherever we were and we'reon the highway and I'm driving,
my friends are, you know, one'sin the passenger seat, one's in
(14:40):
the back seat.
And we're just talking and itstarts to merge and I see a car
coming up on my left and well, Irealized, oh crap, this is
gonna merge.
So he tries to fit two carsinto one lane and I'm like
that's not gonna happen.
So he goes over, hits me andthere's a barrier coming up, one
(15:02):
of those concrete barriers.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
They were doing construction.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
Yeah, because it's on like 183.
If you guys, whoever'slistening, if y'all live in
Austin, y'all know 183 is anightmare with all the
construction.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
It's crazy, it's terrible right now.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
And so there is a nightmare with all the
construction it's crazy, it'sterrible right now.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
Yeah, and so there was a barrier coming up.
Yeah, so it's me.
And I realized, oh shoot, hejust pushed me over, there's a
barrier coming up.
I got to move over.
So I turn left and I don't knowwhat happened.
After that, airbags deploy andwe come to a stop and I'm
(15:40):
freaking out because, mind you,my, my truck was just totaled
and I was in my little brother'scar that night and now that
thing's probably totaled.
So we get out and talking andall that, and then fire and EMS
comes.
But it's just, we've had a lotof loss and struggles recently.
It's been crazy, so it's, it'sbeen a, it's been a time, for
sure.
Yeah sure, and thankfullyeveryone was unharmed as well.
So we've been getting verylucky and I mean thank the Lord
(16:05):
for that.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
Right.
So you know, I look at it likeGod's moving us in a direction
and I can see every good thingthat he's bringing in our lives
because of this, like I'm notstaying out as late anymore and
just you know doing stuff likethat and as well um and if you
(16:26):
do want to go out or rundowntown austin, he uber, you
uber, you know so I mean notthat I was, you know, under the
influence or anything.
I was the designated driverright night but we just have
learned and solidified somethings in our lives that we
probably should have had inplace before, but we made some
changes, thought about it, yeah,so so, like you know, it goes
back to our point that godalways brings some good into it
(16:48):
if you're open to it but now,yeah, it's like I'm.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Now I'm motivated to get a truck that was better and
bigger, possibly right becausenow greg has a car and not his
truck, but which now I'm workingon getting a truck eventually
Speaker 1 (17:00):
right so it's going to be awesome, so so something
to look forward to right umdon't want to be, yeah, but then
we also had my uh, one of myreally best friends, dd, passed
in december um.
She was one of our supper clubmoms and she passed and then we
just haven't.
(17:20):
You know just other stuff goingon in our family.
That's been crazy.
But you know what?
We're just trying to uphold itand I think what really gets us
through it all is knowing thatwe have our relationship with
God.
You know our prayer time, thatwe have our church.
We go to our church regularlyand we're serving our church and
(17:45):
we are also doing a Bible study.
It's called Freedom.
It's a great study.
It's like breakthrough stuff.
It's so amazing and Greg and Iare both doing it.
He's doing the men's group andI'm doing the women's.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
It's my first group ever I'm doing.
It's pretty cool.
Yeah, I just want to say aboutthe struggles.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
Yeah, sure.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
God didn't promise a perfect life.
He promised a better life.
Yeah that's it.
Nothing is going to be perfect.
Stuff's going to happen,stuff's going to come up.
That's random, we don't expect.
But learn from it, process it,and I mean, life's not perfect.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
Right, exactly.
Well, we're not perfect becausewe are not perfect people,
because of Adam and Eve sittingin the Garden of Eden.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
God's not going to throw anything that we can't
handle on us.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
So I guess we're going to wrap up.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
I guess.
So I mean, you want to mentionyour little body.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
Yeah, sorry, get up.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
Excuse you.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Sorry, we will.
Our website has been developedand we're getting lots of hits
on that, and that isdebbieandgreggoldcom.
Go check it out.
For more information, look atmore information on us and then
also want to mention mentionI've written um, my first bible
study, which I've written when,when the kids were little and
(19:01):
they were home, I did a lot ofwriting and I was a lot into um,
you know, studying the bibleand I which I still am but it
became my passion and so it isofficially written, it is
officially done and it is calledcrossing over and it is
available um in digital downloadon our website and it's a study
for Christians who want to getto start a life-changing journey
(19:25):
toward a personal relationshipwith Jesus Christ, and I highly
encourage you do that.
And in the future I'll betalking a little bit I think our
next episode a little bit aboutwhat my life was like before I
started my journey and you knowit wasn't so pretty and what
it's like today and howdifferent that is and yeah, so
(19:46):
I'm excited about that.
I hope you check it out.
I think that's our show fortoday.
I think so.
Again, it's debbieandgreggoldcom.
We'll see you back here nextweek and we are going to be
diving into a personalrelationship with Jesus and what
that looks like.
And yeah, thank you, god forthis episode.
We love you and all you do tomake our lives better?
Speaker 2 (20:09):
All right, y'all make it a great day and see y'all
next week.
All right, nice.
Hello everyone, Thank you for joining us today.
Greg and I are back with ourseason two Finally.
Yeah right, it's been a whileand we are beyond grateful for
that.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
It's been way too long yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
So we ended up having to take a pause in our
podcasting, as the past monthshave been a season of curveballs
for us.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
It's been crazy.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Yeah, several unexpected events or several
unexpected changes of eventsthat have happened and they're
not really happy.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Yeah, not the best, and joyous, yeah, like we did
not win the lottery, yeah, so soit was one of loss and
destruction and it's beendifficult.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Maybe you've been in seasons such as this.
I know it's hard, it can feelhopeless and it can distract us
from our daily responsibilities,which is what I've been feeling
a lot for the last probablyfour to six months.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Yeah, I mean tough times can stop your motivation
for certain stuff, you know,because I mean you're focused on
the tough times.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Yeah, so you get distracted with what's going on
instead of trying to moveforward.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Yeah, you're not focusing on the things that you
were focused on before.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Yeah, it's like a diversion.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Yeah, no, yeah, completely it is.
It's like I took a wrong turn,kind of thing, Even though you
tried not, or you didn't take awrong turn, or just life hit you
with that.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Yeah, yeah, so, anyway.
So, in dealing with all thesedifferent things that have been
going on, I really just wanted Ithink we were reminded that we
really need to follow God moreso in our lives and really be
more focused on that.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
We want to share that opportunity with you all and,
yeah see where that takes youand if it can help you as we
navigate life together.
All right.
Well, through our challenges,we're reminded of two things God
doesn't give us more than wecan handle, and that our
struggles make us stronger.
(02:03):
I think this is so true because, I mean, I was thinking of this
one saying A scripture sayingit's not a scripture, but it's
just a quote.
Hard times create strong menSuggests that facing adversity
and challenges can lead topersonal growth, resilience,
ultimately making individualsstronger.
(02:23):
And there's this quote by theauthor G Michael Hoff.
It's a quote hard times createstrong men.
Strong men create good times.
Good times create weak men andweak men create hard times.
So I mean going through stuff,I mean everything is a lesson in
life.
I believe, and like when you,when struggles happen, you can
(02:46):
take a lot to learn from themand it's how you view them.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
So right, you could say, oh, poor, pitiful me,
versus wow, I'm going to growfrom this experience, I'm going
to get back up.
Yeah, I getcha, yeah, sowonderful.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Yeah, and in the Bible, in the book of Romans 5,
3 through 5, says we glory inour suffering because we know
that the suffering producesperseverance, character and hope
.
Just like I said, basicallyyeah exactly and different.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Yeah, yeah, it does, if we allow it to.
It will give us perseverance,it will give us character, it
will give us hope.
There's been so many times inmy life in the past where, once
I've embraced that whole idea,I've seen how I've grown, I've
seen how I have become adifferent person, a better
person in many ways, um able tobring something bigger and
(03:36):
better to the table the nexttime I was faced with something
of adversity so yeah, I mean,I've been through a lot too and,
like, I think I learned frommistakes and I think about it,
and you know past experiencesthat are good and bad, so and I
reflect on it.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
So but, um, it's always a learning lesson for me.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
I think so yeah, that's a great way to look at it
, yeah, sure always a learningexperience, so yeah, so, um, I
think what we've been saying isthat God uses our tribulations
wonderfully in his life, right,he knows how much that we can
take and that's what he's goingto give us, and he carefully
measures that the tribulationsthat he gives us.
(04:19):
And you know he's not going togive us more than we can handle.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
And you know he knows us intimately and he will give
us exactly what we can, at thelevel we are, to help us be
stronger and better as a person.
And I think that we should justreally try, like we're talking
about, we should embrace ourstruggles and our stresses,
because they will help us togrow and to make us better
(04:47):
humans, better person yeah,better people to make us better
humans, better person, yeah,yeah better people, I think.
For some of those that arehaving a hard time embracing
this idea, I would just want toencourage you to pray about
erasing the victim mentality,because that comes from the
(05:09):
enemy, and embrace the obstaclesthat God gives us.
And I would just say you know,I know you love me and carefully
measure every trial and have aloving purpose to accomplish in
every tribulation, lord, andthat I won't seek trials and
search out tribulations, but Iwon't despise them or lose hope
(05:34):
when they do come my way and Iwould trust that in every
circumstance.
And so that's a prayer that youcan maybe embrace or write that
down and take that into yourlife.
Struggles do make us strongerand we do learn from them, and
there's no doubt about that.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
And going along with, like the erasing the victim
mentality.
I think, like a victimmentality, it just promotes
weakness, you know Cause?
It's like saying like oh, Ican't do this, can't do that, oh
, I'm stuck with this, stuckwith that.
It's like you can make a changewith your life.
You can make a change with thisRight.
So I mean, cause you're incontrol, so I don't think like
anything's out of your reach,and that's what the victim
(06:11):
mentality is like.
Oh, I can't do this, causethat's just blaming stuff.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
Oh, I'm you know, getting you know.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
I'm not doing my work because uh, da, da, da, da da,
you know, just blaming I'm beingbullied at school, and so you
know.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
I guess you know life is over for me, um, or it'll
never get better.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Never get better yeah .
Speaker 1 (06:34):
You've got to say God is giving me this for a reason
and I'm going to figure out howto get through it.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Embrace it.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
yeah, and he will guide my process in that.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
There we go, Talking about struggles, I mean recently
to catch up.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
Oh, Heavenly Father.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Oh boy, we've had stuff.
Oh my gosh, what was it?
I don't remember the exact date, but um I was.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
you're talking about the truck wreck.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
That was November 1st , november 1st, that's right
November 1st of last year I'mout shooting pool with a couple
of friends and I told, uh, mylittle brother who was going out
to go see a friend or whatnot.
I'm like be safe, beresponsible and be home in a
reasonable time.
That didn't end up reallyhappening, but let me go back.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
So what's?
Speaker 2 (07:27):
up.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Dad and I were out of town.
Right, we were just like anhour and a half away, not too
far, but um, and and chase askedto take your truck and it was
my fault for saying, yes, tryingto be the nice brother, you
know, the cool brother, the nicebrother, whatever.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
I was like, yeah, sure, sure go, and didn't really
think much of it.
And then my friends are like,hey, come play pool with us down
at this dive bar.
So we're like, okay, we'replaying pool, having fun,
there's like live music andstuff.
And I remember the exact phonecall you gave me at 11.48 pm.
I remember the time.
I remember the time and youjust said your truck is totaled
(08:10):
and I've never felt a feelinglike that before.
And Chase, he was in a wreckThankfully he's okay, no
injuries at all and hehydroplaned and smacked a tree
in the truck and ultimately thetruck ended up being totaled and
it was a complete loss.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
Talk a little bit about what your truck meant to
me, because this was a real lossfor you, honey.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Oh, I mean it was my first vehicle when I was 16
years old and I put lots ofmoney into that thing.
I mean from I remember lookingat it and just thinking, oh,
it's looks like a normal Tacoma,and then looking at it in its
final stage you know I stageevery time I'd hop in that thing
I'd be so proud.
It's funny there's this exactTacoma that looks just like mine
(08:58):
at church, at City Reach Church, but it has a six-inch lift kit
and bigger tires, which isfunny because that's exactly
what I was going to do with mytruck if I still had it Same
wheels I have on there, sametires.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
Like it looks identical.
I mean you added new rims, newtires, bumper, headlights and
these were all like birthdaygifts or Christmas gifts or
things you saved up for.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
I invested in that thing, so you had a new exhaust
right I think oh, I had probablysix different setups on there.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
Yeah.
The bumper on there.
Yeah, bumper, that big boltthing.
Oh my, my speakers, mysubwoofer, yeah, yeah, like you
can only get three people inthere because there was a big
speaker that took up uh-huh.
Big speaker in the back.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Yeah, I mean, yeah, it was just, it was so
personalized and it meant a lotto me so um learning.
I mean, I learned something youknow when your parents tell you
to do something, do it so andlisten to them, cause they know
the best.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
So and what does that relate to Uh?
Speaker 2 (09:57):
listening to you guys saying, oh, he needs to stay at
home tonight.
He needs to stay at home.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
You know we're going out.
Chase was supposed to bestaying at home.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
He was supposed to be staying at home.
I said, yeah, go for it.
And that was my fault.
So, and I said, yeah, go for it, and that was my fault, right,
you were the babysitter.
Yeah, I was, that's right.
And then that happened onNovember 1st.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
Okay, but let me tell you.
So there were.
You know it's crazy.
I get a call in the middle.
It's like 11 o'clock at nightor something and we're down an
hour and a half away or so.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
Yeah, what was your experience?
We were at Wars Fest with oursupper club group and we were at
a house New Braunfels NewBraunfels, that's it Like an
hour 20 minutes away.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Yeah, something like that.
And so we're back from thefestival.
It's like 10-something.
We start a fire and we'resitting on the river, something
you know.
We start a fire, we're sittingon the river, oh nice, yeah, it
was beautiful and my phone rings, and I don't usually answer
unless it says the name rightright, yeah, and I went.
I have to answer this and I Ianswered and it was the uh lake
(11:01):
travis fire department oh yeahyour son has been in a wreck wow
yeah I'm so glad you answeredholy cow I know it was crazy
like what if you didn't answer?
Speaker 2 (11:11):
I mean they'd probably call you back or they'd
probably try a different number.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Yeah, but I mean, that was God speaking to me,
right?
Speaker 2 (11:16):
there, you just had to pick up.
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
No, it was a no brainer and it was crazy and so
anyway, then the other thingabout that was like I, Like I
could not go.
I saw the truck.
We had to go do the truck andget everything out and go to the
salvage place.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
That was a mess.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
It was horrible and then I couldn't go to the crash
site.
I knew where it was and it tookme about two weeks.
I went to church that oneSunday and I I um left church
and I was kind of bold andfeeling good and I was like I'm
going to go check out where thecrash took place because he had
hit a tree.
And I get to the area where itwas I knew the area but I didn't
(11:56):
know the tree.
And I get to the area and Icouldn't find the tree.
And so I pull over on a sideroad and I pull up the picture
of the tree that he hit that Igot from the Lake Travis fire
marshal and I narrowed into itand I went oh my gosh, there's a
(12:20):
cross on the tree right in themiddle.
It's like in the trunk rightabout center of the trunk, from
the top to the bottom.
It's about center, right there.
And I went oh, I mean, that wasa divine intervention right
there.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Because the amount of damage that the truck took.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
If there was a passenger in the passenger seat,
in the front seat, we possiblywould have been going to a
funeral.
I mean, the glove box was likeliterally sideways, it was
crushed in.
There was no room for legs.
There was a huge, like just ahuge dent of the tree in the
passenger seat.
Both airbags deployed.
I mean the back seat was a hugedent of the tree in the
passenger seat, both airbagsdeployed.
(12:59):
I mean the back seat was a mess, all the glass was broken.
You know it was just a justplastic, was ever it was just.
It looked like a bomb went offon the inside.
Basically, like I got up to it,I opened the door.
You couldn't even open some ofthe doors because it was like so
bent in because of the metal.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
I don't think we could open any.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Maybe a crack on that one, I don't know you could
pull it a little, but the metalwas just so bad like it was.
It was a very bad wreck and wegot so fortunate that he had no
he had no injuries besides beingbruised.
I mean, yeah, from the airbagand stuff.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
That was it um but anyways, I have um loaded or
downloaded a picture of the treewith the cross on it on our
website, which is atdebbieandgreggoldcom.
Encourage you to check it outBecause, seriously, how does a
cross get etched into a treeunless God is not present?
Speaker 2 (13:46):
With a wreck that bad and zero injuries at all.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
Totally insane.
Just another miracle.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
And he was going pretty fast, I believe too.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
Because I mean if you hydroplane, you have to be
going fast.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
You have to be going fast and also to hit a tree of
this size.
It was a big dent, that was abig tree.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
It really wasn't a big tree it wasn't.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
No, really, look at it, it's not that big.
He had to be going fast.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
Anyway, we're not going to tell on our son.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Okay, I guess my son, but I mean, ah it's, it's a
miracle that everyone's okay andhe didn't hit another car
praise god, yeah, so so that wasnovember 1st.
Yes, december 1st, december 1stmoving forward, me and my
friends.
Two of my friends were out late, um, and we're driving back
from wherever we were and we'reon the highway and I'm driving,
my friends are, you know, one'sin the passenger seat, one's in
(14:40):
the back seat.
And we're just talking and itstarts to merge and I see a car
coming up on my left and well, Irealized, oh crap, this is
gonna merge.
So he tries to fit two carsinto one lane and I'm like
that's not gonna happen.
So he goes over, hits me andthere's a barrier coming up, one
(15:02):
of those concrete barriers.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
They were doing construction.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
Yeah, because it's on like 183.
If you guys, whoever'slistening, if y'all live in
Austin, y'all know 183 is anightmare with all the
construction.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
It's crazy, it's terrible right now.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
And so there is a nightmare with all the
construction it's crazy, it'sterrible right now.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
Yeah, and so there was a barrier coming up.
Yeah, so it's me.
And I realized, oh shoot, hejust pushed me over, there's a
barrier coming up.
I got to move over.
So I turn left and I don't knowwhat happened.
After that, airbags deploy andwe come to a stop and I'm
(15:40):
freaking out because, mind you,my, my truck was just totaled
and I was in my little brother'scar that night and now that
thing's probably totaled.
So we get out and talking andall that, and then fire and EMS
comes.
But it's just, we've had a lotof loss and struggles recently.
It's been crazy, so it's, it'sbeen a, it's been a time, for
sure.
Yeah sure, and thankfullyeveryone was unharmed as well.
So we've been getting verylucky and I mean thank the Lord
(16:05):
for that.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
Right.
So you know, I look at it likeGod's moving us in a direction
and I can see every good thingthat he's bringing in our lives
because of this, like I'm notstaying out as late anymore and
just you know doing stuff likethat and as well um and if you
(16:26):
do want to go out or rundowntown austin, he uber, you
uber, you know so I mean notthat I was, you know, under the
influence or anything.
I was the designated driverright night but we just have
learned and solidified somethings in our lives that we
probably should have had inplace before, but we made some
changes, thought about it, yeah,so so, like you know, it goes
back to our point that godalways brings some good into it
(16:48):
if you're open to it but now,yeah, it's like I'm.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Now I'm motivated to get a truck that was better and
bigger, possibly right becausenow greg has a car and not his
truck, but which now I'm workingon getting a truck eventually
Speaker 1 (17:00):
right so it's going to be awesome, so so something
to look forward to right umdon't want to be, yeah, but then
we also had my uh, one of myreally best friends, dd, passed
in december um.
She was one of our supper clubmoms and she passed and then we
just haven't.
(17:20):
You know just other stuff goingon in our family.
That's been crazy.
But you know what?
We're just trying to uphold itand I think what really gets us
through it all is knowing thatwe have our relationship with
God.
You know our prayer time, thatwe have our church.
We go to our church regularlyand we're serving our church and
(17:45):
we are also doing a Bible study.
It's called Freedom.
It's a great study.
It's like breakthrough stuff.
It's so amazing and Greg and Iare both doing it.
He's doing the men's group andI'm doing the women's.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
It's my first group ever I'm doing.
It's pretty cool.
Yeah, I just want to say aboutthe struggles.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
Yeah, sure.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
God didn't promise a perfect life.
He promised a better life.
Yeah that's it.
Nothing is going to be perfect.
Stuff's going to happen,stuff's going to come up.
That's random, we don't expect.
But learn from it, process it,and I mean, life's not perfect.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
Right, exactly.
Well, we're not perfect becausewe are not perfect people,
because of Adam and Eve sittingin the Garden of Eden.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
God's not going to throw anything that we can't
handle on us.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
So I guess we're going to wrap up.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
I guess.
So I mean, you want to mentionyour little body.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
Yeah, sorry, get up.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
Excuse you.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Sorry, we will.
Our website has been developedand we're getting lots of hits
on that, and that isdebbieandgreggoldcom.
Go check it out.
For more information, look atmore information on us and then
also want to mention mentionI've written um, my first bible
study, which I've written when,when the kids were little and
(19:01):
they were home, I did a lot ofwriting and I was a lot into um,
you know, studying the bibleand I which I still am but it
became my passion and so it isofficially written, it is
officially done and it is calledcrossing over and it is
available um in digital downloadon our website and it's a study
for Christians who want to getto start a life-changing journey
(19:25):
toward a personal relationshipwith Jesus Christ, and I highly
encourage you do that.
And in the future I'll betalking a little bit I think our
next episode a little bit aboutwhat my life was like before I
started my journey and you knowit wasn't so pretty and what
it's like today and howdifferent that is and yeah, so
(19:46):
I'm excited about that.
I hope you check it out.
I think that's our show fortoday.
I think so.
Again, it's debbieandgreggoldcom.
We'll see you back here nextweek and we are going to be
diving into a personalrelationship with Jesus and what
that looks like.
And yeah, thank you, god forthis episode.
We love you and all you do tomake our lives better?
Speaker 2 (20:09):
All right, y'all make it a great day and see y'all
next week.
All right, nice.
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