Hinderances, Obstacles & a Delight

A few thoughts from my week on hinderances, obstacles in our path and delighting in doing the will of God. And a few other video clips, a recipe and a Christian Movie recommendation.

Chicken Chowder Recipe
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup chopped onion
11/2 cups cubed cooked chicken
11/2 cups diced carrots
11/2 cups diced raw potatoes
2 chicken bouillon cubes
1 tsp salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 cups water
3 tablespoons flour
21/2 cups milk
Melt butter in 3-quart saucepan. Add onions and saute until tender. Add chicken, carrots, potatoes, bouillon cubes, salt, pepper and water. Cover and simmer until vegetables are tender. Combine flour and 1/2 cup milk in a jar. Shake until blended. Add to vegetables along with remaining 2 cups milk. Cook on medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens. Yields 13/4 quarts.

Which Backpack are You Carrying?

 Two people went on a hike. They both had backpacks. The girl had a small backpack with essentials. The boy had a large backpack with everything they might possibly need. Talk about being prepared! The only problem was he could hardly lift his! Having to lug this heavy pack around slowed them down. The girl told him to leave it, but there was no way he would. Later on there was an accident and he fell off a cliff into the lake below. The girl looked down and all she could see was a big backpack floating in the water. The heavy weight was keeping the boy under. She dove in, pack and all, and was able to get his head above water and pull him to land. In the end, he finally let go of all those things they might need!

I heard this story recently, and while I doubt it's true, I think it's a perfect object lesson. I can't get the picture of that heavy backpack out of my mind---slowing them down on the track and holding the boy under the water. And the fact that it was the person with the small backpack that could help someone else. The person with the big pack could hardly take care of himself! There are lessons we can learn from this, both spiritual and practical. 

1)First, the practical.

Stuff can be a heavy weight. It's possible to drown and be overwhelmed by stuff. Like that boy, we can hang on to everything we might need in the future. It's hard to let things go that we might need one day. But if we don't, we have to care for it, clean it, organize it, store it and let it fill up our space. Instead of being free to help others, we are too busy trying to take care of all our stuff. But oh, the relief we feel when we let it go! It is like a big heavy pack dropping off our back down to the cliff below. While it's hard and painful to let go and trust God for the future, it's also hard to have that heavy burden to lug around. Like the girl with the small backpack, there are things we need. We can't live with nothing. But there is a limit to how much we need. We can choose between a heavy pack or a light pack. We aren't all the same and we all have different capacities for how much we can manage. The girl also needed help in the story at times, but not because of the pack she was carrying. We all need help sometimes (and some heavy burdens we carry are not our choice), but the help we need shouldn't be self-inflicted!

2)Now, the spiritual. 

Hebrews 12:1-2 says,...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus...

The Christian life is like a race or a hike. We need to travel light! There are many things that can weigh us down and make our growth much more slow than necessary. 

Unbelief and wanting to see before we will trust
Fear, worry and all the what ifs

Covetousness, greed and attachment to things

Envy and jealousy

Sin and guilt from the past (if it's been dealt with and forgiven, it doesn't need to be a weight)

Pride and the fear of what people will think

Friends that are a negative influence

Impatience

etc.

What is hindering your spiritual growth? What is stopping you from taking the next step? What are you not willing to give up?

Here are some things that should be in your backpack!

Faith, Prayer, Contentment, Thankfulness, Patience, Love for God and others, Humility, Peace, Trust, Joy, Self control, Perseverance etc.

The Bible also says in Psalm 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Are you bringing all the things that burden you to the Lord in prayer?

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Tired of Doing Good

Thisafternoon I was telling God in tears how tired I was of some of Lydia's behaviour. Sometimes it seems everything turns into a fight and a training session. If I take her for a walk, it's a battle to get her to hold my hand. If she rides her trike, she has started to drag her feet along the ground instead of pedaling. If she goes outside, she takes her jersey off.  The most wearying one is the way she constantly calls me! I can spend a lot of time on these things and it seems to make no difference.

But this verse came to my mind which encouraged me.

"Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Gal 6:9

What a helpful reminder that was! I straight away wrote it down on my list for the day. Perseverance, patience and consistency does pay off but only if we don't give up!

Then when I was cooking dinner, I was trying a new recipe--a Chicken Pie. On the bottom of the recipe was this quote...

The highest reward for a person's toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it.

Another encouraging thought! Motherhood and any honest work brings it's own reward, but there are many times it seems that there is more work than reward. In those moments of having to do that same thing yet again and our patience wears thin, it doesn't seem like there is much reward. There is if we keep at it, but this quote encouraged me by giving me a different perspective. One of my rewards for all my time and patience spent on Lydia is what I am learning and becoming through it!

Later on when Joseph came into the kitchen to set the table, he noticed my verse written out on my list. "Hey mum," and he quickly grabbed a little devotional out of his room. "Look! I read this verse in here this morning." I had a look and it was a story about two missionaries in Papua New Guinea. It described the five days journey through soggy marshes, over rocky cliffs and through freezing rain just to get to the tribe. Then they had a lot of hard work to make an airstrip and a hut etc. It went on to say...

"Does all that sound exhausting? Sometimes the work of God can be very hard. But they wanted to give these people the good news of the God who loved them and sent His Son to die for them. The hard work was worth it."

Whatever your situation and whatever the good work is that you are doing, I'm sure you can relate. Everyone has a job to do, a patience that gets sorely tested and a body that gets weary! I hope these thoughts are as encouraging to you as they were to me today.

Waiting...

 One day I told my child that Grandma and Grandpa were coming. She straight away looked out the window expecting to see them at the door. I had to try and explain to her that they were coming in a few days time! When children are waiting for someone special to come, the time goes so slow. I have learned that sometimes it better to surprise my children rather than tell them someone's coming. That saves them the agony of waiting! When they are young they don't always understand our words for time---yesterday, tomorrow, on Friday, next month, next year. It can be hard for them to comprehend time.

I am just like my daughter! When God speaks to me through a promise in His Word, I expect to see it fulfilled straight away. I don't like to wait. I don't always comprehend God's time because His timing is far different to ours.

Think of Abraham. God promised him a son when they had no hope of having children. God promised that he would be a father of many nations. God first promised to make a great nation of him 25 years before Isaac was born! 25 long years of waiting, every day getting older and older. God's timing was much different than Abraham's. 

"Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son." Genesis 18:14

"And so, after he (Abraham)  had patiently endured, he obtained the promise."  Hebrews 6:15

A few verses before, it says..."who through faith and patience inherit the promises." 

   We need to have faith in God's Word and His promises. Then we need patience to wait for God's timing. His timing is always right!

New Every Morning--put to music

I wanted to memorize this poem that I shared last week. But as always I memorize things best when there's a tune!

 

Not In Vain

 

Some words of encouragement which I need to hear often!

This song is based on 1 Corinthians 15:58.

Lessons From Lockdown

What have you learned during this lock down time?
I have been thinking about these things...

1) Life can change very quickly
A few months back I never would have guessed that I would have to homeschool. Although it's not a permanent change, it's a reminder of how quick things can change. Even things we thought would never happen can suddenly happen. We need to appreciate what we have and not take things for granted.

2)Don't count on the future
The Bible says, Don't boast about tomorrow because we don't know what will happen. We need to keep in mind that none of our plans are definite and everything we have on this earth is only temporary. We can't trust in money, jobs, possessions, people or our health etc. They can be gone in an instant. We need to trust in God, because He knows what's around the corner. And He can't be taken away from us.

3)We don't need to worry about the future
There is nothing that can happen to us that God doesn't already know about. And whatever does happen, God will be right there helping us through. Often the things we fear never happen. And if they do, God will give us grace and help at the time.

4)Always be ready for death
Hearing about the virus is scary when you know that it can be fatal. And yet there are many people who have died during this time who didn't have the virus. They might have thought they were safe because they didn't have the virus. We can die at any moment, so we need to be prepared all the time.

5) Without change, we would never learn or do some things
My sister sent me a song and it had words with this idea "God isn't trying to make us cry. He's teaching us how to fly." It had the example of a mother bird teaching her babies how to fly. There are things I've done over lockdown that I wouldn't have done if life had been normal. We all have our own trials, but without those trials, we would miss out on so much learning and growing. Change can force us to learn new skills and lessons.

6) What matters is what God thinks of us
(This is not related to lockdown, but it is a lesson I am learning.) I like to please people, but it's not always possible to please people and God. We need to value what God thinks of us more highly than what others think of us.

7) Have courage to do what God wants you to do
We have an enemy who wants to keep us inactive and of no use to anyone. He has different strategies to try to stop us. For me it's usually discouragement and self doubt. We need to find our encouragement in God and keep going in spite of the challenges. 

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Joshua 1:9

Complaining Is Easier Than Changing!

Have you ever met someone who likes to complain? And yet they don't want any solution? For example, they might complain about a lack of money, and yet they can't be bothered working to earn some. Or they might enjoy spending the money on wants that they could be using for needs.
I feel annoyed at these pathetic people, until I remember that I am one of them. It takes no effort to complain, but to do something about it takes hard work.
I started getting chronic headaches last year. It has been quite a hassle trying to completely get rid of them. I've tried wearing glasses, cutting out coffee, getting my iron levels up, drinking lots of water, cutting down on the stress, and taking tablets from the doctor. I'm still not quite there yet. My point is, It's easier and much cheaper to just complain to my husband each night! But that wouldn't make my situation any better.
Sometimes a listening ear CAN make all the difference and some of our problems we CAN'T change.
But there are many things that we can do something about, it just takes time and effort.
It's easy to look at other people and wish we had what they have. A tidy, clean house. Well behaved children. A good marriage. A beautiful garden. A close walk with God. An effective ministry.  And so on. Yet we forget that those things take much effort. They don't happen by themselves. Although different people are good at different things and life is not fair, it all takes a certain amount of work.
Not all children can learn to walk. But most can. For some, like Lydia, it takes a lot more time and effort. It's harder for her. But she didn't let that stop her from learning.
And even if something doesn't come naturally to us, we can learn, too. For example if you are a messy person, it might be harder for you to keep your house clean than for someone who is naturally more orderly. But anyone can learn who really wants to.
So the next time you find yourself complaining, stop and ask yourself a few questions. Do I actually want this to change or am I happy to just complain? Is there something I could be doing about this?  Do I want the results, but no work? Do I want it enough to put in the hard work to get it? If not, why complain? What excuses are holding me back?

A Beautiful Garden

Last evening I went for a walk around the block. As I strolled along the footpath, I noticed three different types of yards.
There were neat and tidy yards. Lawns mowed, weeds sprayed and no rubbish. But that is all there was. No beauty. No flowers. Just bare and empty.
Then there were the untidy, overgrown unattractive yards. Any flowers were drowned out by the long weeds.
Lastly, there were the beautiful, cared for yards. Grass mowed,weeds pulled, rubbish picked up, hedges trimmed. Beautiful flowers, full of color and fragrance, for people walking past to enjoy.
A prayer came to my mind.
 Lord, make my life to be like this last kind of yard. Remove the weeds of sin. Keep me maintained--humble and free from unnecessary distractions. Pull out the ugly fears, selfishness and greed. Grow beautiful flowers like love, joy, peace and contentment. Help me to bring joy to others. Don't let the weeds take over. Bring whatever pruning, cutting and pulling is needed to keep me in shape. Make my life a beautiful garden where Your fragrant flowers may bloom. Give a balance of rain and sunshine, so I don't become barren and dry.

Have you abandoned your boat?

This 'sermon' for woman is really good and well worth watching. She brings out so many relevant lessons from this story. I was really encouraged. I'm glad I watched it.

When Life Gets Steeper...

I read this devotion tonight and it was just the encouragement I needed. Our lives have changed in a good way and I am still adjusting to it all. I hope it's an encouragement to you,too.


The Lord will guide you always. Isaiah 58:11
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights. Habakkuk 3:19 

Advance into each new experience on your knees. Faith does not concern itself with the entire journey. That first step is all that is needed. Breathe a prayer for courage to fill your legs as well as your heart as you face the unknown, the unexpected. Put your hand into the hand of God. He gives the calmness and serenity of heart and soul. As He endures, you too can endure the climb over sharp rocks and crags. Climb with Him to the end--yea, even to the end of life's trail. "The peak that is nearest the storm cloud is nearer the stars of light." He gives the courage for which you pray to rise above the valley. Heed the Masters's voice and press bravely on to the fulfillment of your task. You have a whole lifetime to scale.

A Voice said, "CLIMB." And he said, "How shall I climb?
The mountains are so steep that I cannot climb."
The Voice said, "CLIMB or DIE."
He said, "But how? I see no way up those steep ascents.
This that is asked of me is too hard for me."
The Voice said, "CLIMB or PERISH, soul and body of thee, mind and spirit of thee. There is no second choice for any son of man. CLIMB or DIE."

Some of the bravest mountaineers have related incredible tales concerning their climbs up the hills of earth. Sometimes they were aware of the presence of a Companion who was not among the earthly party of climbers on the mountains.
How much more positive is the presence of the Heavenly Guide as God's mountaineers climb the high places of the Spirit!
God's mountain climbers are created to walk in precarious places, not on the easy levels of life.
Do not limit the Limitless God! With Him face the new trail and follow on unafraid, for you walk not alone!

Be Patient

Thismorning I was plaiting Hannah's hair before she went to school. She was building with Lego while I worked on her hair. I was half way through an inside out French plait when Hannah decided she had had enough.
"Can you stop it now, Mummy?" she complained.
I thought, If I stop now, your hair will be a mess again.
Hannah couldn't see the beautiful plait I was making. She was impatient because she thought it was taking too long.
Are you like Hannah? Are there things in your life that make you say, 'I'm over it. I've had enough. This has gone on long enough?'
Do you ask God to 'stop it?' To put an end to your problems?
Maybe God is working something beautiful in your life through your trials. Maybe He is working the beauty of patience, perseverance, love, joy, peace, self control etc.Be patient and trust Him. Just let Him do what He is trying to do.

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:2-4

Patience

 

Patience Pays Off

 

I waited patiently for the LORD: and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

Psalm 40:1

 

 

Do you find it difficult to be patient? I feel as though I am doing a degree in patience at the moment and I am realizing just how impatient I am!
I have these words on my fridge at the moment to keep me focused. After tube feeding our special needs baby for over a year, we have finally been able to take her tube out and feed her completely orally. It took a lot of patience and perseverence to get there. It felt like she would NEVER get there.
Now we don't have to tube feed, but feeding takes about half the day! She doesn't drink well. I feel like she will NEVER get better and quicker. But I have to remember that Patience does pay off. Sometimes we have to just accept something that can't change, but often patience, perseverance, prayer and lot of work go a long way!
This time last year we spent 'FOREVER' in hospital with our baby. It felt like she would NEVER be well enough to go home! But the time came. Patience paid off.
Then we had to wait for heart surgery.
Then she got sick after surgery and another long hospital stay. It felt like we would be there FOREVER! But we were'nt! :)
Then when we got home, I started working with her every day to practice sitting up. It felt like she would NEVER get it! It took a few months but she got there.
You don't need a disability to try your patience though. We all have our own trials and tests of patience.
I like the way these verses in James are paraphrased in the Living Bible.
 Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, ³ for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. ⁴ So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete.

Patience Pays Off

Rejoicing, Patient and Praying

(These posts are not written to make you feel sorry for me, but to share how good God is and the blessings He brings in our hard times. It amazes me over and over how in the dark moments I can feel like I can't possibly take any more, but the next thing I know I am filled with joy again! God's grace doesn't run out!)

Did you know it's possible to miss housework? To crave physical work like washing dishes and vacuuming?! For the last seven weeks I haven't done much physical work, especially when the children haven't been here with us. I have things to fill my time, but I am feeling more than ready to go home and do normal activities again.
The last few days I have been desperately wanting to go home so that is what I've been praying for. A few days ago the heart specialist told us it may not be long if Lydia keeps doing well. But because that is what I am hoping and praying for, I get upset if there is the slightest setback with Lydia. Thismorning I felt like maybe I should stop praying about it and just leave it in God's hands instead of praying hard and getting frustrated. Isn't praying about things supposed to give you peace?  And aren't I supposed to keep praying?
I was feeling rather confused, so I asked God to show me how to pray and think about this situation.
I opened up my little book of encouragement that I have made, and the page I opened to had this verse in big letters
"Rejoicing in hope;
Patient in tribulation;
Continuing instant in prayer;"
There was the answer to my question!

Rejoicing in hope
   There is hope at the moment that we may be able to go home soon. So I should be happy that there is hope.
Patient in tribulation
But I need to be patient until the right time does come and not be frustrated or afraid with the little set backs.
Continuing instant in prayer
I am to keep on praying for Lydia to get better!

 

Rejoicing, Patient and Praying is what we should be.

Great Things are Done One Step at a Time

I have to remind myself of this quote often! Great things are done one step at a time. I know a song where the chorus goes: Little by little, inch by inch. By the yard it's hard, by the inch, what a cinch! Never stare up the stairs, just step up the steps. Little by little, inch by inch. I think the song was written for children but it's a big help to me!

So many things in life take a lot of small steps to get there. And because I can only take one small step at a time, it seems like I will never get there or it is so insignificant. Do you know the feeling?

Raising children is something that is done one step at a time. Hour by hour, day by day, week by week, year by year. We don't always see the fruit of all our work.

As a mother, I just find keeping the house and yard clean and tidy a big challenge! I have to remind myself, little by little, inch by inch! By the yard it's hard... I can't do a lot at a time, but if I do a little bit regularly, it does get done!

I am also writing a book, which is a long term project that takes A LOT of small steps. I have to encourage myself that I will get there one day if I keep taking steps!

I have been reading the Noah story to my children this week. It struck me how long it took Noah to build the ark! Talk about a long term project! When the ark was finished, there was still a lot to do--gathering food etc. He must have got discouraged sometimes and felt like giving up. But just aswell he didn't! :)

 

Two Little Pairs of Boots

A little poem that is a good reminder to me! It's so easy to sigh over all the work our children create for us, yet if we lost them we'd give the world to be able to do that work again just to have them back.

 

Two little pairs of boots tonight,

Before the fire are drying,

Two little pairs of tired feet

In a trundle bed are lying;

The tracks they left upon the floor

Make me feel much like sighing.

 

Those little boots with copper toes!

They run the lifelong day,

And oftentimes I almost wish

That they were miles away,

So tired am I to hear so oft

Their heavy tramp at play.

 

They walked about the new-ploughed ground,

Where mud in plenty lies;

They rolled it up in marbles round,

And baked it into pies,

And then at night upon the floor,

In every shape it dries

 

Today I was disposed to scold,

But when I see tonight,

These little boots before the fire,

With copper toes so bright,

I think how sad my heart would be

To put them out of sight.

 

For in a trunk upstairs I've laid

Two socks of white and blue;

If called to put those boots away,

O God, what would should I do?

I mourn that there are not tonight

Three pairs, instead of two.

 

I mourn because I thought how nice

My neighbor 'cross the way

Could keep her carpets all the year

From getting worn and gray;

Yet well I know she'd smile to own

Some little boots today

 

We mothers weary get and worn,

Over our load of care;

But how we speak of little ones,

Let each of us beware;

For what would our fireside be at night

If no little boots were there?

~R.T.Cross~

Don't give up, but get up!

I'm just like a little child,

Learning how to walk--

Many times I stumble along the way,

But I won't sit down and cry;

I'll get up and try again.

Don't give up, but get up today.

 Don't give up, but get up,

That's what a child does--

It's just no use to sit down and cry!

Don't give up, but get up

And trust in the LORD.

Don't give up, but have another try

God has told us in His Word

Time and time again--

We have an enemy who wants to keep us down.

But don't listen to his lies

God will give you strength to rise.

Don't give up, but get off the ground.

~Emily van Rijn~

 

This is a song I wrote a year ago when Hannah was learning to walk. Esther has just learned to walk in the past week, so I've been thinking about it again. It was an encouragement to me the other day when I was feeling depressed because of a failure once again. But this song reminded me  "It's just no use to sit down and cry. Don't give up but get up."

 

Great Things are Done One Step At a Time

When we were on holiday during the summer holidays, Johan and I went on a walk with our 2 year old Hannah. The walk we were going on would take about half an hour. As we got out of the car, I wondered whether I should let Hannah walk or whether I should put her in the pushchair. I decided to let her walk, but wasn’t sure if it was a good idea or not. We would have to go really slow for her to keep up.

But I was in for a surprise! True, Hannah did walk slow as her legs aren’t as long as ours. But Hannah never stopped! Her legs were like a machine that was turned on and she kept on going steadily.  Slowly…. but steadily.

We came to a bridge. Johan and I stopped and looked down at the beautiful stony river. When we looked up Hannah had disappeared down the path. We had to catch up to her!

Johan and I hid behind trees so Hannah could find us. Hannah just glanced at us and kept walking!

We eventually stopped for a rest, but Hannah had taught me a lesson.

You can accomplish a lot by just keeping at it. You may not be able to go very fast, but if you are consistent and don’t give up, you’ll eventually get there.

I have projects that I am working on, but sometimes they go slow as I don’t have much time to do them. They sometimes seem overwhelming. It’s tempting to just give up as I feel like I’ll never get there. But if I consistently work on them, even if it’s only a little each day or a little each week, they will get accomplished.

There’s a chorus of a song that says

“Little by little, inch by inch,

By the yard it’s hard, by the inch--what a cinch!

Never stare up the stairs, just step up the steps.

Little by little, inch by inch.

 

 

 

 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”  Galatians 6:9

When Things Go Wrong

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill

When the funds are low and the debts are high

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh

When care is pressing you down a bit

Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns

As every one of us sometimes learns

And many a fellow turns about

When he might have won, had he stuck it out.

Don't give up through the pace seems slow

You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than

It seems to a faint and faltering man;

Often the struggler has given up

When he might have captured the victor's cup;

And he learned too late when the night came down

How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt

And you never can tell how close you are

It may be near when it seems afar;

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit

It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.

Author unknown

Diamonds

Diamonds are only chunks of coal

That stuck to their job, you see;

if they'd petered out, as most of us do,

Where would the diamonds be?