Captured

 

Hello dear friends and quiet followers,

It's a new week and I have more to say..so here I go again...

Yes I had another revelation of sorts. Over the last couple of years I have felt the Lord speaking to my heart; encouraging me to let go of things...my busy life...to slow down...to re-focus...re-prioritize.

It's taken a lot of work, internal and external. I've asked myself these questions, why would God want me to slow down? Why would God want any of us to slow down?

The 'slower' our days are, the more peaceful we are. We're not rushed, not overly stressed and can think more clearly. We need a calm mind to be able to hear from the Lord well. We need inner peace to focus on the Lord; to go through our day speaking to Him and more importantly listening to Him. In our roles as Mothers, Wives, Sisters and Friends, the closer we are to the Lord, the more we have to impart to others, to help them in their daily lives. 

We live in a media driven world, our phones are never far away. and many of us have multiple social media accounts. But why do we feel we need this level of interaction with the world? Once people only received news via a newspaper, or through a letter from a family member or friend and that was all. 

We wouldn't necessarily know about everything going on in the world. We didn't normally hear about every catastrophe, every war, every misfortune, every scandal. We didn't, and we don't need to. I believe it overtaxes our nervous system. Well I can only speak for myself and it does do this to me. Many many years back I felt the Lord say to get rid of the television in our home. I called it the 'uninvited guest', bringing all it's horrors and ungodliness into the home (even adverts). So we did. But I think we just replaced it with the computer.  Still there is more control this way and we are very particular about what we watch.

Still, for me, I want my life to be closer to the Lord. I want Him to have my whole heart. I want to hear from Him and encourage others to do the same. Slowing down has helped greatly with this,

Our world today is filled with doom and gloom. People are running around like 'Chicken Lickin' thinking the sky is falling down. And while we are living in uncertain times; this is nothing new. People have lived through a lot worse than what we are currently experiencing. So what do we do?

Personally I have always strived to keep a large pantry. This serves us well, because if we need to save for something unexpected (like roof repairs), then I can just cut back on my grocery expenditure so we can save some of the food money, and instead of purchasing more groceries we just eat from the pantry and freezers. I didn't go and get a big grocery shop for a month just recently and we managed just fine. I just purchased fruit and milk. We also, as you know have a large vegetable garden and many fruit trees. This all helps. I believe in that old adage: 'God helps those, who help themselves'. He expects us to do our part. Although !!! having said this, I  know a lot of people are just living week to week and find it very hard, if not nearly impossible to buy anything extra. So I'm talking just a bag of pinto beans, an extra can of green beans, a bag of rice etc...just as you can...in a simple way. We don't need to be obsessed by the current situation; just make a little plan and work away at it.  Ultimately God is our provider and our trust is in Him.

When I read my bible, I see that hard times are just part of life. God doesn't promise us an easy life, He just assures us that He will never leave us. This scripture spoke to me this week: 

Habakkuk 3: 17 -18

Though the fig tree does not bud
    and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
    and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
    and no cattle in the stalls,
 yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
    I will be joyful in God my Savior.

This verse reminds me that no matter what is happening in the world, or in my own life, whether it be good times or bad, I am to trust in the Lord, and let Him give me peace and be my anchor. If we have spent our life 'having oil in our lamp', being prepared for the Lord, giving Him our all, and our whole heart then we will be prepared for whatever comes in life. We don't need to go into a panic. Yes we should be informed and not bury our head in the sand, but if we take time for the Lord and let Him lead us, He will speak to you and help us in our time of need.

I believe one of the reasons the Lord has called me 'away' from the world, is for this very reason; so I can write, so I can encourage others to spend their lives focused on the Lord, developing a deep relationship with Him, so they will be prepared internally and externally for whatever may be coming next. Yet, we do not fear - we just trust and let Him lead.

This is what he laid on my heart just yesterday morning. I will close with it and pray you all are encouraged by it. Have a blessed week ~ Linda

God gives the power and the strength

that is needed for each new day.

If we are wise we will walk in

that strength and not in our own.

If we are wise and attentive to the Holy Spirit

we will let Him lead us, we will listen

for His voice and gentle guidance.

If we are wise, we will tread lightly on this earth,

and hold onto what we own loosely,

as this world is not our eternal home,

and we take nothing with us when we leave,

but the spiritual acts of love we showed to others.

That in deed will go before us, and will be

stored up as treasures in heaven.

O that we would walk hand in hand 

with Him each day.

Lord set our eyes and hearts on

what is eternal and pleasing to you.

Amen

~~

 

The Unseen is Eternal

 

Hello dear friends,

This morning as I was having my morning devotions, these thoughts were strongly on my heart, and I wanted to share them, in the hope that they will encourage someone.

As many of you know I don't have very good health. I have asthma and it affects me in a way that makes me very sensitive to so many things: pollen, cold air, damp air, rain, humidity etc. Humidity is one of the worst, it sucks the life out of me and leaves me completely exhausted. My body is like a barometer. I know by how I feel what the weather is doing or going to do. The worst thing about it is that apart from dark circles around my eyes, nothing is really visible to show I am unwell. It has caused me so much difficulty in my life. I've had to cancel many things and are often unable to attend various commitments as I feel so weak, exhausted and hard to breathe.....BUT.... :) I had a little revelation this morning. 

...I realised that this 'health' situation at least keeps me very close to Jesus. Because of it I am constantly in prayer asking the Holy Spirit for strength to get me through the day. On days when my health is better, do I seek Him as much? possibly not..which saddens me. Some days I surrender to the situation and just have to lay in bed, but most of the time I do try to press on and at least do my housework and cook a meal. For those with similar health problems, please know that I understand. Our confidence has to be in God and not in what others think of us, especially when we often have to let people down because of our health.

I have cried out to the Lord so many times to heal me and I am not healed yet...but I still press on. So I have to look at life in a different way. I ask myself these questions. How do I live my life as a person with bad health? Is it my 'thorn in the flesh', and something I will have to bear and go through my life with? How can I still serve God and bring him glory within these limitations?  How do I continue to keep up with my home and garden and be a loving wife?

You'll be pleased to know I've come up with some answers, or the Holy Spirit helped me :)

HOW TO MAKE IT THROUGH LIFE:

1. I have simplified my life to do only what I know I can realistically achieve. I've had to let go of some things (which was hard), but in the long run its for the best. This isn't to say I don't challenge myself, because I do, but generally these things apply. I help my daughter with the children, but now I am doing less days. I have cut back on many many products that I used to make for my online soap business, to almost only making soap. It is what it is. I am too tired of trying to keep up. It just strips me of my peace and joy. Don't try to keep up, just do what you can and be happy about that.  eg.Yeh!!! I got the vacuuming done...some days that might be my one achievement.

2. I have more realistic expectations. I know my garden is never going to be completely weed free. We have a huge garden and often I can't even get out there because of the weather. It's just how it is. I know there are times when my house will not be spotless, well quite often actually. If I'm unwell, I need to rest. I do what I can...and the rest will wait.

3. I know I will let people down and disappoint people. It's happened a lot.  But that's really out of my control. I have to accept my lot in life and enjoy my life even so. I suggest building yourself up in your faith, trusting and being confident in the fact that God loves you. He knows your heart and he cares. He will never leave you. He is merciful, gracious and always there for you to talk to. He understands like no-one else. 

4. When you have a good day, don't try to do everything......don't ask me why I say this :)

5. Don't feel bad or think there is something wrong with you because God hasn't chosen to heal you. If your in one of those religions that think this way, then leave, or don't listen to them. God choses not to heal lots of people. It's true. It happens all the time. Just look around you. Be one of those people that presses in deeper regardless :) Rise above it.

6. Finally - this world is not my home. When I leave this mortal coil, I will have to give an account for my life. I don't want to stand before the Lord and be ashamed. I want to know and believe in my heart that I did the best I could, that I relied on Him for strength, that He was Lord of my Life and no-one else. The very fact my health is bad makes me press into Him and rely on Him for strength. 

Do His will in whatever way you can. Share His love in every way you can. Be His voice and His arms. There are a myriad of ways we can still serve in this life, even when we're limited physically. I find simply blogging a way to encourage others and be encouraged at the same time :) 

~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This post was titled 'The Unseen is Eternal' and knowing this encourages me.

2 Corinthians 16 - 18 

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, 

yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us 

an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.

For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

1 Corinthians 13: 12

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror,

then we shall see face to face.

Now I know in part; then I shall know fully,

even as I am fully known.

Psalm 73: 23 - 24

Yet I am always with you,

you hold e by my right hand. 

You guide me with your counsel,

and afterward you will take

me into glory.

I do pray this writing will encourage someone. It was a revelation to my heart this morning that even though my health isn't always good, this very thing causes me to seek the Lord for strength. Maybe I knew that before but sort of forgot. For that alone I am very thankful...that I don't charge through life in my own strength. Be blessed and know that God loves you. ~ Linda

Seasons

 

Hello dear friends, I'm sorry I have been so long absent from my blog, it wasn't intentional...but here I am at last. I am however reasonably active on Instagram if you want to follow me there too:  _thelittlehomestead_  . I personally find it upsetting when people just all of a sudden stop blogging, so I do apologise for that. I am still going about my life here at the Little Homestead, cooking, cleaning, gardening, loving, caring, doing all those things. 

I do know what caused me to stop writing and what ruffled my feathers. We were going to sell this big old house and move onto some land at our daughters. That was the plan, but our house didn't sell, the market has dropped in our area and also since Covid the prices for timber, builders, and all trades people have almost doubled and the whole idea became very stressful and unrealistic for us....so we are staying here. 

The whole thing completely consumed me and I would go about my home with less enthusiasm, as I didn't think I would be here, so why plant the garden, why paint that little thing etc etc. It rattled me a lot, and I couldn't focus on tasks or plan properly. So for those simple reasons alone I'm glad it's over. We do love our home, so its not a sacrifice to stay here, but it was disappointing, as it was going to be a big adventure, and we would have been closer to some of our grandy's. Still some of them are still only 7 minutes down the road !! :)  Now enough of all that, but at least it was an explanation.

 ~ ~ ~ ~  ~ ~

Here at home the garden is looking lovely. The Japanese Cherry Blossoms out the front of the property looked spectacular this Spring and as their blossoms are finishing off, they leave this pretty carpet all over the grass. It truly brings me joy. We planted nearly all the trees on our property, so now we get to reap the rewards of their beauty and also many of our trees bear fruit as well. Hard work always pays off.

We've planted the summer vegetable garden: Tomatoes, Cucumber, Zucchini, Beans, Pumpkin, Potatoes, Peppers...all the normal things :) Last summer the garden did so well, so we will pray for the same again....anyway I have another blog idea, well something on my heart I want to share, so I will wind this little one up for now and get on with that. Love to you all ~ Linda