The steps and the stops !

The Psalmist declared that “the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord” to which George Muller added to this verse “and the stops”.
Psalm 37:23 - 24 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholds him with his hand.”

The steps and the stops are ordered by the Lord! At this time in my life I am about to have one of those stops mentioned by Muller, one of those unsought after moments when it is good to know that we have a living relationship with a Lord who promises to uphold.

Recently we have been very active with a Retreat at Harby in the Vale of Belvoir 30 miles from our home. The Retreat was for visitors from the Independent Evangelical Churches of Poland, mainly church leaders and their wives plus those actively involved in church life in that country. We can praise the Lord for the helpers He gave to us and the energy He supplied plus the generous financial support from those who knew of the enterprise. The cost of coming to the UK was very attractive with earlier booking with Ryanair and all other costs were covered by generous giving here in Britain. Each day during our Retreat we had fine Bible ministry from gifted teachers and local Pastors and the letters received from those who attended have given testimony to the blessings received.

But I digress, I have a habit of doing that, more so when speaking and preaching. This is part of my problem, namely an over use and it would seem some abuse of my vocal cords. Eighteen months of a less rigorous engagements and some speech therapy have given me little comfort from not having the voice to sing and lead services as I used to do.

Doing some web searching for the experiences of others I have found that a variety of celebrities have been along this road. Some are like Julie Andrews who lost her voice following surgery in 1997, others have much better stories to tell. Freddie Mercury of Queen (you good people might not know that name) was back to normal lead singing in a short time but his singing wasn’t the grand opera type! A few people with vocal problems have sought a career change but that prospect isn’t one I fancy. I've discovered that Nana Mouskouri was born and has lived all her life with one non-functioning vocal cord. She's done OK for herself as a singer, not that I'd particularly want to sound like her. Each case is different I well realise that fact but I would like to get my singing voice back again. One thing I have discovered is that those with vocal problems become good bloggers. So having been silent for some months with no new postings I can promise that I will be using this means of communication during the quiet period I need following minor surgery. That word “minor” is very comforting, just some “minor surgery is required” said the ENT specialist “you will need to be put to sleep for a short time”.

So there it is from the horse’s mouth, as it were, minor and short.
Praise God for prayer at these times as with all times.

John Newton of “Amazing Grace” fame said that climbing a “steep hill” of prayer was certainly often “wearisome to the flesh” for him. “It is but dry work,” he complained in his dairy, “when the Spirit of wisdom and application is withdrawn in a great measure, but I desire to submit and continue waiting for the blessing with patience in the best way I can”. Newton counted prayer an enormous privilege. “O it is wonderful – that dust and ashes should converse with the great God. Yet such honour have all his saints. This is the honour that cometh of God only – access by faith in prayer”

‘Tis a pattern set for us,
How we ought to wait and pray:
None who plead and wrestle thus,
Shall be empty sent away. (Olney Hymns, Book 1, Hymn 88)

During the next few weeks after my medical treatment I will be in “autumn hibernation” in my study since I think that this will be my best way of not speaking. One West Midland’s minister who is my age when I asked about his surgery for the same condition said to me that he thought the nine weeks of no speaking did him the most good.

NINE WEEKS of silence – surely not!
So it will be back to the blogging for nine weeks.