Monthly Archives: May 2013

THE MAGNOLIA TREE

Posted in My thoughts by

I planted a Magnolia tree outside my kitchen window some years ago.

It has now well established and brings me joy when it comes to life.

Here in Ireland it is one of the first trees of spring to produce flowers .

This year spring has been delayed five weeks according to the experts because of cold weather.

Birds were interrupted in building nests and daffodils held back their yellow trumpets till warmer days.

 It is now mid May and the garden is bursting into life with tulips and rhododrendon blossoming all at once.

 This is the first year sparrows have nested in our hedgerow.

As I look out my window and see them I am reminded of Matthew 6 v 28 when Jesus said

“Look at the birds of the air they do not sow nor reap or store away in barns and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?

The Magnolia flowers have appeared at last and look like candles.

 They open up and seem like white doves perched on the spreading branches. Or like the fingers of a hand opening up in praise to God.

The leaves are a luminescent green and glow at dusk.

This beautiful picture develops before my eyes each year without any effort on my part.

Men get praise and awards for beautiful houses they build.

An artist is recognised for a piece of work he produces.

When we have a meal that is lovingly prepared we praise the cook!

As I see the beauty and glory of my garden I cannot but help praise God who created all this life.

I remember the words from Isaiah 61 v 11

“For as the soil makes the young plant come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteous and praise spring up before the nations.”

Man, if he meditates on his creator, is likened to a tree in Psalm one.

“He is like a tree planted beside streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leave does not wither.  Whatever he does prospers.”

Enjoy your garden.

Angela

 

 

Adventures in the Nations

Posted in Family Friday, Nations by

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Photograph of Mary and Hannah when they met up in Ethiopia for Christmas 2012.

My daughter Hannah is home visiting. She is a midwife and is volunteering with Voluntary Services Overseas.   We met as a family at Nora and Colin’s house for May bank holiday.  They had a barbeque after the Belfast Marathon.  My daughter Nora had organised three groups to run for the Charity VSO.  Well done Nora.

Many of our young people want adventure in their lives.  Very often before or after university they will head off to other parts whether across Europe or down under to Australia or New Zealand, as far away as possible from home.  This is often a challenge to parents when their child wants to leave.  Will they ever return?

Twelve years ago my eldest son decided he and his friend wanted to travel for six months.  They had finished university.  As a parent one’s natural instinct is to be fearful.  This was my first experience of my child flying the nest to go so far away.  Brendan and Paul set off with promises of being in touch regularly.  Back then there were few mobile phones, Smart phones or Skype.  The trip turned into a year when they ran out of money, but my son had a round the world adventure!

In the sixth century another Brendan, the navigator, set sail from Ireland and sailed north to the Faroe Islands and across west to a land we now know as Canada.   My husband Brendan travels to the nations speaking to people about dreams, signs and wonders.  So my son must have inherited the desire to travel from his father.

I learned to trust God that he would look after my husband and now my son.  Matthew 18 v 20 says “See that you don’t look down on one of these little ones.  For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my father in heaven.”  Also in Psalm 91 v 11 “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”

Paul’s mum rang me soon after and asked me, “Are you not afraid for your son.”  She could not get over how easy going I was about my son being away.  I believed God’s word which promises that he will be under the Lord’s care.

These are the days, as it says in Daniel 12 v 4  “ Knowledge and travel will increase”.

Thank God for Easyjet and Ryanair, both of which have introduced us to affordable flight travel into Europe.  The nations are opened up to us.  I live in Ireland and my family have been able to take advantage of this freedom.

Knowledge has increased as well.  We can be in communication with anyone in the world with e mail, blogging, skype or mobile phone.  I am taking advantage of this freedom to write my blogs!!!

I have got used to, not only my husband travelling but more of my children as well.  Last September five of my children left to go to the nations.  Isaac went to Canada on work experience, David went to Nicoragua with Raleigh for three months, Mary went to Ethiopia with VSO to work as a doctor and Hannah went to Uganda to work with VSO as a midwife.  My son Aaron went to live in Slovakia with his wife and children.  Two years ago Jacob went as a volunteer to work in South Africa.  They are certainly having adventures!

Next weekend I am going with my husband to Slovakia. I get to go on many adventures with him. Brendan broke through to go to the nations and his children are following.

Angela