Category Archives: Ireland

Gulls Feasting at Strangford Lough

Posted in Ireland, My thoughts, Nature, Provision by

The tide is high at Portaferry today. But instead of troubled waters and sea weed washed up over walls by storms, the sea is calm. The sun is glistening off the water and it’s warmth is concentrated in a bay near our home. Other parts of Northern Ireland are covered in snow. People are not venturing too far. More cold temperatures and storms are forecast.

On my way home I took this video of a flock of sea gulls gathered in the bay to feed off insects in the seaweed disturbed by the rising tide.

Sea gulls flit about, dive and fly. They don’t stand at the edge of the water to feed. They are nervous creatures and rise up out of the water at the least noise.

This scene cheered and warmed my heart today. I hope you enjoy it too.

I enjoy watching birds as Jesus told us. Every time I study them I am reminded of God’s care and blessing.

How Great Thou Art

Posted in Ireland, My thoughts, Nature by

Praise God for the beautiful display in his creation these recent days in Co Down, Northern Ireland.

Beech trees in gardens and hedgerows are resplendent with leaves of reds, orange,  gold, yellow, and brown.  These trees hold onto their leaves despite wind and rain.

Strangford Lough is full to the brim today.
The Ferry looks imposing on the high water.

To crown a beautiful sunny day we have a full moon tonight.
It’s light is glistening on the waters.
The reflection brightens up my bedroom.

Its good to be alive!

At the end of the day I want to proclaim to God,
How great thou art!
How great thou art.
You are beautiful beyond description.

Too marvellous for words.
I love you Lord!

Getting Older

Posted in Ireland, My thoughts, Restoration by

What a beautiful warm day we enjoyed this Sunday in Ireland. The sun was shining and the sky was blue. The clocks went back an hour. People took the opportunity of waking up with an hour to spare and head to the outdoors. Perhaps we all wanted to enjoy the inviting warmth before darker and colder days approach.

We are like some butterflies, Red Admiral and Tortoiseshell, that came to my garden a few weeks ago. Late blooming sunflowers were lifting their heads to the sun in a sheltered corner of the garden. The butterflies spread their wings to soak up the warmth on the face of the sunflower. The beautiful colours of their wings lit up in the light. They lingered around the sunny corner trying out some other flowers they love, while the sun shone.

Brendan and I took the ferry from Portaferry to Strangford. A large crane was positioned near the terminal. It was available to lift any remaining yachts and boats out of the water to be stored for the winter. The end of the season for letting the wind fill the colourful sails.

We visited an outdoor market in Dundrum. As we walked about the stalls I could feel the warmth of the sun on my back. Everyone was light hearted. Smells of cooking wafted through the air. Both food outlets were doing plenty of business. We discovered a few hidden treasures; a mosaic topped table and chairs was my favourite find. I will restore them and look forward to tea in the garden next spring. Our children warn us not to be getting more stuff. But we don’t listen. Our home will end up as a museum full of items that evoke memories from our younger days, English Rose China, a crystal decanter, a rocking horse or tapes of old movies.

Some visitors called with us this evening. I sat with my friend by the fire. We chatted about our aches and pains. I suggested they can easily be warded off by a Magnisium supplement. I read yesterday from another blogger’s page that Magnesium is a cure for all; pain in limbs, high blood pressure, indigestion and insomnia. I will be keeping a bottle of Milk of Magnesia in the cupboard. There will be warm cups of cocoa at bedtime and Epsom Salt baths often this winter. No flu jab for me!

I was meditating on these words this evening after an active day.

But the godly will flourish like palm trees, and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. Even in old age they will produce fruit. They will remain vital and green..
So even to old age and grey hairs, O God do not forsake me.
Psalm 92 and 71.

Uncertain Days

Posted in Canada, Cancer, Family Friday, Healing, Ireland, My thoughts by

An election has just finished in Canada, the British government can’t agree whether to leave the EU and our Northern Irish government refuse to work together.  Despite the confusion in the British parliament a bill to allow Abortion in Northern Ireland was passed. It became law on Tuesday because our assembly in Stormont continue to disagree.

Whether you live in Canada or live in Northern Ireland we cannot depend on our politicians to pass right laws. My only hope is in the name of The Lord.  His government and its peace will never end. Isaiah 9 v 7.
Isaiah prophesied in the same chapter that Unto us a child is born, Unto us a son is given and The Government will be on his shoulders.
Many people are dismayed and fearful at this time.  Isaiah was as well.  God told him not to believe conspiracies, but to make The Lord of Heaven’s Armies holy in his life. He is the one to fear and he will keep him safe. 
The same is true for us today. I believe in God.  He is faithful to His promises.  He loves those He created.  He is merciful.  I know his faithfulness and love. He has cared for me and blessed me with a good husband and fourteen children. He delivered and healed me from 4 th stage cancer.  He is alive and true. He is the One to fear.

If you are upset and disappointed in life today, put your trust in the God of the Heavenly armies.  His name is Jesus.  Call to him.  He will hear and act.  

Testimony of God’s Love

Posted in Family, Healing, Ireland, My thoughts, Prayer, Restoration by

My daughter Nora lost her wedding ring on Sunday 22nd September. She was taking part in the Belfast half marathon in aid of Heart and Stroke Charity, Northern Ireland.

Nora was happy and relieved to get across that finishing line! She was back home when she discovered her wedding ring was missing. She had taken it off and put it in her pocket during the marathon as her finger had swollen.

  1. She was upset. She prayed with her friend for the return of her ring. She sent a message on Twitter and Facebook. She returned to the area where she thought she may have lost it. The ground was muddy and there was no sign of it.

Here is the message she sent.

So delighted to have done the Belfast Half Marathon this morning 💥. The only problem was that I lost my wedding ring somewhere around the finish line – at the Stroke Association tent 😰 if by some miracle someone comes across it maybe you’d let me know? It has my name and wedding date engraved on the inside…. any shares appreciated.

You never know – miracles can happen! #BelfastMarathon Ormeau Park

The message went viral. She called me in the afternoon. She was tearful. We prayed again.

Next morning we got a message from a friend to tell us Nora’s ring was found. It was handed in to the organisers of the marathon. We text Nora to tell her. She hadn’t checked her other messages because she was in a hurry to attend work.

She was overwhelmed at the response to her message on media. She got her miracle.

The local newspaper the News Letter picked up on her story. BBC Evening Extra called her and asked her to join them in the studio to tell her story.

Colin, her husband collected the ring and joined Nora at the radio studio. There was joy as the presenter interviewed Nora and Colin about the recent events. He asked Colin to put the ring back on her finger. All of Northern Ireland listeners heard the good news story.

Nora got her miracle.

I was reading this message today. “I will be your God throughout your lifetime. I have created you and cared for you since you were born.” Isaiah 46 v 3

God cares for Nora and Colin. He cares about their marriage. He demonstrated his love for them publicly. Their covenant of marriage was re confirmed before thousands of listeners. Nora continues to be overwhelmed.

The Redeemed’s Story

Posted in Cancer, Family, Healing, Ireland, My thoughts, Nations, Slovakia by

“Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story—
those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭107:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Though my blogs on WordPress I write stories of what The Lord has done for me in my life. I was in despair and feeling hopeless. I developed cancer and was near death. My family and friends cried unto The Lord for me and God saved me from death and delivered me from the growing tumour. The doctors couldn’t explain how the cancer disappeared.

The Lord is the God who made the heavens and the earth and all that dwell therein. No matter what nation you are from God made it all. I live in Ireland, a country on the edge of Europe surrounded by water. We in Ireland have a heritage of Faith in The Almighty that extends back 2000 years. Sea travellers brought the news of Jesus to these shores in the first century AD. We have stories of the redeemed in Ireland that have been handed down through writings or stories told in families from generation to generation. The Irish are renowned as great story tellers.

The Irish travelled by sea to Scotland, England and into the heart of Europe via their rivers. They brought their stories and simple way of life to the nations in Europe. St Coulumbanus is buried in Italy. Another monk is remembered in Switzerland. The Irish went to Slovakia, where my son and his family now live. They told their stories of how they were redeemed from the hand of their foes.

The Lord saved me from the grip of Satan who was bringing me to death because of my sins of rebellion and bitterness. Jesus died on the cross, shed his blood and broke the power of the prince of this world over mankind. He provided a way of escape from those held in darkness by the blinder of people’s lives. I called on Jesus to save me from death. I received his power to be delivered from death. I’m alive.

Psalm 107 describes my situation.

Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death.
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.
He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭107:2, 17-21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

No matter what ones situation or whatever nation you belong to, call on the name of Jesus. Many young people are suffering despair and are suicidal because of war, poverty and disappointment in the nations. God will hear and act on your behalf. His word promises to help the poor and needy.

““The poor and needy search for water, but there is none;
their tongues are parched with thirst.
But I the LORD will answer them;
I the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys.
I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs.
I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive.
I will set junipers in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together,
so that people may see and know, may consider and understand,
that the hand of the LORD has done this,
that the Holy One of Israel has created it.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭41:17-20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The water refers to the Holy Spirit whom God will send as we call on his name. He will work the miracle needed for you.  What he has done for me, he can do for you.  God bless you today.

Abortion

Posted in Birds, Family Friday, Ireland, My thoughts by

Here in Ireland, the beauty of creation is all around me. The sun is high in the sky during the day giving warmth and brightness, inviting us to enjoy outdoors. The odd shower of rain brings a colourful rainbow between the rain clouds and the light. There is a big moon in the sky at night. It’s draw causes Strangford Lough to fill up at high tide. The light from the moon reflects off the still water.

I am reading in Psalm 139 this morning.
“Oh Lord you have examined my heart and know everything about me.
To you the night shines as bright as day,
Darkness ad light are both alike to you.” V 1 and 12
Our creator God keeps all of nature going by his power. The sun or moon are not falling out of the sky. God is faithful. This same God promises me in Psalm 68 v 19 that he loads us with benefits every morning. Just imagine his kindness and care and things working out in our lives daily. His mercies are new every morning. God is speaking to me through the birds that are beginning their song on this the longest day of the year in Ireland. He cares for the birds will he not care for us.

The mighty God who created the sun and the moon created us in our mother’s womb. I read further in Psalm 139 v 13, 15 and 16.
“You made all my delicate inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
You saw me before I was born.”

Someone sent me an article from rightoflife.org that 10 pregnancies over twenty weeks are terminated in the mothers’ wombs per week in England. A child can live outside the womb at twenty weeks! The baby in the womb is killed with an lethal injection into the heart.

The Word of God clearly states in Psalm 139 that God knits the baby together in its mother’s womb. He creates life. There is a thief who comes to rob, kill and destroy, John 10 v 10 says. The thief is the devil who is behind the destruction of the unborn in these days. When war broke out earlier this century men gave their lives to defeat the evil that was rising to take over Europe. Six million Jews were exterminated in the holocaust. Today there is a silent holocaust of babies across the world.

Perhaps the young woman doesn’t know the seriousness of having an abortion because her boyfriend says it’s okay, her family says it’s okay, the doctors say it’s okay and one’s government says it’s okay. She doesn’t know the truth that God created the baby in the womb and it’s against God’s laws to take life.

The same God provided a Saviour to forgive us when we break the law and sin. Jesus said to the thief on the cross, “Forgive him for he knows not what he is doing.”
Northern Ireland is one of the safest places on the earth for the unborn. Northern Ireland was a safe place for Brendan and I to have the fourteen children God gave us. When I was expecting my 11th child the consultant suggested I may have a Down’s Syndrome child. He would have offered me a termination if I was frightened. I declared to him that God gave me this baby and He will bring him forth safely. I changed consultants.

Brendan and I had fourteen children because we believe God gives life and children are a blessing from God.

From Ireland missionaries went all over the world to bring the gospel including the new world which is the USA and Canada. Sadly now Ireland’s government is giving money to to nations to promote abortion.

Despite the holocaust and bad news there is hope. The same Jesus who died and rose from the dead is still willing to forgive sin and deliver one from the power of the devil. Ask for his forgiveness and he will freely pardon and renew hope for this life and the life hereafter. Remember Jesus said to the thief on the cross, today you will be with me in Paradise.

The Stairway to Heaven.

Posted in Dreams, Holiday, Ireland, My thoughts, Nations, Nature, Travel by

Two weeks ago I read this scripture.
“Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth. ””
‭‭John‬ ‭1:51‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I had never noticed this reading before. I remember another story from the Old Testament where Jacob had a dream.

 

Jacob found a stone to rest his head against and lay down to sleep. As he slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from the earth up to heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down the stairway. At the top of the stairway stood the Lord, and he said, “I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac.” But he was also afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is! It is none other than the house of God, the very gateway to heaven!””‭‭Genesis‬ ‭28:11-13, 17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

On holiday in Greece recently I visited a Craft shop. The Artists make their pieces from reclaimed items they find on the beach. I too work with stuff from the shore where I live in Northern Ireland. Small sticks, driftwood, pottery, Seaglass and bits of rope are some of things I find. The man of the shop made ships and boats. On each one was a ladder that went from the deck of the ship up the mast. Ladders also figured on the lady’s work. Here is an image of a ladder reaching up from the earth to the clouds above. It is from a piece of art I bought form a craft shop in Greece.

I was excited to see the image of the ladder. I was thinking back to the scripture about Jesus being a stairway or a ladder. I told the couple what the image of the ladder can mean. They were very happy to hear what I had to say.

The theme of the ladder came to me again today. I was reading Merlin Carothers’s book Proson to Praise. In it Merlin recalls a vision he had.

“I saw a bright summer day. Up above was a solid heavy black cloud. A ladder extended from the ground into the dark cloud. At the base of the ladder were lots of people who wanted to get a chance to climb the ladder. They had heard that beyond the cloud was something beautiful. Some people tried to climb. As soon as they got to the dark cloud they came sliding down again. Merlin climbed the ladder. He kept going through the dark cloud even though it was difficult. He came into intense brightness.”

The Lord explained to Merlin that the ladder represents praising God. Some people start out praising God but give up when times get difficult. They lose faith and go sliding back. When one continues to praise God he comes to a place where he can walk on difficulties no matter how dark they seem as long as he keeps his eyes off the problem and looks to the Lord.

I’m encouraged today after reading about Praise. I will believe that God can work all things together for good as we praise him and thank him no matter how difficult the situation gets. He is in control. Keep clinging to the ladder of praise and keep going up. Keep clinging onto Jesus who is the stairway to heaven. He takes us from the earth to heaven, just as Jacob saw in his dream.

 

 

Spring Visitors

Posted in Birds, Cancer, Family, Ireland, My thoughts, Nature by

Here in Ireland, a few weeks ago on Easter Sunday the sun was shining and many families and their granny’s and dogs were out for a drive. The two ferry boats between Portaferry and Strangford were racing across The Narrows to help the travellers on their day out; perhaps to visit the festivities at Castle ward, Castlewellan or Newcastle. Others from Strangford come to visit the Aquarium in Portaferry or take a tour of the Ards Peninsula.

We had taken a drive a few days before to pick up our daughter who returned for Easter. The water had filled Strangford Lough as far up as Newtownards. It reached up to the wall that separated the the road from the sea. I looked down through the clear water as we drove along the shore. I marvelled. Where else is there a place where one can drive for miles so close to the shore? I was enjoying the Lord’s provision of leading me beside still waters to restore my soul. We continued to enjoy the Easter weekend of rest.

Easter Monday is memorable for me. Nine years ago I went to the Accident and Emergency in the local town. I was later diagnosed with fourth stage cancer. Praise God I am staying alive after my experience with cancer. I celebrated the victory over the weekend with my family.

On Tuesday the weather changed. Grey clouds rolled in on stormy winds from the east. There was a chill in the air. Warm coats were picked up again. All the visitors had gone. They returned home revived and refreshed from having time out in the country.

I noticed different visitors outside my window. The swallows have arrived for the summer. They nest under the eaves and rear their young. There was no time wasted. A couple of them inspected the nest used last year and began mending it, flying in and out with mud in their beaks.

All the ways of nature have a purpose. The swallows have travelled thousands of miles from Africa. The strong south east winds helped them on their way. The same winds carried the Brent Geese north on their return journey to Canada. I miss their calls as they gathered beneath our garden to drink from the fresh water stream. They have been feeding on the eel grass along Strangford Lough since September. When the Brent Geese arrive they look like ducks. When they leave they have grown fat and look like geese.

I will enjoy the company of the swallows over the summer along with the resident forest and sea birds. The blackbirds, robins, pigeons, pheasants, doves, thrush, starlings and sparrows are busy making nests for their young. The call of the doves in the morning replace the Brent Geese. The other birds join the chorus as the sun begins to rise in the east.

The time of singing of birds has come. Sap is rising through the tree trunks. The leaves burst open and discard their shells. The sticky pollen of the sycamore tree in front of the house is falling all around. Another thing the wind carries to other trees to pollenate them. The pear and apple blossoms are in full bloom waiting for the bees from a neighbor’s hive to collect their nectar. All nature is busy increasing and multiplying.

Yet more visitors arrived below on the Lough. A beautiful tall yacht drew up within my view below. The owners are getting it ready for sailing events over the summer. I watched as it was secured to a buoy. It is the season for yachtsmen to put their vessels back in the water. A crane lifts the boats, which look like big birds, and settle them on the water.

It’s good to be alive and see life abundant all around.  Jesus came to give us life and life abundantly.  He has done that for me.  It’s the devil who comes to rob, steal, kill and destroy.  John 10 v 10

Camping in December in Ireland

Posted in Cancer, Family Friday, Holiday, Ireland, My thoughts, Nature by

Back in December when campervans are stowed for the winter, Bones sprung into life again after her battery was recharged.

Bones is the name my husband gave a campervan we bought two years ago. The doors rattled and the engine puffed out smoke when we first drove it. It needed much repair to make it roadworthy. It reminds us of the scripture in Ezekiel v 1 “ Can these dry bones live?”

I needed to use the campervan recently as my own car was being repaired. Tax and a top up to the insurance needed to be paid to keep it legal on the road. I thought I may as well take it out for a drive.

It had been wet and windy weather for a week. One of the wild nights I was travelling back home. I had the heater, lights, wipers and radio on in the van. I trusted Bones to get me home.

It did but next morning there was no spark to start it again. The power needed the previous night drained all life from the battery.

I was dreaming I could go on an overnight stay in the Campervan over the Christmas period. Who would come with me and would it be cold?

I wanted to visit Cushendun again. It is a beautiful place up along the Antrim coast. We had stopped in the village back in the Summer time. According to the brochures it had a Campsite that stayed open all the year round. After Christmas festivities my daughter offered to go with me one night in the van.

The forecast was 11 degrees centigrade one of the days so we planned and packed for our trip.

It was refreshing to wake up early when the sun was rising in the east over the Irish Sea. We had breakfast as the light shone through the drifting clouds. We spent the rest of the morning walking on the beach and driving through the picturesque villages along the coast road.

We treated ourselves to coffee in the luxurious Ballygally Hotel before setting off for home. I’m looking forward to many more trips out no matter what the season.

It’s good to be alive and enjoying my life. God is good all the time. There in healing in the Blood of Jesus.

Sent from my iPhone