Category Archives: My thoughts

The Almond Blossom

Posted in My thoughts, Nature by

Snowdrops coming out of the earth welcomed my new year. Daffodils are beginning to open, trumpeting spring and brighter days. They have withstood the strong winds of winter.

I am excited to see my Almond tree blossoming in the full light of any sunshine that comes. It is indigenous to Mediterranean Climates. There it is known as the first tree to blossom. My walled garden is a good place to grow.

Brendan and I travel to Israel at this time every year. My Almond tree draws my mind to the Almond trees that line some streets of Jerusalem. Blossoms will be appearing there too, symbols of warmer and better days. I hope to see them soon.

I find it fascinating that each plant knows it’s time to emerge from the earth and put forth its shoots and flower. We can learn from the different species. If we trust God he will cause us to grow and blossom when it’s our time.

The bible tells us in Jeremiah that the Almond Branch is a symbol of God’s faithfulness. He will do for us what He promised. He will bring about our time to blossom just as the earth causes plants to come forth in their time. Let us be patient as we wait.
Let us learn from the farmer as he gets on with other activities waiting for his crops to grow and he will receive his harvest.

Jehovah Rapha your Healer

Posted in My thoughts, Nations by

There has been much concern throughout the nations since the discovery of the Corona Virus in China some weeks ago. China authorities are stopping the movement of people in areas where Corona Virus has hit. This means much hardship for the people of China. And no one knows how long this will last.

Not only has the Virus caused health problems for the nations to prepare for, but there is an economic effect too.  Some factories in China have shut down. Goods that are produced in China for cars and large machinery are not available, and this will affect factories in the west.  Even in Northern Ireland our Hotel industry has been hit because of cancellations of Chinese customers. When the Chinese tourists come here they are big spenders and like to visit all our tourist sites.

The news of the spread of the Corona Virus can instill much fear in people’s lives throughout the nations.  Will there be medication to help overcome?

I am not a medic but I have good news for anyone who is fearful of this virus or any other disease. God who created the heavens and the earth revealed himself as Jehovah Rapha, the healer to Moses in Exodus 15 v 26.   Again in Psalm 103 God tells us he is the one who forgives all our sins and heals all our diseases.

I have experienced the power of God to forgive all my sins and heal me from my diseases. I believe in God our Father who made the heavens and the earth. He was revealed to mankind through his son Jesus who lived in Israel 2000 years ago. Jesus had compassion on the crowds who came to him and he was known for healing all the people who came to him.

Isiah 53 foretells the coming of Jesus and what he would do. “He was bruised for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquity and by his stripes we are healed.” Jesus died on the cross and shed his blood for our healing. Believe and receive from Jesus, like I did.

I decided to trust God as my healer when I was young girl of nine years old. I had Rheumatic fever, a rare disease nowadays. But it left me with a damaged heart. The doctors said I would only be strong enough to have one child. God gave me the strength to have fourteen children.

I had fourth stage cancer in 2010. God totally healed me and it has not returned. Today is the day to trust God Rapha, your healer. Ask the Father God in Jesus name to heal you of any disease, brokenness or trouble. Jesus is alive by his Spirit to answer your prayers today.

You may have tried many other remedies to heal you and have spent much money to do so. There is a story in the bible of a woman who had an issue of blood. He had spent all her money on physicians but was not healed. She joined a crowd that was following Jesus. He pushed through the people to get to touch even his garment. When she did so she was healed. She had faith that Jesus would heal her.

Have you went through treatments, remedies, and taken people’s advice but are still not healed? I want to introduce you to Jesus who takes away your sin and sicknesses. Please ask him to reveal himself to you and ask him to heal you. I know God is Jehovah Rapha, my healer. He is there to heal you too. He does not charge you money either.

Sent from my iPad

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.

It Is Finished

Posted in Cancer, Family, Healing, My thoughts by

My husband and I were invited to a friend’s seventieth birthday recently. Many of the people there had grey hair like ourselves and were ex hippies. I introduced myself to a man called Tommy. He told me a bit about himself.

He grew up in Belfast in the sixties but when the troubles started he moved to London. There he got involved with others who were drinking and taking drugs. He became homeless, living on the streets of London. His health deteriorated. His body became covered in sores. I was reminded of the man in the bible, Lazarus, who was covered in sores that the dog licked. Somehow Tommy returned to Belfast.

His mother welcomed the prodigal home and she washed his sores till he was healed. He was just eighteen years old at the time. He was invited to a friend’s home where someone was speaking about Jesus Christ and what he did for mankind. Tommy heard the words “It is finished”. These words stuck in his mind.

I was reading these words from the bible today.
The one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21:5-7‬ ‭

The One sitting on the throne is God our Father in heaven. Jesus is the Alpha and Omega. Jesus came on earth to show us the Father. He came on earth to destroy the works of the devil. He showed the kindness of the Father by forgiving people their sins and healing their diseases. He died on the cross and shed his blood to forgive sin and heal us who are alive today. God sent the Holy Spirit who comes to us when we believe in Jesus. He is still working today over the earth.

We have just finished feativities all over the world celebrating the birth of Jesus.  Do we realise why he was born?  In the middle of our sumptuous meals in our comfortable homes, do we remember he was born with animals and his bed was made of straw.

God made everything new for Tommy that day. He believed Jesus forgave his failings and he received Jesus forgiveness. He was healed body, soul and spirit. He got a new beginning. He was delivered from the drink and drugs.

God made everything new for me ten years ago.  I was dying form fourth stage cancer.  I am healed by the power of the blood of Jesus and staying alive.

Is there any better day than today, the beginning of a new year to have a new beginning in your life? Jesus is offering you that new beginning. Are you thirsty? Jesus told the woman at the well that he would give her water so that she would never thirst again. Jesus promises to give us waters of life, which is the Holy Spirit.

We may make New Year resolutions to be good. After a few weeks we fail miserably. We can’t do it ourselves. We can do nothing with out Jesus. We are living on the earth. There are many unseen forces against us. The devil and his demons are out to rob, steal and destroy. We are born in sin whether we realise it or not. There is a heaven and hell. Jesus is the only one who can bring us to heaven. The Holy Spirit brings about the change in our life on the earth and promises to bring us to heaven when we die.

Jesus is speaking to you today as he spoke to the woman at the well. Will you receive the water today so that you will never thirst again! It doesn’t cost any money to be free from your burdens of sin. There is power in the blood of Jesus.

That is what happened to Tommy. He went on to get married and raise a family. He is amazed how God was gracious to him and is forever thankful.

May you have a happy New Year indeed.

Promise of Healing

Posted in Cancer, Healing, My thoughts, Nature by

Only ten days to Christmas the lady on the Radio said this morning. Does she mean to warn us we still have those days to spend our money on parties, food, drink and presents.

Or is she warning us to prepare our hearts to remember Jesus coming as a baby to earth. I prefer to remember the coming of our Saviour to set up the kingdom of heaven on the earth. He came to end Satan’s rule over the world, the kingdom of darkness. He came as a lion to defeat the wicked witch who kept the world in coldness as depicted in the Narnia tales.

I praise and thank God at the end of 2019 for his goodness and kindness to me this past year. I am still alive and I believe his promises to me that are not yet fulfilled. I was hopeless when I was dying of cancer. I thought God wasn’t answering my prayers or was going to fulfill his promises to me. My hope in God was restored when I was healed of cancer and delivered from death.

I was reminded of God’s promises to me this morning as I looked out at the sunrise around nine am British time. We are in December, having long dark nights. When the sun rises in the morning it brings warmth and light and hope to me. God our creator is faithful.  Psalm 50 describes

The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the Lord binds up the bruises and heals the wounds of his people.
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭30:19-21, 26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Lashed by Storms

Posted in Family Friday, Healing, My thoughts, Nature, Prayer by

Jesus was asleep when a storm arose on the waters of the Sea of Galilee. My daughter noticed in her translation of the bible that he was resting his head on a pillow. As a result of her revelation she began to make pillows from recycled materials and grew a business out of it. She made pillows to comfort old people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

Jesus disciples were at their wits end and thought they were going to drown. They asked Jesus “Do you not care?” Jesus immediately calmed the storm. The waters became still. His disciples were amazed that he had authority over nature.

When the group came to dry land they came to a town where there was a man who lived among the tombs. Jesus cast out all the demons called Legion that afflicted him and healed him. Jesus showed to the onlookers that he had authority over the powers that trouble a person and he restores him to wholeness. Just as He calmed the waves that were going to overwhelm them in the boat, so Jesus calmed the waves of torment that afflicted the man living in the tombs. He was teaching his followers and us today how to overcome tremendous situations.

We must face our storm or be drowned by it. After three years being with his disciples, Jesus died and rose again from the dead. He is Lord of heaven and earth, life and death. He spent time with his friends and gave them authority to cast out demons and heal the sick. He tells us the same today. He said before he died that greater works will we do because he went to the Father.

It was through deliverance form the spirits of rebellion and bitterness and confession of sins that I am healed today. My husband cast out a demon of rebellion and a friend prayed for me against a spirit of bitterness. Thank God for those who are willing to cast out demons here where I live. I am completely healed from fourth stage bowel cancer. I am delivered from death. I’m not in the grave where my children could visit and put a wreath on it at Christmas.

I have had many waves of storms lash me in my life. It is the devil who is the God of this world who stirs up the waves of trouble against us, whether sickness, calamity or mental distress. I had no choice but to face my waves of cancer and distress. I had to overcome Satan and all his works against me or die, I choose to live. I resist Satan and all his works over my family and life in the name of Jesus. He shed his blood on the cross and made a public spectacle of him. He is defeated in my life and I address him. I tell him to “Get out of here”. He has to go or he will overwhelm me with his tactics.

Make a turn around in your life today. Are you beset by many difficulties that don’t seem to stop coming. Ask God to help you. Believe in Jesus, receive him. Then you have authority to say to waves of trouble, this far and no more in Jesus name. It’s as easy as that. Do not fear.

I make articles from pieces of glass, wood and pottery that I find along the seashore where I live. I make something beautiful out of these pieces that have been broken and worn down by lashing waves for decades. We are often broken by life’s circumstances but Jesus takes us and heals and restores our brokenness. He has done it for me. He can do it for you. There is hope.

Here is some of my work. You can find me on Etsy.

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.