Category Archives: Provision

I Have an Empty Nest After Forty Three Years

Posted in Cancer, Family Friday, Healing, My thoughts, Provision by

I read these words from a Psalm today.

My life is an example to many because you have been my strength and protection.
You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore my life again.
Oh God you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I tell others about the wonderful things you do.  Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me O God when my strength is failing.  Let me proclaim your power to the next generation, your mighty power to all who come after me.  Psalm 71 v 7, 17, 18, 20. NLT

My husband and I are living on our own, the first time in 42 years.  Our nest has been occupied with our children down through the years.  Today we definitely have an empty nest.  But we are entering a new season, a new chapter in our lives.  I do not feel very strong at the moment after a busy summer and the passing of my husband’s mother.  But I hope in God again to renew my strength.  He will help me again as he did before.  I am looking forward to this time with just the two of us.

You may wonder how I was able to carry, give birth to and rear fourteen children and be still alive.  God has blessed me with children and he has been my strength down through the years.  Brendan has always been there , a great husband and father to help us.

There is a song that says,
“One day at a time, dear Jesus,
That’s all I’m asking of you,
Give me the strength to do every day what I have to do. ”

So I suppose the recipe for getting through life, like a little child, is one day at a time.
I did not know what the future held for me when I got married.  We had no idea.  God does not show us everything or we would be overwhelmed.
But as I look back, I take a deep breath and say “Thank you Lord for giving my husband and I the strength for the past 43 years of marriage and family.  Thank you for healing me from cancer to be alive to see all my children reared.  No sorrow, no mourning for loss, only joy at your goodness.”  I look forward to more opportunities to tell others about God’s power to forgive, heal and restore.

Mushrooms Appear Overnight in My Garden

Posted in Healing, Ireland, My thoughts, Prayer, Provision by

It was a warm sunny September morning.
We had a busy weekend taking a conference.
I needed to have a day off.
It was one of those days when I just wanted to chill.
I pottered about in my dressing gown.
The plant pots have been neglected.  I enjoyed watering them to revive their drooping blossoms.
I spotted a few white plants in the middle of the green grass.
I took a closer inspection.
They were fresh mushrooms.
Shaggy Ink Cap
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I wanted to make sure they were edible.
A call to my friend reassured me that this kind were safe to eat.
I picked the biggest, all six of them.
I was as pleased as punch with my collection.
I was reminded of the story of Manna falling in the desert for the people of Israel to eat.
It was lying on the ground every morning.

In the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat. (‭Exodus‬ ‭16‬:‭13-15‬ NIV)

They were to collect it every morning and use it that day.
They were not to keep it overnight.
Fresh Manna fell every day.
The mushrooms grew up overnight.
The next morning I picked a bigger amount of mushrooms.
I didn’t need a food expert or google to help me cook my “Manna”.
I sliced the mushrooms, fried them in butter, with a dash of pepper and salt.
A yummy, fresh breakfast for us with toast.
The Lord supplied my daily food like we pray in the Lord’s Prayer.
“Give us this day our daily bread.”
Alleluia.

August Blues. I Have Joy Now Instead Of Blues

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

September’s weather has come in August here in Northern Ireland.
It is cooler and wetter.  The summer is cut short. 
The last bank holiday was a wash out.
In previous years August had been a busy month for me.
I had to get my children ready for the return to school.
I would check on last years’ school trousers, jumpers,  blazers or skirts to see if I could squeeze another year out of them.
If not I paid a visit to the local drapery store to get the necessary outfits.
That would have been my biggest bill of the year.
One year I had eight children at school.
The Lord promises my children will not go begging in the street.

I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. (‭Psalm‬ ‭37‬:‭25‬ NIV)

I wanted my children to feel fresh and smartly turned out as the new school term started.
My last child left second level education last year.
All the uniforms are forgotten and schools ties’ and blazersimage are hanging at the back of the cupboard, only to be retrieved for a fancy dress party perhaps.
I don’t know if I have more money in the bank this year in August, but I am glad I do not have the stress of shopping for back-to-school items.
August is a time of harvest.  Fruit is ripe, wheat, oats, barley, hay and maize are ripe.
Fruit, plums blackberries and apples are picked.
In the past August has been a month of testing for me.
It steers the course for the coming year.
I had three children in August.  
I was in hospital in hospital twice in August.
But this year I am expecting fruit from all I have invested into others.
The farmer sows seeds in the spring.
In autumn he expects a harvest.
It grows of itself.
Our creator causes the growth.
So it is I expect my God to cause the growth in seeds I have sown into people’s lives to produce a harvest.
And I expect to eat of it.
Two people I prayed for in the past have had life changing experiences this August.
I have joy when I hear of answered prayers and when God uses me.
I am not expecting a baby this year but I am expectant for God’s promises to be fulfilled in my life this August.
Are you expectant?

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/august-blues/

A Scene That Brought Back Childhood Memories.

Posted in Holiday, Ireland, My thoughts, Nature, Provision by

My husband and I were out for a drive one evening.
There were road works on the main road into town so we took another route.
We came upon a farmer bringing his cows in from the field to be milked.
It was just as well we were not in a hurry.
The docile creatures with full udders ambled back to the farm yard.
I thought of the scripture, 

“The Ox knows its master.”  Isaiah 1 v 3

The farmer opens the gate and the cattle lift their heads and turn for home.
We drove behind the farmer patiently.

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I said to my husband “This reminds me of my childhood.”
I grew up in Co Down.  My father was a dairy farmer too.
I remembered my sisters and I bringing the cattle back from the meadow in the summer evenings.
The cows would swish the flies away with their tails.
We had a pet cow that let us have a lift on her back home.
Cattle grazing in the meadow beside a stream, where there is fresh water is a picture of abundance.

He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful. In that day your cattle will graze in broad meadows. (‭Isaiah‬ ‭30‬:‭23‬ NIV)

The Lord describes the Promised Land as a place flowing with milk and honey.
Wherever there is cattle one will not grow hungry.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’  I will send an angel before you..
Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. (‭Exodus‬ ‭33‬:‭1, 3‬ NIV)

My parents worked the farm to raise ten children.  We had plenty of milk, cream, buttermilk and butter, rich food to feed us.

Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds.
Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt. 
(Genesis 41 v 18 NIV)

The picture of the cows walking home to be milked has stayed with me.
We have often spent holidays in Co Kerry, Ireland.
Last time we were there a herd of ninety cows filed past to the back of our house at six every morning and evening. They knew it was time for milking.
The farmer did not even have to call them.
I believe God was showing me His provision of abundance then as well.
Let us believe God’s word today.
Let us have faith to enter into our inheritance of a land flowing with milk and honey.

Silhouette . The Farmer Bringing in the Harvest

Posted in My thoughts, Nature, Provision by

A photo oppportunity came my way today.
I did not have to get up early to catch the sunrise or wait till sunset.
I am glad because today is windy and cold and not conducive to be outside for long.
The hot days of summer in Bright seem to have passed.
My iPad can be temperamental.  When I click the button it sometimes seizes up.
I took a number of shots, but this is what turned out.

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The tractor and trailer passed by my house.
My neighbour was gathering in this harvest of hay.
It will be used to feed his cattle and horses through the winter months.
You can see the rays of light silhouetted through the trees and giving off rainbow colours.
I am reminded of this scripture.

“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” (‭Genesis‬ ‭8‬:‭22‬ NIV)

This was given to Noah after the earth was flooded. God promises mankind that the earth will never again be flooded completely and he put the rainbow in the sky to remind us of his covenant.

Farmers need faith in God to do their work.  They plant the seed in the spring time.  They trust God that there will be dry days to get out in the fields to get the ground ready.
Ground is ploughed up, harrowed and then seeds sown.
The seeds grow up as the weather improves and the ground get warmer.
God causes the seed to grow.
As the crop ripens there will always be a warm day for the farmer to go out into the field with his heavy duty tractor and equipment to bring in the harvest.
God promises there will be time to bring in the harvest.
I was studying about the god of Baal.  He was the god of thunder that people of old worshiped and made sacrifices of their children to in order to get good weather for harvest.
God our Father is the only true God, revealed through Jesus.
He is In control of thunder, lightening, hail, rain, wind and sunshine.
He promised he will give good weather for the harvest.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.  (‭Psalm‬ ‭19‬:‭1-4‬ NIV)

Praise The Lord.

Cheri Lucas Rowlands | August 15, 2014 at 12:00 pm | Tags: light, photography,silhouette, sunset | URL: http://wp.me/p23sd-n4i

Have You Ever Felt You Were Going to Break under Strain?

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

I was at a conference in Slovakia recently, testifying to the Power of Jesus to heal from cancer.
While staying in Budmerice with my son Aaron, wife Marta and family I took a walk around the neighbourhood.
Fruit trees flourish in the hot summers there.
I saw plum trees heavily laiden with fruit.

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The branches were weighed down, in danger of breaking with the abundant produce.
The gardener had put stakes under two of the boughs to support them so they wouldn’t break.
I am reminded of a line in Richard the Second.
Scene iv, the Gardener speaking.

Go, bind thou up yon dangling apricocks,
Which, like unruly children, make their sire
Stoop with oppression of their prodigal weight:
Give some supportance to the bending twigs.

Shakespeare, who is the author of Richard the Second, had a big family.
He likened the apricots on the tree to children that like the fruit caused the twigs to bend with weight.

My husband was the gardener in the play many, many years ago when he was at university.
I remember these words he spoke.  We had two children at the time.
Little did we realise we were going to bear more fruit.

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. John 15 v 16

God gave us fourteen children.
We have borne fruit down through the intervening years.
I looked at the fruit bearing branches and I remembered I have often been at breaking point.
I have felt, “How can I keep going?”
How can I have another child?
How can I rear my children?
How can I afford another child?
But God!
God who chose us to bear fruit has always been faithful.
Help and support always arrived when Brendan and I needed it.
God gave me the strength to keep going.
A scripture verse would encourage me.  Someone would ring me up and encourage me.
My husband and children helped.
I did not have immediate family, no aunts or grandparents to help.
A young lady called Aine came to live with us for two years.
She was a great support.
Another time when my husband had to go on a trip to India, a young American called Sheila came to help. She stayed for nine months and loved the rough and tumble of family life.
Sarah Smith stayed one summer with us.  She was another “stake”.
More recently after I had cancer, Alexandra from South Africa came to our home.
She said God told her to come and help an Irish family.
Once God sent three ladies from Canada to our home to prophesy and encourage us in our work.
So Brendan and I did not break under the strain of bearing fruit.
God is faithful and has always sent us encouragement when we need it.
He continues to meet our need.
Praise to The Lord Almighty.

Quotation from Richard the Second

How I got a Better Phone after Mine was Smashed.

Posted in My thoughts, Prayer, Provision, Travel by

 

On Tuesday my husband and I left our daughter and son to the airport.   They were travelling to The United States for work experience in a retreat centre.
The journey went smoothly with no traffic delays.  We arrived on time.

Brendan left us off in the carpark while he went to find a parking space.  I thought to myself “I will not need my handbag” so I left it safely in the van.  My mobile phone was inside.

The children pulled their big cases to the check in desk and went through all the paper work necessary to fly to The United States.
They were nearly finished when my husband arrived with a mobile phone which looked like mine, in his hand.
I did not take any notice as I knew my phone was safe in my bag back in the van.
My husband said he found this phone in the car park.  The glass front was smashed and only half of the screen worked.
I suggested to my husband that he could look up some number on it and ring in order to get in touch with the owner.  People have been kind to us when we have lost mobiles before.
He said to me “This looks like your phone.”  I said “No way, my phone is in the van.”  I did not like the idea of my phone being smashed up.
“Ring my number to see if it is mine.”  I knew this would satisfy my husband, confirming that it was not mine.
He dialled my number and immediately I recognised my dial tone.  What a shock.  How did my phone end up in the carpark and how did Brendan happen to be walking past where it was dropped.  This was a bit too weird for me.
We pray before we travel asking God to protect our vehicles and journey.
I thought to myself, “Everything went so well today getting to the airport, and our children being blessed going to America.”  Often some difficulty arises.  Perhaps a traffic holdup, or forgetting something or running late.  But not today.
I knew this was an enemy attacking me to rob my joy at my children’s opportunity to get blessed. How on earth did the phone fall out of my bag and out of the van?  I did not expect this to happen.
I did not get upset.  I said the enemy has to restore what he has stolen, just like our car.
The devil comes to rob, steal and destroy.  Jesus comes to restore, to give life and life abundantly.
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10 KJV)
I use my phone mainly for texting and receiving calls.  I like to be in touch with family.  I enquired in the O 2 shop how to get it repaired.  It would have to be sent away for a week.  They gave me an estimate of 150 pounds to replace it.
I did not want to pay that.
My husband offered to help.  He confirmed it would cost the amount quoted.  He suggested I should go for an upgrade to an iPhone if I was going to pay out that amount.  He priced some on line.

My son, Jacob is home from  university.  He suggested we go for a cycle.

When we returned, my husband surprised me with a new iPhone.  He had spent hours sorting my problem out.  He made sure my contacts were transferred and he showed me how to use it.  He ordered a cover to make sure the phone is protected from breaking again.  My communication is restored, thanks to My husband taking the time and sourcing a new phone for me.  He is so thoughtful helping me, knowing I would miss having a phone.

This afternoon I am the proud and happy owner of an iPhone!!!

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:15 NIV)
The enemy tried to strike my heel after our children’s success in going to America.  But Jesus restored a better phone to me after mine was smashed.  My phone is restored!

This is the my year of Jubilee.  In the Jubilee year the Israel people got back what was stolen, land, houses, property or family.  Whatever they lost by misfortune or robbery was to be restored to them.

 

 

We are Moving House. Do it Again, Lord.

Posted in Dreams, Family Friday, My thoughts, Prayer, Provision by

 

 

“Be very careful never to forget what you have seen The Lord do for you.  Do not let these things escape from your mind as long as you live!  And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.”  Deuteronomy 25 v 9

After rearing our children in the big house God provided for us, Brendan and I realised over the past few years that it is taking a lot of our energy to maintain it.  Lighting the fires in the morning to keep warm, cleaning and doing household chores made me weary.

Our children advised us to downsize to a more modern house that would be easy to keep warm.  It is not easy to be released from the home we reared our children for the last fifteen years.  Our children have memories of  growing up here.  There is space for us to have family get togethers, and the grandchildren come to visit.  There is room for them to stay over.

It is not easy to start looking again.  Back in September I read from God’s Word I will provide a home for the poor.  Brendan and I were going to trust God, as before, to provide a home for us.  “Lord you did it before, do it again,” I prayed.  “You will not forsake me now when I have gray hair,” according to Psalm 71.

Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me. (Psalms 71:18 NLT)

I did not want to move away from the area where we now live.  I would be happy to move to the country nearby.  We began to look at possibilities.  I did not have the energy to look at potential houses and then be disappointed if we were rejected.  We did try once, found a lovely house to rent, but the owner was not willing to rent to us.  I didn’t try any more.

Brendan and I visited Jerusalem earlier in the year.  I believe God’s Word that says he will bless us in Jerusalem.
Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek The Lord of Heaven’s Armies and to ask for his blessing. (Zechariah 8:22 NLT)
I went to the ancient site of the Wailing Wall and prayed there about many things.

When we arrived back home I got a call from my hairdresser.  She said I had a dream about you last night and I need to tell you about it.  The dream indicated we would be leaving this house.  She did not know our situation about wanting to move from here. This dream helped Brendan and I decide to move from here.  We were in agreement.  Before I was undecided.

We looked at Property Pal, an Internet site for house rentals.  I searched for houses in our local area.  There were a few houses to let in the country nearby.  I called the agent of one I liked.  He arranged a viewing that evening.

It turned out to be a house next door to our friend who had the dream.  Her brother owned the house.  It proved ideal for our needs and applied to rent it.  The owner agreed and we move there next week.

The house is called “Bright House.”  In case we had any doubts about our move God has showed us signs three times.   I was reading in the scriptures,

“It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us. (Colossians 1:9-12 MSG)”

Tea bags and cologne.

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A song on the radio called “Bright Eyes”.

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We are in the middle of our house move.  Energy is low but morale high because of the Bright future God has promised for us.

God speaks today.  Listen for His still small voice if you are needing to make a Big move.

We built This City. Daily Prompt. Downpatrick, in Northern Ireland, the Place where I Live.

Posted in Ireland, My thoughts, Nations, Prayer, Provision by
Next Monday, the 17th March is St Patrick’s day.   There are celebrations all over the world on this day.  In America green beer is sold.  When my husband was in China on St Patrick’s Day the locals gave him a can of Guinness.  He said it was the best can of Guinness he had ever drank in China.  It was the only one!
The Irish people have spread all over the world and that is why most countries have heard of St Patrick.
St Patrick  is celebrated as an man who lived among the Irish in the fifth century.  He preached the gospel of Jesus and did many signs and wonders among the people.  It is recorded that he drove the snakes out of Ireland.  There are no snakes in Ireland.
The town where I live is called Downpatrick.  It is claimed that St patrick is buried here.  Many tourists come to visit this historical place.
The people of this town have lived at peace with each other during the recent troubles in the seventies.  Every Good Friday all denominations of Christians walked through the town behind a wooden cross.  People took turns to carry it.  The people of the town demonstrated their unity, when in other parts of Northern Ireland people were being murdered.
I believe there is a blessing over Downpatrick because of it’s history as a centre of Christianity and civilisation.  There are many schools and colleges in our town.   Christian brothers set up a school for over eleven year old boys back at the beginning of the twentieth century.
They brought education to the poor.  My children attended this school.
I was praying for a bigger house for our growing family.  I needed more space.  I believed that God would provide for us a big family, like he provided for the tribes that went into the Promised Land.
About that time I read in the bible “Look for the ancient pathways where you will find rest for your soul.”  Jeremiah 6 v 16.  Downpatrick is an ancient pathway where Christians have lived for many centuries.  St Patrick may have walked down the pathway or street where we live.
My husband and I believe that God can speak and guide people.  God showed my husband in a dream to get in touch with a man who lived in Downpatrick.  This man, some months later helped us get the big house we now live in.   It has seven bedrooms, two kitchens and two living rooms.  We will be ever grateful to our friend who helped us find a home here.  He helped us when we were in need.
Downpatrick has been a blessing to our family.  Our children were welcomed into the schools.  Their friends’ parents welcomed them into their homes.  The local soccer club and Gaelic club were somewhere safe for my boys to play, supervised by responsible caring volunteers.  It felt as if we always lived here.
We joined with other Christians to pray in unity.  We were blessed.   Where brothers dwell together in unity there The Lord commands a blessing.  Psalm 133.
Since we moved here as we prayed with others for our town,  new things have come here.  A new hospital is built, a new cinema, two new schools, and a new supermarket.
Where I came here I met other families that returned here to rear their children.
Downpatrick is a pleasant and safe place to live.
We have a vibrant Art Centre that gets funding from the government.  Downpatrick punches above its weight.
It has a pleasant climate.  It rests in the lee side of the Mourne Mountains.  The rain falls on the mountains, so we receive less rain than other parts of our country.   We often had our dinner outside in the summer time.  We could never do that in the last town we lived in.
There are beautiful local parks and coastlands.  Within seven miles we are at the beach.  Coney Island is nearby.  It is made famous by the Van Morrison song.
As people live together in harmony the Mayor of our town will have an easy job.
Soon we are moving to a smaller house not far from Downpatrick.   I will always be grateful to God for leading us to live in Downpatrick.  I am thankful to all the teachers, coaches, friends and neighbours who helped our family and have made our time in Downpatrick a happy one.
you too can be guided by God in your life.  He will speak through dreams or circumstances that may arise in your life.  God loves you.

My Youngest Daughter packed up her Little Treasures and said Goodbye to her Bedroom

Posted in Family Friday, Prayer, Provision by
My youngest daughter was five years old when she moved to this house.  She shared a room with her older sister for a few years.  Then she had the big room all to herself.  She enjoyed the luxury of a double bed, a big study table and just space.
When she went to the grammar school she learnt the double bass.  She had this big instrument in her room to do her practice lessons.
Her six older brothers were envious of her.  Some of them still had to share a room.
My daughter had her friends round to play.  They enjoyed her big house as well.  They spent many hours doing whatever young girls do.
She listened to her CDs, worshiped God and prayed.  Angels watched over her.
This home was just beside her school.  She was able to walk to school and when she was older ran down home for lunch.  No stress.  Some mornings I would walk with my young children up to school.  It was good to hear the screams of the children at play in the playground.
Some of her friends would venture into the garden on their way home from school and want a turn on our big swing.  They squeeled with delight.
Now my daughter has gone to university.  I know she had a very happy childhood living in this big old house.  She packed up all her treasures when she was home recently and said goodbye to her big room in this big house.  The room will miss her.