Category Archives: Restoration

Healed of Cancer 15 years

Posted in Birds, Cancer, Healing, Holiday, My thoughts, Nations, Nature, Restoration, Testimony Tuesday, Travel by

I’m sitting on the veranda of my daughter’s Mary’s home in Blantyre, Malawi. The trees over the house keep it cool in the heat of the day. The birds are singing. Flowers are blooming. It is a little oasis in the city.

I was so happy to get here to be with Mary and enjoy the warmth after a cold winter back in Ireland. Looking at the garden I’m reminded of my two books about God telling us not to worry, Look at the Birds and Look at the Wildflowers.

This last year I have faced challenges in health and family difficulties. My natural tendency is to worry , get disappointed, tired and depressed. I had forgotten God’s exhortation not to worry which brings anxiety.

Being here away from immediate demands back home I have time to reflect on how God has been faithful to Brendan and I down through the years. in Malawi God is reviving my body and spirit. I read in Psalm 73 v 26
My health may fail and my spirit grow weak
But God remains the strength of my heart.

Today is the fifteenth anniversary of me being diagnosed with fourth stage cancer. Three months later I was totally healed by God. He hasn’t stopped moving mountains and with His power I can do it too. He has helped Brendan and I before and He will do it again.

Psalm 91 encouraged us. I will be with you in trouble, because he acknowledges my name. With long life I will satisfy him. I had forgotten we have an adversary, the devil who is out to kill, rob, steal and destroy. Jesus overcame him on the cross and sent him running. I now resist him and he is fleeing from us.

God is good. He is restoring our fortunes like the water courses in the Negev. The battle belongs to the Lord and he is fighting for me as I trust him and not worry.

The Power of the Blood of Jesus

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

Good morning friends.
I have a big family. From each child was young we lived in good health. I didn’t expect them to be off school with colds and flues. My father said what is wrong with your children they don’t get sick.

I heard messages at Church that Jesus healed diseases. I suppose these words got in my spirit at a young age.
I had rheumatic fever as a child so I needed to believe in God to get better. I did get healed from two bouts of this disease with no ill effect.

As an adult I read the scriptures and got to know more of what Jesus did while he was on earth. He healed all who came to him with disease. Alleluia.

One of my favourite scriptures is about the man who was let down through the roof. His friends helped him get to Jesus. Jesus said to him your sins are forgiven. But you can’t see if your sins are forgiven but you can see if you are healed. Rise up and walk. Jesus did the full work.. He forgave the man’s sins and healed his disease.

Jesus told his followers to do the same. How do we heal others? By believing in the name of Jesus and by applying the blood of Jesus. By the stripes of Jesus we are healed. Dare to believe and receive what Jesus freely gave us. He broke the power of sin and sickness over us. He destroyed the works of the devil.

Speak the name of Jesus over your loved ones. Receive communion which is God’s covenant with us when we remember Jesus death to set us free.

As my children grew they walked in healing. I didn’t let them take vaccines because at the time there was talk of side effects. If they got sick we prayed for them. I live by faith in God. I am different.

As I believe in Jesus he is faithful to answer my prayers for healing because I believe what he did by shedding his blood. Dare to be different!

There were ten plagues that God delivered his people in Egypt from. There may be plagues that come again to us, like covid. It’s time to believe that Jesus can heal and deliver us from any plague. Be prepared. Enter into the protection of the blood of Jesus for your household.
Do you want to be waiting overnight in crowded AxE rooms? Pray and ask God to heal.

The Blind Shall See

Posted in Healing, My thoughts, Prayer, Restoration by

Happy New Year everyone.
Clear our minds from disappointments, addictions, old habits and let us embrace a new year with Christ. One does not have to make new year resolutions in our own strength. We will fail. But giving our problems over to Jesus we can move forward. He breaks the heavy yoke. Praise his Holy name. There is power in the name of Jesus.

Peter denied Jesus three times. Jesus warned him “but I will pray for you and you will not fail.”

I want to share a testimoney I heard on Facebook from a Pastor jjohnglobal. He moved to a new neighbourhood.
He said the people next door called his family, neighbours from heaven. One day the mother of the family next door to the pastor had a stroke, was taken to a reputable hospital but was diagnosed brain dead. The family was going to turn off the machine keeping her body alive, in five days. They were giving time for family to return.

The pastor asked the family if he could visit the mother in hospital. They were happy for him to go. His plan was to pray the last rites over the woman. On the fifth day he arrived at the hospital. He entered the room and spoke to the woman, saying good morning Alice and continued to speak normally. Her body was attached to machines.

The pastor continued to say “me and my wife are going to pray the Our Father over you.”
They continued, our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name, thy kingdom come. When he spoke these words the lady began to move on the bed and awoke. She was home from hospital in ten days. There is power in the word of God. 

Our neighbour Elizabeth who is eighty four years old, calls our front small garden God’s garden. Brendan keeps flowers growing there in every season.

Elizabeth told me about a friend of hers who was blind and was going for an operation in one eye. We prayed for Joanne . I quoted Isaiah where the lame shall walk and the blind shall see.

The operation wasn’t successful. When she got home she fell and broke her two ankles. She returned to hospital where her ankles were attended to. She and her family were in great distress. Her daughter returned from England to care for her when she got out of hospital. We continued to pray. Elizabeth prays with her piano as she plays it.

In the meantime the sight in Joanne’s other eye returned, her legs healed and she is independent again. Her daughter returned to work in England. Jesus healed her according to his word. The blind shall see and the lame shall walk.

I say this to give glory to Jesus who heals today. There is power in his words as we proclaim it. Our gifts are for others. The gift of healing is flowing. I’m boasting in how Jesus is answering our prayers and fulfilling his word to us. Pray for the sick and they will recover.

Repairer of Streets With Dwellings

Posted in Healing, My thoughts, Nature, Restoration, Thoughtful Thursday by

Brendan and I moved to Belfast three years ago. We previously lived in a large house in Portaferry with sea views and large gardens. We collected many plants over the years that moved with us whenever we moved.

Our children wanted us to be near them. We downsized to a terrace house in Belfast with a small garden at the front, a small yard at the back opening onto a back alley. Where will all our pot plants go?

We gave some of our plants to our children for their gardens in Belfast. We kept our favourite ones, Rhododendrons and roses. Brendan had a new space to place our plant pots.

One Saturday morning after we settled in we heard the noise of a power hose from the back alley. A lady, Elizabeth Pantridge was transforming a neglected space into a clean pathway. So began the restoration of our back alley.

A year later a lady, Noelle, bought and restored a house two doors up from us. She added more plants to the outdoor space. Other neighbours got interested. This summer I added hanging baskets along the back wall.

The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Isaiah 35 v 1

Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
 and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. Isaiah 58 v 12

People are attracted to walk down our alley and admire the new green space. We had an event in May inviting neighbours for a coffee morning.

Noelle suggested we apply to the Belfast Bloom Competation. Today we won the Best Community Street award for South Belfast.

The Importance of Testimoney

Posted in Family, Healing, My thoughts, Restoration by

The Importance of Testimony

Brendan and I were speaking at a pastor’s church in Switzerland in June two years ago.. He told us he sees David Hathaway often. Oh I said “My arm was healed when I listened to Brendan reading from David’s Book.” The pastor said “Did you tell him?” No I hadn’t told him.

I fell from a step ladder as I picking pears back in September of 2018. The ladder did the splits and I crashed onto my right side. My arm reached out to break the fall. I lay there unable to move. I knew there was no one nearby to hear me call.

After a while I rolled onto my left side and levered myself to stand up. I walked to the kitchen where my daughter was. I got help. My right arm was broken. For the next weeks my arm was in pain. Even after the plaster was removed I had pins and needles in my fingers and more pain. I slept a lot. I was depressed. I couldn’t cook, drive or write.

At the end of December Brendan was reading one of David Hathaway’s books. He was at the end of a meeting. He called all those who had broken arms and legs to come forward. “God was going to heal them” he declared. I received my healing at that moment. No more numbness, tingling sensations or pain as I moved my hand. Praise God. David says it is the power of God, The Holy Spirit moving through him that heals.

Brendan got a phone call from the pastor on Thursday. He wanted to speak to me. David Hathaway was with him. I introduced myself to David and told him how I had received my healing as Brendan read from David’s book. He was encouraged to hear my testimony. He prayed for Brendan and I over the phone. We received his blessing. What a privilege to talk to him.

David Hathaway is a ninety year old English Evangelist who has worked behind the Iron Curtain for forty years. He has preached throughout Russia and Ukraine. He said he hadn’t time to die.

He is needed to help in many nations. Leaders of countries call him asking him to come to their countries and the government arrange for him to speak to their people. He is an Ambassador for the King of kings and Lord of lords. He tells the people that Jesus is the way to heaven, whether they are communists, Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, Atheist, Muslem, Black or White.

I tell this story to emphasise the importance of speaking about what God has done for you. It encourages the one who has prayed for you and it brings glory to God. Scripture says we overcome Satan by the word of our testimony and we love not our lives unto death.

God is moving in power to heal people today. Many people think that signs and wonders ended after Jesus and the Apostles died. No no. If God has healed you in any way tell someone about it. Broadcast the wonders of God. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.

If you have any testimonies write and let me know.

My Tomorrow

Posted in My thoughts, Nations, Nature, Restoration by

Pharoah’s army with their chariots and generals came after the people of Israel to stop them leaving Egypt. The people of Israel were frightened. God told Moses don’t worry. You will not see them Tomorrow. The Red Sea opened up and the people of Israel who had been slaves passed out of Egypt on dry land. Pharoah followed them but the waters of the Red Sea closed over them and drowned every one.

Joshua led the people of Israel into the Promised Land. The kings who lived in the land were frightened because they heard of what God did for Israel. Thirty one kings and their armies rose up against Joshua and the people. God said to Joshua TOMMOROW they will be all be defeated.

Since reading these scriptures I am declaring my TOMORROW will be better than today. God is working while I sleep to defeat my enemies that want to rob, steal and destroy from me and enslave me and my loved ones. They are always at work unless I resist Satan and tell him to flee. Scripture says the enemy will come at me one way but will flee seven ways.

Each day since I have been blessed with turn around in my situation. For example yesterday, I went to Boot’s optician to get a new frame for my glasses. My last one broke in November and I asked for their help then. They said I would have to pay for a new frame. I went home. Yesterday I was willing to pay the seventy pounds. I asked for compensation. Two ladies looked at the broken frame, conferred together and decided to replace the new frame free saving me seventy pounds.

Our van needed repaired. It is fixed and going for MOT today. My washing machine broke down. I got a new to me washing machine from a neighbour. All in one day.

Believe God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. And claim your compensation for the years the locusts have eaten. Get back what the enemy has stolen.

Fourteen Years Healed of Cancer

Posted in Birds, Cancer, Healing, My thoughts, Nature, Restoration, Thoughtful Thursday by

On Easter Monday fourteen years ago I was diagnosed with fourth stage bowel cancer. The power of the Blood of the Cross, which I wrote about in my last post, began to work for me. In his mercy God reached down and healed me. My body was clear from cancer in four months with no side effects from treatment, no operation and no further medication.

Psalm 18

9 He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under his feet.
16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy, (the devil and his demons)
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the Lord was my support.

These words describe what happened to me. In the following years my mind was healed from the trauma of life that led to my cancer. Nature and bird song, God’s creation brought healing to my nervous system. I am made whole. I have written my book Look at the Birds. It tells how nature brought comfort to me.

Brendan wrote Staying Alive after my healing from cancer. It tells how God healed me. I had a dream soon after the publication of our book. I was reading it and the pages were red in colour. The Lord was telling me the Blood of Jesus is all over our book. When you read it you will be touched by God’s power. What God has done for me he can do for you. Only believe that Jesus came on earth and through him you can be healed.

Both of these books are available on Kindle and Amazon.

Bird Song

Posted in Birds, Healing, My thoughts, Nature, Restoration by

Listen can you hear the birds this morning? The winter has past. The time for singing of birds has come!

Our son is getting a flight home today. He is staying near the bus station. He heard the birds singing as daylight was rising. He has company for his morning travel.

Neuroscientists have done research on the nervous system. More and more people are suffering from mental stress. There is too much news and information coming at us from the media. Many of us can’t cope.

The resulting distress drives us to the doctor who suggests medication to help bring peace. Or perhaps drive us to drink or other forms of self medication.

The scientists have found that bird song has a calming effect on our nerves. Listening to the birds brings healing to our mind.

Listen for a bird singing these mornings, whether you live in the city or country. A blackbird lives in a small hedge in the front of my daughter’s house in Belfast.

Listening and seeing the birds brought healing to me when I lived in Portaferry. I have written a book called “Look at the Birds.”

If you would like to buy a copy let me know.

Visiting Waterfall after Forty Five Years

Posted in Birds, Healing, Holiday, Ireland, My thoughts, Nature, Restoration, Travel by

I heard from a man on Facebook who was telling us that there are rhythm sounds that bring healing. He said there are ancient Christian scriptures that mention about sounds.

I reflected on the idea of sounds bringing healing to one. I agree. It is the sounds of birds singing, waves crashing, the tinkle of a yacht, the call of a curlew, or wind blowing that helped bring me healing in Portaferry.

On the first week of July Belfast empties. People head to Donegal. It is the twelfth fortnight. Holidays are times to unwind, go to the seaside, walk, swim, make sandcastles. Healing and restoring.

Brendan and I took a drive along the Antrim coast. Just outside we stopped at Larne Boating Club harbour. It is a little oasis. The sun was shining. The sea was calm. The grass was green. Birds find the best places to hang out. There were ducks, turnstones gulls and oystercatchers.

I wanted to visit the Glenarriff waterfalls. We visited the falls forty five years ago. Willie Paterson and Hazel took four of us and his two children in his mini car to visit the falls. I remember going there but I hadn’t been back since then.

We arrived back in the late of the evening. When we parked we could hear the movement of water in the river. We walked for the next minutes up along the river. There were three steps of waterfalls. Water was bubbling, crashing, gurgling and flowing down the gorge. Green foliage and ferns cascaded overhead on the banks.

We kept walking up the path built specially to give the best view. The tall full waterfall came into view. We stood in the beauty for long minutes.

God intends that out of our bellies will flow rivers of living water. Let the river of God flow.

That you Willie for that memory from forty five years ago.

Update on Sea Gulls

Posted in Birds, Motherhood, My thoughts, Nature, Restoration by

Up date on Baby Gulls.

A Sea Gull and two chicks have been on our chimney stack for some weeks now. We have got used to the mother’s calls and flurries overhead when we go to our car. I hear the whistles of her young from my workshop window.

Last week when I returned from shopping, in my neighbours front path a young sea gull was sheltering. It had mottled feathers, a sharp black beak and black feet. It tried to walk away balanced by his broad wings. But it limped. One of its legs was injured. Our neighbour asked advice from the RSPB. There was no answer. Her son lifted the bird and returned it to the mother out his skylight window.

I was visiting my elderly neighbour, Elizabeth on Sunday. I brought her a bunch of sweet pea. I heard she had family visiting on Monday. Brendan has grown sweet pea in our garden after he heard that Elizabeth’s father used to bring her sweet pea every week.

Next day she called Brendan and I to see her display of sweet pea on her piano. She was overwhelmed by the bunch of flowers. She said yesterday was the 72 anniversary of her father’s funeral which left from her home. We did not know that.

While sitting in her living room I heard noises coming from her blocked up fireplace. Elizabeth said she heard a few noises but thought it was movement from our living room. We thought a baby seagull may be behind there.

Her visitor was arriving any minute. What was an eighty three year old lady to do with a bird in her front room fireplace? It was closed up for fifty years! She didn’t relish the thought of soot all over her carpet or a black seabird flying round her room if released.

She waited to ring RSPB after her relatives left. She made a phone call, was through to an answering machine , advising her to beware of bird flu if you touch a seagull. They were noone to help. The machine operated voice advised her to call the RSPA. Again no help .

Next morning Brendan and I came to the rescue. Bird flu or not that bird needed rescued now from the trap. How long was it there? Was it still alive? Psalm 91 v 3 says the Lord releases us from the fowler’s snare. The bird would die if we didn’t help it.

How often does one get trapped in life with no one to help . We can face death. We need to rescue people from traps they can’t get free from.

Brendan opened the cover and there was a timid young chick! I reached down and held it. It had no strength to fly out of my hands. A little bird came to the very room where Elizabeth plays her piano to worship God.

We released it onto the roof again . Seagulls gathered overhead when they saw the young bird! It was lost but now was found.