Adventures in the Nations

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Angela

DO YOU WANT AN INHERITANCE?

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Another Monday morning and you have to get out to work, or clean up after the weekend when you tried to recharge your batteries but never quite got the required boost.  The treadmill keeps on turning and you wish someday you can step off. 

Well let today be a new start.  “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for God and not for men.  Since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord which is your reward.  It is the Lord you are serving.  And be thankful.” Colossians 3 v 15 and 23 to 24

So whatever work you do, from the company manager, the home manager, creator, student or voluntary worker you are going to get an inheritance from the Lord.  Each day counts in building up that inheritance.  It cannot be stolen from you.  It will not decay.  If you change jobs or find yourself unemployed and help someone without payment, or are a mother at home with children you are still building up an inheritance with God.  There is no devaluing in God’s bank; you can still invest, even in the recession.

Do you believe me?  Try it.  Start being thankful to God for all things, even the difficult things. You will begin to think differently and the atmosphere around you will change.  Goodness and mercy will follow you.

God is no respecter of persons.  From the king to the poor man, no matter what nationality you are, God created you and he loves you.   He rewards those who diligently seek him.  God’s plans are for you to prosper and give you a hope and a future.

Angela

Panic Attack

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Panic attack

I have fourteen children and the last seven include six boys in a row, with my daughter Angela at the end.  Before these boys were born God spoke to me from the scripture in Psalm 147 v 13 LB  “Blessed are the sons within you”.

At one stage five of these boys were at primary school, where children attend from the age of five to eleven.  They were getting along fine.  We lived within walking distance of the school, so each day they were able to come home for lunch. They were keen to get back to school, so they could have some play time with others in the playground.  All was well.

When I look back it was great when the children were young.  We had a routine which no one rebelled against.  Bedtime was at seven for the younger ones. The others did their homework and went to bed a little later.  Brendan and I were sure of some time for ourselves then.  I did not have the time to go over homework with each one.  I may have signed a homework book to make sure the work was done the odd time.  It is great that some mums home school but that was not for me.

When I had four children I remember reading a scripture that really stayed with me. 

It is Isaiah 54 v 13 RSV  “All your sons will be taught by the Lord and great will be your children’s peace”.  

 I am so thankful to all the teachers that have been involved in my children’s education. They were being used by God!  A big thank you to you all.

Once a year the school arranged an evening when the parents were invited to attend to meet the children’s teachers and to hear how our little loved ones were getting along.  I had always looked forward to having a chat with the teachers because they were helping me.  Thank God for school.

I got glowing reports from Isaac’s, Jacob’s, David’s and Patrick’s teachers.  They were well behaved and doing well with their three Rs.  I was smiling, joyful that my young boys were doing me proud, like little saints.  I thought only John’s teacher to see now.  He was the oldest of the boys at the school and was very responsible in helping with his brothers.  As it turned out he was too responsible in defending his brothers when they were called names or wrongly treated.

I sat down with his teacher expecting another good report.  She drew her chair close to me and said, “John is doing very well in his work but he is a terror in the playground!  The principal doesn’t know what to do with him.  He is always fighting”.  This was a big shock; surely not my son John.  He was a very lively, happy boy.  If this is how John is doing what is it going to be like when these other boys get older.  I panicked.

My panic attack lasted all weekend.  I thought, “How am I going to rear these boys”? What will happen if they start fighting with each other at home as well.  The future looked bleak.  The head teacher did not know what to do with my eleven year old boy, whom to me was pleasant and well behaved.  How was I going to rear these six boys!

On the Sunday night I had a dream.  I do not remember the details but in the dream God reassured me of his love.  Scripture says in 1 John 4 v 18, “Perfect love casts out fear”.  My panic attack was over.  God would help me rear my boys.  He promises me in Psalm 91, “He will be with me in trouble”.

My husband and I were on holiday in Israel.  My husband was telling the Muslim taxi driver he had fourteen children, because Brendan heard Muslims have big families.  The man responded, “How many sons do you have?” Brendan replied “I have eight sons”.  “You will go straight to heaven because it must be hell on earth”, the man replied.

God is faithful.  It never turned out to be hell on earth. Indeed my sons are blessed.

Angela

CAN I AFFORD TO HAVE A CHILD

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My husband and I have fourteen children.  I believed God’s word which says in Genesis 1 v 28 to increase and multiply and fill the earth and in Psalm 127 that children are a reward from him.  The fear of lack did not prevent Brendan and I being open to have the children God had for us.

Psalm 127 NIV has been a great promise to my husband and me.

Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labour in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.
 In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to those he loves.

 Children are a heritage from the Lord,
offspring a reward from him.
 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are children born in one’s youth.
 Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

As our family increased the natural mind will think, “How are you going to feed all these children”.  People used to say to me you must have a huge grocery bill.  We ate simply, plenty of stews, soups and bread made with love.

Brendan was advised by friends to take up a job that promised to provide him with a good wage.  It only meant he was away from home early in the morning and back late at night and did not provide the hoped for riches.

I had given up my job as a teacher to stay at home to look after my children.  So here I was with young children, one being breast fed, others toddlers, some to get off to school, with no au pair, auntie or granny to give a helping hand. I can truly say, “My help came from the Lord who made heaven and earth”.

In the end Brendan got a job that had less income, but a job that fitted around home life so he was not away long hours.  He was able to help me at home and life was not so stressful for all the family.  The birds of the air do not sow nor reap yet their heavenly Father looks after them, how much more will he look after us.  We are more valuable than sparrows.

In 2010 I was diagnosed with terminal cancer.  My enemies of death and cancer had come to my gate. My children came to my aid. They prayed and fasted for me and stood with Brendan and me in that hour of trouble. And God heard their cry and answered them.  God had mercy and healed me.  The God that we believed in to have all these children is faithful and his promise came to pass.  Where would I be if I had not had my children?

We are just back from a visit to Scotland to see my daughter and her husband.  Three years ago they left Switzerland and well paid jobs to be near my son in law’s parents.  His father had failing health for years but died peacefully at the weekend.  They too were there for his parents when they were in need.

I was praying with a young friend of mine whose mother suffered from depression for twenty years.  We prayed for the mum and here is a message I received last week.

“I want to praise and thank God today for mummy’s continued improving good health. Totally miraculous!!  Last day I was home she asked me to help her fill in a new form for her driving licence.  Mummy has not driven for years.”

We do not know what the future holds, but God’s word is true.  Our children will contend with our enemies in the gate.

So a word of encouragement to parents who are struggling rearing young children.  Your work will be rewarded.  And you strong young people out there give your parents a call and see how you can help them.

Blessings,

Angela

 

 

Suffering

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On Easter Monday three years ago I was diagnosed with cancer.  I continue to be grateful to God and the power of others’ prayers to bring about my healing.

At that time I was weak spiritually, weak in body and discouraged in my mind.  I had no strength of my own left.  I was like the man who was let down through the roof by his friends to get to Jesus. Jesus told the man your sins are forgiven, rise up and walk. My family and friends brought me to Jesus and to His sacrifice on the cross for my sin and my sicknesses.

When I was weak I had to depend on others and ultimately on God.  My sickness broke my independence, my pride, my self-righteousness, my anger, my control and my fear.

Mark  9v:49 says  “… for everyone will be purified with fire” NLT

I went through the fire like the three men in the fiery furnace.  A man was with them in the fire and so was Jesus with me in my hour of affliction.  I had to go through the treatment of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.  I was overwhelmed at the thought of a big operation, the anguish of whether I would recover, and the sadness of possibly leaving my family.  There is one who understood what I was going through.  Jesus suffered pain and anguish on the cross.  He understood.  He touched me with the power that healed the man let down through the roof and healed me.  Alleluia.  There is power in the name of Jesus and in his blood.

As time passed God showed me how Jesus was broken on the cross, and how he suffered whips on his back and piercing on his head, his hands and feet and his side.  He shed his blood for me to forgive my sins and offer healing to my body and healing for my mental anguish.  My suffering worked patience and mercy in me.  I grew to know God’s love and care for me and the love and care of my family and others.  I praise and thank him daily.  Hopefully I became a nicer person to live with.  I seek to forgive others and not be offended because I am forgiven much.

I now live in God’s strength.  When I was weak I came to rely more on his strength and power to help me.   Psalm 55 v 22 says “Cast your cares upon the Lord”. I had to say to God, “I cannot make it on my own”.  It is God’s mercy working in our lives that we go through pain, failure or disappointment.  He brings us to a place when it will be true as in John 15 v 5 “Apart from me you can do nothing”.

Angela

First anniversary

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Today is the anniversary of the beginning of my website.  It is a joy to me to write down words that have brought life to me and share them with you over the past year.  I am also happy to share photos of my family.  There is power in our words as we speak them to change situations just as God spoke words over the earth and he created light, water, ground, vegetation and all life.

Yesterday at Church the speaker gave us some wisdom.  He told us the difference between liberty and licence.  He was saying liberty is the freedom to do what is right and licence is the freedom to do what one wants without regard whether is good for one or others.  He gave the example of driving up to a red light.  The person who uses liberty will stop for his own safety and the safety of others. The person who uses licence can go through the red light endangering himself and others.   I hear so often people say, “I want freedom, don’t control me, God has given me free will.”  I have learnt from rearing my children that I will never hinder their desire for liberty.  I will rejoice even and look forward to the outcome, perhaps they will help with the housework without being told.  When I hear from them “Don’t control me” I hear rebellion.

I had a “Liberty” experience last week when we were abroad.

When we went there Brendan and I were already tired.  But the lady, with whom we were staying had a full schedule of meetings lined up for us.  We arrived Monday and went to first meeting on Tuesday night.  The next day I went for a walk with my friend.  We sat down in a cafe for coffee.  I discovered my right hand covered in fresh red blood.  I wondered where did this come from.  I discovered it was coming from a burst blood vessel.  I got help to wash and stop the bleeding and I held my hand up high to help stop the blood.

I was going around like a policeman with my hand up just like a policeman does to stop the traffic.  I was thinking about this sign and I felt it was a warning to STOP, red, DANGER.  We talked to our host, cancelled all meetings after Thursday and took more rest.  Brendan said later as the week went on “I’m glad we didn’t continue with the other events.”  We would have been stressed out and exhausted.

Sometimes circumstances can be the way God guides us.

Angela

The Almond Tree in Blossom

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When I was on holiday recently I had a wonderful vista of almond trees in blossom in the valley below where I was staying.  It is the first tree to blossom and it is a sign of spring, with hope of better days to come after the cold winter.  As the sun shone on the trees they looked as if they were covered with snow.   A friend told me that the almond tree is the first to blossom and the last to bear fruit.  The almond nut is a perfect food with many nutrients necessary for life.

I was encouraged to see the almond tree in blossom.  It reminds me that God will keep his promises.

Jeremiah 1 v 11 says

“I see the rod of an almond tree.  The Lord said to me you have seen well for I will hasten my word to perform it.” NIV

Ecclesiastes 12 v 1 and 5

“Remember your creator while the evil days come not and the almond tree shall flourish.”  NIV

I have returned home, and today I was pleasantly surprised by the warmth and brightness of the sun which confirms to me that winter is over.  I hear the chirping of birds outside my window as they make their nests in the ivy on the wall.   Crocus and daffodils are opening up.  I got my bicycle out of the shed.  It needs a bit of attention, like myself.  A few cobwebs blown away, a little oil on rusty parts, a touch of paint and it will carry me along some level country roads, nothing too taxing.  I will ignore the household chores as long as the sun shines.  I will be singing and praising God, like the birds.

So be encouraged those prayers you prayed, those cries you made during the cold dark nights of winter have been heard by your creator and he is answering.  He will bring forth the answer just as the garden cause seeds to grow.

Angela

Dreams build us up

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Dreams can build us up

I had a dream last night about one of my children which one might think would cause me concern.

But what in fact God is saying to me, rise up in my spirit and take authority over the situation and it will change.

God created man and woman in his image.  We are different from animals in that we have a body, soul and spirit, whereas the animals have a body and soul.  When we believe in Jesus, God our Father, his Son and Holy Spirit come to live in us.

We have God living in us.  Just contemplate that.  He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world.  The devil is the one that is in the world.  He is ruling, because Adam gave authority over to him in the Garden of Eden.  But Jesus came to destroy his works and give us back our authority through his death on the cross and his shedding of blood.  Alleluia.

When we sleep our body and soul get rest but our spirit is receiving dreams and refreshing from God in us.  We get built up while we sleep.  For example if one is starting a new job God may speak to him about the new situation and prepare him for it.  We may receive direction for our lives in a dream.  I often get pictures relating to my circumstances, my children or direction about a decision I have to make.

The Word of God says troubles are sure to come but God promises to be with us.  With God’s help we will overcome.  This is what happened to me when I was diagnosed with cancer.  God spoke through others in dreams and scriptures about my situation. These gave me encouragement to overcome.

God’s word says whatever we bind on earth shall be bound in heaven.  So I will bind the evil that is attacking my son and he will be free, because I have authority in the Spirit.

Angela

Seeing is Believing

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Seeing is Believing

I am excited about the story of a man who was crippled from birth and was healed in Acts3 v 1.

Peter declares,

The name of Jesus has healed this man and you know how lame he was before.  Faith in Jesus name has caused this healing before your very eyes.  (New Living Bible)

The Oncology consultant at the hospital told me I had fourth stage cancer in my colon.  He showed me pictures that were taken during a colonoscopy.  My husband and I saw the pictures.  At the time I did not know how serious my condition was.  He decided to treat my condition with chemotherapy and radiotherapy to reduce the tumour and then operate to remove the tumour.  I would receive the maximum dose of radiotherapy one can have in their lifetime.

Seven months later that same consultant examined me again and could not find any tumour.  The lining of my colon was like a baby’s skin.  I saw that my colon was healed.  The doctors and nurses in that theatre saw the clear skin with their eyes.   The doctor said “You can’t get a better result.”

Another doctor, to whom I was referred for a second opinion, and who would have performed the operation, was adamant that the treatment would only have reduced the tumour.   He still wanted me to have an operation.

My daughter found out that I had a tumour the size of an orange.  Someone told me later that fourth stage cancer is terminal even with treatment and surgery.  There is no fifth stage.  I did not realise that at the time.  More glory to God.

I can say that Jesus healed me from cancer completely, like Peter said in Acts 4 v 6 and 12 (New Living Bible)

“Do you want to know how he was healed?  Let me clearly state to you that he was healed in the name and the power of Jesus Christ from Nazereth.  There is no salvation in anyone else.”

Angela

 

 

 

Going to Church

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Going to Church

Good morning to all of you.

I recently cut out of a paper an article titled “Going to church is good for you.”  I will quote some of what it says.

“Going to church may be good for the soul, but scientists have discovered it is good for the body. Researchers found that attending services lowers blood pressure and the more often you go the lower it becomes.  Professor Jostein Holmen from the faculty of Medicine at the Norwegian University of Medicine and Technology, and one of the study’s authors, said “It would appear that religious belief is relevant to your health.””

One gets high blood pressure through living under stressful conditions at work or at home. Stress without being dealt with, causes many diseases that are life threatening, for example diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer.

Peace is the opposite of stress.  Our busy lives cause our souls to cry out for peace and serenity longing for a quiet beach, or still waters to get away from the immediate situation that is stressful. God our Father knows we will face difficulties and stress living in this world.  He provided a solution by sending Jesus.

“He is the Prince of peace,” Isaiah 9 v 6.

That is why  Matthew 11 v 9 says

 “Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.”

I have found as I go to Jesus each day, praying and reading the Word of God I continue to be kept well, physically and mentally.  I am staying alive!

Jesus said to his disciples in John 14 v 27

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you.  I do not give you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

After Jesus was crucified, he arose from the dead and appeared to his disciples twice.  Both times he said peace be to you.

To the woman whom Jesus healed of the issue of blood, he said, in Mark 5 v 25, your faith has saved you, go in peace.  God gave me this peace and I was healed of my bleeding too.

When we have peace, our body and mind relax.  Perhaps that is why going to church lowers blood pressure and brings peace.  The church represents the body of Christ.  He is present among his people.

Greetings  Angela