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Testimony Tuesday. My Son Patrick Nearly Drowns.

Posted in Family Friday, Motherhood, My thoughts, Prayer, Testimony Tuesday by

When some of my children were home for Easter we were recounting how some of them had near death experiences.  Here is an example of our son Patrick being saved from tragedy.

When our children were young, Brendan and I would take them out for a walk in the long summer evenings to tire them out before bedtime.  No one wants to go to bed when it is still daylight.  We would all climb into the minibus, teenagers to toddlers, all had to come along.  No time for individualism in our family.  When we went for a drive we all went for a drive.  When we went for a walk we all went for a walk.

We went to a  nearby marina along the river.  There was a play park there as well.  Children would take turns on swings, slides and roundabouts.  They sqealed with delight as they swung high on the swings.  Brendan and I could relax a little and chat,  knowing the older ones were looking out for the younger ones.

Aaron loved boats.  He  brought his canoe along with us to the river. He was paddling his canoe along the bank as the others played at the park.   He went off to inspect some boats that were parked at the marina.

Patrick followed him.  He was two years old at the time and often wanted to be around Aaron.  Next thing I knew Patrick was lying face down in the water with his little anorak puffed up with the water, his arms out and his wellingtons on his little feet.  Patrick was drowning.  Aaron was quick to act and grabbed hold of his wee brother.  We arrived to help.  We slapped him on the back to dislodge the water and helped him breath again. Only for Aaron’s quick response Patrick may have drowned.

We were all in shock at the thought of what could have happened to Patrick.  We returned in silence.  We got the children ready for bed and said our night prayers together.  We all thanked God for saving Patrick that evening.  

Brendan and I trusted God to protect our children. Psalm 91 says 

If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.  For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; (‭Psalm‬ ‭91‬:‭9-11‬ NIV)
The angels were busy that day.

Family Friday. Mother Duck said Quack Quack Come Back

Posted in Birds, Family Friday, Motherhood, My thoughts, Nature, Provision by

In my blogs recently I have been talking about birds. I get inspiration from them. Jesus told us to look at the Birds.  A good plug for going bird watching. I know a friend who was heart broken after her husband left her.  Part of her therapy to recover was to go bird watching.  She joined a local Bird Watching Club.

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?  Matthew 6 v 25-27 NLT
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. (‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭33‬ NLT)

One of my sons has finished his training in Law.  He is home for the holidays.  I was urging him to return to Scotland after the holidays and apply for trainee jobs to get him to the next stage.  Getting a job is so competitive.  In my mother role I was getting annoyed and worried.  Scriptures say worry is a sin and I don’t want to sin.  So I have to stop worrying and pray.

After a good nights sleep my mind is changed.  I have to let my son decide for himself and not conimagetrol him.  I have to let him go.  I can advise but it is up to him what he does.  It was by making mistakes and suffering I learned about life and the right choices to make.  I cannot go back to seven years ago when I developed cancer.  I have to stay alive.

Part of the role of parents is to look after the children but then to let them go to start their own lives.  Around the time I developed  cancer,  I was finding it hard to cope with the lose in my life of children leaving home.  My heart was breaking.  I was suffering in silence.

My daughter shared a post with me. She is in Kenya at the moment. It is about a little girl singing the nursery rhyme,
Mother Duck and her little ones. As she finishes the rhyme she starts to cry. She must have been sad for the mother duck left alone.

Five little ducks went out one day
Over the hills and far away
Mother duck said “Quack, quack, quack, quack”
But only four little ducks came back.

Until
One little duck went out one day…
Over the hills and far away
Mother duck said “Quack, quack, quack, quack”
But none of the five little ducks came back

The internet says it is a nursery rhyme that teaches children to count backwards.  That may be so but the writer of this work had something else in mind I believe.

As children leave home one by one a mother feels the pain of her lose.  The mother and children spend time together when the children are young.  They go out to play together.  Then a day comes when one grows up and has to leave to go over the hills and far away.  Nowadays hills don’t just separate us . Oceans wide and deep separate us.

One by one the ducks go far away.  This has been so for me and my children.  My last little duck left two years ago.  My heart would have been broken if The Lord has not comforted me and healed me.  He has given me other work to do after rearing my children.

There is hope.  The last verse of the nursery rhyme goes,

Sad mother duck went out one day
Over the hills and far away
Mother duck said “QUACK! QUACK! QUACK! QUACK!”
And all of the five little ducks came back.

I think of a verse from the scriptures often.

This is what The Lord says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” This is what the Lord says: “Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,” declares the Lord. “They will return.” (‭Jeremiah‬ ‭31‬:‭15-16‬ NIV)

Don’t cry mothers out there.  The Lord will reward your work. Like mother duck the young will return.

Testimony Tuesday. Norming and Storming Brings Unity.

Posted in Family Friday, Healing, Holiday, Ireland, My thoughts, Restoration, Testimony Tuesday by

In earlier years some children left home for university and others were still at home.  At holiday times those at university would return home to Ireland with their luggage.  They would have to find a spare bed or share with others for the duration of the holidays.  We all had to adjust to being in close proximity again.

When children leave they have more space in their new surroundings.  So returning to a confined space stretched their patience and they had to sacrifice their own comfort.  They usually were stressed out after exams at university and tired after all the activity student life demands.  They would crash in bed and sleep late.

I had other expectations.   I looked forward to their company and some help to give me a break from working in the home.  Instead I had more work to do, more cooking and shopping.  Home was somewhere for them to get their batteries recharged.  My batteries were running out.

In my dilemma I would get frustrated with the children and made demands they were not able to meet.  Children would get frustrated with each other and disputes would have to be settled.  All this was too much for me.  I would call on my husband to talk to any child  who was misbehaving and settle disputes between me and the children, or between each other.

Brendan had his work cut out.  He called these times “Norming and Storming.”  The children were disciplined and reconciled.  Often I felt disciplined when I had to be reconciled to my own children.  The father has the ability to do this for his family.  He can bring unity.  While living together as a big family we had to get on with each other and forgive each other.  We had to go through the process each time we were together.

Despite all the Norming and Storming at the beginning, holidays always turned out to be refreshing times when we could spend time together at meals and at play.  My husband and I were stretched at these times.  When everyone left we needed to take a break ourselves to forget about our troubles and spend time together.

When any group of people get together to do a task, they have to take time to know one another.  Each one’s skills and gifts are needed in the Christian life to help each other.  I needed others to help me get healed.  Someone with the gift of healing helped, another with the gift of prophecy encouraged, a deliverer, the doctors, nurses, family and friends were all needed to love me back to health.  God works through people.  We are his hands and feet.  That is why it is important to get on with each other and forgive each other.

We make up the Body of Christ.  Where brothers dwell together in unity The Lord commands a blessing.

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!
It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.” (‭Psalm‬ ‭133‬:‭1, 3‬ NIV)

Family Friday. Confusion with Airports and Flights

Posted in Family Friday, Holiday, My thoughts, Travel by

Brendan and I were visiting our daughter in Edinburgh in July of 2012.   She and her husband had just returned to live in Scotland from Switzerland.  We had flown with Easyjet to Edinburgh from Belfast International Airport.  We were happy to see Ruth and Stuart again after she had settled into her new accomodation.  It was nice to relax and catch up with them.  Brendan needed a longer break so I suggested he stay on for a few days.  

I arranged to pick him up on his return.  I headed off to Belfast International Airport in good time.  In Belfast the traffic was held up.  It was the Twelfth of July and there were Orange Band parades through Belfast.  I had to wait while all the parade passed.  I got anxious that I would be late getting to the airport.  After an impatient delay I eventually was able to be on my way.  I reckoned I would get there on time.

When I arrived in the airport carpark I got a call from Brendan.  He was outside the front entrance waiting for me.  I told him okay,  I was just parking and would meet without further delay.  I walked over to the entrance but Brendan was nowhere to be seen.  I called him on my mobile phone.  He kept explaining he was at the entrance to the airport.  I was perplexed.  He was nowhere to be seen.  I got more exasperated.  He got more annoyed at the other end of the phone.  

Then it dawned on both of us.  I went to the wrong airport to pick him up.  He had arrived into Belfast City Airport on Flybe.  He had changed from  Easyjet to Flybe to get home.  We were both upset with each other.  He suggested he would get the bus home.  I said ” Go ahead. You may get home before I do.”  

I drove off in the car still upset.  After a short time I settled down and called Brendan and said I would pick him up on the way through Belfast.  We decided to forget about the misunderstanding of not going to the right airport.  From then on I make sure I check which airport I am to go to if I have to pick someone up.  Once bitten, twice shy.

We were returning from Canada recently.  We had to get an inland flight from Vancouver to Toronto.  We arrived at the airport in good time to get checked in.  We stood in line at the Westjet desk waiting to check in our baggage.  There were quite a few passengers ahead of us.  When we gave the attendant our tickets she said “I am sorry sir you are flying with Air Canada and pointed us in the direction of the check in desk.”  We had wasted precious time at the wrong desk.  

I asked an attendant could we skip the queue because our flight was leaving soon.  She said,”I’m sorry Madam, the desk is closed.  You are too late to check in.”   We are going to miss this flight and the next connection to Ireland from Toronto!  I ran up to the desk and asked could someone help me.  Thank God a lady helped us.  She opened her desk again and checked our luggage through.  She even gave us a ticket to fast track the security gate.   Phew.  That was a close call.  

We had a very pleasant flight with Air Canada to Toronto.  I was so stressed, I hadn’t realised we had taken off and were airborne.  I was so thankful to God we did not miss the flight home.  God promises me I am under his daily care so I don’t need to fear.

Psalm 71:15. I cannot count the times when you have faithfully rescued me from danger. I will tell everyone how good you are, and of your constant, daily care.

Tableaux Thursday . A Black Bird Blocks the Fire

Posted in My thoughts by

The scripture says “Look to the birds of the air.”

I love bird watching.  I have found them in different habitats near and far.  I viewed them in my garden, at the beach, in the forest or in far flung places of British Columbia where I saw many bald eagles.  I have learnt about blackbirds, magpies, wrens, finches, thrushes, tits, robins, jackdaws, pigeons, doves, swallows, starlings, sparrows just bird watching in my garden.  On the Loughshore I see Canadian Brent geese, blacked backed gulls, fulmars, swans, and many sand digging birds.  I have seen buzzards, crows, hawks and pheasants in the open country.  

This is the season when birds are building their nests to have their young.  Blackbirds and pigeons are nesting in the ivy growing over the empty cow shed.
But one bird caught my attention this morning.  I looked out my back window to see a crow with a heavy twig in its mouth.  I admired it for its skill in collecting twigs to build its nest.  There are tall trees nearby suitable for a crow’s nest.  I watched to see where it was building its nest, expecting it to fly off in the direction of the trees.  Surprisingly it flew over in the direction of my chimney.  Oh no.  Not the chimney of the fire I want to light in the big room when people visit!   I had lit it last week but noticed it wasn’t on fire as it should have been.  

I went outside to investigate.  I looked up to see the chimney was covered with wire to stop any birds entering.  Out comes a black bird through the mesh with the twig left behind.  How was it able to navigate through a hole in the mesh with a twig in its mouth? 
It was determined to occupy my chimney.

I went inside to my living room and lit some paper in the fire place to smoke the bird out.  Too late, its nest has already blocked the top of the chimney.  The birds can built their nests anywhere but not in my house.  They have places to live and this is my place to live.  

I cleared another chimney of a crow’s nest before Christmas.  I wanted to make a log fire, so often prortrayed on happy family scenes on Christmas cards.  How often do you see an open fire? Family and friends have enjoyed many happy evenings around our fireplace since.

The Holy Spirit is referred to fire.  When the disciples were in the upper room tongues of fire settled on their heads.   

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭1-4‬ NIV)

Do not put out the fire of the Holy Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt (‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭19-20‬ NIV)

The black bird, crow, can symbolise some power trying to block the fire of the Holy Spirit in my life.  I do not want any obstacle stopping the Holy Spirit in my life.  I will get this chimney cleared from twigs and put a wire at the top to prevent the bird returning.  I will be able to light the fire again in my fireplace and give warmth to visitors.  I will make sure nothing with stop the fire of the Holy Spirit in my life.

Testimony Tuesday, Do All You Can to Get Healed

Posted in Cancer, Healing, My thoughts, Testimony Tuesday by

A friend of my husband called him when he heard I had cancer.  He told him “Do all you can to get your wife healed.”

I was doing what the doctor’s were telling me.  People were praying for me.  I was confessing my sins as God showed me my heart condition of bitterness, unforgiveness, pride, independence, selfish ambition and rebellion.  My husband layed his hands on me as the scriptures and they will get well. Was there anything else I could do?
In James In the bible there is a verse which says.

Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (‭James‬ ‭5‬:‭14-16‬ NIV)

My neighbour came to visit me one day many years before I was sick.  She told me a bit of her life story.  Her mother died when she was fifteen leaving her the eldest child, to help her father with the rest of her family.  When she was eighteen she contracted TB.  She had to lie in hospital for months.  A minister came to her bedside one day.  He said,”I am going to anoint you with Oil.  In the Church there is a prayer said for the dying called the Anointing with Chrism.”
The minister continued “This prayer is said for the dying but I am going to pray for you to live.”  He prayed for her according to James.  She recovered from TB and was restored to her father and family.  She continued dutifully to help at home.  Some years later she fell ill again with TB and was confined to hospital.

One night an angel appeared to her and reminded her of her previous healing.  He told her to believe God can heal her again.  God had compassion on this girl who looked after her motherless siblings.   She was healed a second time.  She later got married and had children of her own.

My sister came to see me and offered to take me to a healing service being held in Clonard Monastery during a retreat.  I went along with her.  Ministers moved among the crowd and anointed each one with oil, according to the passage in James 5.  I received all the help I could get to be healed.  I believe the word of God and choose to obey it.  I received the blessing from this minister.

After I was healed of cancer others in my local town heard about it.  One lady in her seventies came up to me after church on Sunday and told me her story.  When she was thirty six she had cancer.  The doctors could do nothing for her.  She was sent home from hospital.  She prayed to God and asked him to let her live to rear her children.  God answered her prayer.  She has lived to see her children’s children.

As I tell my story of God’s healing, it gives others courage to speak up and tell what God has done for them.  Tell others what The Lord has done for you.

The Power of the Cross.

Posted in Healing, My thoughts, Restoration by

The words of the hymn called “The Old Rugged Cross.” are going through my mind this afternoon, Good Friday 2015.  Today we remember Jesus death on the cross.

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.

I was on that hill far away where one can see the outline of a skull.  The hill was called Golgotha, in Jerusalem.
I remember today, Good Friday, Jesus death, when he was crucified and shed his blood.  He died a horrible death.  His face and body was covered in blood till he was not recognised.
Isaiah describes his death,

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:
and we hid as it were our faces from him;
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities:
the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

I know Jesus was rejected for me to take away my rejection.  I know he is acquainted with my sorrow, pain and grief.  I know he took all my sickness on the cross.  I gave it all to Jesus and I am free, healed and restored.  I know Satan is defeated by Jesus and I do not have to listen to Satan’s lies. The power of God was released when Jesus died that day on the cross.

Believe and receive from Jesus today. Give him all your sorrows and pain. He will give you healing instead. He took my cancer and gave me restoration. I love him because of what he has done for me.

Testimony Tuesday. Five Years Clear from Cancer

Posted in Healing, My thoughts, Testimony Tuesday by

On Easter Monday five years ago I discovered I had bowel cancer, which later was found to be in the fourth stage.  The Colonoscopy Nurse told me I had Malignant Bowel Cancer.   Malignant means,  very serious and dangerous : tending or likely to grow and spread in a rapid and uncontrolled way that can cause death.

The scans showed I had a nine centimetre tumour in my lower bowel.  I had been bleeding for three years and hadn’t told anyone.  Because the tumour was at an advanced stage the nurse looked at me with concern in her eyes.  She treats patients everyday and she would have known people who had died.

I know I have been totally healed by God.  He delivered me from cancer and I believe it will not come back.  I know the Scripture from Nahum 1 v 9 “Trouble will not come a second time.”  I did not have an operation to remove the tumour.  It disappeared.  I have not been to the Oncologist since, or taken any medication, or have not had any further chemotherapy or radiotherapy.  I know God did a complete job!

Around Christmas time family were visiting.  Two of my children suggested I go for a check up to the Oncologist. If one survives for five years after having had cancer the doctors take note.  I agreed to do that for my children’s peace of mind.  My local GP arranged an appointment to have a Colonoscopy.

Today I have been for a Colonoscopy.  I had no fear of going because I am confident I am healed from cancer.  I was familiar with the procedure.  The doctor carried out the test.  Again I could see my bowel walls clear and healthy like a baby’s skin.  The doctor said there is no recurrence of the cancer tumour. Praise The Lord.  I have another certificate from the doctor to show there is no tumour.

Each day I try to keep up daily readings from the bible.  I read the Old Testament part and did not get it finished with all the rush to get out this morning.  My daughter in law text me this afternoon after I arrived home.  She told me to read today’s New Testament and Psalm readings.

The first reading speaks about the woman with an issue of blood.

A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, and she could find no cure.
Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped. “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. Everyone denied it, and Peter said, “Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you.”
But Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.”
When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of him.
The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed. “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” (‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭43-48‬ NLT)

This confirmed to me today that I was like the woman who was bleeding but Jesus has healed me as well.

The Psalm 71 v 15 says,
“I will tell everyone how good you are and of your constant daily care.  I will tell everyone that you alone are just and good.
Give me time to tell this generation and the next about your mighty miracles, your power and your goodness.”

Through writing I tell others what God has done for me.  He is good.  He does care.  What he has done for me he will do for you.

Family Friday. We Move to A New Town

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

 

Brendan and I moved back to Ballynahinch, Co Down where I was born.  Nine children moved with us.  Four other children were at university.  One was married.  Friends were perplexed at us moving away from Coleraine with your big family.  “How were we going to manage?” they asked.  “You will never get good schools like here.  Where will you live? Your children will miss their friends.”

I had been praying for five years that God would provide a bigger home for us.  I knew these young children would turn into teenagers and would need more space.  I believed that God would provide for me.  He gave me my children, and I believed he would help me.  When the children of Israel went into the promised land they were given land according to the size of their tribe.  I had a big family and I hoped that God who helped the children of Israel would do the same for me.

You must distribute the land among the clans by sacred lot and in proportion to their size. A larger portion of land will be allotted to each of the larger clans, and a smaller portion will be allotted to each of the smaller clans. The decision of the sacred lot is final.  (‭Numbers‬ ‭33‬:‭54‬ NLT)

We moved to a modern, warm bungalow.  There was plenty of room for us all.  My son John loved his new home and town.  He made friends easily at his new school.  He loved getting outdoors.  He would spend a Saturday with his new friends walking along the river behind our house or wandering over fields and forests beyond.  There was a corn mill nearby that was still working.  The boys went down there and looked at the large wheel turning with the water flowing over it.  I remember going there when I was a child with my father.  He was getting bags of corn bruised into oats.  The river behind our house fed the wheel that turned the grinding stone in the mill.

John’s adventures reminded me of Robert Louis Stevenson’ poem,

Keepsake Mill.

Over the borders, a sin without pardon,
Breaking the branches and crawling below,
Out through the breach in the wall of the garden,
Down by the banks of the river, we go.

Here is the mill with the humming of thunder,
Here is the weir with the wonder of foam,
Here is the sluice with the race running under
Marvellous places, though handy to home!

He would head off down the back of our garden, through a hole in the hedge to meet his friends.  They went fishing and swimming in the river behind the garden.  He would not return till late.

John started a new school, and travelled nine miles by bus to it.  His older sister went to the same school.  Settling into a new area and a new school can be daunting for any child.  John looked on his experience as an adventure and was enjoying a whole new world, new countryside, meeting my extended family, and making new friends.  He never looked back.

I later found out that our new neighbours’ son was bullied on the bus and at the school John went to.  He left and went to another school.  My daughter and son did not face any trouble on the bus or at school.  Because they had each other, no one dared pick on John because his big sister would soon respond and not take any hastle.  She was used to dealing with her siblings.  On any bus full of teenagers there will always be banter.  John and his sister took it all in their stride and didn’t make any enemies.

We all had a family holiday to Spain in the year 2000.  On the flight over to Spain John met a girl who went to his old school.  She was telling him that many of the children in his old class were using drugs.  I was so glad we moved when we did.  It was good for my daughter as well.  She was getting to the age where she was being influenced by friends to rebel.  She was made head girl in her new school.  Both my children found favour when they moved to a new town and new school.  I knew God was with us and he would look after us just as this scripture says.

And you saw how the LORD your God cared for you all along the way as you traveled through the wilderness, just as a father cares for his child.  Now he has brought you to this place.’ (‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭1‬:‭31‬ NLT)

Marvelous Monday, Signs and Wonders this past Week for the Irish

Posted in Ireland, My thoughts, Nations, Travel by

What an exciting and extraordinary week we have had here in Ireland.  We are a small island off the coast of Europe with approximately five million people.  Yet there are about sixty million diaspora throughout the world.  On St Patrick’s day throughout the world everyone wimageho has Irish roots celebrates.  It is the second most celebrated day in the world after Christmas Day.

Here is a photograph of Ireland taken from the International Space Station by astronaut  Terry Virts and tweeted on St Patrick’s Day.  Thank you.  It is wonderful to see our island from high above the Earth without clouds.  The sun was shining on us.

On St Patrick’s day there was celebrations and parades in Dublin and Downpatrick.  Other nations acknowledged Ireland by lighting up certain monuments in green.  Five years ago, the Sydney Opera House was the first global location to go green.

But this year, From the London Eye and Edinburgh Castle to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, global landmarks went green on St Patrick’s night.  More than 150 iconic landmarks in mainland Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand, as well as China, South Korea, India, Brazil and South Afriimageca were floodlit with green light in honour of St Patrick’s day.

The Minister for Tourism for Sourthern Ireland, Paschal Donohoe, said: “The fact that 160 buildings have opted to go green to celebrate St Patrick’s Day this year brings an enormous sense of pride to our people at home and across the world.

“Being able to put ourselves front and centre on the world stage in this way reaps unrivalled dividends in terms ofimage publicity, promoting Ireland and getting the message out about our recovery and the progress we are making.”

To crown a wonderful day of lights there was a display of the Aurore Borealis, vibrant shades of purple and green illuminating the skies over Ireland.  Normally areas closer to the North Pole see this phenomenon.  This display of lights was not man made.   I believe God added his display of glory to end the day.  Behold the Glory of God covers the earth as the waters cover the sea.  Photo taken by photographer over Slemish.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. (‭Psalm‬ ‭19‬:‭1‬ NIV)

God is described as the Father of Lights.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.  (‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬ NIV)

On Friday morning I was working in the kitchen.  I noticed it was getting very dark outside.  I looked out and saw a dark cloud overhead coming from the east.  I thought to myself , “It must be going to rain”.  Dark clouds are not unusual in Northern Ireland.  During the thirty years of troubles every day seemed to be dark and grey.  I later found out that morning there was an eclipse of the sun where the moon covered over part of the sun.  Here is a picture showing the moon partially covering the sun.  This event seldom happens.  Photograph taken by photographer in Donaghadee, Co Down.

Jesus said “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. (‭Luke‬ ‭21‬:‭25‬ NIV)

On  Saturday many Irish people were glued to their TVs  waiting for the outcome of the Six Nations Rugby Competion.  Eventually Ireland knew they were the winners after England failed to get enough points.  More joyous celebrations.  On Sunday the Irish Women’s Rugby team became champions as well.  A great end to special blessed week for the Irish.

 

photos shared from Images of the Solar Eclipse.