Tag Archives: blogging

A little bit of heaven on a Greek Island

Posted in Holiday, My thoughts, Nature by

In heaven “the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.” (Revelation 21:21 KJV)

In the flight magazine I read that this is the Golden Age of travel.  I enjoyed a holiday and noticed so many things that I can describe as golden.

Image

Golden sunrise
Golden daisies

Golden bread

Golden cheese

Golden oranges
Golden honey
Golden oil
Golden wine
Golden chips
Golden fish
Golden cream
Golden rings
Golden shells
Golden sand
Golden sunshine
Golden words

Golden sound of the sea

Golden years

Golden perfume
Golden skin
Golden sound of silence
Golden memories
Golden hair
Golden stones
Golden reeds
Golden cliffs
Golden friends
Golden candles
Golden laughter
Golden shoreline
Golden sunset
Golden Glory

A little bit of heaven on earth.

Swallows and Sparrows in Spring

Posted in My thoughts by

It is Spring in Greece.

Tourists, Swallows and Sparrows compete for space.

Psalm 84 the Sparrows and Swallows find a nest near your altar to rear their young.

http://wp.me/p23sd-k4U

Image

Image

When I had Children of my Own I searched for a Reason to Believe

Posted in My thoughts by

 

My generation grew up through the sixties with the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Top of the Pops, and make Love not War.  
I found myself going to university at the end of the sixties.
There was war in Northern Ireland.  
So called Protestants and Catholics were at war with one another!
This was a long way from “Going to California with flowers in your hair,” and living at peace with one another.
I lived in a town where there was not bombs or bullets yet.
I was unaware of what the fighting was about.
I wanted to keep on the theme of Love and not War.
I got married in 1971 and had two children soon afterwards.
It was when I became a mother and wanted to do the best for my children that I began to search for a reason to believe.
That started me on a journey of seeking the truth, love and peace.
What was love?  John Lennon showed the world that Love was leaving his wife and lying in bed with Yoko.

It was too cold in Northern Ireland to go to the beach with flowers in your hair.  

I tried my best to love my family but other non love attitudes came up in my heart.
Woe is me. 
I had gone to parties and  hung out in the pub at weekends. 
I had no desire to continue to do this when I had two children.
I befriended another mother with two children.
She did not go to the pubs.  She had peace and love in her home.
I wanted what she had.
She was a believer in God. 
I began to read the bible where I read that Jesus said he was the way, the truth and life. John14 v 6
He was Love.  He loved me even before I knew anything about him.
I found love, truth and life.
Jesus promised to give me life abundantly.  John 10 v 10
I wanted to show my children this love and life.
This is my reason to believe.

 

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/reason-to-believe/

 

 

Have your ever Thought that Fields and Crops Burst out with Joy?

Posted in My thoughts by

I was reading these verses in Psalm 96 today.

Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice! 
Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise! Image
Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy!  (Psalms 96:11, 12 NLT)

The sky above changes from clouds to the sun’s rays breaking through.

Image

 I now live near the sea.  I hear the sound of the waves in the distance.

The sky above changes.  

From grey to clear blue.  

From the ball of hot sun by day to the white moon at night.

There are fields of rapeseed oil nearby in their full glory, ripe for harvest.

Isn’t it amazing to think that the crops of rapeseed are bursting with joy!

That the waves crashing on the shore are praising God!

All creation is praising God.

Didn’t Jesus say “Even the very stones will cry out” when the Pharisees complained about Jesus disciples praising Jesus as he entered Jerusalem.

I thank God I am alive to praise him. 

One of the psalms says “The dead cannot praise God.”

Let us open our mouths to Praise God.

 

Outdoors on an Irish Spring Morning

OUTDOORS ON AN IRISH SPRING MORNING

In the early morning light,

Inspecting my plants,

Redeemed from the move,

Watering and feeding,

Placing and admiring,

The sun is shining,

The wind is blowing.

Doves are cooing.

Swallows are tweeting.

Lambs are bleating.

Sheep are responding.

Cattle are munching,

Horses are grinding,

The sea is roaring,

Creation inspiring.

Because The Night: Daily Prompt

Posted in My thoughts by

Because the night comes,

I unwind after the day’s activities.

I love the quiet of the night.

Everyone is asleep.

No noise.

No TV programmes to distract.

No one needing my attention.

No cooking to be done.

It is the end of the day.

I reflect on the day that is past.

I prepare for the day ahead.

I rest.

I awake while it is dark to read.

I get inspiration.

It is the time I write.

Jeremiah 36 v 2 says take a book and write down on it all I tell you.

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/because-the-night/

The Swallow has Arrived to Rear her Young.

Posted in My thoughts by

 

The swallow has arrived from South Africa.

Yesterday I noticed a pair of swallows swirling overhead.  They are harbingers of spring in the Northern countries of the world. They have arrived to rear their young.

Swallows spend most of their days flying through the air catching insects.  Wherever there are insects you will find swallows.  They are to be found all over the world except near the Artic and Antarctica.

They build their nests near where humans live.  Their nests are found in barns of farmers.  They return each year to the same nesting place.  I remember when I lived at home on my father’s farm each year swallows would arrive.  They flitted in and out of their nests bringing food for their young.

I have been encouraged from the scriptures when I have prayed in the past about a house for my family.

Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God. (Psalm 84:3 NIV)

It is amazing that this small bird travels from Africa, thousands of miles, to nest and rear offspring.  I watched a nature programme about the swallows.  They arrive at certain places on their journey north where swarms of insects have just hatched.  A feast is prepared for the migrating birds.  It was wonderful to watch.  God even cares for the birds of the air.

Scriptures encourage us to not worry.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life ? (Matthew 6:25-27 NIV)

So this small bird flying overhead has reminded me of Gods care and provision of a home for me.

 

Leaping with Joy like Calves let Out to Pasture

Posted in My thoughts by

 

In Northern Ireland from spring to autumn we have long days of sunlight.  The sun does not get too hot here but the brighter days make one want to make up for the dark days of winter.

“Behold the winter is past the time for singing of birds has come.”  Song of Solomon.

I awake early with the sunrise.  Overhead I see at least twenty trails of aeroplanes returning to Europe from North America.  Life is going on all around.

As it is getting warmer, birds and animals are revived as well.  The local farmer moved his cows with young to greener pastures from their winter feeding area.  They were released from the stall.  They will give birth there.
Lambs are born and birds are building their nests for their young.  The cycle of new birth turns again.

I have been released as well into green pastures.  I can truly say with Psalm 23  “The Lord is my shepherd.  There is nothing I shall want.   Fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me repose.  He guides me beside still waters to restore my soul.”

Image

I am receiving new strength with the joy of having my new home.  I want to do so many things.  Multitasking!  I get ideas as I sit.  I make a note of groceries to be got for this Easter weekend.

I send greetings for Easter via email and text.  I get an idea for a blog.  I want to plant some flowers that will bloom in the window boxes.  I want to pray.  I want to worship God.  It is not a chore because thanksgiving and praise rise because God has been so good to me.  I want to live and shout and sing and dance!

As the sun rises in the East may the Sun of righteousness rise with healing in his wings for you this  Spring and Easter season.

“But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings.  And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. (Malachi 4:2 NLT)

 

On Top of the Hill, an Irish Boreen. Weekly Photo Challenge

Posted in My thoughts by

Here are the views from the top of the hill above where I live in Ireland.

The photos were taken from the same spot.

This photo is taken to my left.

Image

 

The small road is called a Boreen.  

Not like the many laned motorways in other countries.

The Irish Sea and the Mourne Mountains are in the distance.  Slieve Donard is the highest in the middle.

“Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea.”

Image

Holy Week and the Signs in the Moon

Posted in Dreams, Healing, My thoughts, Nature, Prayer by

 

We remember the last few days of Jesus life on earth this week Holy Week.  He was talking to his disciples about the future.  They were very nervous because he was telling them he was going to die.  They asked him about what was going to happen in the future.

He mentioned about his return and 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.  Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.” (Luke 21:25, 31 NIV)   There will be earthquakes. V 11

When Jesus died on the cross there were signs and wonders in nature.  There was an earthquake and there was darkness for three hours.
“It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. (Luke 23:44, 45 NIV)
At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split (Matthew 27:51 NIV)

Surely this would have shaken the people and caused them to consider what had just happened to Jesus.  They must have been perplexed.

What is happening in our times?  This very week the moon changed colour.  In some places it appeared red.  It could be seen all over the world!  Surely this will cause all of the peoples of the earth to think?

The prophet Joel foretold many years ago,
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.”  (Joel 2:28-31 KJV)

Jesus promised his disciples before he died that the Father would send the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, who would lead them into all truth.  God wants to pour his Spirit out again.  People will have dreams.  People will have visions.

It is time to seek The Lord.

There is no need to be afraid.  God promises in Malachi,
“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. (Malachi 4:2 KJV)

Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:17, 36 NIV)