Tag Archives: Faith

When Ibrofen and Paracetemol could not Help me when I had the Flu.

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One has highs and lows in life.  When we returned from our holiday in Jerusalem we hit a low.
 
Thursday the twentieth of February I was laid low with the flu.  My husband had not been well for a few days and had complained of aches and pains.  I had not been very sympathetic.
For three days I was aching all over and had a temperature. I took some paracetamol and ibrofen.  They did not agree with me.  I felt even more wretched.  My husband was sympathetic and comforted me as he knew how unpleasant this flu was.  I needed his reassurance.

 
I was fearful during this time and felt very vulnerable.  When one is weak one’s fears come rushing in.  Despair took a hold of me.  Would I get better.  I was not thinking reasonably. I appreciated my family who visited and prayed for me to get better.
 
In the moments in the night I lay awake and reminded myself how God had helped me before.  I remembered some of his promises.
 
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” (Psalm 91:14-16 NIV)
 
The next day a friend sent me a text.  It was another Psalm,
 
Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble. The Lord protects them and keeps them alive. He gives them prosperity in the land and rescues them from their enemies. The Lord nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health. (Psalms 41:1-3 NLT)
 
This word really comforted me.  I just relaxed into God’s arms and let him care for me when no one was around.  When one is sick one is not in control.  I could not be independant.  I needed others to help me.  I needed a kind word of reassurance.  
 
I read this Psalm many years previous when I was awaiting surgery for a knee injury.  The words were balm to my pain at that time.  I came through the operation and was restored completely then.
 
Psalm 1 v 2 says Blessed is the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 
 
I believe what the bible says.  I read it regularly.  It is like bread to my soul.  So when I was sick I was able to remind myself of God’s promises and claim them for myself.  This is faith, believing what God says he will do and wait for him to do it, not doubting.  He will do the same for you.  Believe what you read in the bible and God will bring it to pass.
 
Yes I did despair recently when sick. I doubted if I would get better.  Despair is an evil spirit that makes one hopeless and sad.  It makes one think things will never change.  It has been an enemy of mine.  Before I was diagnosed with cancer I had lost hope that things would get better in my life.  But God is good.  He did answer my prayers and renewed my hope and healed me.
 
On Sunday my husband was praying for me and I realised I was suffering from despair.  I refused to think that way and I rebuked this spirit.  I chose to believe that I will be healed.  I got a breakthrough that afternoon.  We were invited out for dinner.  I enjoyed a lovely comforting home made dinner at a friend’s home.  I have been feeling better and getting stronger since.
 
I know I need to continue to meditate on God’s Word to nourish my soul and continue to Praise and Thank Him.  As I have said before from John’s gospel I can nothing without Jesus.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5 NIV)
 
My iPad sat lonely for a couple of weeks.  My chair sat empty.  My room in which I write was quiet and cold.
 
Praise God I am healed and writing again!
 
 
 

 

 

Don’t Get on The Train! Don’t Get On The Train!

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I was watching a program recently about the Holocaust of the Jews.  It was about Jews from Prague who were put on a train that would take them to a village only forty miles away.  But it was at train that brought them to their death.
The village was specially chosen because it had high walls around it and easy to be controlled.   They thought they were going to a new life where they could live together with their families.  They were deceived into thinking this by their oppressors, Hitlers army.  When they arrived there they were stripped of their identity, families separated, photographs of their families ripped up before their eyes, and told you will never see your family again.

When Jesus was fasting and praying in the wilderness.  The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.  If you worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’ ” (Luke 4:5-8 NIV)
Satan is ruling over the kingdoms of this world.  When Jesus died on the cross he broke the power of Satan over the world.  Satan still rules over peoples’ minds and hearts if they do not know the truth.  If one believes in Jesus then Satan does not have control over his mind.  Jesus promises to deliver us from the kingdom of Satan and enter into Jesus kingdom.  We pray thy kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven.  We enter into his kingdom on Earth where we let Jesus be in control of our life.   He promises to care for us and deliver us in our time of trouble.
In heaven there is peace, joy, love, harmony, and beauty.  We can have this on earth as well.  Everyone wants peace on earth.  A place where there is no more war.  We can have this by trusting in Jesus.
He said to his disciples
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:26, 27 NIV)
So do not let anyone deceive you and tell you anything that is not the truth.  Do not believe the lies of the devil that there is no God.  Do not let him steal your identity as a child of God.  Do not let him separate you from family and friends.  Do not get on the train that will bring you to death.  Jesus in John 10 v 10 says ” I came to give you life and abundant life.  The devil comes to rob, steal and destroy.”
Don’t get on the Train.

Walking in the Places Where Jesus Walked

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It is a great privilege to see and walk in the places where Jesus walked.  I am so thankful to God to be alive to Praise him for my healing from cancer.
 
One the first day of our visit to Jerusalem we went to the Mount of Olives.  From there we had a panorama of the ancient walls of Jerusalem in the distance, the Temple Mount, the Kidron Valley, the Garden of Gethseme, and the City of David to the left.  In the distance we could see Bethlehem.
 
To the left in the distance is Bethlehem.  In middle is the Kidron Valley. A spire in the distance is near Zion gate where Jesus had the last supper.  At the left is the beginning of the Walls of Jerusalem.  The entrance to the Wailing Wall is there, the Dung Gate.  To the left of the Wall is some of the ruins of the City of David.  The Mount of Olives is now the burial place for Jews.  They want to be buried
 near where the Messiah will return.
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We were standing on the mount where Jesus went to pray, and where he often spent time with his disciples. Here is a quote from the bible,
 
“As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately about the coming times.”(Mark 13:3 NIV)
 
The last three days of Jesus life was spent in the area we could see before us.
 
Jesus entered the City of Jerusalem.  People welcomed him by waving palm branches and cried “Hosanna to the Son Of David.”  He chased the money changers out of the Temple.  The Temple is not there now but we could see the Temple Mount.  The Temple was built on Mount Horeb where Abraham was going to sacrifice his son.
 
Here you have a clear view of the City Walls and the Temple Mount with the Dome of the Rock.  Gethsemene is below to the right.
 
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The bible tells us 
 
“On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” (Matthew 26:17 NIV)
They went to a room near the City of David.  There Jesus told his disciples about his coming death and not to be afraid.”
 
“When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley.  On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.  Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples.” (John 18:1, 2 NIV)
 
This Olive tree is the oldest in the Garden of Gethsemene.
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“They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” (Mark 14:32-34 NIV)
 
Beyond the city walls to the left it is thought to be Golgotha, where Jesus was crucified outside the city walls.  There Jesus suffered and died for us.  His blood flowed on the ground like the blood that flowed from the bulls sacrificed on the altar in the Temple.  He became the sacrifice to God for our sins and sicknesses.  He destroyed the Power of Satan.  So we do not have to live under his oppression.
 
In the distance is Golgotha, to the right is Rachel’s Tomb and Bethany, where Jesus friends lived.
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“Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha ). There they nailed him to the cross.  Two others were crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them.  And Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”  The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could read it.” (John 19:17-20 NLT)
 
Jesus rose from the grave and appeared to His disciples.  He finally rose into heaven from Bethany near the Mount of Olives.  There is no other empty grave in the world.
 
Love is when someone thinks of the other person before himself.  Jesus loved us and gave his life for us by his death on the Cross.
God loves mankind.
 

 

How my Plans were Directed by the Inspiration of a Hymn

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The day before I was due to travel to Jerusalem, I awoke singing the hymn, “Nearer my God to Thee.”  I had not been singing this hymn or heard it for a very long time.   I only knew a few verses.  I sang them over and over before I got out of bed.

I looked up the internet to find out all the words.  The hymn was written by Sarah Adams in the Nineteenth century and inspired by Genesis 28 v 11 to 19

 “So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it…”  

Here are the words.

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me;

Still all my song shall be nearer, my God, to Thee,

Chorus: Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

Though like a wanderer, the sun gone down.  

Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;

Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God, to Thee,

Chorus

There let the way appear steps unto heav’n;

All that Thou sendest me in mercy giv’n;

Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee,

Chorus

Then with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,

Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;

So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee,

Chorus

Or if on joyful wing, cleaving the sky,

Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upwards I fly,

Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

Chorus

I Iistened to the hymn being sung on u tube.  I was enjoying this early morning praise, when I was rudely interrupted by the door bell.  My neighbour came to tell me our car was just stolen from the car park, in broad daylight. I let my husband deal with it.  

Police were contacted.  The thief had entered our home through the back door, stole the keys from the kitchen and started the car.  All this happened while I was upstairs listening to the hymn!  I thought to myself, “Something good is going to come out of this.”

Next day we left for Israel.  We were meeting friends there.  They wanted to see the historical sites in the old City of Jerusalem.

One morning Brendan was reading from a book about Jacob having a dream in Bethel.  I said “I want to go to Bethel.”

That morning I had been reading in the bible from Exodus 20 v 24

“Build altars in the places where I remind you who I am, and I will come and bless you there.” Jacob had built an altar to God at Bethel after he had the dream.  

So I said “I think we should go there.”  A  week later we all agreed to go to Bethel.  We hired a Taxi.  We drove thirty kilometres north.  We came to the city of Ramallah.  Bethel was three miles from there.  Our driver took us to the site when Jacob had his dream.

It was wonderful to look out over the land of Israel from the spot where Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lived so long ago.  

The house with the domed roof is the site of Jacob’s dream.

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“Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your descendants. ” And Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the Lord, who had appeared to him. After that, Abram traveled south and set up camp in the hill country, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built another altar and dedicated it to the Lord, and he worshiped the Lord. (Genesis 12:7, 8 NLT)

Photo taken from inside the domed building.

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We went down to the site where it is said to be the place where Jacob had his dream.  That was a special moment for us all.  I believe we were blessed by God there, just as I read from the bible a week earlier.  Many are the plans of a man but God directs his path.  I believe we were directed by God to go to Bethel.  Three things happened to lead us,  Bethel mentioned in the Hymn, Brendan reading about it in his book and my reading from the bible.  Let everything be established in the mouth of two or three witnesses.  

We return home tomorrow.  We will look for a new car!

 

 

 

 

 

Weekly Photo Challenge. A Pillar in Jerusalem .

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Jerusalem is an ancient city.  
 
Today I was walking along near Mt Zion Hotel.  Before me was this beautiful view of the Walls of Jerusalem.  The pillar in the foreground is the focal point of this blog.
 
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There are many ruins uncovered.  Pillars were used to support large buildings.  In the ruins of King David some pillars are still standing, others are lying broken where they fell.  On the plaza of King Solomon, where the Dome of the Rock is today there are many remains of pillars that once would have supported splendid buildings on this site. 
 
As one walks along a street with street merchants on one side, an archeological site is on the opposite side.  There we see pillars now exposed below street level.  Some of them are ornately decorated.
 
This reminds me of the verse,
“Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace.” (Psalm 144:12 NIV)
 
The pillar in the foreground is all that is standing from some building.  The ornate decorations are long gone.

 

 

 

Appreciating my Parents after Rearing my own Children, DPchallenge

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I had two children of my own.  I was twenty four years old, and lived far away from immediate family.
My life experiences were living on a farm in a big family, going to an all girls school, and attending a new university in a small town in Northern Ireland.
 
Things were about to change.  There was turmoil in our country with bombings and shootings.  People were killed, buildings reduced to rubble.  The dark clouds gathered.  Even the weather portrayed the gloom and fear over the land.
 
I must have been affected by that fear in the atmosphere even though the town where we lived was a safe place.  I began to wonder how can I keep my two children safe?  What example can I give them?  Who is right in the middle of the war?  What values can I pass on to them.
 
I remembered back to my own upbringing by my parents.  Mum and Dad worked hard on a farm to raise  us ten children, eight girls and two boys.  They did not have much money.  They sacrificed their own comfort and luxuries to look after us.  Dad was a pioneer.  He educated all of us.  He believed girls should get the same opportunities as the boys.  They had quiet faith in God.  By their actions I know they were Christians, as the old chorus goes “They will know we are Christians by their love.”
 
I knew nothing about sectarianism and wondered why Catholics were fighting Protestants.  I began to seek God.  I began a journey of faith.
 
As my family and my faith in God grew I was able to appreciate the values my parents held and their willingness to lay down their lives to rear their children and overcome hard times, trials and disappointments.  Brendan and I did not want our children to grow up to be bitter and have hatred in their hearts for their neighbours.  We worship with and love Catholics and Protestants.  Our children have married into both groups.  
 
I did not appreciate my parents when I was growing up.  I did not thank them.  I did not honor them. I wanted to leave home and see what the world had to offer.  Now, as I have gone through the work of raising children I appreciate what my parents did for me.  I have a good heritage.  I honor them.
 
My mum died at sixty four.  She did not get to see all her grandchildren.  I could have died three years ago, but Praise God he healed me and I am alive to tell other mothers there is hope and life.  May you live to see your children’s children.
 
 
 

 

DAVID’S BIRTHDAY part two

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My daughter got in touch with Brendan at the airport.  The information desk paged him on the intercom.  He was soon to board his flight to London.  He returned home to be with me at the hospital.  Our baby was well on its way when Brendan arrived.  I was delighted to see him.  The labour progressed.  Brendan brought me extra courage and strength.  David was born, a healthy baby boy of ten pounds with a strong pair of lungs.

I have always been excited when I started in labour.  I know the waiting is over and my baby will be born soon.  I had no fear for my well being or my child’s health.  I believe in God’s promise that “Children are a gift from God”Psalm 127 v 3 and “He will keep me safe in childbearing.” 1 Timothy 2 verse 1.

Children wait in anticipation for a Christmas present from parents, or “Santa Claus” and do not be disappointed.  Before Christmas I see parents going around franticly looking for their children’s presents, greeting stressed out and spending much money.

“You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” (Luke 11:11-13 NLT)

Brendan and I decided many years ago to delete Santa Claus out of our family.  We had many reasons.

1.  Santa Claus is a lie. If we as parents tell our children lies when they are young, then how will they trust us  to believe important things we tell them later in life.

2.  This lie is mixed in with an important event in the Christian calendar, Christmas, the birth of Jesus, a gift from God the Father.   It is good to give gifts to one another at this time to celebrate God’s gift to us.  But let us be truthful about it. You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.

3.  One can live within ones means.  Many people get into debt at Christmas time.  The consumer society makes most profit at this time.  How come Santa does not go to the poor countries of Africa?

4.  One does not have to get stressed out living up to expectations of having to buy presents, Christmas tree, turkey, make big meals, celebrating.  Christmas Day is the most stressful day of the year when family tensions run high.

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:31-34 NLT)

5.  Many people want the fun, fellowship and feasting but do not acknowledge the One that Christmas is all about.

It turned out that eight of our children were born around the Christmas season.  Our children were gifts from God to us.

I was very comfortable in the maternity unit I was transferred to.  It was a home from home.  Twenty five years ago mothers were happy to stay in hospital to get help with their babies. One could get a good night’s sleep.  The night nurses fed the babies.  Now because of financial cuts and mother’s choice the stay in hospital is one or two days after the baby is delivered.

I was happy for Brendan to go to the conference.  I would stay in hospital and enjoy the care, until his return.  I got plenty of rest, good food, and had time to bond with my beautiful new son.
I had no care for tomorrow.

David is a bright, handsome young man.  He has a heart to work with disadvantaged people.  He has already worked in Nicaragua and India.  He is overcoming difficulties to get into his destiny that God had planned for him before he was born. May God bless him this year.

It is also the twenty fifth anniversary of the Keg Worth aircraft crash today. On the night of David,s birth, when Brendan was on his way from Belfast to London, a flight from London to Belfast crashed with 114 people on board.  Forty seven people died.  It is a sad day for many.  I will not forget David’s birthday.

An Invitation for 2014

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I want to send you an invitation for 2014.

“Come.  Let the thirsty one come, anyone who wants to;  let him come and drink the Water of Life without charge.” 
The invitation is to come to “A river of pure Water of Life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb.  On each side of the river grew Trees of Life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month;  the leaves are to be used for the healing of the nations.    Rev v 1-2 and v 16.
No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. (Revelation 22:3 NLT) 

The river speaks of the Holy Spirit.  God the Father sent the Holy Spirit after Jesus rose from the dead.  The Holy Spirit is symbolised by the river that flows from heaven to earth.  If one seeks to drink from this river one’s life will never be the same.
Isaiah 55 says “Come to the waters and you who have no money, come buy and eat.
Seek The Lord while he may be found, call on him while he is near.”

Jesus said “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. (John 15:4, 7, 8 NKJV)

I started to put this word into practice sincerely twenty four years ago.  Abide means to obey, follow or agree to.   I wanted to bear fruit.  I began to read the Word of God for fifteen minutes each day and meditated on it.  I wanted to know more of the truth.  Jesus said “I am the way the truth and the life”in John 14 v 6

I prayed for fifteen minutes as well.  I prayed in my own language but also in the language the Holy Spirit gave me.  The fruit grew.
The Holy Spirit gave me the power to have my children, to rear them, to be healed of cancer and continue to live.  
2 Timothy 1 v 7 says God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.

How precious is your constant love, O God.  All humanity takes refuge in the shadow of your wings.  You feed them with blessings from your own table and let them drink from your rivers of delight.

For you are the fountain of life. Never stop giving your blessings to those who long to do your will.
Psalm 36 v 7-9

Accept this invitation today.

Angela

 
 

 

 

Happy Christmas

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Happy Christmas to my family, friends and followers near and far away in the nations. Thank you so much for your love, encouragement and support over this past year.  It is always exciting to see your flags in my stats box, Canada, USA, Israel, Ireland, UK, Greece, Cambodia, Russia, Australia, Slovakia, South Africa, Uganda, Ethiopia, Korea and the Phillipines.  Thanks for your comments.  
 
 The empty nest has filled up again with children home for Christmas.  It is good to see one another.   Children have a tendency to want to catch up on sleep.  I wonder why?  Isn’t that what home is for, to crash and recover from work and student life.
 
 Where there are no oxen, the stall is clean, but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests. (Proverbs 14:4 NIV)
 
With family here there is washing, cooking and cleaning to be done, but there is more strength to get logs cut, and some early spring cleaning done in the home and the garden.
 
 As we have food, fellowship, fun and family times, let us not forget to thank God our Father for all his blessings.  His Son came on earth to set mankind free from sin, sickness and the oppression of the devil.  Let us turn to him and seek his revelation and blessings for the new year.  
 
I heard this hymn recently,
 
God sent his son,
They called him Jesus
He came to love
Heal and forgive
He lived and died
To buy my pardon
An empty grave
Is there to prove
My Savior lives.
 
Chorus

Because he lives 

I can face tomorrow 

Because he lives

All fear is gone

Because I know

He holds the future

And life is worth the living

Just because he lives.

Brendan and I sung this chorus on the way to hospital to hear what treatment the doctor was going to give me for Cancer.  All fear left us.  
May we face the New Year with this hope, that God is near and wants to help us and he holds the future.
 
Angela