Tag Archives: family

Irish Family Pray Together

Posted in Family Friday, Ireland, Prayer by

My son Abraham is twenty today.  He is number thirteen of fourteen children.  It seems no time since he was sitting on my armchair.  I was nursing his younger sister and the next two boys were positioned behind me, perched on the back of the chair wanting to be close to me. We gathered in our living room with the older children and their dad at prayer time before they went off to bed.  By the end of prayers some of the younger ones would have fallen asleep.  All Brendan had to do was carry them up to bed; a sure way of getting active children relaxed enough to sleep.

I had learnt to pray with others.  We simply asked the Father in Jesus name.  I began to pray this way on my own at home.  I took some time when the children were at school or sleeping or even in the middle of the night if I was awake.

My faith grew as I read the scripture for myself.  I believed what the Word said.  I did not think these stories were not to be taken seriously in this the twentieth century when man has advanced technology and medicines.

I would quiet myself, thank and meditate on God, for his goodness, his creation, his care for me and for answers to prayers. I would find a peace that would calm me.

As our family grew, Brendan and I would call everyone together at night to pray.  If God promises to answer our prayer when two or three agree, how much more will he answer when a large family gather together?  Jesus also promises when two or three gather together, he will in the midst of us. Matthew 18 v 20. He comes to us. We may not see him but I believe he is present.

Brendan had to be very patient as each child prayed in their turn from the youngest to the oldest.  One might say simply, “Thank you God for a good day.” or perhaps another’s request would be for a friend at school or relative, or the poor in Africa, or a new pair of shoes?  Our children learnt to be confident to speak to God without fear in front of others and their faith grew as prayers were answered.

Some people think you have to go to Church to pray or children are too young to understand.  No, no, Jesus said “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them for such is the Kingdom of heaven.”  Matthew 19 v 14.

Just imagine all the angels gathered in our living room as we prayed, one angel for each person.  A little heaven on earth.  In fact Psalm 8 says little children silence the foe and the avenger.  Our enemy is the evil one, Satan.  He cannot attack when children pray.

We are encouraged to have faith like a child.  We adults know too much so our minds hinder us in having simple faith. A child will trust his mum or dad to care for him without asking.  Our trust in our heavenly Father should be similar.

I am not a holier or better person than anyone else. I am just a sinner who knows I have been forgiven by Jesus.  I accept his gifts of healing and faith.­­ You do not have to be good to come to God, you just have to believe he is there.  Some people think they are not worthy to talk to God.  Some people think only men should pray, not women and definitely not children.  Keep them away hidden so the “Holy” ones can pray.

Brendan and I taught our children to pray.  When they grow up they can all upon God for themselves wherever they are and God promises to hear. It is said that a family that prays together stays together.

I am healed because my family and others prayed for me. They had experienced that God answered prayers down through the years.  From small prayers like “Thank you God for a good day” to big prayers like “Help God, heal my Mum from cancer.  Don’t let her die in Jesus name.”  In my hour of need He was faithful and my children knew how to ask God, who they believe heals today.  And He did.

A survey was taken by a Christian Leader from the people who attended his conferences. He asked the fathers “How many of you pray with your children spontaneously.” He found that only 3% of the fathers prayed with their children.
Angela

Adventures in the Nations

Posted in Family Friday, Nations by

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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?

Posted in My thoughts by

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

Posted in My thoughts by

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