Tag Archives: grave

My Energy gets A Recharge

Posted in Cancer, Family, My thoughts, Restoration, Travel by

My energy levels needed a recharge after a busy season.

My husband always arranges a holiday when we both need to take a break from work and the business of home life and recharge our batteries.  We already visited Kerry at the beginning of August.  It was now September.  Ruth and Stuart offered us a stay in their cottage in Scotland.  A chance to take in the beauty of West Scotland and rest before we go on mission to Slovakia.  More recharging of our energy.

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One evening on our return from Scotland, my daughter left a bunch of flowers on the counter when she came in from a busy day’s work.  Dinner had to be rustled together for seven hungry people.  The flowers lay in the midst of someone cutting bread, or making coffee, dirty dishes and saucepans.  Life went on.  No attention was given to the flowers.  When family were fed, dishes cleared, washed, individuals filtered away to rest.  I needed to rest after a hectic day.  The bunch of flowers were still on the bench.

Another daughter was packing up to leave for university.  My fourteenth child, is starting her final year at Edinburgh Univerity.  Last minute arrangements had to be attended to.  Boarding pass at the ready, who would leave her to the port, where is my hair dryer, did you see my purse?  She came in and out of my room asking me questions.  She was getting fraught.  In the end she relaxed in a hot bath and washed away all her stress.

There was no time to get sad at her leaving.  Angela has been home for the summer and has been a blessing to her mum and dad and other family that stayed.  She introduced a summer camp for some of her nieces and nephews.  They had a great time.  The sun shone, they canoed, swam, shopped, face painted, cycled, had barbecues, and enjoyed their wee cousins.  It was the highlight of the holidays for Maggie Sue.

Other events this summer have included our son Isaac’s wedding in Canada, our first grandson’s Confirmation, a grandchild’s baptism, our son Patrick’s wedding in Scotland, a new grandchild, our forty fifth anniversary and my sixty fifth birthday, family visiting from Canada for the wedding, visits to Kerry, Arran and Tarbert,  having two American families stay at different times, and hosting a Gathering in Corrymeela.

I’m taking a deep breath just now.  But Praise God I am alive and not dead from cancer in the grave.  I am alive to see my children married and see my children’s children.  God has been gracious to our family.  I am being restored in the midst of life.  It is not a time for me to put my feet up.

Later that night I went down to the kitchen when the house was quiet.  The flowers were still on the bench unopened.  Everything else was cleared away.  I undid the wrapping, fetched a vase, cut off unnecessary leaves and arranged my flowers into beautiful display.  I admired the gift my daughter brought home for me.  There was no celebration to mark.  Just to show me her appreciation and love. This touched my heart.

“Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.”
Psalms‬ ‭127:3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I often receive rewards from my children and husband, especially gifts and holidays.  I have been enjoying the roses after the dust of the summer has settled.  They all help to recharge my energy levels.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/recharge/

World Cancer Day

Posted in Cancer, Family, Healing, My thoughts, Nations, Prayer by

I watched the movie “The 33” recently.  It is based on a true story about the survival of thirty three men who were trapped down a mine in 2010.
The men were in the mine for sixty seven days before they were rescued.
It is a film demonstrating Faith, hope, perseverance, overcoming, never giving up, leadership, endurance and brotherly love.  The power of unity in families, community and  a nation brought about the response in other nations to help.

When the men realised they were trapped down the mine,  one man declared “We will be rescued.”  He believed the families would not give up.  He became their leader and all the others respected him.  He did not waver in his belief.  Food ran out, some men rebelled,  others wanted to give up.  He quelled any storms that arose.  They prayed the “Our Father” together, the prayer Jesus taught his disciples.

Yes families of the trapped men did not give up on their loved ones.  They kept a vigil at the mine and asked the government to help.  Many people and nations were involved in their rescue.  The whole world looked on.  My son told me he remembers watching on TV as each man came out of the capsule.

What struck me was the power of the faith of one man who said “We will be rescued.”  His faith moved mountains literally.  God responds to faith.  God brings the answer despite many, many difficulties.

This story was poignant for me because 2010 was the year I went through my battle with cancer.  My family and community believed that I would be healed from cancer.  There were many difficulties to overcome, but God responded to people believing I would be healed.  I am healed.  Yes I was rescued from the grave.  Like me those men were rescued from death.

Yesterday was World Cancer Day.  My daughter in law rang me.  She said, “I was listening to a programme on the radio about cancer.”  A consultant, a nurse and a cancer patient were interviewed.  Various people rang in to tell their stories about their treatments and how they were coping.  She heard how they all suffered.
She said, “I didn’t realise before what is involved in going through cancer.  It is a miracle you are healed and you didn’t suffer any side effects from the treatment.  Praise God.”

Our Father is God Almighty, who revealed himself to Abraham of old.  God promised him a son.  Abraham believed God would keep his promise.  God said to Abraham “Is anything too hard for The Lord.”  Genesis 18 v 14.  When Abraham was 100 years old and his wife Sarah, 90 years old they had the promised child.  They had to wait a long time.   God is the same God, yesterday, today and tomorrow.  He is the God of our forefathers and will be with our descendants to the 1000th generation.

Has God given you a promise?  Are you hoping for a desire you have to be fulfilled.  Do not give up believing and hoping.  Declare what you believe.  God will respond to your declaration of Faith.  Open your mouth.  Like the miner speak out, “We will be rescued.”
He didn’t keep asking God to rescue them.  He said “We will be rescued”.

Inspired by Iceland

Posted in Cancer, Healing, My thoughts, Prayer, Travel by

When I was suffering from cancer back in 2010 a lady had a picture of a volcano when she was praying for me.  During the colonoscopy the monitor showed the tumour of cancer.  It was a bulbous and fiery mass, like a volcano.  Today again someone mentioned a volcano in prayer.

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Back in 2014 I visited Iceland.  When I arrived there I read Psalm 18.  It perfectly describes a volcano.  Iceland has been built up out of the depths of the ocean by eruptions of volcanos down through the years.  Here is what the Psalm says.

The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. (‭Psalm‬ ‭18‬:‭5-6‬ NIV)

The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook;  Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it.  The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at your rebuke, Lord, at the blast of breath from your nostrils. (‭Psalm‬ ‭18‬:‭15‬ NIV)

He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. (‭Psalm‬ ‭18‬:‭8, 16-17‬ NIV)

Deuteronomy 4 v 24. For our God is a consuming fire.  God’s presence is likened to fire or a volcano.

On my visit to Iceland God showed me that he rescued me from cancer and death.  He was angry at my enemies of death and cancer coming to destroy me.  He burnt up my enemies in the fire from his mouth.

Who is like our God?  He will continue to deal with my enemies with the fire of his breath.

Psalm 107 v 2. Has The Lord redeemed you?  Then speak out!   Tell others he has saved you from your enemies.