Sentimental Saturday. Left Behind.

Ten thousand visitors took to the country to Castle Ward, a National Trust property near where I live, on Easter Monday and Tuesday.  There were two ferries operating between Strangford and Portaferry to cope with the traffic.  I often wandered why there was an ice cream shop in Strangford.  Now I realise it is there to provide for the children who are waiting for the next ferry.  My own grandchildren had the extra delight of getting ice cream slushies as they waited for the ferry.  Delicious.

In an article in a Belfast newspaper there is a story about an one arm teddy bear that got left behind at Castle Ward.  Some little child would be missing his cuddly toy that night.  I hope teddy and child will be reunited.

Over the past week some of my own children and grandchildren came to visit to celebrate Easter and my fifth year anniversary free from cancer.  Bedrooms were overflowing with people, like the luggage hanging out of suitcases.  I had to make sure there was plenty of hot water for all the showers going.  Hair dryers were buzzing.
image
The fridges were full, the range at full heat, logs were gathered in, plenty of supply of toilet roll and tissue, the boiler timed for heat and hot water, and the dishwasher was spinning. The kitchen was full of activity as meals were prepared and ate. For a few nights it was like the old days when we would gather around the fire with Brendan telling stories, then prayers and bedtime, for old and young.

In the mornings I heard voices from the bedrooms. Sisters were talking and laughing as they caught up with each other’s news. Three of them did a workout in the morning sun. Four children were tempted to take a swim in lough below. In the afternoon some collapsed on the lawn with heads together chatting and enjoying the warmth of the sun.

One of my girls had the flu when she returned.  With love, rest and prayer she recovered and headed off to Kenya for work on Tuesday.  Some of my grandchildren had tummy upsets and chills.  One of them went to the doctor.  He could find no infection.  Praise The Lord it was a demonstration of God healing her.  She had a smile on her face when she returned.  Mum and child had no need to worry.  Grand Da’s home is a place of refuge and healing from the storms of life.

All the grandchildren left today.  The house is silent.  The fridges are empty, only ashes in the fireplace, the dishwasher and hair dryers are quiet.  The bin is full of empty Easter egg packages and drink bottles. Bedcovers are tossled on empty beds.  Damp towels are left on the floors.

I had a relaxing bath and went to bed early trying to cope with the emotion of it all.  I awoke in the middle of the night to get a cup of tea.  Brendan joined me.  We are together again, just the two of us.
image
A children’s I Pad, some Easter eggs and vases of colorful tulips are left behind.  On the floor a toy donkey was lying with its leg over his head.  Perhaps it was wiping away his tears at missing the children.  A toy bird lay on the table.  There was no more screaming laughter from Grand Da’s antics with the puppet bird.  A bunny rabbit sat forlorn with a toenail broken.  I can understand where the inspiration for Toy Story came from.

But I have lots of love and memories in our hearts.  And I have clean carpets and a new Hoover.  My daughter could see the dust.  The dust and the grandchildren have gone.  They will return.

Testimony Tuesday, Do All You Can to Get Healed

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 a Mother’s Love

Mother’s Day is approaching.  I was impacked by a video I watched this morning.  A mother had given birth to twins, a boy and a girl prematurely.  There is always a risk a baby will not make it when born prematurely.  This was so with the little boy.  The doctor gave the “dead” baby into the mothers arms and left her alone with her husband.  The mother laid the baby on her heart, the father put his arms around him keeping him warm with their body heat.  The mother spoke to her baby and told him how much he was loved and about all his extended family that he belonged to.  She continued speaking lovingly and tenderly.  The baby began to breathe and move.  The doctor said “No, he is dead.”  But the little boy lived and is now a healthy five year old.  There was life in the words the mother spoke over her lifeless child.  God is love and as we show love and speak love it brings life.  This speaks to me of a saying that love is stronger than death.

Love is expressed through touch.  When a baby is born he has to go through the squeeze to be born, comes from a cosy, warm place into a cooler room and has to gasp for breath?  Surely it must be stressed, poor thing.  My daughter is an Obstetrician surgeon.  He helps some mothers give birth.  Her hands are the first hands that hold those new borns.  She speaks life over the mother and baby.  Another daughter is a Mid Wife sister.  Her hands too are the first that hold many newly born babies.  

There is a song that goes “Love lifted me” by Kenny Rodgers.  I think of it today.

When my husband and family learned I had cancer their love lifted me and helped me heal and live.  Others showed their love by visiting me and bringing gifts.
Mother Teresa lifted people who were dying from the gutter.  She and her nurses held them and comforted them.  Many widows and widowers enjoy going to the hairdresser.  The hairdresser’s hands may be the only ones that touch them all week.  When a marriage breaks down or one is bereaved the one thing people have told me is they miss being touched.

We make a promise “To have and to hold from this day forward, till death do us part.”  When I made those vows I did not know how important having someone to hold was.  The love between a couple grows into holding a child.  Love grows and brings life and increase.  

Jesus said, “they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” (‭Mark‬ ‭16‬:‭18‬ NIV)

Holding someone who is sick brings comfort and love and makes them better.  The power of God is in love and touch.  Nurses do a great job.  When I was in hospital, having children, with a broken arm or with cancer the nurses comforted me, reassured me and drove away my fears.

Healing Scriptures Spoken by Holly Wagner

I was given a CD of healing scriptures by a young lady who was with Shirley Bowers from Huntingdon in England when they came to my home.  Shirley Bowers works in  reconciliation.  God has led her to come to Ireland to repent to the Irish people for what Cromwell did to the Irish in the sixteenth century.  He murdered the Irish and drove them away from their homes and land.  He separated families.  Shirley said to me “What Cromwell did to the Irish was like a cancer that spread throughout the people bringing hatred and revenge.  She prayed for me that I would be healed from cancer.  Very often we don’t know what can affect us that is beyond our control.  Evil powers can be ruling over us and only God can set us free.

image

The CD is a compilation of healing scriptures, with instrumental background music, read by Holly Wagner.  She and her husband pastor Oasis Church in California.  Her CD is available on the internet.  She was healed from 1st stage breast cancer .  Every day she read the scriptures referring to healing. This helped her heal.  She made this CD to help other people suffering from diseases.

Holly Wagner’s voice spoke forth scriptures where healing is mentioned.  Her voice brought me healing.  Joy came out of her words.
A cheerful heart is good medicine.  (‭Proverbs‬ ‭17‬:‭22‬ NIV)
The tongue of the wise brings healing.  Proverbs 15 v 17
The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life.  Proverbs  15
The scriptures I listened to were like medicine to my body.  If the doctor prescribes medicine for a sickness one will faithfully obey his directions.  How much more should one take God’s medicine.  It is free to try out.  If I was discouraged, fearful or feeling down, I would listen again and my heart would be lifted up.  This medicine healed my thoughts and body.

By listening to the God’s healing scriptures, my faith grew, my mind was changed, fear began to leave.  The truth of Gods words calmed my fears.  I was taking my medicine.  I was surrounded by my family who believed in God.  In the spiritual battle against disease one needs to be surrounded by those who believe Jesus heals disease.  They will stand with you.

Testimony Tuesday, Young Mother Healed of Cancer

I received this comment from a lady this week in response to my blog.  Because I have shared about my healing from Cancer she wanted to let me know what happened to her.   I am so encouraged to hear of God’s power working in this humble lady’s life.  Here is her story.

I had a cancerous cyst with a chocolate cyst attached to my ovary and am pregnant. I became suddenly, absolutely, overwhelmed with pain. I was also bleeding and cramping. I have birthed five children and the pain was worse than any of the labors combined. I went to the emergency room but all they did was give me morphine and send me home with no answers.

I was in horrific and constant pain for four days. I kept repenting to Jesus and asking Him to help me. I became a Christian as a young girl, received the Holy Ghost at fifteen, and had always lived devoutly. I have never drank, never smoked, and was a virgin when I got married. I am also a pastor’s wife. I could not understand why God was allowing my body to be attacked when I had always done my best to honor it. I kept repenting because there are some sins that we have that are only known to God Himself. I know sickness is not from our Lord. He only allows it. I kept asking for Him to take the pain BUT to let His will prevail over my desire.

On the 5th day, the pain had eased up but I had a painful urge to go to the bathroom. When I sat down I felt a huge mass pass from my body.  I turned to look at it and it was the cancerous cyst with the chocolate cyst attached to it. All the Cancer was gone. All of it was out of my body. Masses has been draining out of me for the whole four days but I could still feel the sickness.

Jesus healed me out of Cancer over four and a half very, very, very painful days. I know some may never believe me, but at least ONE of you will. You can be healed. You will be healed when you believe without doubt. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Love Him, Trust Him, repent to Him, and be faithful to Him and your life will undoubtedly be made whole. The process may be painful, but in the end you will have life saving results. Eternal life saving results.

 

 

Testimony Tuesday. My Son was Healed of Septicaemia.

My children seldom missed a day off school.  Brendan and I  believed  God’s word in Exodus, I am The Lord who heals you.  None of the diseases of Egypt will affect you.  In the middle of winter my dad called me and asked how were my children.  I told them they were fine and getting on well at school.  He asked, “Do your  children not get the cold and flu in the winter time”.  I explained we believed God to keep our children healthy.  If they are happy and eat good food I believe their immune system can fight off infection.

When children return to school after holidays they often pick up an infection, a tummy upset, the flu or perhaps something more serious like the measles, or mumps.  If one’s child is infected the whole class can get it.  Some children miss school so often it affects their studies.

If one of our children did get something more serious then Brendan and I would pray for him and he would recover.   Healing is the children’s bread.

Our son John, when he was nine years old took a fever.  Normally if one of my children was not feeling well, I would give him drinks of honey and lemon and keep  him warm and resting.  That did the trick.  But John was not getting better after three days.  I called the doctor.  He was a newly qualified doctor and thankfully was able to discern something seriously was wrong with John.  He admitted him to hospital.  Tests were done and the doctor found out that John’s knee joints were inflamed and infected.  He had Septicaemia , a serious, life-threatening infection that gets worse very quickly.  He was put on a high dose of penicillin.  He was given the best of care.  He lay weak for some days.  We would visit with his brothers but he wasn’t able to respond.  Normally he was an active boy,  full of joy.

We didn’t like to see him so ill, but we didn’t panic.  We continued to pray for him.  He did recover fully.   The doctor told me later that without the penicillin treatment to curb the infection in his knees, my son could have died or have been left disabled.  We thanked God for the young doctor who diagnosed the condition and the care in the hospital.

The previous Christmas John’s friend got a computer game for Christmas.  We did not get our children any of the games and gadgets that were coming on the market.  We took our children for walks and encouraged them to play outdoor games and activities.   I noticed that John was spending a lot of time at his friend’s house.  He was playing the computer games.  He told me later that he would often feel dizzy after playing a game.

I believe that the activity on the computer affected John’s health.  Brendan and I learned a lesson.  We did not allow our children to have any computer games since then.

 

God who made the Moon and Stars cares for You

I looked out the window this morning.  It was still dark with the bright moon high in the sky and a star above it.  
I was reading Psalm 8 later.  This is what I read.

O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens.
When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place— what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? (‭Psalms‬ ‭8‬:‭1, 3-4‬ NLT)

The God of heaven who put the moon in place cares about me and you this morning.  He keeps all things in place.  The sun is not falling out of the sky.

A headline in the BBC News caught my attention yesterday.  A telescope has discovered new planets.
I quote from News.com.au, Science, Space.

“Three new planets, roughly the size of Earth, have been found in the ‘not too hot, not too cold — just right’ zone around their stars, significantly boosting the numbers of potentially habitable worlds.
And one of them may potentially be the most Earth-like yet discovered.
NASA’s Kepler mission early this morning made the announcement at a presentation marking the discovery of its 1000th exoplanet — the name given to worlds found orbiting stars other than our own. The results will soon be published in The Astrophysical Journal.
Each result from the planet-hunting Kepler mission’s treasure trove of data takes us another step closer to answering the question of whether we are alone in the Universe,” said John Grunsfeld, associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission.”

Man is discovering how vast the universe is.  But let man look for the One beyond the heavens.  He created the universe and there is no God like him.  He created us and cares for us.  He made himself know through Jesus his son who came on earth as a baby.  We just celebrated his birth at Christmas time.

All Christians pray the prayer Jesus taught us, “The Our Father.”
Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be your name.

That means to thank God, honor him for who he is, praise him and magnify his works.  

I declare that God made the sun, moon and stars and all the universe, whether discovered or not yet discovered.  He is God yet he cares for mankind.

As I read about Moses, Daniel and other bible characters when they prayed they praised and magnified God for his power and works in creation first of all.  Then they asked for God to intervene in the difficult situations they found themselves.
I have discovered as I lift my eyes off my immediate circumstances and look up to God and magnify his works and power, then I find my worries seem small and He can take care of them and answer my prayer.

As I magnified who God is he reached down and touched me and delivered me from Malignant last stage Bowel Cancer

what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? (‭Psalms‬ ‭8‬:‭1, 3-4‬ NLT)

Signs and Wonders in Slovakia.

Slovakia is in Central Europe.  It’s people are peaceful but have suffered from other empires in Europe that have ruled over them.  Hungarians, Austrians, Turks, Germans and Russians have ruled over them through the centuries.  Recently the Slovaks celebrated the twenty fifth anniversary of their liberation from communism.
We stayed in a hotel on the last two nights of our stay in Bratislava.  The dining room was like a museum.   I was amazed at the animals that are displayed there.  On one wall were the hides of a bear, two leopards and two wolves.
I thought of the scriptures from proverbs,

Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people. (‭Proverbs‬ ‭28‬:‭15‬ NIV)

The Slovak people have had their share of others ruling over them.  The symbols of the dead animals remind me that those oppressors are not ruling over the Slovak people any more.  There is a new generation of people who are recovering from the former oppression and with God’s help are being set free and are prospering.  
Pope John Paul 11 said that Slovakia will help the rest of Europe.  How can a humble people influence the rest of the nations around about.  By their example of love, humility and forgiveness.  As they know God’s love they reach out to others.
Branio is a Worship leader who plays the guitar and sings in Slovakia.  He was having a week of meetings throughout the country while we were there.  On the Thursday night he fell and broke his wrist.  That would have meant he could not have continued the scheduled meetings.   Fifteen people gathered around him and prayed for him.  He could feel cracking in his wrist and the pain ease.  He composed himself and tried to play his guitar.  His wrist worked as normal.   He did not have to go to hospital.  He continued with his appointments for the rest of the week.
The prayers of many brought him healing.   God healed his arm.  There are signs and wonders happening in Slovakia. There is joy and freedom instead of oppression over the people. The lion and the bear are defeated.

Have You Had a Bad Hair Day?

When travelling I often run out of the shampoo and conditioner that suits me best when at home.  When I travel with Easyjet or Ryanair I am limited to the small amount of liquid that is allowed on carry on luggage.  I am at the mercy of the gifts of shampoo in the hotel room or the shampoo belonging to my hosts or the type of water, whether hard or soft.   I never know what my hair will turn out like.  My hair could turn out curly, wavy, smooth or standing out or up.

I was feeling a bit frustrated last Saturday morning before an event in which Brendan and I were taking part.  Tempers flare easily when one is tired.  My hair looked dull and I was feeling dull.  It was our last meeting after a busy schedule in Slovakia.  I had to encourage myself in The Lord to finish the race.

Afterwards I read this scripture.  

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 
Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. (‭1 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭3-4‬ NIV)

I quieted myself, picked myself up, gathered my bag and coat and waited for our lift.  No more worry about how I looked.  After hours of praying for people, I looked radiant.  The important thing was that Brendan and I worked in unity.  The Lord gave Brendan and me the strength to finish well.

Healing Autumn Leaves

The leaves in this picture glow like a fire! This plant gives a great display in the autumn. It never fails.

image

I discovered this tree growing beside a little stream that flowed under the bridge. The photograph was taken between Banbridge and Rathfriland in Co Down. You can see the wall of the bridge behind. The tree was flourishing in the shade of the wall and in a sunny aspect with it’s roots bathed in damp soil from the stream.
Jeremiah 17 v 8 says “Blessed are those who trust in The Lord. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water.

This picture reminds me of Revelation 22.

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. (‭Revelation‬ ‭22‬:‭1-2‬ NIV)

As I grow beside the river of the Holy Spirit, soaking up the life from Him, I produce fruit and leaves of healing that I want to share with others.

Again in Colossians I read

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness for all he has done. (‭Colossians‬ ‭2‬:‭6-7‬ NLT). The tree above is a picture of faith.

The stream beside the tree can represent The Word of God. As I read it, I grow and I get nourishment. My faith will grow. My fruit and leaves will bring comfort and healing. Get deep into God’s word and others will come and see you burn with fire and they will get touched by the heat.