Tag Archives: Jesus

DP Challenge I am Looking Forward to the Golden Years of Life after being Healed of Cancer

Posted in Healing, My thoughts, Prayer by
In this world we have to live with one another, young and old, rich or poor, black or white, male and female, even though we have different perspectives of each other and disagree with one another.  Writing has helped me slow down and think outside the box and look at life from another’s perspective.
Image
Here are two stories that gave me perspective about my age from someone else’s view.
I went to a local store recently to buy a fish supper.  Here in Ireland it is our favourite, tried and tested take away.  Pizza and kebab shops have opened and shut down again.
I was taken aback when the assistant said “Do you want the pensioner’s deal?”  I forgot I had white hair and I certainly did not feel like a pensioner, even though I am one.  I also thought a pensioner’s portion would be a few small pieces of cod and a few chips!  The lady noticed my surprise and quickly reassured me that the portions are the same but it is cheaper.  She was being kind.
 This was the first time I realised that other people see my age, but I had never considered how I look to other people.  I feel young inside and think I am young on the outside too.
 A few days later, in another village I was looking at some outdoor plants for sale.  I heard this voice hail me saying “Young lady, can I help you?”  I looked around to see if there was someone else he was talking to.  He was talking to me!   I smiled and picked out a pot plant to buy.  He was a good salesman.
When I look back I remember when I was ten years of age I thought my mum was very old.  She was only forty at the time.  That was not old.  My eldest child is over forty now and I think of her as thirty something.
I was married at twenty.  In my generation it was common to get married young.  Nowadays young women and men find it difficult to meet a suitable partner and the average age for marriage is around thirty.  I think it is harder to raise children today because of the pressure on the family unit.
I have a friend who is sixty five.  She looks like fifty.  I put it down to her mother and father living into their nineties.  She always knew there was someone looking out for her.
When my husband and I attended parent teacher meetings for our younger children, we were the only grey haired parents there.   The other parents were much younger.  I hope my children were not embarressed letting their friends see us.  From my perspective I was a parent and my age did not matter to me.
My children told their teachers when their first nephew was born.  I attended an event at the school soon afterwards.  I was congratulated for being a grandmother.  I had never been celebrated as much for having my own children.  There must be something special about getting to see one’s grandchildren.  Thankfully I am alive and have survived cancer, to see twelve grandchildren so far.
The scripture in psalm 127 says “May you live to see your children’s children.”  It is a blessing.
I  realised my age when I did not have the strength to work in the garden for long.  A few years before I was clearing ground, digging up my vegetable patch or mowing the lawn.  I now plant up pots.  I know my limits.
My husband and I have been considering moving from this big home for a couple of years.  We now see it is too much work for us.  We are delighted to be moving to a smaller home that suits our needs.  God has guided us in this new move.
As one is older one has a perspective on life that is coloured by experience, mistakes, pain and how one copes with what life throws at you.  Younger people have less experience and generally are influenced by their peers rather than experience gained over many years.  Like the child who burnt his hand he knows not to touch the hot stove again.  The Word of God says we learn obedience through the things we suffer.
Jesus said to Peter, who was a bit head strung, “When you are young you will go wherever you want but when you are old others will lead you.”
God made us and he realises our vulnerability and weakness as we get older.  We may be concerned about a loved one or our health may fail.  One is not in control.  But if one trusts God he will give us courage and strength to keep going.  Jesus said “Cast all your care upon me because I care for you.”  He is our refuge in time of trouble.
The bible is full of promises about when one is old.  Here are a few that give me hope in the goodness of God.
Psalm 91 says “With long life will I satisfy you”
“Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.
Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.” (Psalm 71:9, 18 NIV)
Psalm 90 promises we can live till we are seventy.  As one believes God’s word one can expect to live to seventy at least.  Too often we listen to what doctors or others tell us instead of listening to what God says.
“Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble.  Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. (Psalms 90:10, 12 NLT)
I believe being there for my children and grandchildren is important.  It gives security, like my friend, that someone cares.  Can a mother forget the child she bore?  I am staying alive because I want to see the promises that God has given me about my family and destiny fulfilled.
I am blessed to have a loving, caring husband for companionship for the latter part of our lives.  He often tells me the best is yet to be.  I agree with him.  The work of looking after my children is over.  I will still pray for them.  I am looking forward to my new home and new beginnings.
I can say that God is faithful.  He has cared for me during my younger years and even to my gray hair.  I can truly say God is good all the time.
From my perspective as I am older it is good to rest, value life and be thankful.  Love covers and protects us all and helps us to live together even though we have different perspectives.
dailypost.wordpress.com/2014/03/10/weekly-writing-challenge-golden-years/

We built This City. Daily Prompt. Downpatrick, in Northern Ireland, the Place where I Live.

Posted in Ireland, My thoughts, Nations, Prayer, Provision by
Next Monday, the 17th March is St Patrick’s day.   There are celebrations all over the world on this day.  In America green beer is sold.  When my husband was in China on St Patrick’s Day the locals gave him a can of Guinness.  He said it was the best can of Guinness he had ever drank in China.  It was the only one!
The Irish people have spread all over the world and that is why most countries have heard of St Patrick.
St Patrick  is celebrated as an man who lived among the Irish in the fifth century.  He preached the gospel of Jesus and did many signs and wonders among the people.  It is recorded that he drove the snakes out of Ireland.  There are no snakes in Ireland.
The town where I live is called Downpatrick.  It is claimed that St patrick is buried here.  Many tourists come to visit this historical place.
The people of this town have lived at peace with each other during the recent troubles in the seventies.  Every Good Friday all denominations of Christians walked through the town behind a wooden cross.  People took turns to carry it.  The people of the town demonstrated their unity, when in other parts of Northern Ireland people were being murdered.
I believe there is a blessing over Downpatrick because of it’s history as a centre of Christianity and civilisation.  There are many schools and colleges in our town.   Christian brothers set up a school for over eleven year old boys back at the beginning of the twentieth century.
They brought education to the poor.  My children attended this school.
I was praying for a bigger house for our growing family.  I needed more space.  I believed that God would provide for us a big family, like he provided for the tribes that went into the Promised Land.
About that time I read in the bible “Look for the ancient pathways where you will find rest for your soul.”  Jeremiah 6 v 16.  Downpatrick is an ancient pathway where Christians have lived for many centuries.  St Patrick may have walked down the pathway or street where we live.
My husband and I believe that God can speak and guide people.  God showed my husband in a dream to get in touch with a man who lived in Downpatrick.  This man, some months later helped us get the big house we now live in.   It has seven bedrooms, two kitchens and two living rooms.  We will be ever grateful to our friend who helped us find a home here.  He helped us when we were in need.
Downpatrick has been a blessing to our family.  Our children were welcomed into the schools.  Their friends’ parents welcomed them into their homes.  The local soccer club and Gaelic club were somewhere safe for my boys to play, supervised by responsible caring volunteers.  It felt as if we always lived here.
We joined with other Christians to pray in unity.  We were blessed.   Where brothers dwell together in unity there The Lord commands a blessing.  Psalm 133.
Since we moved here as we prayed with others for our town,  new things have come here.  A new hospital is built, a new cinema, two new schools, and a new supermarket.
Where I came here I met other families that returned here to rear their children.
Downpatrick is a pleasant and safe place to live.
We have a vibrant Art Centre that gets funding from the government.  Downpatrick punches above its weight.
It has a pleasant climate.  It rests in the lee side of the Mourne Mountains.  The rain falls on the mountains, so we receive less rain than other parts of our country.   We often had our dinner outside in the summer time.  We could never do that in the last town we lived in.
There are beautiful local parks and coastlands.  Within seven miles we are at the beach.  Coney Island is nearby.  It is made famous by the Van Morrison song.
As people live together in harmony the Mayor of our town will have an easy job.
Soon we are moving to a smaller house not far from Downpatrick.   I will always be grateful to God for leading us to live in Downpatrick.  I am thankful to all the teachers, coaches, friends and neighbours who helped our family and have made our time in Downpatrick a happy one.
you too can be guided by God in your life.  He will speak through dreams or circumstances that may arise in your life.  God loves you.

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

Posted in My thoughts by
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

Posted in My thoughts by

 

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.
Image
 
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.
 
Image
 
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.
Image
 
“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.
Image
 
“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.
 

 

The Practicalities of Living in The Real World

Posted in My thoughts by

 

What is life about.”  “Is my life worth living?”  “Who am I in the midst of millions of people on the earth?” I asked myself these questions.
 
When I had two children I began to think more seriously about how I would guide them in life.  Children are not just for Christmas.  They are for life.
 
The family unit is the environment a child is born into.  In that place, depending on the parents, the child can feel secure, loved and learn to trust.  If the home is not a secure place, if the parents are not loving, then the child will not have a good start in live.
 
If he does not receive love along the way in his formative years, in the extended family, at school, from the community, then the child will not have a good experience in life.  He will be disadvantaged in overcoming difficulties this world throws at him.
 
I decided I would have to make some sacrifices to think of my children before myself.  I wanted them to grow up in a loving home.  I knew I would have to make changes in my relationship with my husband.
Was there any help out there?  I searched, asked questions, I was looking for truth.  I looked at other people that were rearing their children.  Did I want the way they lived?  Were others successful?  How did their children turn out?
 
My husband and I travelled with our two children to Findhorn, a community in the north of Scotland.  Did they have the answer for community living?  We wanted to find a community of people that demonstrated love.  
 
At the time in Northern Ireland the Christian communities were at war.  There was hatred in the atmosphere and we were all under that cloud.
 
We returned home.  We knew Findhorn was not for us.  
 
I was given a bible and I began to read it.  Jesus claimed to be the way, the truth and the life.  Now I was getting somewhere.  I was looking for truth.
 
I read on.  Jesus said God gave Moses the commandment to love one another, and to love your neighbour as yourself.  Okay here I find someone talking about loving one another.  But there was war in Northern Ireland.  I was confused.  I decided to find out more what Jesus said and take my eyes off man.
 
Jesus prayed “Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.”  I thought I will have to look to God in Heaven.  Life on earth revolves around God not me.  
 
I began to follow Jesus’ guidance about prayer.  I went into my room and prayed to God in Heaven.  I learnt to forgive others anything they did against me.  I had joy when God answered my prayers.
 
I read, “Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:40, 41 NIV)
 
Image
 The Garden Of Gethsemene where the disciples were found sleeping.
 
I decided to spend fifteen minutes praying and fifteen minutes reading the bible.  Sometimes I  may have  prayed for an hour.  It was a start.  I decided to do what Jesus said “Abide in me.”  I wanted to be fruitful for God.
 
“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.  If my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”(John 15:5, 7, 8 NIV)

 
What a statement Jesus made!   I can do nothing without him.  I believed!
 
He began to change me.  He brought new friends into my life.  He gave me patience.  My money went further.  I was getting on with my husband.  We did things together.  The Truth began to teach me.
 
I grew in wisdom.  God gave me wisdom. Wisdom has to do with becoming skilful in honouring others, loving, raising my children, handling money, morality, working, treating others kindly, not arguing, living in an attitude of peace and not war.
 
Heaven was coming on earth in my life.  I had love, peace and joy.  I was finding meaning to life on earth.  I wanted to continue on this journey.
 
Why not go into your room and pray to the Father in heaven.  He is listening and will answer.
 

 

The Salmon

Posted in Canada, Prayer, Provision by

When Brendan and I were in Seschelt our friend Ivan took us for a drive up along the coast.

We parked near a bay and our host told us he often went fishing there. The salmon were abundant in these waters and one was sure of a catch. What an ideal way to spend an evening in the sunset on his little boat in the bay. This certainly was the good life.

We stopped off at a coffee shop. Some people called over to us and told us “The salmon are running!”
There was a small river flowing nearby. We crossed over to it and sure enough we saw salmon spawning in the shallow waters. What an oppportunity for us!

While Brendan and I rejoiced to see this feature of nature before our eyes, our friend took some video footage. We were all excited as we spent those moments. It was a once in a lifetime experience.

Salmon live their adult life in the waters of the ocean. The Pacific is a big ocean, and millions of salmon return up the many rivers along the Canadian coast in Autumn. There are many types of salmon. The Sockeye is the biggest and most popular salmon caught. Wild bears and eagles have a feeding frenzy when the fish return.

The salmon has one goal, to return to the place where they were born to hatch their young. Once they leave the salt waters and enter the fresh water of the river the salmon stop feeding. They start the hazardous journey upstream over rapids, waterfalls and potholes to get to the shallow water when they can swim no further.

There the female releases her eggs in the sandy water bed and the male fertilises them. The parent salmon work is done. Every ounce of their energy has been used to get to their destination. They die soon afterwards.

We watched as the salmon released their eggs in that Creek. There were queues of fish waiting in the shallows to take their turn to lay their eggs. Perhaps they were not so keen to go forward because they knew their end was near.

Brendan, our friend and I savoured this moment. What is nature saying to us?

As I pondered on this I thought of my own life as a parent. Our goal as parents is to raise our young and help them through the stormy waters that we have passed through and show them the way.

The salmon entering the fresh water begins the journey of dying to self. This is symbolic of the one who decides to follow Jesus as well. He leaves the ocean, which represents the world and enters into the river of The Holy Spirit. Just like the salmon one has to die to self so more of the life of Christ lives in us.

As I get older I realise that on my journey in the river of the Holy Spirit I have had to die many times to my own will. As I trust God ‘s leading in my life I have peace. I can pass what I have learnt on to my children. I do not have to die physically like the salmon, but I have to die to my own will. The following scripture sums up the Christian journey.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen (Jesus the author and finisher of our faith) since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:7, 16, 18 NIV)

An Invitation for 2014

Posted in My thoughts by

 

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

Posted in My thoughts by
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

PRISONER, PENSIONER AND PRINCIPAL

Posted in My thoughts by

 

Yesterday Brendan and I went to visit a friend who is a prisoner, Brendan’s mother who is 93, and another man who is principal of a school. 

The first snow was falling as we drove early to the prison.  Our friend was glad to see us.  He was cheerful and encouraged us to keep on looking after our family.  His wife and all but one of his children do not visit him.  He realises what he has lost because of his selfishness.  He encouraged us and we encouraged him.  He is sure of God’s forgiveness and love and prays for his family.  He is hoping for restoration.

Brendan’s mother is settling home after a few days in hospital.  Despite her weakness she blessed us with Christmas gifts for our family.  She has lived a long life and has seen her children’s children’s children, all sixteen of them.  She was widowed young, reared her boys and lived humbly.  She is leaving behind a good legacy.  She has borne good fruit.

The principal of a school invited us to pray with him.  Two hundred and twenty five young children attend the school.  Jesus said “Let the little children come to me for such is the kingdom of heaven.”
We encouraged him and prayed for wisdom for his task in overseeing forty staff and all those pupils.
I always give thanks to God for the school teachers who cared for and taught my children.  I was reassured they were being well looked after, while I was busy with my younger children.

Teachers do a great job, but the parents can give the best example to their children.  How we live our lives as parents affects our children.  We do not get to be selfish for long as we rear our children.  One of my favourite verses in Exodus 20 says God promises to bless us to the thousandth generation of those who love The Lord but curses come upon our children to the fourth generation if we disobey God.  What choice will you make? 

But I believe their is hope for the prisoner and his family.  Jesus forgives our sins and promises to restore all that is lost.  Over and over in the bible we read about the children of Israel.  When they were far away from God because of their sins He always had mercy and restored them.  When I was feeling hopeless and about to die of cancer, God sent his healing and restored me.  There is hope.

Brendan and I were in Canada and Slovakia recently sharing this hope with many people.  God wants to restore families.  Jesus shed his Precious Blood to pay the price for our wrongdoing and our forefathers’ wrongdoing.  You can go free from guilt and shame.  Do not blame, just forgive.  And God will restore that which has been lost.

May God bless you and your family in this season of good will.

Angela