The Loughshore Rd in Portaferry, Co Down is very popular with local walkers, and more so during the Covid restrictions. There is less vehicle traffic. A family of Black Guillemots have become quit celebrities to local visitors. They have brought joy to many people during this difficult time when people have had to self isolate. Getting out in nature among God’s creation brings healing to the soul and mind.
The Black Guillemot is a small black sea bird with a white patch on each wing. Each has a pointed beak, smooth feathers and red feet. They feed on sea creatures and can dive very deep underwater to feed. It’s a privilege to get to see such wild life nearby. 
Black Guillemots have a nest amid the rocks in the wall along the shoreline of Strangford Lough. They have become quite tame. Passersby stop to watch them as their family play in the water below. My daughter was driving past last evening. Two birds were sitting on the wall. I asked her to reverse the car to see if we could see them up close.
Amazingly the two birds were not disturbed as we stopped. They didn’t fly off. We were able to take photos of them close up. What a delight.
The waves from storms in February breached the shoreline wall in various places. Some were repaired before the lockdown. The road had to be closed to traffic about a mile along the shore from where we live. The wall was broken and part of the road fell into the sea. The Covid lockdown prevented workers getting to fix it.
Then in July when work was due to start to repair the road, it was discovered that another group of Black guillemots had built nests nearby. They were still feeding their young in the nests. The department of the Environment stepped in and advised work to stop. The repair didn’t go ahead. The workers are waiting till the Black Guillemots are finished reading their young.
Tag Archives: mind
Satan Get out of Here
My mantra for 2019 is “Satan get out of here.”
I discovered this verse in the scriptures this week. Satan came to tempt Jesus when he was weak after fasting for forty days. Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms of this world which belonged to him. He wanted Jesus to bow down and worship him.
“Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him.’ ””
Matthew 4:10 NLT
Jesus died three years later on the cross. He shed his blood to defeat Satan and take from him all his authority over all the kingdoms of this world. Jesus gave this authority to us to rule and reign and bring God’s kingdom on earth in His name.
He gave authority to his disciples. He told them to wait in Jerusalem till they received power from on high. They waited in the upper room till the Holy Spirit fell on them in tongues of fire. The Holy Spirit gave them power to be witnesses about Jesus.
The same power is promised to us.
Satan will do all he can to stop us knowing about the Holy Spirit. Being filled with the Holy Spirit gives us power over all the works of the enemy. “Not by might or power but by his Spirit” says the Lord.
The Holy Spirit gives us power to change. He renews our minds. We don’t have to be good. He makes us good and delivers us from the power of the enemy. Satan had the woman bound for eighteen years. Satan had the woman bleeding for twelve years. Jesus set them free. Alleluia to Jesus. He healed me from cancer and is healing my bones after breaking my arm. He helps us in our troubles. Don’t be defeated this year. Overcome in Jesus
I’m Nobody’s Child
I listened to a song my husband was playing on his music system.
The words go,
As I was slowly passing an orphans home today
I stopped for just a little while to watch the children play
A lone boy standin’, and when I asked him why
He turned with eyes that could not see, and he began to cry
I’m nobody’s child, I’m nobody’s child
Just like a flower, I’m growin’ wild
No mama’s arms to hold me, no daddy’s smile
Nobody wants me; I’m nobody’s child
In every town and village
There are places just like this
With rows and rows of children
And babies in their cribs
They’ve long since stopped their cryin’
As no one ever hears
And no one there to notice them or take away their fears
Written by Cy Coben, Mel Foree • Copyright © BMG Rights Management US, LLC”
Nobody’s Child sung by The Travelling Wilberys
This song was written back in 1949 when orphanages were common. They were set up to care for children whose parents had died or had no one to care for them. Some children were given the opportunity to be adopted into a caring family. The above song describe an orphan’s situation clearly.
When my husband was in China, he visited an orphanage. Most of the children were girls. With China’s one child policy a boy was preferred to a a girl. Many girls were left abandoned in streets or fields. The children lay in cots that were lined up along the wall. They had long since stopped crying because there wasn’t the people to give extra time to them. They were fed and given shelter but were given no extra attention.
Brendan picked up one little girl and nursed her. Half of her nose was missing. It had been eaten by a rat when she was left abandoned. This little girl was blessed. She was going to be adopted by an American family.
I take comfort from God’s word which says,
““See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.”
Matthew 18:10 NIV
If there weren’t human beings to minister to these children, the Angels would help.
I have felt perplexed and dispairing when I hear of such stories. I chose to be open to have children and give them the necessary care as far as I was able. A little child starts out in life trusting those around him. When he cries he calls for food and comfort for his discomfort. If the child has parents they will see to his needs.
There are not many orphanages in Western countries today. Contraception is accepted to control how many children a couple have. Immorality has increased. If anyone has an unwanted pregnancy, abortion is available. A test is offered to mothers to see if their baby has any abnormalities. If the baby is found to have an abnormality an abortion is offered. I do not agree with the world’s idea to solve the problem of unwanted children.
I have travelled in India. On the back of lorries and on bill boards I read the caption,
“One plus one equals one.”
This idea has caught the imagination of the people in India. Their thinking is to have one or at the most two children.
I believe in Jesus, and as I read in God’s word on page two of Genesis, it says,
“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.””
Genesis 1:27-28 NIV
I choose to believe that it is God’s will for a couple to be open to have children. A child is a blessing from God, the fruit of the womb a reward.
“Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.”
Psalm 127:3 NIV
My husband and I chose to be open to have children. We have reared fourteen. God has been faithful to help us to this day in our work of looking after our flock which has increased to eight wives and husbands and nineteen grandchildren.
I wish that people would choose to believe in Jesus. He is the answer to people’s distresses and the need for children to be born and cared for.
Jesus took a little child and taught his disciples, grown men, a lesson. He said,
“And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
Matthew 18:3-6 NIV
If one receives a child he is receiving Jesus and Jesus will help. I believe.
There is Life after Cancer!
People coming to my blog site for the first time may wonder why I am telling stories about my family, food, garden, my holidays, birds, scenery, and not All about cancer. I looked at my list of topics I write about and cancer isn’t even in the top ten.
I thank God that he is faithful to help me as I have faith that he exists. I do not have cancer in my body. He is a living God who answers my prayers. The power of the death grip that cancer had on my body has been broken by the power of the blood of Jesus. Jesus died 2000 years ago but his sacrifice is effective today to heal me. Jesus, when he was on earth healed ALL who came to him for healing, no matter what their condition.
There is no other person or spirit that can claim to heal or deliver and give abundant life. Other spirits can heal but give you some other curse. There is no other God that can forgive, love, bless, heal and deliver and give a new start in life and do all this for free. Many people seek other remedies or therapies for healing of mind and body. They will be out a lot of money, like the woman who came to Jesus. She had spent all her resources to get healed to no avail. One touch of Jesus garment brought her complete healing from an issue of blood for twelve years.
I now tell stories about how my life is being restored. I am not just healed of cancer, I have new life experiences happening all around me. My eyes are opened to see all the life around me, in my garden, in nature, in new grandchildren and in restored relationships. If I was in the grave I could not write or tell of the wonderful things that are happening to me. The grave cannot praise God. I am alive to give thanksgiving and glory to God. I now live for God. The old Angela is dead but my new life is hid with Christ in God. I no longer live but Christ lives in me.
English was not my favourite subject at school. I had no desire to read books. I know others who love books and can’t get enough time to read them. My husband and I wrote a book about being healed from Cancer, Staying Alive. Brendan has been writing for many years. My book was the fourth book he has published. I have learnt much from his wisdom. I gleen from his hard earned experience.
I am surprising myself when I write a blog on the internet that is going out to the nations. Psalm 71 says,
I will tell everyone about your righteousness. All day long I will proclaim your saving power, though I am not skilled with words. (Psalms 71:15 NLT)
The Word of God gives us a wonderful promise. Jesus came to give us life and life abundantly. He says,
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. (John 10:10 NLT).
The work of the devil is to steal, kill and destroy in people’s life. He comes to steal our health through sickness and tragedy. He is the thief Jesus speaks about. Jesus defeated Satan when He shed his Blood on the Cross.
Jesus promise is true for me. I am living a rich and satisfying life. I do not have much money. But who could pay a mother pheasant and her five chicks to walk across my lawn? Can I pay for the sun to rise every day and give me light and warmth? Can I pay for forgiveness of my sins and healing for my disease? Can I pay for my son to catch fish for supper? Do I pay for the produce that grows in my garden?
When I believe in God the Creator, and his son Jesus he gives me so much in return. As I have faith in God he is faithful to help me when I need him. He promises to be with me in trouble and deliver me out of it. He will not forsake me now when I have grey hair. I can highly recommend you my reader, no matter what age you are, to have faith in God Almighty, creator of the heaven and the earth.
O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do. Now that I am old and grey, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me. (Psalms 71:17-18 NLT)
Young people may wonder “What is the point in my believing in God and obeying his commands? I am young, healthy, strong, I have money, a good job, everything looks rosy.” The prodigal son went off to see the world. After many years when things didn’t work out he needed help. I was like that. I turned to God for help in my distress when I was twenty eight. I tried to follow his ways since then. When I was nearing death God was faithful to help me. So the years of following God have not been in vain. It is true God has not abandoned me now I am old and grey.
I am alive to enjoy the goodness of God in the land of the living. Bring on the coffee and cake!
Writing does Indeed Help my Health.
Thank you for this article about the benefits of blogging. I totally agree. Since I have started to write, thanks to WordPress, I have a sense of well being, satisfaction and enjoyment. I get encouraged from the response of other readers. I hear from friends in America and Canada that I would not hear from otherwise. There in power in words. When I get an idea the words flow.
In the past if I was troubled about some situation I would awake in the night. I got up and tried to express how I was feeling by sending an e mail to myself. That was safer than sending an e mail to the someone who annoyed me. After finishing the e mail I would feel more at peace and able to get back to sleep.
It is true that writing improves my mood and sense of well-being. I am less stressed, and sleep better. If I do awake early in the morning I get up and write as I am inspired. Since I moved to the country I enjoy nature and it has become a topic for my blogs.
Writing has helped my restoration after having cancer. Instead of pouring out all my bitterness and anger I now enjoy writing about the beauty all around me. My eyes are opened. I am looking up instead of down. God has delivered me from all the bitterness.
I have learned to cast my care upon The Lord and leave it with him. As I do this Jesus heals my pain. I now chose to forgive and not dwell on any hurt from the past. If I hold onto any resentment or unforgiveness it only harms me. I loose sleep and get depressed.
The internet access has been limited in the last months. If it was not on in the morning I would go into the local town where there is free access. I sit in my car and post a blog I had written the night before. Another time the internet came on at twelve o’clock at night. I posted a blog and immediately I got a response from a friend in America. I replyed. I had such joy that I could not settle to sleep. I had to write another blog.
Now instead of writing sad e mails I am inspired to write about many good experiences from the past. Another topic that has developed for me is my experience growing up on the farm. Memories come flooding back. Writing is indeed bringing restoration to me. Thank God through WordPress I am able to reach out to the nations!
I quote John Paul Jackson who says that something happens in the time between the mind and taking up a pen or the computer to write. A flow of creativity comes. Peace comes. We just need the discipline of being available to put the words down.
Through hearing from other bloggers I am revitalised by the experiences from young and old across the world. My neighbours are not just over the fence, they are across the oceans and mountains.
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2014/11/19/what-do-exercise-veggies-and-writing-have-in-common/
It Is Well With My Soul
It is well with my soul.
I wanted to relax earlier so I looked to see if there was anything interesting on TV.
I flicked from channel to channel. A game show, a food programme and a dance show.
My eyes, ears and mind were bombarded with advertisements, bodies gyrating and loud music.
No definitely not relaxing.
I turned the machine off.
Then I got a call on my mobile. I was talking for some time.
I began to get a headache.
Is this mobile frying my brain?
I wonder what neuroscientists think of that.
If I take a call again it will have to be on my house phone.
How could I relax?
I retreated to my room.
The room lit up.
The sun shone in the living room window giving warmth and brightness.
The sheep grazed in the field across the way, enjoying the warmth on their backs before sunset.
There was stillness in the air.
Be still and know that I am God.
I began to relax.
My eyes soaked up the light and beauty of the green trees and pastures.
My ears are enjoyed the stillness and my mind did not have to work.
This was better than any TV programme, beauty massage, or therapy session.
The trumpet flowers turn towards the evening light.
It was such a beautiful evening Brendan and I went out to the local beach.
The sun was going down.
The sea was calm with a gentle ripple lapping the shore.
A bird called in the distance.
A heron stood motionless on the water’s edge, eyes concentrating.
Seals froliced in the shallow water, a little exercise before bedtime.
Children’s voices echoed across the water from the nearby caravan site.
Making memories before holidays are over and school days loom on the horizon.
There is time for everything under heaven.
We returned home.
We looked up into the moonless sky.
There was an extravaganza of stars and the mist of the Milky Way.
The Lord put on a show for me this evening.
I will magnify my creator and my God.
God made all these things for us to enjoy.
I cannot but praise him.
What is man that thou art mindful of him?
The son of man that you care for him? Psalm 8 v 4
I see the Stars,
I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
Then sings my soul my saviour God to thee.
How great thou art, How great thou art.
Lyrics from Hymn How Great thou art.
It is well with my soul.
An Invitation for 2014
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
Healed of Cancer. Angela McCauley 