Our daughter Mary has moved to Blantyre, Malawi. She is an Obstetrician and was working in Liverpool Woman’s Hospital until recently. She will be doing research to improve the care of mothers and babies in the third world.
It’s a wonderful privilege for her to get to work in another nation. It wasn’t an easy decision. Once she decided to take up the position she was busy giving up her accommodation in Liverpool. Furniture was given to friends. Clothes, books, ornaments, all bringing back memories had to be sorted.
We had an afternoon gathering of family relatives and friends at the Ivanhoe to say farewell. Andy Mc Clelland provided music. Mary loves dancing. There were no tears, only joy. She left the next day with three suitcases for her flight to Malawi.
Mary sent me this picture today . It was taken after I was healed of cancer in 2010. My girls in the picture are Hannah, Angela, myself and Mary. They and the rest of my family prayed and supported me through cancer.
Praise God I’m alive to see my daughter go to Malawi and celebrate with my husband, children and grandchildren. I’m not in the grave with my children coming to leave flowers on it.
I travelled with my son by car to Toronto airport. There were highways with four or six lanes full with cars, going over bridges and circling around tower blocks. Everyone on the move.
I read in Toronto airport that forty million people pass through this airport every year. I looked around. People with cases were passing focusing to get to their check in desks or flights. Old, young, black, white, brown, women and men fully dressed or scantily covered were there.
People from every nation work in the cafes, shops, at the desks, in security check points and on the aeroplanes.
I arrived at my gate where my flight would soon be leaving for Ireland. I sat down and pondered on this place where so many people meet. Who am I in the midst of this sea of people. Psalm 8 came to mind.
3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, 4 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? 5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet
Gods love overwhelmed me. I felt like the little sparrow in the song His eye is on the sparrow.
Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise, When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies, I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
I picked up my bags and found my place on the plane. I traveled home without fear.
On Easter Monday fourteen years ago I was diagnosed with fourth stage bowel cancer. The power of the Blood of the Cross, which I wrote about in my last post, began to work for me. In his mercy God reached down and healed me. My body was clear from cancer in four months with no side effects from treatment, no operation and no further medication.
Psalm 18
9 He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet. 16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. 17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy, (the devil and his demons) from my foes, who were too strong for me. 18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support.
These words describe what happened to me. In the following years my mind was healed from the trauma of life that led to my cancer. Nature and bird song, God’s creation brought healing to my nervous system. I am made whole. I have written my book Look at the Birds. It tells how nature brought comfort to me.
Brendan wrote Staying Alive after my healing from cancer. It tells how God healed me. I had a dream soon after the publication of our book. I was reading it and the pages were red in colour. The Lord was telling me the Blood of Jesus is all over our book. When you read it you will be touched by God’s power. What God has done for me he can do for you. Only believe that Jesus came on earth and through him you can be healed.
Both of these books are available on Kindle and Amazon.
Welcome to Good Friday. Why is today called good when it’s a day we remember the terrible sufferings of Jesus?
He sweated blood when he was praying in the garden of Getheseme. The soldiers spat, pulled out his beard and struck him. More blood flowed. His face was marred beyond recognition. A crown of thorns penetrated his head. More blood flowed. He was whipped on his back till near death. His hands, feet and side were opened up. All his blood flowed.
He became a sacrifice by his death for us to be forgiven, healed, restored, blessed down the generations and delivered from the power of the devil who brings premature death.
God so loved us that he sent his son Jesus that whoever believes in him will have eternal life in heaven after one dies. So there is no need to fear death. That is why today is called Good!
I was shocked when I visited an accident and emergency facility yesterday. Sick people in beds side by side, filled a large room to capacity! The waiting room outside was filled with people waiting to be seen. To me it looked like a war zone! No one has told these poor people that Jesus heals today. Or if they have heard they don’t believe.
Strong men, ambulance drivers looked on in despair. Doctors, nurses, hospital staff are doing their best. They know their limits.
There was a notice beside the reception listing the cost of hospital services. Starting at 100 euros for consultation with overnight stay 400. Another shock to my day. Jesus freely gives. He paid the price with his blood. Only believe him. I thank God for his healing power in my life.
I later stopped in a large supermarket. Chocolate eggs were piled up. Trolleys were filled with the best of food and drink. Do they have any knowledge of what Easter is about.
Today hear my words. Believe in Jesus. Ask him to forgive your sins and heal your diseases. If you already know Him pray for others to believe. Waken up. The world as you know it is falling apart.
Listen can you hear the birds this morning? The winter has past. The time for singing of birds has come!
Our son is getting a flight home today. He is staying near the bus station. He heard the birds singing as daylight was rising. He has company for his morning travel.
Neuroscientists have done research on the nervous system. More and more people are suffering from mental stress. There is too much news and information coming at us from the media. Many of us can’t cope.
The resulting distress drives us to the doctor who suggests medication to help bring peace. Or perhaps drive us to drink or other forms of self medication.
The scientists have found that bird song has a calming effect on our nerves. Listening to the birds brings healing to our mind.
Listen for a bird singing these mornings, whether you live in the city or country. A blackbird lives in a small hedge in the front of my daughter’s house in Belfast.
Listening and seeing the birds brought healing to me when I lived in Portaferry. I have written a book called “Look at the Birds.”
Being parents is a difficult calling. The first couple Adam and Eve had two sons, Cain and Abel. They were happy cuddly babies, grew up and were nurtured with their mum and dad. They would have told their sons about their former life in the garden of Eden when they walked with God in the cool of the evening.
After being put out of the garden they had to work the land to live.
When Adam and Eve disobeyed God He covered their nakedness with animal skins. Cain worked the earth and Abel worked with the animals. God was pleased with Abel’s sacrifice of a lamb. Cain brought vegetables. Cain became jealous of Abel and killed him. God banished Cain to roam from place to place. Adam and Eve lost their two sons. What sorrow!
Have you often wondered how things haven’t worked out the way you planned for your children? How did a much loved child turn out to get trapped in trouble, addiction and bondage?
Let’s remember Adam and Eve in the garden. Satan came and tempted them, told them lies, deceived them. He said it will be good for you. Satan appealed to their flesh. They believed his lies and sinned. They had free will. God didn’t create them to be robots to obey him all the time. He gave them choices. He showed them his goodness.
As a result of their choice they were put out of the Garden of Eden. Their choice to believe Satan brought trouble on their children. Sin entered their children. We are born into this world and trouble is sure to come to us.
We are born with sin in our hearts. You don’t have to teach a child to lie or fight. This is sin. Satan has power over mankind. He is still deceiving mankind.
God knows the pain of being a Father. He sent his son Jesus to us as a human being. He lived among us and showed us his father’s goodness. He forgave sinners, healed diseases and delivered people from demons. He did not sin. He was crucified for doing the works of God and came to destroy the works of the devil.
By believing in Jesus and obeying him you can become free from the bondage of sin. Your diseases can be healed. You can be set free from demons. Satan will not rule over you. Your children after you will be blessed. They too can be free from hatred and all sin.
Hatred entered Cain’s heart for his brother. His hatred ended in murder. Remember what you do as a parent affects your children after you. Adam and Eve’s sin affected their children.
You have a choice? Choose this day whom you serve. As Dylan said in his song, you’ve got to serve somebody. It may be the devil, it may be the Lord but you got to serve somebody. Set yourself free.
Jesus offers forgiveness for your sins. Knowing his forgiveness then we have to extend his forgiveness to others. Don’t seek revenge like Cain. This is the difficult part in following Jesus. But he gives us the power to forgive.
Where does your wife fit. This is good advice for men. Often they want a traditional wife who cooks, cleans, looks after the house and children.
Life values change from country to country. This article doesn’t even address if you want children. Getting a wife is good but if you want children choose carefully.
When choosing a woman who works, you have to accept that she can’t handle the house.
*If you have chosen a housewife who can take care of you and manage your home completely, you must accept that she doesn’t earn money.
If you choose an obedient woman, you must accept that she depends on you and you must secure her life.
*If you decide to be with a strong woman, you have to accept that she is tough and has her own opinion..
If you choose a beautiful woman, you will have to accept great expenses.
If you decide to be with a successful woman, you must understand that she has character and has her own goals and ambitions.
Perfect doesn’t exist. Everyone has their own enigma, which makes us unique.
Jesus disciples were arguing among themselves who was the greatest. Jesus took a little child and said, however becomes like one of these will be greatest in the kingdom of God…
We need the Holy Spirit to guide one in the midst of the complexities of life.
I heard that storm Gerrit was going to hit the east coast of Ireland today. I went for a drive to Whitehead north of Belfast to see if there were any big waves. At full tide waves were breaking over the promenade.
Glenco Waterfall is about ten miles away. I wanted to check it out.
The waves and the thunder of the waterfall reminded me of some verses I read s few days ago.
Revelation 14 v 2
And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders.
Psalm 93
The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength; indeed, the world is established, firm and secure. 2 Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity. 3 The seas have lifted up, Lord, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. 4 Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea— the Lord on high is mighty.
Thank all of you who read my recent blog. I am reminded tonight of a question my father asked me about my children when they were young at home and going to school.
Why are your children not sick? Normally children when they go back to school pick up various germs and viruses which leaves them with a cold or flu. They have to take a few days off school to get better. As the depth of winter arrives, the dark cold days can sap one’s strength. My children seldom missed school. They were healthy throughout the winter.
I told my dad that we believe that God will keep us in good health. If our children are sick we pray for them and that they get well.
So for anyone reading this who have children that come down with every infection that is going around. Don’t expect or accept sickness. Rebuke all disease in Jesus name, take some honey and lemon, a good night’s sleep and all will be well.
That is how I believed and received health in our family.
You haven’t heard from me for some weeks . My daughter challenged me tonight. “Have you written any blogs recently? You need to write about all your difficulties! Tell about the bad times as well as the good. “
In my last blog, six weeks ago I wrote about waging war against the principalities in heavenly places. I use the name and the power of the blood of Jesus to defeat Satan who comes to rob, steal and destroy. Well Brendan and I have been through a war since.
Brendan was admitted to hospital for tests. He got home again and is doing well. At the time our children were very conserned.
A few days later I fell and fractured a bone in my right knee. I have had a full plaster on my right leg for the past six weeks. I have been confined to bed for most of the days since.
My husband and family have had to look after me. Brendan has been my carer mainly, bringing breakfast and meals. He didn’t get much time to be pampered after his hospital visit. I appreciate their love and generosity. My neighbours are conserned. Back in September I was outside hosing the back alley.
I have had mixed feelings over the past weeks, depressed, frustrated and weak with sleepless nights. We had to cancel two trips, one to Slovakia and another to Greece. Instead of rest in the sun I have had rest In my bed!!
In hindsight all things have worked together for good. Brendan and I have been home to be with our son who needed our help and the knock on affect on the rest of our family. One of our grandchildren is facing surgery.
A friend of ours was in Israel when the war broke out. Thank God she got another flight home after her own flight was cancelled. Life is changing for me but also for the nations. There are wars and earthquakes as Jesus foretold. It is distressing to hear of war casualties.
I was reading a note I made earlier in the year. It goes “One can’t get through crises without God. “. I can say for sure I couldn’t have got through the recent storms without God. All our family have been affected. When one suffers we all suffer. We were not left without encouragement. Friends or family would call.
I was comforted in the night as I read from the scriptures promises of healing and restoration. I listened to a song by ian White. From it I heard the words “there is holy ground to walk upon, there is work for you to do, limbs will be made strong again. “
It is at times like this I hold on to prophetic words I have been given of hope and deliverance. These situations will pass. Faith is believing what you don’t yet see. God has helped Brendan and I in the past. He will help us again.
I told stories recently about a mother gull that was defending her young. That has been prophetic for Brendan and I. We are praying and defending our family from the attacks of Satan. We will be victorious over his attacks because Jesus is fighting our battles.
God gave me a promise earlier in the summer. I was reading about Jehosaphat the king of Israel. A great army was attacking . A prophet came and said don’t be afraid. The battle belongs to the Lord.
I will be healed, my husband will be healed, my son ‘s situation will be healed, my grandchild will be healed in Jesus name. There is suffering but there is healing in being a follower of Jesus. And Satan is defeated by the power of the cross.
Healed of Cancer. Angela McCauley 