All posts by Gwenyth

I live on the outskirts of Whangarei, the northernmost city in New Zealand. I enjoy many things, ( writing amongst them), have been married to Keith for sixty-one years, have three married daughters, nine grandchildren and seventeen great- grandchildren who are scattered in various countries. No cats and no dogs as they would cramp our life-style.. We are obviously retired, but were farming further north before moving to the town over thirty-five years ago. We attend one of the local churches across the same side of town that we live.
Miracles

The Backpacker’s Miracle.

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The young man got off the plane in Auckland with his back-pack, not knowing which way to turn. He only had five days in New Zealand and all he knew was that he would like to see the Bay of Islands and have a day or so on a farm.

So he turned to the north, and caught a bus to Kerikeri. Whether he made his travels a matter of prayer or not, I don’t know, and some would call this a mere coincidence, but we prefer to call it a miracle, or perhaps even more so, a matter of the Lord honouring those who honour Him.  After all,  how many young back-packers carry a large Bible around with them and take the time out of a tight schedule to go to church in a strange country?

It was the summer holidays at this time and as we usually did, we were spending the time on our yacht (sail boat)  in the Bay of Islands. We always made a point of attending a small church fellowship in Kerikeri while on holiday and this particular Sunday morning we went there as usual. We saw this tall young man sitting at the back of the church carrying a large Bible with him…by the look of his clothes we guessed he was an American, and when we heard him speak all doubt was removed!

Our friends invited him as well as ourselves home for lunch, and we had a lively discussion over the meal. When he told us about the two things he wanted to see while in New Zealand, we looked at each other and then told him that we could probably point him in the direction of both of them at no cost if he liked.

He did like, and so he came back with us to the yacht and stayed a couple of days with us. We were able to take him to all the popular tourist spots, and my, how we did talk! We talked well into the night about Christian things.

Dave Nissan     Dave at the wheel of the yacht.

There were many things he wanted to know that we were able to tell him and we all had a thoroughly enjoyable time.

When he left us, we got in touch with our brother on his dairy farm and sent him there for another day or so. So this was a case of the Lord granting him his desire in a way that could not have been engineered in any other manner! He came as a stranger and left as a  brother. As far as he was concerned his whole visit to New Zealand was one big miracle!

We kept in touch for many years and the spin-off was that we were able to pay a visit to the town in Oregon where he had a tourist business, and he gave us a wonderful and memorable trip on one of the lakes in his area.

 

Miracles

Angel Unawares.

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Charlatan“Quick”, I cried to Howard, “Bring me a pillow!”

I put it under my moaning husband’s head. He was bleeding profusely from a cut in his head and in a lot of pain, although still coherent.

We had been  with Howard and Jill who were on holiday from London, taking them  around the Bay of Islands in Northern New Zealand in our sailing yacht. On the trip back to the mooring  Keith let Howard steer  the yacht while sailing.

Heading up the channel, the wind was coming directly behind us. The sails were set to the  “goose-winging” position with both sails on different sides of the yacht. It was tricky keeping the wind full in the sails while doing this and Howard accidentally let the wind out of one of the sails. It then swung sharply across  the cockpit track taking the halyard with it. This caught Keith on the side of the head throwing him sharply onto the  gunwales .

Jill and I were inside packing things ready to go ashore, and  didn’t see what happened. Hearing Howard call out, I rushed outside thinking that the boom had caught Keith on the head, which is always a danger. But Keith was able to tell me what had happened and then said to  pull the sails down, and motor in to the mooring. I did this while Howard kept steering towards the mooring. My mind was racing ahead. What should we do first?

The radio wasn’t working, so there was no point in wasting time there. Completely forgetting that it was a Friday and a working day, I sent Howard ashore to the end house in the bay with a message to ring Colin who lived up the hill. The time was 4.30 p.m. He would have been home on a Saturday (which I thought it was), but the man in the house knew quite well that it was Friday and that Colin would be at work.  So he sent Howard back to tell me this.

Just as Howard turned to go down the path a car pulled up at the gate, and there was Colin!  What a miracle this was! He was the only one in the area who we knew could help us, and he hurriedly came out to the yacht with Howard to see what the problem was. By this time, Keith wasn’t with it and the pillow was saturated with blood. Colin grasped the situation immediately and called the coastguard from his own yacht , asking that an ambulance be sent  to the bay straight away.

The ambulance finally arrived, with two women manning it. My heart sank. How ever would we get Keith ashore and into it like he was? The tide was now high, and Colin took our yacht in closer to the ramp, with only a short distance to row ashore. Somehow we manhandled Keith’s limp body into the dinghy and then ashore into the ambulance .  I went with Keith while Colin put the yacht away.

I wasn’t sure whether Keith would come through or not. A doctor to met us on the road, and put some plasma into him to keep him going. This helped somewhat, and he started talking a lot of nonsense! At the hospital, nurses met us at the door and gave Keith a blood transfusion, which revived him immediately. He couldn’t see why he shouldn’t be able to go home with the rest of us!!  Howard had followed the ambulance to the hospital in our car, and we drove home marvelling at the way things had worked out.

Later we asked Colin why he had been at the bay when we needed him. He said it had been a slack day at the office and he thought he would go home early and take some money he owed to the man at the end house. He would have left the office at the very time that Keith had been hit! It amazed us how God used  circumstances so that even a non-Christian man  worked His purposes for us. Colin was truly an angel in disguise whether he knew it or not!!

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Grandma's Stories

Honouring God.

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Bobby came running up the steps onto the front deck and in the ranch-slider throwing his bag down in the corner on his way to the kitchen.

“Wow”, he exclaimed, ”it’s been a busy day! I never had time to stop and think. Our team has been chosen to represent the school in the inter school sports next month”.

“That’s great Bobby,” Mum said,” I suppose that will mean Saturday training each weekend”.

“Yes,” Bobby said sitting on the stool and taking the drink Mum had passed him. “It’s going to be a busy term”.

So it proved to be. Bobby found the training sessions very strenuous, but he enjoyed every bit of it.

As the family got ready to go to church the next morning, Bobby thought wistfully of his bed as he got dressed. Wouldn’t it be good to have a break from church just this once? he thought as he dragged his jersey on. But he knew it was no use to even suggest it. Going to church wasn’t an option in their household, there was never any question of what they would be doing on Sunday mornings!

Bobby mostly enjoyed going to church. The singing was rather cool, and their class leader was really neat. But he found his mind starting to wander this particular Sunday, and he visualised some of the passes he was to make in his next game. Slowly he pulled his mind back to the story the leader was telling. He was saying, “and so the prophet said to Eli the priest, ‘Those who honour God, God will honour’, and that is just the same for us today.”

Bobby stirred himself, and listened to the rest of the lesson.

That evening, Bobby picked up his school books and went out into the dining-room to do some home work that he needed to finish.

“I guess I should ask you to pray for me Dad,” Bobby said, “This work is really hard!”

“You know Bobby,” Dad said thoughtfully, “I don’t think I could pray this for you. You could have done that homework last evening instead of watching TV”.

“Aw, Dad, I was tired last night after all that football practice”, Bobby said.

“You know Bobby, if you put God’s day ahead of things you want to do, God will honour you for it”, Dad said.

“Funny you should say that Dad,” Bobby said, “Our leader said something the same this morning in class”.

“Yes, well this is one of the principles that always stands,” Dad replied, “If you make time to do your home-work ahead of things like TV, and keep God’s day special for Him, He will help you to get through your lessons and tests far better than if you spent time on Sunday for your homework! “

You can read about this in the Bible in 1 Samuel 2: 29-30…..

Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?  30     Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

Grandma's Stories

Doing Things MY Way!

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Christine came in at the end of breakfast looking rather sulky. “Nobody is going to tell me what to do!” she declared, “I’ll do what I like!”

The   family sat there taken aback at this outburst. After all, Father had only said it would be a good idea for everyone to eat their breakfast together before going off to work.   Christine may have been only boarding there, but she knew what was expected of   her.

This is just like Cain that we read about in the Bible. Cain was the  eldest son of Adam and Eve. He had been brought up knowing the story of the Garden of Eden and how his parents had   disobeyed God. He knew that disobedience had planted the seeds of death in every person born since then, including himself.

Lamb 2Cain knew very well what sort of sacrifice God  wanted. He had been told many times that sin brings death, and that a lamb had to be killed as a sacrifice. But Cain was rebellious. He didn’t like animals; his forte was gardening. So he brought his best vegetables and fruit . Surely this would please God! Yes, he wanted  to offer God a sacrifice, but he was going to do it his way. No-one was going to   tell  him any different!

But Abel who loved his flock, was prepared to offer one of his best lambs as his sacrifice. It was a beautiful little lamb and Abel wanted to give God his very best. The Bible tells us that God was pleased with Abel’s sacrifice, but he was not pleased   with Cain’s.

Somehow   the boys knew God’s feelings in this matter, and Cain was very sulky. Why was  God not pleased with his sacrifice?  His vegetables  were just as good as Abel’s lamb, they were beautiful!

But Cain had clean missed the point. Later in the Bible, we are told that to obey God is better  than all the sacrifices offered our way!

You can read about these things in the Bible in Genesis 4:1-7; 1 Samuel  15:22-23

Grandma's Stories

Are You Ready?

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And the Lord saw that the sin of man was great on the earth, and that all the thoughts of his heart were  evil. And the Lord had sorrow because he had made man on the earth, and grief was in his heart.

And the Lord said, I will take away man, whom I have made, from the face of the earth, even man and beast and that which goes on the earth and every bird of the air; for I have sorrow for having made them. Genesis 6:5-7

Noah was hammering away at the last few boards to go on the large boat he was building. Some of his neighbours walked by and said sarcastically, “Well Noah, still waiting for this stuff you call rain?”

Noah straightened up and said,  “It’s going to come, and I don’t know what it will be like, all I know God has told me to get this boat ready and there will be enough room in it for anyone else who wants to get on board”.

“Aw poof!” said the man again, “I’m not going to make a fool of myself like that!”

The time came when Noah and his sons hammered the last nail in place.

The Bible  tells us that two of all the different sorts of animals came along to Noah and went quietly into the boat. Birds too, came flying along and went into the departments that Noah had built especially for them. Noah and his sons had gathered a lot of straw  and other dried food and stored them in the special bins that God had told him to build. At last all was ready.

People were gathering around at the sight of these animals all so docile and tame, even the lions and tigers were just like big cats and were so quiet as they filed inside the boat.

“Ho, ho”, the people laughed, “That won’t last! Noah will have some fun in there after a few days!”

The last animals and birds had gone on board. Noah felt God telling him it was time for him and his family to go in behind them. He turned around as he went up the ramp and spoke to the people watching. “Are you sure you don’t want to come in too?” he asked, “God says there is going to be a dreadful flood and you won’t have any chance”.

But they wouldn’t listen.

Soon the people heard a clang as the door swung shut on its hinges. The sky had been getting darker and darker as storm clouds rolled across it. The people began to wonder what was going to happen.

Then the rain started. They had never seen rain before. At first they thought it was fun, but then the water started to rise as well. It came higher and higher. People started to hammer on the sides of Noah’s boat. “Let us in!” they cried, “Keep us safe!” But there was no reply. God had shut the door and Noah couldn’t open it. They weren’t ready and it was  too late.

And on the twenty-seventh day of the second month the earth was dry. God said to Noah, Go out of the ark, you and your family and take out with you every living thing which is with you, birds and cattle and everything which goes on the earth, so that they may have offspring and be fertile and be increased on the earth.

And God said, This is the sign of the agreement which I make between me and you and every living thing with you, for all future generations … I will put my bow in the cloud and it will be for a sign of the agreement between me and the earth.

And whenever I make a cloud come over the earth, the bow will be seen in the cloud, and I will keep in mind the agreement between me and you and every living thing; and never again will there be a great flow of waters causing destruction to all flesh.

                                        You can read this full story in the Bible in  Genesis 8:15-17;  9:12-15

Grandma's Stories

Are You Feeling Down?

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“I need encouragement, you need encouragement, we ALL need encouragement!”

The words of the speaker wafted on. I little dreamed how  these  introductory words would stick in my mind for over fifty years.

I can see now after a span of years, that to encourage  others is one of the best gifts that God has given to each one of us. No matter how old or how young we are, we can all say nice things to others, especially those in our own family.

David, in spite of knowing God so well, is a classic example of one who needed encouragement. Jonathan and David were best friends. They had clicked right from the start of their first meeting in Saul’s court . Jonathan liked David very much, with his youthful freshness and good looks that took everyone’s eye. As they talked together that they both felt the other was a special friend. They thought alike and Jonathan loved the way David appreciated God, while David felt he had someone he could trust in the  dangerous court of King Saul.

Even more than Jonathan looking after David’s needs, was his appreciation of  God’s plans for David’s future. He not only knew that God’s plan was for David to be the next king, but he was happy about it and planned that he would be second  in command. When David was on the run for his life, he would meet him as often as he could, and encourage him in the Lord looking to the future when he would work with David as King. They were so sure of this that they made a covenant (promise) together before the Lord promising that they would always keep it.

But the time came when they were separated, to see each other no more, and David was left without the comfort of Jonathan’s encouragement.  Perhaps you are missing friends you once had and now you are separated from  them.  What can you do?  What did David do?

David told  God all about it. Things couldn’t have looked blacker for him. His friend  was gone, his enemies were still after him, and they had taken his wife and family captive and his own men had turned against him.

We have times when we feel like this. We all have enemies of fears, doubts, and other problems, even not feeling well; these enemies  seem about to swamp us at times. David may have wondered where God was in all this mess…..where  were His promises now? However could he get out of all this?

But he took himself to task, and sang these songs….”Why are you so cast down O my soul? Hope in God!”

“Be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart”.

“My heart is fixed O God”, he would say, “I will sing and give You praise in spite of my enemies!”

So we too, can fix our hearts and minds on the Lord and not be afraid of bad things. We can think about Him and count our blessings. Think of all we can be  thankful for in spite of our circumstances and we  will be encouraged with a fresh outlook on things. It is surprising what a difference a thankful spirit makes, and being thankful for the outcome of our prayers BEFORE we see the answer will give the peace of God that passes all understanding.

Stories for Littlies

A Live Birthday Present.

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Lamb 2        When Robin  turned eight years old, he was   given a live birthday present. His father owned a sheep farm and he had promised Robin, ever since he was very small, that someday he would have a lamb of his  very own. Robin’s birthday came in the middle of lambing season and the day he turned eight, twin lambs were born. One of them was given to him for his birthday present.

How happy he was! Probably no lamb had ever been loved so much Robin thought and thought about what name he would give it. Several were suggested, but none seemed to be just what Robin wanted. Finally his mother said, “Why not call the lamb ‘Treasure’ since you like him so much?” When Robin found  out that treasure meant something very precious, he decided that that was a good name, and when he told the Iamb what his name was to be, he added, “And don’t forget to come running when I call, ‘Treasure.”

But, alas, Treasure was not able to do much running. The mother sheep was unable to care for two lambs, and Treasure was the one who went short. His little wobbly legs did not grow stronger, and his bleat was weak and pitiful.

Treasure was some days old when another lamb was found dead beside its mother.

“Well,” said Robin’s father, “here’s a mother that has no lamb, and a lamb whose mother can’t feed it. What do you think we should do, Robin?”

Even an eight-year old could figure out the answer to that question.

“Why not put my lamb with the sheep whose lamb died?” said Robin. So they tried doing this.

But Treasure wasn’t welcome. The mother of the dead lamb refused to take any notice of him. So Robin’s dad tried putting the foster mother and Treasure in a small pen. “We’ll see what a night together will do,” he told Robin.

For hours Robin lay awake listening to the bleating of his hungry lamb. It made him sad to hear his pet calling for its supper. In the morning they found that the mother sheep had jumped out of the pen and deserted the lamb. Robin was angry with her, but his father explained, “It is the law of nature, Son. She knows this lamb doesn’t belong to her. But there’s another way, and we’ll try that.”

Robin’s Dad took the dead lamb, took  the skin off it and put it over Treasure like a jacket. The lamb looked very odd in it. The skin didn’t fit very well, so they tied it on with some twine. Robin only knew his Treasure by its wobbly legs and the weak bleating that went on continuously. He was most excited as his father carried the lamb over to the mother of the dead lamb and put it down beside her.

At first, she turned away as before; then she sniffed cautiously at him, and as she caught the scent of her own lamb, all was changed. She welcomed Treasure and poured out her love on him like any other mother sheep  would  do. From that day on Treasure was looked after very well, and every time Robin went to play with him, he seemed to have grown even bigger.

That’s the story about Treasure, but   Robin thought a lot about the whole thing and  asked his father more about it.

“It’s just like a parable from the Bible”, his father said, “ Remember how I told you that it was a law of nature that kept the mother sheep from wanting Treasure for her lamb?”

Robin DID remember and said that every mother sheep only loved its own lamb.

“Well, it’s like that for us”, his father went on, “Just as it was nature that kept the mother sheep from taking Treasure for her own, so it is sin that keeps us from becoming one of God’s children. We have to be covered in what the Lord Jesus has done for us before we can be accepted by Him”.

Robin had just seen this happening with Treasure so he knew exactly what his father was talking about.

“Yes, I guess so”, he said slowly, “That means that until Treasure was covered with the dead lamb’s skin, it would have had no mother sheep to look after it”.

“That’s right”, said his father, “And each of us has to take the gift , the “covering” that God has given us for ourselves before we can become one of His little lambs too”. 
“Oh, now I understand”, said Robin, “I do want to become one of God’s lambs!”

Random Devotional Thoughts

Which Gate to Choose?

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    “Enter through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the way is spacious that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. But the gate is narrow and the way is difficult that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

As I read these verses from Matthew 7:13-14, it made me realise that every person is confronted with the gates of choices in their life. One gate is wide and the way looks easy with crowds of people going along in a downward direction, while the other gate is small, with a narrow path beyond leading upwards and not many people going that way. But what a difference the end result is! One leads to destruction and the other one leads to life.

Our Lord tells people to seek to enter the narrow gate leading to life but this gate is too narrow to allow any baggage through. There is no room for the suitcase of possessions or the bag of good works. There is not even space to squeeze through with the backpack of pride, to say nothing of towing in the trolley of sinful ways and habits! All these have to be left on the outside of the narrow gate….there is only room for the under clothing of contrition and a broken spirit with confession of our need. All our good deeds and self righteousnesses are nothing more than filthy rags in God’s sight!

Once through the gate, the Lord provides clothes of righteousness and a robe of salvation. He gives us new songs to sing, and peace of mind with a light and joyful heart to travel up the path of life. When trials and difficulties come (and they will) He is there to help and to take us by the hand, telling us that His grace is more than enough to see us through. There really is no option as to which choice is the better one of the two….let’s make sure we all find this way that leads to unending life and peace with the Maker of the Universe.