September 2025

Almost the end of the summer holidays so plenty of time to write and so much reason for me to thank God.

Yesterday I was taken by a special bus all provided by ‘Gilgal’ our local Baptist church, and today I have friends saying when is a good time to visit?

I have always loved the gift of hospitality. I lived with my parents so only ever invited friends for a meal when they were on holiday.

Once I was settled in my own little home in Papua New Guinea I dared to offer a three-course meal, trusting the fire to keep going and one of the schoolboys to come and wash up for me.

So many homes and countries but then at last a husband to keep our guests entertained while I enjoyed serving up a hopefully fool-proof meal as a pastor’s wife. We were both in our element.

Joel‘s death, though painful for me of course, had set me free to work with teaching ‘bible in Schools,’ until I was ninety,  and I knew I needed to retire, but Covid saved me from this trauma, and my doctor, whose coming on the day Joel died, has become a wonderful Christian friend , advised me to move to a lovely flatlet for elderly folk like me. I still could prepare a simple meal for guests but then the great collapse and I was in need of nursing care.

It was many years ago that Joel and I had offered to go into Pinehurst Care Home to take a little service. Cheryl, had said then, ‘I wouldn’t mind ending my days here.’ I had never thought of ending my days anywhere.’ But I knew I had to think about it now.

When I mentioned our previous link with the home, and with the present link with our Matron’s mother, the deal was done. Very shortly a room became vacant. I had my own recliner brought in for my comfort, and yes, in the corner, my old friend, my computer.

‘Well, I won’t be needing that.’

‘You don’t know.’

I could write another chapter about the dear folk who still so wonderfully help and encourage me to continue with my blogs and emails, and I am going to sign off now with a little verse I have just written for a wonderful couple who have helped us both so much in our times of bereavement.

I could so easily have been left as Joel’s carer, whereas I am so wonderfully cared for and enabled to still be an encourager of others.

So let us press on together.

This is what I have written for our dear Mark*, a faithful shepherd still to so many.

 

 

‘How wide has been your ministry to the lonely and afraid

Especially to your own Beloved now confusion clouds her way.

Fear not your strength will fail, dear Loll, for as you have prayed us through

We know our Saviour holds you fast and has a way of escape for you.

He leads us all on varied paths but will never lead

astray.

Remember God has promised each of us

Strength for each new day.  

September now and the holidays are over and we have another addition to our family of Grace. Amelia* is very special and I am going to include her poem now, before she gets lost in this new edition of my blog spot.

I was privileged to work with her grandparents, Auntie Margaret and Uncle Neil to us all, with one precious son, who, like his parents, wanted to serve God with all his heart, and is gifted musically and in many other ways, and now, what a joy to hear of the safe arrival of our darling little Maisie.

This is  the best I could come up with by way of welcome.

            ‘Welcome, dear Amelia*,  Safely born at last.

              Prayed for and longed for, You are cherished and loved.

              We’ll continue to praise God for you – a gift from above.

              May you too live for Jesus, like your parents before you

                in this family of Grace - you are loved, you are safe

So here we are back into a new term. Our seniors are moving into fresh challenges, -maybe new ? Who knows, and here in our slow-moving care home, what fresh experiences lay before us?

Our hundred year old still has faithful visitors and has been regaling us with a mixture of Welsh and English nursery rhymes and my wits are not as sharp as I could wish but I pray that I with our Grace* will receive each day as a special gift from God .

Thank you so much for the encouragement of my faithful blog readers. Apologies that I have been so slow in getting this edition ready to be printed. My poor old brain is yes, even older and my wonderful helpers even busier, but I have a wonderful lady who comes into our home to encourage us in the things we can do. Yes, she is a very special help and encourager to me, so I am determined to make this edition short, before I lose it all.

 

So hopefully just one chapter, or maybe even two, of ‘Whisper of the Willows’ before I ask the wonderful Catrin* to send it on its way. 

                        WHISPER OF THE WILLOWS

The hedge of willows were growing strongly so that once even- tide had come the Hebrews made it a place to gather for a refreshment of their faith in their own God.

There were occasions when a gang of Babylonians might come to taunt them, but their special songs of faith and worship were not for their enemies to mock at. 

Some of the Hebrews had vowed that they would no longer sing the songs of Zion to be mocked by their captors, but God always has his faithful few who will just keep praising and trusting, so watch this space…

 

 

 *Names changed for privacy protection

Editor's note: I apologise for the delayed posts. This one is up to date, but more will follow soon on this blog that are from a bit longer ago. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Children of the city - Ending

 THE RED-HEADS

Judith was happily sitting chatting with the Lady of the house for they were at ease conversing in  their mother tongue of Hebrew but how had this miracle happened that she had been able to leave her mother and join her brother in this previously wicked city of Nineveh?

It  was when they heard of news of her daughter’s twin that the mother herself  decreed that they should not be separated any longer. She had a safe haven with her brother in law, and knowing she was not fit for the rigors of the long journey. She was content to trust Judith into the care of the prophet himself.

What a sensation it had stirred when the twins had been united, and soon there was a class in Hebrew for the girls as well as the young men while the twins now were  never far from each other, and becoming more and more in demand, but oh, what was this? They were called to appear before the King himself.

But surely they were not called to such an important  position? Judith was laughing as she did her best to smooth down her brother’s locks. It seemed to be their unusual hair colouring that was bringing them to prominence. But why was it not the prophet who was in audience with the King? Teaching him how to respond to God’s warning? For surely he was repentant

And where was Jonah? The twins were treated with honour by the king, but when they enquired of the prophet they were told that he was outside the city waiting for God to pour out his judgement on the Ninevites as he had threatened.

Oh, the king had commanded the people to repent of all their evil deeds so that even the horses were in mourning while he was taking the lead in repentance. So why was the prophet not instructing this nation in God’s ways of righteousness?

CONCLUSION

Oh Jonah! Jonah! How sad is your story! You expected God to forgive your disobedience yet were not willing for God to change the hearts of the Ninevites. 

Dear faithful blog-readers, You may not find the story of our red-heads in the Bible, but you will find many who have been willing to give their lives to teach our children to love and follow Jesus; and as I have used my godly imagination in writing of the twins I hope you will find your story, and mine too and know that the seed we are sowing will bear rich reward, even as we know it must have done for Judith and her twin.  

And now please look out for the story of the little Egyptian girl whose life was transformed by the prophecies of Ezekiel.

July and we are in the middle of a heat wave and even I have left off my long johns. One of the carers has offered to push me down for a coffee by the sea. 

I won’t be refusing that lovely offer. I thought I was about to recount some of the lessons God taught me in Hebron  Hall, many years ago. It was a prophetic word that came through (of course her name is eluding me. It was concerning casting our cares on him. Yes, yes, of course. But God continued to speak. ‘I want you to do it now.’

So what was my immediate worry? Nothing important. Only I had to alter the clocks as soon as I got back, because Joel always did it for me and now he was safely home in heaven. 

Right Lord, it is not a big worry, but I will be obedient. It is cast on you.

A care-free weekend, a lift back to my front (or side) door, and as I stepped through the door I knew how to cope with changing my clocks.

Many many years later, all I have to do is press a little red buzzer and help will come. I wouldn’t dream of leaving my safe haven, though sadly my only prescription they can give me is pain killers

Yet every day or hour god gives me is a gift from Him and I must use and cherish it and so I thank God for wonderful friends who will help me to continue to keep in touch with you all, and you wonderful friends who faithfully seek to keep in touch with you.

End of summer 2025

Almost the end of the summer holidays so plenty of time to write and so much reason for me to thank God.

Yesterday I was taken by a special bus all provided by ‘Gilgal’ our local Baptist church, and today I have friends saying when is a good time to visit?

I have always loved the gift of hospitality. I lived with my parents so only ever invited friends for a meal when they were on holiday.

Once I was settled in my own little home in Papua New Guinea I dared to offer a three-course meal, trusting the fire to keep going and one of the schoolboys to come and wash up for me.

So many homes and countries but then at last a husband to keep our guests entertained while I enjoyed serving up a hopefully fool-proof meal as a pastor’s wife. We were both in our element.

Joel‘s death, though painful for me of course, had set me free to work with teaching ‘Bible in Schools,’ until I was ninety,  and I knew I needed to retire, but Covid saved me from this trauma, and my doctor, whose coming on the day Joel died, has become a wonderful Christian friend , advised me to move to a lovely flatlet for elderly folk like me. I still could prepare a simple meal for guests but then the great collapse and I was in need of nursing care.

It was many years ago that Joel and I had offered to go into Pinehurst Care Home to take a little service. Cheryl, had said then, ‘I wouldn’t mind ending my days here.’ I had never thought of ending my days anywhere.’ But I knew I had to think about it now.

When I mentioned our previous link with the home, and with the present link with our Matron’s mother, the deal was done. Very shortly a room became vacant. I had my own recliner brought in for my comfort, and yes, in the corner, my old friend, my computer.

‘Well, I won’t be needing that.’

‘You don’t know.’

I could write another chapter about the dear folk who still so wonderfully help and encourage me to continue with my blogs and emails, and I am going to sign off now with a little verse I have just written for a wonderful couple who have helped us both so much in our times of bereavement.

I could so easily have been left as Joel’s carer, whereas I am so wonderfully cared for and enabled to still be an encourager of others.

So let us press on together.

This is what I have written for our dear Laurence, a faithful shepherd still to so many.

 

 

‘How wide has been your ministry to the lonely and afraid

 Especially to your own Beloved now confusion clouds her way.

Fear not your strength will fail, dear Loll, for as you have prayed us through

We know our Saviour holds you fast and has a way of escape for you.

He leads us all on varied paths but will never lead

 astray.

Remember God has promised each of us

Strength for each new day.  

 

September now and the holidays are over, and we have another addition to our family of Grace. Maisie is very special, and I am going to include her poem now, before she gets lost in this new edition of my blog spot.

I was privileged to work with her grandparents, Auntie Margaret and Uncle Neil to us all, with one precious son, who, like his parents, wanted to serve God with all his heart, and is gifted musically and in many other ways, and now, what a joy to hear of the safe arrival of our darling little Maisie.

This is the best I could come up with by way of welcome.

            ‘Welcome, dear Maisie, Safely born at last.

              Prayed for and longed for, You are cherished and loved.

              We’ll continue to praise God for you – a gift from above.

              May you too live for Jesus, like your parents before you

                in this family of Grace - you are loved, you are safe

 

 

So here we are back into a new term. Our seniors moving into fresh challenges, -maybe new? who knows, and here in our slow moving care home, what fresh experiences lay before us?

Our hundred-year-old still has faithful visitors and has been regaling us with a mixture of Welsh and English nursery rhymes and my wits are not as sharp as I could wish but I pray that I, with our Gladys will receive each day as a special gift from God.

I may have lost my mobility so can no longer treat friends to a coffee by the sea, but with my wonderful Jane offering a bed for the night I am looking forward to a visit from Christina. I met her and her husband when I was lecturing on children’s work at the Apostolic Bible college

Thank you so much for the encouragement of my faithful blog readers. Apologies that I have been so slow in getting this edition ready to be printed. My poor old brain is yes, even older and my wonderful helpers even busier, but I have a wonderful lady who comes into our home to encourage us in the things we can do. Yes, she is a very special help and encourager to me, so I am determined to make this edition short, before I lose it all.

So hopefully just one chapter, or maybe even two, of ‘Whisper of the Willows’ before I ask the wonderful Sian to send it on its way.

 

                       

WHISPER OF THE WILLOWS

The hedge of willows were growing strongly so that once even- tide had come the Hebrews made it a place to gather for a refreshment of their faith in their own God.

There were occasions when a gang of Babylonians might come to taunt them, but their special songs of faith and worship were not for their enemies to mock at.

Some of the Hebrews had vowed that they would no longer sing the songs of Zion to be mocked by their captors, but God always has his faithful few who will just keep praising and trusting, so watch this space……

100 years

PASSING OF SUMMER, and a great occasion in Pinehurst, for our special Gladys has reached a hundred years old, and oh such a wonderful family to celebrate with her. The Mayor was there, before the crowds started to gather, and the many of Gwladys’ family who lived near and far.

I am hoping to make room for the two poems I have been privileged to write very recently. Evelyn was still enjoying independent living, until very recently when she was whisked off to hospital and not allowed home without a care package, but we have only joy for our Evelyn for she has always given the glory to her Saviour, and I am so privileged to have known her, and we all thank God for her faithful son.

And now, though I have 6 years to go before I may be cause for a great celebration, I am now relegated to a wheel chair, but my Father is reminding me of a verse I  learned when as youngsters we joined the Topical Memory system, ‘I have not given you the Spirit of fear, but of Power and Love and a Sound Mind.’

I am so thankful for this wonderful assurance. My clever older brother and sister, both sailed through university yet ended with a gentle dementia, yet now I have this wonderful assurance of a sound mind. 

EVELYN - 100     

 

When you were young you sometimes ran

But now we go more slowly

Yet now each day’s a precious gift

To God we give the glory.

 

Patient and gentle Evelyn

To know you is to love you 

May God who gives you breath

We make you a blessing

 

Till he calls you to His home on high

Where together we will praise Him

Glory to Jesus, King of Kings, 

Our saviour Lord forever                                                    

May Update

BLOGSPOT

MAYDAY – The hedgerows are full of blossom and at last we can cast a clout. Well, now I am in my nineties I don’t cast many clouts for I am a chilly soul these days, but I well remember as children, the joy of wearing our summer dresses for the first time and celebrating John’s birthday which was 26^th April, and then Mary’s, the 4^th May.

The holidays are over and the children reluctant to be inside now the sun is shining, but I want to write my blog-readers a few lines before my faithful ‘Magic Margaret’ appears to coax me outside. I call her my good shepherd for I don’t venture far without her steadying hand beside me. 

How good is the Lord, that I am living so near to the sea, and with the incentive of a cup of coffee able to walk as far as the kiosk.

‘O yammy yea,’ is the song I thought we were singing, until I at last had arrived as a missionary in Ghana and learned that it is Onyamy Yea , ‘Yes, God is good.’

I can no longer dance as I used to, but we who have been blessed with many years can still acclaim, Yes, God is good. And with David we can also say, ‘He renews my youth like the eagle.’

God is renewing my ability to join in our daily Bible reading scheme. What a joy to be reminded of how God not only called Bezelel, but gifted him to make all those wonderful furnishings for the Tabernacle.

And now he is reminding me of how the same wonderful God called me to write, and is urging and encouraging me, still today to keep in touch with my very special friends by writing something of his goodness.

‘Onyame yea’ Yes, God is good indeed. And I am so grateful to those friends some who are still there for me, and other multi-skilled ladies who gladly help me sort out my muddles, so I had better get our poor reluctant prophet back to Nineveh.

THE RELUCTANT PROPHET

Poor Jonah had no compassion for the terrible armies of Nineveh. The sooner God wiped them out the better. That was why he had refused to deliver God’s warning in the first place, but now the terrible complexion of his prophet, saved from drowning by being swallowed by a great fish. 

But nothing now could prevent God’s message from being delivered, for the story was being passed from mouth to mouth until it reached the courtyard of the king himself. 

It was as the message reached to the class learning Hebrew that Judah realised the need of his sister, and that the mercy of their wonderful God needed to be shared with men and maids and so it was that a red-headed maiden was helping her brother to bring God’s mission of mercy and repentance.

But what of the reluctant prophet Jonah? Where was he? 

**                    *                      *

I was unable to type for a few weeks because of a badly bruised arm, but once again my computer is my good friend, and I trust you are able to join me in the streets of the terrible and vast city of Nineveh.

It wasn’t Jonah alone who caused a stir, though the effect of 3 days and nights in the stomach of a great fish would affect the complexion of any traveller, but it was Judith too, for hopeless as it had seemed to the twin sister to join the party to help the prophet accomplish his mission, but it was her own Mother who made the way for Judith to leave her.

Once the news had reached to Joppa that not only had Jonah reached Ninevah but that they had indeed met up with her beloved Twin brother for how could they be kept apart?  Her brother was already known as the Red Head so now when another appeared word soon reached to her brother, and there was no difficulty in being employed as a teacher in their multilingual school.

So now, not only was the message of judgement and wrath being proclaimed by Jonah, but of a God of mercy and love and who calls us all to repentance. Thus it was that by the time that Jonah had eventually reached this previously unapproachable monarch, his heart had already been softened by the ministry of two orphaned red-heads. 

 

  

 

Children of the City - Part 4

Now back to Joppa where the weeks are passing, and Judith and her mother are already on their way to make their daily visit to the prophet Jonah when they are delighted to find their friend already out in the sunshine. No, he has no need of a walking aid, for a young man is holding his arm, as well as his full attention. He made sure that they had found a sheltered place where the old man was seated. No, he was not old in years, but he was still very frail after his adventure in the stomach of the great fish.

Eventually the young man was able to explain that he came from the same village as Jonah, -  that he had been privileged to accompany the Prophet on some of his previous adventures and was thought of very highly, not just by the people of his own village, but by the king himself. But suddenly no one had had sight or sound of him.

The Mother of the twins was upset when she saw her daughter rise and offer a cloth to the young man, until she realised that he had become overwhelmed with emotion and was in need of her daughter’s support. It was a while before they shared a simple breakfast, made sure that their unexpected guest was provided for in the village, and after strengthening each other and as Jonah was encouraged to know that much as they all understood that God had saved him by the great fish for a purpose, he must indeed deliver God’s message to Nineveh.But what of the other family who had dared to hope and trust in God. We have left Judith in Joppa, for her mother was not fit for a long journey and yet somehow, she had a deep conviction that her brother was indeed alive and might by some miracle have preceded the prophet into the doomed city.

From now on their routine had changed, for the whole family were united in one purpose, of changing Jonah’s mind set now to carrying God’s message to the evil people of Nineveh, that unless they repented and turned from their wicked ways the whole wicked nation would be destroyed. But oh, what a reluctant messenger he was. 

‘Why should God give them the opportunity to repent? They will never listen. Their hearts are like flint stone.’

And yet- as they reached the outskirts, they realised that this was a very different reaction from what they had expected. People were already repeating the miracle of a man rescued from a watery grave by a great fish, for what but the gastric juices of a sea monster could have produced such pallor as Jonah now had.

Doomed? Or was there perhaps some hope for these wicked people?  What had happened to Judith’s twin brother? We might not have recognised him, for he has been included among one of the well-dressed slaves, now employed to teach literacy of Hebrew as well as the Ninevite language.

So eventually, as Jonah and his now growing party progress through the vast city it is Jonah himself who is amazed to recognise this Ninevite yet with an incredible likeness to their friend Judith from Joppa.

Oh, such excitement, - such an exchanging of stories-until there is an interruption. Such blowing of trumpets. 

A message from the King himself, demanding that Jonah appear before him.

Blogspot - personal update

23RD April

I have been finding that I have been depending more and more on the TV to pass the evenings, so I asked our pastor if he could recommend some books I might find helpful. The first had a wonderful title, ‘The Happy Christian.’ Surely just what I needed? But no. Some of you will have already read of how God healed my broken heart by repeating his promises to me. ‘I am delighting myself in the Lord, and he is giving me the desires of my heart.’ 

Instead of sending my Mr. Right back to me, or one even better, God gave me a wonderful joy and contentment in my singleness until, when eventually Joel, my Mr. Right came along, we were able to enjoy more than 20 fruitful years together before I was able again to renounceself-pityand again declare, ‘I am delighting myself in the Lord and He is giving me the desire of my heart‘From supporting Joel in his pastoral ministry, and then his support of mewhen God called me to write, -yes, and the joy I have received as I have shared with the planting of Grace community church.

But what is my problem? Where has my happy Christian gone? 4 years ago, I was weeping bitterly when I found they had dragged me back from the gates of heaven. I had lived independently until then. I had thought I was ripe for heaven, but evidently not. 

I have been 3 years now in a Care home, where Joel and I used to come in to take a service. Now I have a different role, but God has not left me. I am still delighting myself in the Lord, and he is still giving me the desires of my heart. I have put away my ‘Happy Christian’ book, and now I am finding deep comfort from another, which our wise Pastor has also loaned to me, ‘Invest your suffering.’I am so grateful for those who still have the patience to continue to help me to write my blogspot as well as those wonderful friends who refuse to let me give up, and most of all for such a wonderful Saviour who has promised never to leave me or forsake me.