Starlight - Introduction

Starlight

It was while we were ploughing through reading the prophecies of Ezekiel that I first met Starlight, a young girl growing up in the benighted land of Egypt.

How could I get any blessing in reading through these prophetic messages?

Wonderfully, God met me, giving me a glimpse of his heart of love even for these people who had been used to bring such terrible suffering to his chosen ones. As I read on, with my God-given imagination, I met a little Egyptian girl, named Starlight by her beloved grandfather, though her parents had named, and treated her as Little Mouse, implying that she was to be a servant of one of the lowest of the Egyptian gods.

The days of Egypt's greatness are long gone. The pyramids and other buildings of grandeur are all that remain as evidence of its one-time splendour. There are records of great victories and of their power over other nations, but in those days, there were but few scholars left who were able to read the wonderful hieroglyphics in which they were probably written.

The Egyptian army had been a power to be feared, but now, though they would make a great display of their prowess, it could not be denied that there were troops hired from other nations seen on their streets.

It was not in the heyday of the great nation of Egypt that this story has unfolded, but of a nation that had refused to acknowledge the great Jehovah God. He was the God who had confronted and brought to nought the power of each of their many gods through the plagues. Not only had this eventually brought the great Pharaoh to his knees, but it had also brought those wandering tribes together so that they had been welded into a mighty nation through their suffering and had eventually gone forth to become a people whose God was the Lord, the Lord Almighty.

But Israel now had a commission to bring God's love and light to the nations,

and, hidden away in our Bibles, we find the brave Ezekiel not only prophesying words of hope to Israel, now in exile, but also to the people of Egypt.

 

And so it is that God has shone light on a little Mouse' living in bondage in the benighted land, and her grandfather, a scholar and scribe who had faith to call her Starlight, and who is inspiring me to write this story, that we all might know that, however great our suffering or situation of hopelessness, we can look up to the heavens and find a God who will lighten our darkness and bring comfort to us in our grief.

I pray that as God has been inspiring me to write this story of what it must have been like to live in the land of Egypt when the brave Ezekiel dared, not only to speak out these prophetic words God was giving to him, but to record them and to see that they were sent across the lands, and centuries too, so that they may eventually make an impact on our lives too.

May we, too, find our hearts impacted and changed by the courage and obedience of this great man, Ezekiel, even as we allow our own gift of imagination to touch our lives. Whatever our circumstances, may we all find ourselves prisoners of hope.

Blogspot July

BLOGSPOT (this is an older post)

And now it is 28th, and now many folk are on holiday, and I should have lots of time for writing, but I do not always have strength for writing, or getting to my regular church or social occasions. However, I must get something published so that my wonderful friends, especially those who remember me when I was so privileged to be working with you ‘down under’ may know that I am still alive, - yes, and still productive, - well, still writing poems.  

A birthday balloon for a two year old inspired the first poem I wrote for a precious grandmother on our staff, (I’m told it inspired tears of joy, so with this encouragement I have written for everyone and every occasion} 

30th – yes, still July, but I have found that though my left arm is still black and blue and still very painful, that I am still able to type with two arms. At 4am this morning I pressed my call button and one of our wonderful night staff was bubbling over with how delighted her daughter had been with the poem I had written for her 21st birthday. 

No, it hasn’t taken the pain away, but is enabling me to share the joy and get on with sharing the good things in my life. 

Let me introduce you to Sian, a friend who comes in to minister to some of our friends here with dementia, but now has an added ministry of helping one more elderly than most to get her poems printed and sent for the right occasion. It is she who so wonderfully enabled our 21year old to enjoy her special poem and me to experience the oil of gladness which is helping me to endure the pain. 

So maybe now is a good time to ask my special Sian, who has her own battles with pain, to include the verse I had ready and waiting for our very special Gladys and her very special day.  

I have just read the chapter we share in Grace – so thankful I have had the cataract ops and now able to enjoy sharing our bible reading again, as well as some choice books from the mobile library. Today is about Aaron’s death. But nothing about the illness that carried him away. 

I may be 94, and unable now to walk out with my roll-a-tor, but there is nothing God is unable to heal. I‘ve just been sent a lovely message from my special friends – ‘get well(caps). I am taking it as a word of command – as I do the words another friend told her mother. ‘Remember you don’t have to be ill to die.’ And she wasn’t. She had shared the chores with her mother, enjoyed her dinner and sat back to enjoy her dinner and was gone. Hallelujah!  

 

I am in a wonderful Care Home. There are lots of things I can’t do, but I have washed and dressed myself, been downstairs for breakfast and my calendar is telling me, to delight myself in you Lord, and you will give me the desires of my heart. 

We have all been hoping our precious Gladwys would make it to her hundredth birthday, and of course I had a special poem ready for her, and another dear friend still enjoying independent living with the support of her son and was sent back from hospital insisting she was in need of a care package which she now has. 

One of my most recent poems is a thank-you for my wonderful friends when, so recently widowed many years ago, still insist I am capable of playing Scrabble. I am, with a lot of help from my friends and with our wonderful carers all help to keep me enjoying my life. 

I think it is time I introduced my latest serial story – THE CHILDREN OF THE CITY. God’s call in my life has always been for the children, so I have so enjoyed imagining the re-headed twins who so gladly cared for the needy orphans of Nineveh, but first I am asking Sian to include my latest poem. 

One of my favourite ‘Night watchmen’ was very excited because her firstborn was to be twenty-one that Sunday and they had wonderful celebrations planned. But oh! Was there time for a special poem?  

Demanding pain was forgotten and an email to our wonderful Sian but how delighted I was to find that not only had dear ‘Mum’ survived the celebrations but that her beautiful daughter was treasuring her very special poem as a word from God. 

Yes, I may still be in a lot of pain, but without it I might not be here in this special Care Home and sitting here with all the aid I have to share with you, my many special friends from near and far. 

So, time for another book which I so enjoyed writing – and is inspiring me to pray for God’s special saints in Egypt, and to encourage others of us who may be called to write and share the words God is giving us. 

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STARLIGHT IN EGYPT (first part uploaded soon)

And here I am, seated at my computer and able to begin another page of my blogspot, and maybe the beginning of another biblical novel which I have been so blessed in writing, but first some memories which are from not so long ago. 

Hebron Hall? Anyone remember the days it was in Bryntirion? I was a submissive wife in those days, so Joel could find no excuse not to bring me, but when we found this more convenient venue my chauffeur put his foot down. Maybe because he always relied on his wife to direct him and he might not find his was home? 

Anyway, my wonderful sisters soon sorted out lifts for me and I know I always came home having been specially blessed. I remember I have a very special friendship that was forged in one of those weekends when our speaker spoke of the importance of hugs. But now I am no longer mobile and in need of the nursing care Pinehurst provides I believe God wants me to share some memories of when I had only recently become a widow. 

Yes, I was at Hebron Hall and there was a prophetic word about casting our cares on the Lord. Yes, yes, we knew we all needed to do that, but again God was speaking. ‘I want you to do it now.’ So, did I have any special worry? Well yes, there was the bother of altering the clocks, but did that count? Well, yes, it was a worry, so alright Lord, I’m casting it on you. 

As I put my key into my front door so my solution came into my mind and so I continue to walk through life. I’m sure we all thank God for the many ministries of Hebron Hall. 

I felt I was in desperate need of help with my finances. At last, I had contact with a Christian solicitor who would happily sort me out, but then he died on me. Oh Lord, where are you? Right here, working out my best for you. 

I think it was David Ollerton, our minister who led us so wonderfully in our first months in ‘Grace,’ who put me in touch with this lovely Christian lady who soon got me sorted out.

What a wonderful story she has to tell. Believing God had called her to India how could it be right when her visa was refused, but Mr. Right sailed onto her horizon. Wonderful and fruitful years – two mature sons, a business they ran – and yes, for when her husband died, suddenly and unexpectantly, an invitation through her church to get involved in a work in India. Oh yes, and Pauline was wonderfully cared for too, for when she was too busy to care for Pauline because she was out of the country, she gave Ross a call. ‘Pauline needs to sell her house. Can you look after her for me?’ 

It was a long time before that when I was inclined to feel jealous because I had no grandchildren ( well, I did not marry until I was fifty because God needed me to be the ‘Little Children’s Mother’ first, didn’t He?’ ) 

No more worries for this poor little widow.  I have learned to cast my cares, and now everything was arranged legally by this wise woman who had already worked with Ross and his wife in Care for the Family and now both were delighted to help me settle into my ‘Eagle’s Nest;’ where most unexpectantly dear Bas visited and donated his wonderful painting of the Eagle in flight – still a treasure, even though I am now confined to a room in a nursing home. 

It was around this time that God shone light on the wonderful promise God has given to anyone who has left anyone for His sake and the Gospel would be given back even  to 100%, yes, even in this life 

Even though he is no longer the ‘odd job man’ when Ross took on this commitment he is always available should I need someone to take me for a hospital appointment, and I lovingly call him my ‘hundred percent’. Even though he now fully employed at ‘Union’ Bible college, he will make time to pop me into a wheel chair and rain or shine take me out for a coffee. 

Godliness with contentment is great gain. And now, though I am still in a lot of pain after my most recent ‘drop’ I am so thankful that I am able to sit at my computer and remind myself that ‘I am delighting myself in the Lord and he is giving me the desires of my heart.’ 

‘onyami yea’ Yes, God is good. 

And over in West Wales two darling little boys are growing up to love and follow Jesus, a beautiful reminder of my Joel and his brother David both of whom so joyfully and faithfully followed the Lord.

 

I had reached the great age of ninety and was still welcome in West Park Primary School. Yes, I knew I could not go on for ever, but God was good. ‘Covid’ came along, so no more school visits, or Ladies Retreats, I presume, and an end to my good health. 

When life began to return to normal Pauline was no longer able to go out preaching, or was it that God showed me that my responsibility was now in ‘Grace’ Community church and Hebron Hall no longer an option for me? 

I think there needs to be a pause to tell you about a very special prophetic picture. 

A PROPHETIC PICTURE 

‘Now don’t you go popping off to heaven before me.’ I teased my husband, as I knew his health was not good and he refused to heed the doctor’s warning that he should not drive. 

‘Don’t worry,’ he reassured me. I've a few years in me yet.’ It was easiest for me to believe him. 

We had come to Porthcawl trusting to help to revive the small apostolic church which has father had helped to plant, and we were seeing it doing well. However the church policy at that time was to close the small churches and help to build up the larger ones. We were heart broken when Porthcawl was closed. Joel shared his pain with another mature pastor often used in prophecy and the Lord gave him a picture of a tree cut down to a stump, but out of that stump a strong, fruitful bough was growing. 

At that time Joel and I both suffered from a viral infection. The doctor thought Joel was over it and was more concerned for me, but it was Joel who slipped easily into  heaven, while I who was privileged to see the prophetic dream come to pass.  

It was not many months before Pastor David Ollerton led a small beginning of what has now become a strong fruitful bough where I have always been honoured and accepted and I have been proud to share my Joel’s faith . 

Joel was in his early eighties, and I wondered how he would have the stamina to shoulder such a heavy burden, but he had insisted that he would be there to encourage and help to train the young people. 

But now we are seeing his dream being fulfilled, and Grace community Church a fruitful bough indeed, and those young ones trained by David Ollerton now grown into maturity. 

While I am honoured as a grandmother, and feel I am of little worth, yet at 94 and not at all in good health, am so privileged to remember and tell of our small beginnings.