Gilfach Goch, Wales
Hello, and welcome!
Thank you so much for dropping in! I hope you are keeping well! I have posted four memories of Corfu - where I lived for a few months before repatriating from many years in Greece back to my native Wales. (See blog: Blogger: Posts) I had originally posted these on World-wide Bible studies.org. Completing my trip down memory lane here is the fifth, and final article. This one was written after my return to Wales. It is set in Advent but with mentions of Easter too, so, as we are still in Eastertide I think you will appreciate its relevance today. I hope you enjoy it and that it brings you a little closer to our Heavenly Father!
Welsh Advent and Pastoral Riverside Walks: Be the best you can be! (Matt. 5:48)
It is some time since I last wrote as I have been busy settling in to my new Welsh home after repatriating from Greece. You may recall that I spent the winter in Corfu. That sojourn prepared me well for the tranquillity of my new home, Wales in Gilfach Goch (pronounced loosely as Gilvac Gok) a former coalmining village which has returned to its naturally beautiful state. (See the above photo.) Walking out of my house and up beside the nearby river, usually with only sheep for company, my mind frequently turns to Psalm 23. “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want; He makes me down to lie in pastures green. He leadeth me, the quiet waters by.” This psalm has been set to music as a hymn and I often find myself softly singing these words during my meanderings. (We Welsh do love to sing, don't you know?!)
At this time of Advent, though, as we prepare to celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ our Saviour, this psalm takes on a special significance, belonging, as it does, to the trilogy of psalms that foretell of His coming upon the earth.
Psalm 22 prophesies that Jesus will suffer for us. Indeed, it opens with the words that He spoke during His agony on the cross: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” And then gives details of the form of His suffering, including: “…they have pierced My hands and My feet – I can count all My bones – they stare and gloat over Me; they divide My garments among them, and for My raiment they cast lots.” Ps 22:16-18 While Psalm 24 reveals that Christ will be the sovereign King. “Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.” Ps 24:9
Having read those psalms my mind then skips to the Gospel according to John where I read those words which always make my mind stop with incredulity: “He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, yet the world knew Him not.” (!!!) John 1:10-11 Still, as I write those words I am shaking my head with disbelief. We owe Jesus Christ everything. Yet, too many in the world, even after millennia, still do not know Him. And so, I have decided that my Advent preparation will be three-fold:
Firstly, I will ponder on what He has done for me and thank and praise Him.
Secondly, I will speak of Him to whomsoever I meet in my daily life, when it feels right, in the hope that my quiet words may bring Him closer.
Thirdly, I will pray that this Christmas all Christians on earth will put their focus onto the real meaning of Christmastide. That they will, for instance, send each other Christian greetings, not wishy-washy “happy holiday” greetings, and put prayer and thanksgiving to God at the centre of their celebrations. And, yes, I promise to do that too!
If we prepare for the celebration of Jesus’ coming on earth for us in this way, on Christmas morning we will be able to hear the opening words of John’s gospel and be filled with joy; no matter what our circumstances. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.” John 1:1-4
In case I do not post again before Christmas may I take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very happy and holy Christmas!
I pray that we will strive to spiritually make the most of the last 9 days of Eastertide, which culminates in the Feast of Pentecost.
God bless,
Teresa x
For articles, plus more info about me and my work please visit my website. (www.teresaodriscoll.co.uk)
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I have been asking God for guidance and listening to His replies for many years. I share my methods in Pray Then Listen, A heart-to-heart with God.
A great review: In this practical book, author Teresa O’Driscoll suggests that while formal prayers are a foundation of our faith life, these tend to be one-way communications. Our relationship with God can be deepened further, she writes, by having conversations with him — we tell God what is on our minds and then we listen to his response. Pray Then Listen is the result of one such conversation.
Günther Simmermacher editor of Southern Cross Magazine Australia
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Set on the green and beautiful Greek island of Corfu in this novel I show the ever-present backstory of life, as I interpret the supernatural elements of our dilemmas and choices.
I know, that no matter what your beliefs or experiences, you will surely recognize the tussles of my characters, as tussles in your own life.... Enjoy!
A great endorsement:
Take this book down to the beach in the morning, and I guarantee when you return sunburnt to your room at the end of the day you will see no one around you, from waiters to fellow holidaymakers, in the same way. The characters seeking escape amidst the idyllic beauty of Corfu never manage to shake off the problems they have run from, while O’Driscoll beautifully captures the intrigues of a tightly knit traditional Greek community.
Donald Finnaeus Mayo, author of The Insider’s Guide to Betrayal and Francesca
Click on the following links to check out my novel, Angel at the Paradise Hotel In UK / In US / In Singapore / In Australia / In New Zealand
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You may like to see my blog on the Backstory of this novel
I wrote 9 Days to Heaven, How to make everlasting meaning of your life as my personal evangelization effort.
Here's a great review: I was ill for a couple of years and had a great loss in my life. This book brought so much peace to me and even though I had been angry with God and blamed him for all my troubles, I found my way back to my relationship with him.
Rose Barrett Wilkinson
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