Angels are real: I saw one!

Angels are all around us

Hello dear friend,

I hope you are having a good day. I hope I can make it better by telling you that angels definitely do exist. I have seen one! Also, it is my belief that one of my friends became an angel after her death.  I am sharing these things with you to give you hope and encouragement.

First let me tell you about the angel I saw. I was in noisy and crowded café having a meeting with my friend Erica from church about a new project we were thinking of doing together. As we swapped ideas the talk was lively and positive. Finally I said to her, “You know, I feel the Holy Spirit very strongly here with us. And I wouldn’t be surprised if we were surrounded by angels listening to our conversation!” With that I looked up and saw an angel. It was a quick glimpse, no more than a couple of seconds. 

I said to Erica, “I’ve just seen an angel! And it had its hand under its chin like this.” I demonstrated with my hand under my own chin in a listening pose. “It was confirming that it was listening!” My friend and I looked wide-eyed at each other. The angel – I couldn’t tell if it was male or female – was a pale golden colour and ethereal in appearance, it had short bubbly curls, and looked like a child. So I think what I saw was a cherub.  I think I had a peak at ‘the other side’ of life; which is also Life!

I said to Erica, “I think we can take it that we are supposed to be doing this project together.” And she agreed. We have had a few further meetings and it is coming together very nicely. I’ll let you have some details when the time is right.

To continue for now with angels I want to tell you that the above picture is a bookmark which my dear friend Thalia gave me. If you read my last blog headed “A challenge to spiritualgrowth!” you will have already heard that she has gone, this ten years since, to join the angels. Actually, I do mean that literally as, after her death, I had an experience which told me that she had become an angel. I questioned this as I thought angels were angels and people were people. But the explanation I was given was, “She willed it.” And when I mulled it over I believed it. I have never known anyone so focused on angels as Thalia.

I will leave you with a photo of Angel Thalia and a poem I wrote shortly after her death.

Love and blessings

Teresa 

Thalia

Ode to Thalia

By Teresa O’Driscoll, 4^th March 2009

Dead and buried.  Over.  Done.

89 years of living, learning, growing,

all locked up in a box.

Only half a story.

Eternal.  Spirit.

Everlasting Love -

Joining the angelic host

kneeling at the feet of

Our Father.

Gone on before me.

Living in my memory.

Living in Spirit and in Truth.

I believe therefore -

I am.

I believe therefore you are:

Alive and Vital;

renewed.

UPDATES!!!

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.

Check out Pray Then Listen In UK / In US  / In Singapore

Available as a Kindle version or paperback! 

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!

Click on the following links to check out my novel, Angel at the Paradise Hotel In UK /  In US / In Singapore

Available as a Kindle version or paperback!

I wrote 9 Days to Heaven, How to make everlasting meaning of your life as my personal evangelization effort.  

Check out 9 Days to Heaven In UK / In US / In Singapore 

Available as a Kindle version or paperback!

Here is the link for the YouTube book trailer:  9 Days to Heaven 

For articles, plus more info about me and my work please visit my website.  (www.teresaodriscoll.co.uk)

I'd love to hear your thoughts or feedback on this post.

God bless,

Teresa 

PS. About the links to Singapore, please see my blog post Singapore and Christianity  

A challenge to spiritual growth!

Hello and welcome!

Perhaps, like me, you love the month of September! In childhood it was the invigorating beginning of a new school year. Now, I consider it a great opportunity for a general fresh start to my life. And those of you who know me well know that I am a huge fan of those.

So when, clearing up some paperwork, I came across the small poster you see in the picture above, it hit the spot perfectly. It was given to me by my dear friend Thalia who went to join the angels ten years ago. It was a lovely example of what an inspirational person she was. I have typed the contents out so you can read them easily.

On the left is the sublime Bible passage from Corinthians about love. While on the right is the poem The Invitation by Orah Mountain Dreamer.

Both, in different ways, throw down the gauntlet, as they challenge us to grow spiritually.

I hope you enjoy them and are prompted to join me in that fresh start.  

Love and blessings

Teresa

First Letter of St Paul to the Corinthians

Now you are Christ’s body, and each of you is a limb or an organ of it. Within our community God has appointed in the first place apostles, in the second place prophets, thirdly teachers; then miracle–workers, then those who have gifts of healing, or the ability to help others or power to guide them, or the gift if tongues of various kinds. Are all apostles? All prophets? All teachers? Do all works miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues of ecstasy? Can all interpret them? The higher gifts are those you should prize.

But I can show you an even better way.

I may speak in tongues of men or of angels, but if I have no love, I am a sounding gong or a clanging cymbal. I may have the gift of prophesy and the knowledge of every hidden truth; I may have faith enough to move mountains; but if I have no love, I am nothing. I may give all I possess to the needy, I may give my body to be burnt, but if I have no love, I gain nothing by it.

Love is patient and kind. Love envies no one, is never boastful, never conceited, never rude; love is never selfish, never quick to take offense. Love keeps no score of wrongs, takes no pleasure in the sins of others, but delights in the truth. There is nothing love cannot face; there is no limit to its faith, its hope, and its endurance.

Love will never come to an end. Prophecies will cease; tongues of ecstasy will fall silent; knowledge will vanish. For our knowledge and our prophecy alike are partial, and the partial vanishes when wholeness comes. When I was a child I spoke like a child, thought like a child, reasoned like a child; but when I grew up I finished with childish things. At present we see only puzzling reflections in a mirror, but one day we shall see face to face. My knowledge now is partial; then it will be whole, like God’s knowledge of me. There are three things that last forever: faith, hope, and love; and the greatest of the three is love.

                                                                 Corinthians 12:27-13:13

The Invitation

It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living.

I want to know what you ache for

and if you dare to dream of your heart’s longing.

It doesn’t interest me how old you are.

I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool

for love

for your dream

for your adventure of being alive.

It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon

I want to know if you have ever touched the centre of your own sorrow

if you have been opened by life’s betrayals

or have become shrivelled and closed

from fear of further pain

I want to know if you can sit with pain

mine or your own

without moving to hide it

or fade it

or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy

mine or your own

if you can dance with wildness

and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes

without cautioning us to

be careful

be realistic

to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me is true

I want to know if you can

disappoint another

to be true to yourself

If you can beat the accusation of betrayal

and not betray your own soul

If you can be faithless

and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty

even when it’s not pretty

every day,

and if you can source your own life

from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with Failure

yours and mine

and still stand on the edge of the lake

and shout to the silver of the full moon

“YES”

It doesn’t interest me

to know where you live or how much money you have.

I want to know if you can get up

after the night of grief and despair

weary and bruised to the bone

and do what needs to be done

to feed the children.

It doesn’t interest me who you know

or how you came to be here.

I want to know if you will stand

in the centre of the fire

with me

and not shrink back.

It doesn’t matter to me where or what or with whom

you have studied.

I want to know what sustains you

from the inside

when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone

with yourself

and truly like the company you keep

in the empty moments.

                                    Orah Mountain Dreamer, May 1994  

UPDATES!!!

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.

Check out Pray Then Listen In UK / In US  / In Singapore

Available as a Kindle version or paperback! 

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!

Click on the following links to check out my novel, Angel at the Paradise Hotel In UK /  In US / In Singapore

Available as a Kindle version or paperback!

I wrote 9 Days to Heaven, How to make everlasting meaning of your life as my personal evangelization effort.  

Check out 9 Days to Heaven In UK / In US / In Singapore 

Available as a Kindle version or paperback!

Here is the link for the YouTube book trailer:  9 Days to Heaven 

For articles, plus more info about me and my work please visit my website.  (www.teresaodriscoll.co.uk)

I'd love to hear your thoughts or feedback on this post.

God bless,

Teresa 

PS. About the links to Singapore, please see my blog post Singapore and Christianity  

Feed a poor child for that Happy New Year feeling!

Cité Soleil. Mary's Meals fed 6000 primary school children here before the earthquake, the rebuilding process is well under way.

Photo by Thomas Black57 - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11205076



Happy New Year dear friend. And thank you so much for dropping by.

Over the Christmas holiday I watched more television than I have in years!  This included watching adverts by a number of charities bringing the plight of those less fortunate to our attention. And though it did prompt me to donate, it also reminded me of the charity, #Mary's Meals,  a wonderful organization which you will never see advertising.. anywhere.  (I heard about it at church.)

Their slogan is: A simple solution to world hunger.

The reason for their seemingly low profile is the fact that they use 93 pence in each £1 donated to feed the children we donate for - please see my 2012 blog post Mary's Meals Deliver Food and Hope. The main work of Mary's Meals is to encourage children in poor countries to get an education. They do this by providing a meal for them each day they attend school.

Brilliant!

Effective!

When I went onto the Mary's Meals site I found something great going on: a campaign called "Double the Love" ! This means that if you donate now the UK government will match your donation.

It costs the organization £13.90 to feed a child at school for a whole year. The great thing is that by donating now they can feed TWO children instead. Wow! I highly recommend it.

For more information and to donate please click on the link below.

Mary's Meals

Love and blessings

Teresa x

PS I found the above photo on Wikipedia

UPDATES!!!

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.

Check out Pray Then Listen In UK / In US  / In Singapore

Available as a Kindle version or paperback! 

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!

Click on the following links to check out my novel, Angel at the Paradise Hotel In UK /  In US / In Singapore

Available as a Kindle version or paperback!

I wrote 9 Days to Heaven, How to make everlasting meaning of your life as my personal evangelization effort.  

Check out 9 Days to Heaven In UK / In US / In Singapore 

Available as a Kindle version or paperback!

Here is the link for the YouTube book trailer:  9 Days to Heaven 

For articles, plus more info about me and my work please visit my website.  (www.teresaodriscoll.co.uk)

I'd love to hear your thoughts or feedback on this post.

God bless,

Teresa 

PS. About the links to Singapore, please see my blog post Singapore and Christianity  

A Christmas message from my late-mum Charlotte

Hello dear friend,
Despite being crazy busy today trying to fit everyone and everything in I came across something my mother had written down and wanted to share it with you. A little research revealed it is a Carol composed by Roland E. Martin.

A Christmas message from my mum Charlotte:

"Once for a shining hour
Heaven touched earth
Hope was born anew
And peace reigned in the world."

"May you have
The Gladness of Christmas
Which is Hope
The Spirit of Christmas
Which is Peace
The Heart of Christmas
Which is Love."

"Christmas is Love
Love is Friends
Friends are Forever.

To you and to those who share it with you: Merry Christmas."


I echo the lovely message my mother left behind.

May your Christmas be filled with the Joy which comes from loving and worshiping God.

Teresa x

UPDATES!!!

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.

Check out Pray Then Listen In UK / In US  / In Singapore

Available as a Kindle version or paperback! 

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!

Click on the following links to check out my novel, Angel at the Paradise Hotel In UK /  In US / In Singapore

Available as a Kindle version or paperback!

I wrote 9 Days to Heaven, How to make everlasting meaning of your life as my personal evangelization effort.  

Check out 9 Days to Heaven In UK / In US / In Singapore 

Available as a Kindle version or paperback!

Here is the link for the YouTube book trailer:  9 Days to Heaven 

For articles, plus more info about me and my work please visit my website.  (www.teresaodriscoll.co.uk)

I'd love to hear your thoughts or feedback on this post.

God bless,

Teresa 

PS. About the links to Singapore, please see my blog post Singapore and Christianity  

The Light of the World is Near!

"The Light of the World" painted by Holman Hunt

The countdown is now on. In just FIVE more days it will be Christmas! And for me, I have to confess, the screw is turning - piling on the pressure of the lack of two of the most important people in my life: My mum and dad.

Since this is the season of good will and joy it would be valid to ask me why, at the time when people are getting happy and excited, I persist in telling you that I am not happy; not excited; not filled with joy. Well, the reason is that I know there are so very many people who are feeling exactly like me. And I do hope that by me speaking out they may feel just a little bit better knowing they are not alone.

If you are not in that number I say: I am glad! Please enjoy the celebrations of the birth of Christ! But I ask you to remember in your prayers those of us who don't feel as light hearted as you.

No matter what you are going through right now though remember that Advent, this period of time before the feast of Christmas, is for spiritual preparation. Just remembering that leads me to a quieter place in my heart. And, "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour." [Luke 1:45]

So, to look at it from this perspective I am remembering that when God became man 2018 years ago He came as the Light of the World. "Behold I stand at the door and knock..." He said. [Rev 3.20] And this touched me so very much that I built a whole book on it: my 9 Days to Heaven.

And so, if you too are in a testing time right now, turn to Jesus and ask for His help to endure...

God bless

Teresa x

PS Don't forget to take a look at my other blog:  https://creativelivingforthebestyou.blogspot.com/

Also, for further inspiration check out my website:  http://www.teresaodriscoll.co.uk 

PPS Don't forget to check out my book: 9 Days to Heaven, How to make everlasting meaning of your life - which is a practical guide to joyful living! Buy the book from any good bookshop or online bookstore. Click here to buy the e-book on Amazon. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Days-Heaven-Make-Everlasting-Meaning-ebook/dp/B00AIR8CSC

  You can see the book trailer by clicking on this link:  http://youtu.be/154luv8KMns

Let the Wonder of Nature Lift Your Spirits!

Hello dear friend!
If you are one of my regular followers (you are so many in number, and from all parts of the globe, and it would be wonderful if you, one day when you stopped by, left me a personal message!) you will know that I love to take a brisk walk in natural surroundings as often as possible. To fit this into my busy life these walks usually last about 30 minutes. If you read my last post you already know that I am dreading Christmas due to the loss of my lovely Mum and Dad. But! As a passionate Christian, my choice is to firmly keep switching the focus onto the real meaning of the season: the celebration of the birth of Jesus, Saviour of the World!

Yes, I do generally also enjoy the hoopla; the glitz and glamour of Christmas celebrations. And the family customs which develop over the years. And of course, it is the latter, which is most painful right now. But I finally worked up the steam yesterday to start my Christmas shopping. And I managed to get quite a few gifts and also lots of goodies too for the yuletide meals and refreshments. So, a good start.

So, today I went for my walk. Since I moved house I take this walk around a nearby lake. This is such a blessing as it is home to numerous swans, ducks, geese, gulls, kingfishers and so on. And today I saw three squirrels too. This all lifted my spirit. Wonderful. And made me want to share it with you which, as a writer who has not been writing, lifted me still higher.

I hope that you get some spiritual food today too. Whether in a crowded city, by the sea, or inland, try looking up at a bird in flight and marvel at what you see. Marvel too that you Can SEE. That is such a blessing and a gift. And if you are also going through a bad time I recommend you to try to help someone else today. Even by making, say, a quick call to a person you know could do with knowing that you 'care'!

Hope to speak to you again soon...

Love and God bless
Teresa x

UPDATES!!!

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.

Check out Pray Then Listen In UK / In US  / In Singapore

Available as a Kindle version or paperback! 

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!

Click on the following links to check out my novel, Angel at the Paradise Hotel In UK /  In US / In Singapore

Available as a Kindle version or paperback!

I wrote 9 Days to Heaven, How to make everlasting meaning of your life as my personal evangelization effort.  

Check out 9 Days to Heaven In UK / In US / In Singapore 

Available as a Kindle version or paperback!

Here is the link for the YouTube book trailer:  9 Days to Heaven 

For articles, plus more info about me and my work please visit my website.  (www.teresaodriscoll.co.uk)

God bless,

Teresa 

PS. About the links to Singapore, please see my blog post Singapore and Christianity  

Bereaved at Christmas? Make it all About Jesus!

Christmas card - Bethlehem and Nativity, from Cancer Research

Hello dear friend,

Are you joyful about the coming season of Christmas? Or are you, like me, for whatever reason, dreading it?

Now that we  are in the month of December I am ready to face the fact that Christmas will soon be here. From a religious point of view - celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour of the world - I am glad about that. But for me, still struggling to come to terms with the death of both my parents within 17 months of each other, I am approaching the feastday with trepidation. It was bad enough to lose my mum just before Christmas 2016. But to now picture The Day without my dad too is almost unbelievable...

But, as a firm believer in the afterlife, I do know that they are both fine. And one day soon I plan to tell you about all the metaphysical experiences I have had since my dad passed away. They are definitely for sharing when I feel ready. I want to do this so that you can have hope and belief too.

In the meantime, if you, like me, feel apprehensive about the coming of Christmas, try to keep things in perspective. A good friend said to me recently, "It's only one day!" And she's right. 

So, to turn towards to real meaning of Christmas, remembering that many friends and colleagues and so on, may not be of our faith it's a good opportunity to share by... sending only Christmas cards which relate to the birth of Jesus. I made the decision to do this many years ago. I do know that many of my Christian friends do not. It is quite a small choice to make. But it is a defining one.

We are taught that as Christians we have a duty to evangelize, to spread our love of God with others. Many people feel unable to do so. But a Christmas card depicting the true meaning of Christmas is a good start. I hope you will agree.


Sending you light in the darkness

God bless

Teresa x

UPDATES!!!

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.

Check out Pray Then Listen In UK / In US  / In Singapore

Available as a Kindle version or paperback! 

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!

Click on the following links to check out my novel, Angel at the Paradise Hotel In UK /  In US / In Singapore

Available as a Kindle version or paperback!

I wrote 9 Days to Heaven, How to make everlasting meaning of your life as my personal evangelization effort.  

Check out 9 Days to Heaven In UK / In US / In Singapore 

Available as a Kindle version or paperback!

Here is the link for the YouTube book trailer:  9 Days to Heaven 

For articles, plus more info about me and my work please visit my website.  (www.teresaodriscoll.co.uk)

God bless,

Teresa 

PS. About the links to Singapore, please see my blog post Singapore and Christianity