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Sheila's story
I have lived a blessed life but one which has had its
highs and lows.
I was brought up in a Baptist church situated in the
leafy suburbs of outer London. In my early teens I was baptised and claimed
Jesus as my master. I met and married a Scot whose family were members
of Cathcart South (which became Cathcart Trinity on the union of Cathcart
South and New Cathcart). Here I became a member of the Church of Scotland
and here we brought up our two sons – for I had quite decided that
the family were not to be divided by a father and mother in different churches – after
all, I could serve my master anywhere!
For nigh on 60 years, I have worshipped and worked
in this church - in fact I cannot imagine life without it; it has been
my lifeline. I remember well the warmth and well being I have found within
its walls when I plumbed the depths or rose to the stars. I thank my Father
for being with me each and every step of the way, whether he was carrying
me or I was walking beside Him. ‘Footsteps’ has been a poem
which speaks volumes to me.
I guess you would say that I took The Guild (formerly
the Women’s Guild) to my heart, having been a member for 58 years,
and I am proud of the fact that I have not only served my own branch but
had the privilege of serving in a wider field – wherever or whatever,
it has been very rewarding.
As I grow older, I worry about the future of the Church
worldwide but as long as we have people who believe in the resurrection
of our lord Jesus Christ, I am convinced that all will be well.
Finally let, me recommend you to a way of life that
has its ups and downs but one in which you will find much joy. Remember,
one only reaps what one sows.
Sheila Mason 1922 – 20??
Alex and Sheila's story
Alex’s Illness
For those of you who don’t know us, Alex had
a massive brain haemorrhage in March 04 caused by a reaction to medication.
We were told that there was little or no hope of his survival and if he
did survive he would be unlikely be able to speak, walk or function properly.
How do you feel when told this? How do you cope? I just remember saying
a very short prayer asking for God’s help for whatever lay ahead.
Much of what I am saying has only been learned over
a length of time as Alex has no memory of a whole week in his life. As
the family and four of our close minister friends gathered round his bed
(remember we were told that Alex was deeply unconscious at this time) Wilma
asked Alex if he was at peace? He nodded in affirmation.
She asked if he had any fears for the future. He shook
his head. At this stage we were ready to accept what was to happen.
The four ministers all prayed in turn. Later Alex told
me everything up to then was pitch black and then suddenly he could see
a light which moved four times. This light was very bright and shone brilliantly
in the terrible darkness. We feel this was God speaking to Alex as each
minister prayed. A nurse in the ward met me some weeks later and couldn’t
believe Alex had survived and she said how moved she had been by the prayers.
The last few months haven’t been easy. Alex has
found it hard to make the change from being a very active man with many
interests -his main one being all aspects of the church - to a more restricted
life style. Alex was in hospital for 3 months and has now been home for
2 months. There have been good and bad times over these weeks, but Alex
has never at any time doubted his faith. He also has never lost his irrepressible
sense of humour which has helped us all.
Alex has always been convinced of the power of prayer
and over many years he has been involved with Spiritual Healing. This has
undoubtedly helped us all.. We have been so supported by our churches in
Cathcart for their prayers and help in so many ways. We have been uplifted
and sustained by the prayers from all over the world. If ever there has
been answered prayer Alex has got to be an example – even the doctors
said it was great to be wrong. We don’t know what the future holds
but we feel Alex has been saved for a reason. Perhaps God has still work
for him to do. Although we can’t see ahead we do know that God will
be with us whatever happens.
Sheila and Alex Gowans
Elizabeth's story
It was more than 70 years ago that I first realised
that I had faith. It was when I was teaching young children the Easter
story: I taught HE IS RISEN and I really believed that. I said those words
with conviction
About 40 years ago, I worked with teenagers and felt quite inadequate.
I learned that God was with me to give me the strength I needed. I learned
to discuss and, more importantly, to listen to the views of the teenagers.
I felt it was faith that helped me to talk and to listen.
When I was asked to be an elder 25 years ago, I felt ill equipped for
the task. Again, I was given the guidance and support I needed.
During my working life, I felt that my faith sustained me to be ready
to help others and to get along with colleagues. He was with me in the
office too!
When my sister died, I knew that she was safe. This helped me thorugh
a difficult time calmly and peaceably. I was able to say “cheerio” to
her in the knowledge that she was in God’s care.
Therefore, my faith has been a lifetime experience – always trusting
in God to support me and give me the strength I needed.
I just can’t imagine being without God.
What would I do?
Elizabeth
Linda's story
Jesus is in my life during the times that things are
going well, during times of difficulty, when I need to be forgiven, when
I need to have a sense of peace and when I need to be healed.
His presence was very real during a very difficult period of my life.
My husband was diagnosed with cancer and had to have immediate surgery.
We were afraid and very unsure of the outcome. We prayed together. We prayed
that we would have the strength we needed.
We both got that strength and were given much more than that. We both
had a sense of healing; healing of the mind and spirit that eased the fear
and anxiety that we both felt. The surgery was successful to a point, but
the cancer had spread.
We were now living through many months when we knew he was soon going
to die. We continued to pray together and separately. We were upheld by
God’s caring love for us. My husband received peace and wisdom to
cope and, more importantly to live fully during very difficult physical
changes to his body. His prayers were for me, and mine for him. Of course,
there were times of great sorrow and anger, but these times came separately
to us. We were not alone during this difficult time.
I believe that going through life with Jesus brings completeness to my
life, which allows me to connect with other people by following his example.
I believe that going through life with Jesus brings completeness to my
life by receiving gifts of peace, love and forgiveness from him
I believe He is with me every day of my life.
Some words which give me a strong sense of Jesus and being with Him:
Water of life … living water
Let me sit with you by the well.
Let me drink of the living water that is you.
Let me taste it, let me absorb it
into the innermost fibres of my being.
Let me see its dazzling, invigorating sparkle of life!
Water of life … living water
Let me sit with you by the well.
Linda
Liz's story
I was raised in the Methodist Church but left when I was 14, having decided
it was all hypocrisy (and anyway, I knew much better than God did how to
run my life). I then spent the next 14 years having a much closer relationship
with the bottle than I did with anyone or anything else. God just didn’t
come into it and, while I was outwardly pretty successful, inside was a
different matter. No one understood me – or even appreciated me the
way I thought I should be appreciated! I was very, very alone.
Having reached desperation point, I stopped drinking when I was 28 – in
Glasgow on New Year’s Eve, no less – and discovered that God
had actually been living in Alcoholics Anonymous all this time, and that
just maybe, He might be able to make a better job of my life than I had.
I handed my will and my life over to Him … and stopped there.
When I was 32, I was engaged to be married and gradually came to realise
that for some reason it was important to me to be married ‘in the
eyes of God’. Andrew Smillie was immensely patient with all my questions
and I have an abiding memory of my telling him that I believed in God and
I believed in Jesus; I just wasn’t sure where I fitted in with it
all.
To cut a very long and meandering journey short, I didn’t get married.
I did however start attending church and found something much better than
I could ever have imagined. I found that not only was I understood, I was
also appreciated, known intimately and (loved nonetheless) by my God; loved
so very much that I knew exactly where I fitted in when He hung on that
cross.
The enormity of it all excites and terrifies me. For me, there were no
blinding flashes or amazing changes in my personality, but rather an uphill
and downhill continuing journey. I think the most important lesson that
I learn on a daily basis, is that I am not in control of it all: that even
when life doesn’t make any sense, He always does. I moved from needing
answers to absolutely everything to having something I am much more grateful
for; a faith that assures me that it will all be OK, that I am loved and
will never be on my own in anything that happens to me.
There are times I sometimes look at or listen to other people and find
myself comparing my faith to theirs, or I catch myself thinking or doing
something that I know fine well is not how He would want me to behave.
There is still a long way to go! But here are also times which I would
find really difficult to explain in words; times when the hairs on the
back of my neck have stood on end and I have known beyond knowing that
He is with me and that I am exactly where I am supposed to be.
I have learned that I cannot do this on my own; that there is nothing
I can do to make myself good enough. What I have also learned though, is
that I don’t have to: there is forgiveness and there is mercy, grace
and love – even when I get it wrong. That assurance never leaves
me and is the stability and joy of my life.
Liz
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