A GOSPEL MINISTRY
FROM NORTHERN IRELAND

When I was a wee, wee girl

I had eyes that were askew

so I had to wear wee glasses

so I could get a balanced view.

Now that I am older,

it is very clear to me

that many, many people

don’t see things clearly.

Some see through tinted spectacles

they pretend that all is fine

they close their minds to anything

of a disturbing kind.

While others are so skeptical

of everything they see

that they distrust everything

and are as miserable as can be.

Others only see wrong

in everything around

as for seeing what God is doing

they are completely blind.

Olive Borland

When God created me He gave me two hands

Sixty plus years ago in His divine plans;

Now with gratitude I have got to say

My hands have been of benefit in so many ways.

Because of my hands I know texture and touch;

 Experience has taught me textures vary much;

Textures may be soft, hard, smooth or rough;

Pliable, sticky, sharp, slimy or tough

I have been enabled to relax, work and play;

To relate to other people in many, many ways,

I have now got to admit I am ashamed to say

I have taken hands for granted many a day.

Now because of pain I’ve been made acutely aware

That my hands are of value beyond compare;

Although I use my right more, I have had to take note,

“I too am indispensable” my left hand can gloat.

My pain brought other important thoughts to mind

Of how my members are all inextricably entwined;

When one part hurts other parts feels pain

Members of God’s body too feel ill effects just the same.

Olive Borland

Thank You for the many, many blessings that we share;

So, so many blessings every morning to declare;

Sight, speech, hearing; touch, taste, smell;

So, so many blessings - too many blessings to tell;

Family, friends, relations; neighbors for whom we care

And of course strangers become friends with whom we share.

Thank You for the blessing of the comfort of our home;

Thank You for giving us a wonderful world to roam;

Thank You for food on our tables every day;

So much lovely food - we have enough to give away.

Thank You for the pleasure of being able to entertain

Many, many acquaintances that hitherto we didn’t know their name

Thank You for our pets - our collie dog and cat;

They appear to understand every single thing we’re at.

Thank You for the pleasure of walking on the beach;

Listening to the waves and seagulls swoop and screech;

Listening to the children making castles on the sand;

What pleasure to see lovers - young and old walk hand in hand:

Now my heart is filled with sadness – so many families in despair

Perhaps if they too walked on the beach, they could resolve problems there.

I am now reminded it can be difficult to see the light;

Because of many problems light may be hid from sight,

Sometimes, life can get so busy that problems pile on and on;

God in His wisdom told us, to take time, His will, to reflect upon.

Olive Borland

The spider’s web is a beautiful sight you see

But for the poor old fly it’s as deceptive as can be.

The web’s fine silken threads woven in patterns of perfection

appear to be beyond the poor fly’s detection

Is it attracted by the beauty only then to find

once it has got entangled it is impossible to unwind

Surely this is a picture of the deceptiveness of sin

Eve was deceived by her eyes and left us in the mess we’re in

Now we like Eve, desire all we see

there are so many traps that can snare you and me.

Thankfully unlike the fly we can be set free

Jesus has made this possible by dying on Calvary.

Olive Borland  

Have you ever taken time to give thanks for hands?

for fingers and thumbs for knuckled and palms

Have you ever considered how you know?

the difference between the feel of sand and snow

Have you ever thought of threading a needle?

Without your hands you would not be able

Have you ever considered how you would care?

For your family if your hands weren’t there

Think of all the things you can do

With the hands that have been given you.

Then place them together in thankful praise

To God your creator the rest of your days

Olive Borland

“Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me”

Were words John Newton wrote after almost losing his life at sea

Amazing! That such a holy God, could save such a sinful man

Showing undeserved favour in a way that only He can

John himself confessed to be a man of ill repute

A slave trader who sealed many a wretches’ fate

“I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see”

Didn’t refer to John’s peril, but to his soul that now was free

“Twas grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relieved,

how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed”

No wonder he was rejoicing, he had come to know

God! Who gave Eternal Life to this one who had been his foe

As a repentant sinner, John accepted God’s offer of grace

He believed within his heart and his redemption was in place.

He was now convinced and with confidence could say

I know where I’m going and who will go with me all the way

“Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come

‘tis grace that brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home”

Olive Borland

I wonder if I wander will my wander make me wonder

at the beauty of the spectacle my eyes will then behold.

Experience has taught me that the One who saved and sought me

has created so much beauty the half has not been told

Every twist and turn I’m taking makes me aware there is no mistaking

the incredible ability of the One who created all.

I live in awe and wonder, what will it be like up yonder

When every day on earth reveals more beauty than the day before

God tells us in His Word and I believe what He says is true

It only took six days to create this world for me and you.

Is it any wonder that I wonder what it will be like up yonder?

Jesus said two thousand years ago, “I go to prepare a place for you”

We are invited to dwell in a mansion He is preparing up on high

we won’t have to pay the air fare: just believe that is why He died

He died to bear our sinfulness; He died to take our blame

He died to take us up to heaven saved by His Precious Name

Is it any wonder that I wonder will my wander make me wonder?

At the beauty of the spectacle my eyes will then behold.

Olive Borland

Written while holidaying along the beautiful Co. Antrim coast and glens

Dear Lord Jesus please help me to see

the depth and compassion of your love for me

Your love that reached into the miry clay

when my feet were set to go astray.

You stretched out a compassionate hand

when my feet were in the sinking sand.

Your eye sought me with compassion and care

when I was helpless and bound there.

I now recall the relief to me

when on that day you set me free.

Olive Borland 

Psalm 40 v 2

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

Lord,

You are the One

 who loves;

         cares;

         understands;

         forgives;

         forgets;

         renews;

         reinstates;

         strengthens

  and sustains.

Then guides;

         guards

 and keeps to the end

All who accept You as Saviour and friend

Olive Borland

 If we want to know God’s blessing – if we want to be used by Him

He demands we be cleansed from the impurity of sin.

He simply will not use us - He will just pass us by;

This is why we often feel so empty and so dry.

God the Father will not fill us with His Spirit that is pure;

Unless we confess our sin - we will not know His Power.

We would not think of eating food from vessels that were unclean;

We wash and clean them every time least germs remain unseen.

Why should we expect our God to be satisfied with less -

Than we expect for ourselves - yet expect Him our souls to bless?

Olive Borland

Can't You Hear The Blessed Saviour Calling You by Alex Mitchell