“Your statutes are my heritage forever;
they are the joy of my heart.”
Psalm 119:111
Top of the mornin‘ to ya! Are you wearin‘ your green today!?!?
Remember, everyone is Irish today!
My sweet mom, Eileen, is 100% Irish.
Her parents came over on a ship and crossed the threshold into America through Ellis Island.
This is one of my mom’s favorite day’s every year as she loves her family and their Irish heritage.
Oh, maybe she likes St. Patrick’s Day, too, because one of her children (oh, that’s me!) was born on St. Patrick’s Day. To have a child born on St. Patrick’s Day was a dream come true for her! Every year growing up, my birthday cake had green icing. My siblings and I were decked out in green. Even now as adults, we all remember (usually) to wear green on St. Patrick’s Day. And yes, I am passing that tradition down to our own Irish lad and lassie.
It’s fun to do a little research on St. Patrick, who actually was a Christian missionary.
“As one of the earliest Christian missionaries traveling abroad to spread the Christian faith, Saint Patrick is important because he serves as a testament to the overall missionary legacy of the church. His example afforded later Christian missionaries the opportunity to assess the best methods to employ when confronting pagan groups abroad. Perhaps the most significant aspect of Saint Patrick’s missionary efforts in Ireland was that he transcended the boundary between church hierarchy and prominent church fathers in terms of the viability of missionary pursuits. Saint Patrick proved that any Christian could live out the Scriptural commandment to spread the word of God while “exalting and confessing his wonders before all the nations that are under the heavens.” Patrick’s example would inspire later missionaries to undertake great missions to evangelize abroad in later years.” www.wikipedia.com
Here is an excerpt from a prayer written by Saint Patrick called “The Breastplate Prayer”.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of Christ’s birth with his baptism,
Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.
I arise today
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
I arise today
Through God’s strength to pilot me:
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of Christ’s birth with his baptism,
Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.
I arise today
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
I arise today
Through God’s strength to pilot me:
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today
So, I arise today (yes, wearing green) thankful to the Lord for my family heritage, for the precious little family He has given me, for the best girlfriends in the world and for those who love Him who have prayed for me over the years and who shared His love and truth with me.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Drink some GREEN tea today!
Now, for the really important business of today…..
here are the winners to the 100th Blog Post Celebration Give-Away!
While these numbers were chosen by http://www.random.org/, I did pray to the Lord for the winners, and I don’t believe anything with Him is “random”! 🙂
Here are your random numbers:
23 42 63 79 46 66 69
Timestamp: 2009-03-16 20:34:46 UTC
Timestamp: 2009-03-16 20:34:46 UTC
#23 Vickie: “Woman’s Secret to A Balanced Life” by TerKeurst and Jaynes & Peanut Chews
#42 Stephanie Nester: “Jesus Calling” devotional by Sarah Young & (which treat??)
#46 Michelle at My Journey to Hope: “Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner” by Wendy Blight & (which treat?)
#63 All For Him: “Mining For Gold in The Heart of Your Child” CD and Character Chart by Renee Swope & Peanut Chews
#66 Barbara Ann: “Wise Words For Moms” by Ginger Plowman & (which treat)
#69 Vickie at AnooCre8tion: “Holiest of All” by Andrew Murray & Peanut Chews
#79 Sherry: “Out Of The Mouths of Babes” by Wendy Pope & (which treat?)
IF YOU ARE A WINNER, PLEASE LEAVE ME YOUR E-MAIL SO I CAN CONTACT YOU FOR YOUR MAILING ADDRESS! CONGRATULATIONS! (And if you did not indicate Tastykakes or Peanut Chews, please let me know that, too!)
Thanks to everyone who stopped by to visit, those who entered the give-away by commenting and to those who visited quietly. May you know the depths of His personal love for you this day and every day!