“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!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!! I hope it is wonderful. You must be a LUCKY lass to be born on St Patty’s day…or is it blessed? 🙂
Sharon,
I LOVE this post today. You are such a blessing to so many!!
On this your birthday, I pray God’s richest blessings be poured out upon you. May God shower you throughout the day with whispers of His love and touch. May you know how absolutely special you are to so many. May you sense His Presence from the time you lift your head off the pillow till the time you slip under your covers and fall asleep. ENJOY today, sweet friend.
Love,
Wendy
Happy Birthday Sharon!! What a neat teaching about St. Patrick. I love that he was a missionary!!
Praying this year is full of more and more of God’s revelations through His Word in your daily moments.
Happy Birthday! Love, Samantha
Happy Birthday Dear Sharon!!!
“God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”
—Romans 5:5
I love God’s Spirit in you! Your blog is an inspiration to all of us who pop in…I look forward to revisiting often! 🙂
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
We’re enjoying green-iced, Krispy Kreme donuts over here!
Lori – Mesa, AZ
Hi Sharon, Glad you came my way too:) I actually have no green, but my daughter gave me a pair of earrings with green! Hope you have a great birthday… I love that song too; every time I hear it, (not the happy birthday song…LOL), the desperate for you one on my blog…. it gives me chills; keeps things in perspective.
Happy Birthday, sweet friend!!! I hope that your day is filled beyond measure with blessings becuse you are such a blessing to us!!! It will be easy for me to remember your special day because today is mine and Hubby’s wedding anniversary! He won’t forget either!!
Congrats to all of the winners!!
Love ya,
Susan
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHARON!!!
Me mother was born in Ireland, so our family also celebrates St. Patrick’s Day in a big way! You can know for sure and for certain we were wearing our green! Even paid an outragous price for “Shamrock” cookies at the snack kiosk at the hospital today, but boy, those cookies were good!
May the Lord be your most treasured gift today and always,
Joy
SO thankful for you!!! I loved this post because it digs deep into your family and one of the many great loves you all share. Congratulations to all the fabulous girls from the blogosphere who will be blessed by your sweet give-away.
Just love you, lass!
Heather
Hi. Thanks for the giveaway.
My email is
schneidersa @ comcast.net
take out the spaces.
I think I’d like to try the TastyCakes.
Thanks again!
Thank you so much! I can't wait to read the book, and enjoy the tastycakes, I suppose. My email is michellewallace04@yahoo.com.
Happy birthday & God bless you!
-Michelle
Belated birthday greeting Sharon. I am so happy to learn that I was one of your winners. I look forward to reading from one of my favorite authors “Andrew Murray.”
My email is vthomas62@hotmail.com
Congratulations to all the other winners as well.
Thank you so much.
Have a blessed day
very fun post, thank you for sharing!
🙂